NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2013, 22 September 1892, Page 31

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

I am informed that a lengthy discussion took place at the committee meeting of the D. A. A.C. on Monday night as to where the coming crosscountry run should be held, it being eventually decided, provided permission be obtained from the authorities, to start the event on the Tahuna Park trotting track, with a run across country towards Anderson's Bay, returning to the Park by the same route aud finishing on the track.

Since the meeting referred to was held the sub-copmittee appointed to arrange details have visited the country about Anderson's Bay and the park and find that a capital course with plenty of jumps (and a wonderful scarcity of barbed wire) can be obtained. Last year there were a good number of complaints about the stiffness of the course and the number of barbed wire fences that had to be negotiated in the St. Clair run, but from what I have seen of the proposed course for this year there can be no cause whatever for grumbling. The only drawback is that there are no ploughed paddocks.

In order to encourage hurdle racing among members of the Athletic Club a number of low hurdles have been procured by the committee, and they will be at once placed on the Carisbrook ground for the use of athletes who desire to become proficient in the art of hurdling. The regulation height of hurdles in the 120 yds race is 3fb Gin, but for a novice this is too high by about a foot. Those procured can be regulated to any height from 2ft up to 3ft 6in. The New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association championships are to be decided at Sydney on Saturday, 24th inst. W. T. Macpherson, the champion sprinter of New South Wales, who competed in the New Zealand championships held in Auckland in 1891, and performed so wondarf ully in the 100 yds, 250 yds, and quarter mile, will not be a competitor. The times put up by Macpherson in these three events were— looyds, 9 4-ssec ; 250 yds, 243-ssec (world's records) ; quarter mile, 50 2-ssec (New Zealand record). Remarkable performances all three.

'•Sprinter" (Canterbury Times) says that A. Shaw, a younger brother of the famous Godfrey, is likely to visit New Zealand, leaving England about October. Shaw is a very fair hurdler, but up to the present has shown an inclination to shirk training. From the same authority I take the following :—": — " A private letter received by the mail contains some comments on the doings of Hempton and Batger while in England. The writer, who, I may say, is thoroughly qualified to express an opinion, sums up to the effect that at the Championship meeting Batger was over-trained and Hempton quite the opposite." I think it most probable that the 1893 championships will be decided at Napier, and not at Wellington. The Wellington track is known to be a bad one, while the Napier recreation ground is said to be as good as Lancaster Park. Another point in favour of Napier is that the Wellington Cycling Club is not affiliated to the alliance, and therefore the governing body will not permit the Cycling Championship to be decided in the Empire City, so that if the Athletic Association and Cycling Alliance decide, as formerly, on the amalgamation of their Championship meetings it is impossible for the claims of Wellington to be considered. The Napier people have evidently made up their minds on the question, as a guarantee of LIOO has been procured in the event of the gate not covering expenses. In the programme of the Sydney Bicycle Club Sports two running events were included. The first (100 yds) was won by M 'William (11yds), Alexander (7^yds) second, Jessen(lOyds) third. Time, 10 1-lOsec. The handicaps were made up with J. G. Maiden at scratch, but he did not come to the post. other event was a One-mile Flat Handicap, and a splendid race it proved to be. In a report of the event "The Prodigal" (Sydney Referee) says:— The Mile Hand'cip produced one of the most exciting races of the afternoon. Thirty-two out of the 34 coloured on the card turned out, the notable absentee being J. F. Dalrymple, the scratch man. It is, perhaps, as well he did not start, as it turned out, but on form he was, perhaps, more leniently treated that any man in the handicap. I cannot see what he gained by not starting, for until he proves that he is incapable of repeating his 4min 253 ec mile he should be handicapped up to that standard, to my way of thinking. If it had been a fine day, in my opinion Dalrymple could have about won from scratch. To revert to the race. E. E. Comer, 40yds, and C. D. Morpeth, 50yds, were much fancied, but to the surprise of most people the winner turned up in K. F. M'Crae, 75yds, a real good distance man when he sets his mind on it and uses his head. The runnersup were the one-time champion, Alexander Morgan, 100 yds, and Fred Hawley, 110 yds. A. E. W. Wachsmann, 90yds, occupied his old position of fourth man, with G. W. Blorgin fifth. All are Sydney Harriers. The Morgan brothers ran very gamely, and nawley should have about been second, but Alexander used his head, and just beat his mate. Wachsmann again came with one of his late runs, and Fahy again ran finely, and was first man of the Darlmghmsts home, finishing sixth. Flett made a good sbow for 1000 yds, where I thought he could win. Corner and Morpeth, after a great battle, finished together. The time hoisted was 4min 26 7-lOsec, which is fast. When I state that this mile race was one of the best ever seen on the Association Ground, nothing remains to be said.

The same writer says :— " The forthcoming Amateur Championship meeting is in everybody's mouth, and our amateurs are hard at work getting fit for the fray. The handicap events are a 120 yds and a Mile Steeplechase. I can gGt no particulars from Brisbane or Goondiwindi as to the doings of the probable representatives of Queensland, but hope to hear by each succeeding mail. It is rumoured four men will come south. Dalrjuiple will probably go for the Half-mile and Three Miles.aud in the Mile and Three Miles Corner and Morpeth will certainly have a cut a*: him. M'Crae will go for the Quarter and Ha f, and pc haps the Milu. It is hard luck for Dairy tnple that all the events are on one afternoon, as he could nearly win every event from a quarter upwards. As it is, he is opposed -by hesh and good men at each distance. Anyone may win the long and high jumps, and also the Hurdles, although I hear George Maiden will come ( ut again for the latter race. It is a thousand pities Macphcrson won't enter. If he and Jim Maiden met there would be more excitement."

Tha fii st meeting of tho newly-formed committee of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club was held on Monday evening, and there were present : Dr Roberts (president). Messrs F. J. Stilling, W. Dovenish, G. Turtcn, T. Kerr, W. J. Burk, J. A. Harvey, P. C. Neill (jun.), and P, J. Ness (hon, sec), An application was re-

ceived from P. A. Keddell for reinstatement as an amateur. — It was decided to recommend the application for favourable consideration by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. A sub-committee was appointed to arrange matters in connection with the annual cross-country run, and the date of tho event was fixed for October 22. It was decided to hold the annual sports at the Carisbrook ground on December 10, and a sub-committee was appoiutcd to draw up a programme. Tho question of holding an occasional handicap race during the summer months was discussed, and, although nothing was decided on, it was the unanimous feeling of the meeting that it would be desirable to carry out some races on these lines. Mes3rs C. Peake, E. Philp, and T. M. Walker were elected members of the club.