ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 49

ATHLETICS.

Although negotiations have not yet begun between Y;ile. Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge for an athletic meeting this j ear, such negotiations aic contemplated. The mam trouble is to get Yal ra and Haivaid to agree^ as to the place of meeting. Harvard believed the meeting should take place at Cambridge, while Yale wanted it on neutral giound. It i., now =aid that Harvard will agree to Yale* plan.

The Wellington Amateur Athletic Club do not propose to hold an Autumn Carnival this year. The famous American amateur sprinter, Arthur Duffy, was tieated to a surprise at the indoor games of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club. He was beaten m a 60yds dash on the board floor by W. Delgado, who breasted the tape a yard to the good in the great time of 6 2-ssec. Tlie amateur weight-lifting championships of England were decided on January 26, at Birmingham, under the auspices of the Midland Gymnastic Association. The tests consisted of right and left-handed lifts with the. dumb-bell, two dumb-beil lifts, and a barbel* lift. The light weight (lOst and under! championship was won by C. Russell, o." London, with a total weight of 617i1b, whilsj the heavy (12st and under) and any weigh., championships were won by T E Pcvier ol London, with total lifts of 7521b and 831 lh iespecti\ely. A difference of opinion ua\ina; arisen oe.

tween A. Skinner and T. Tuohy on the occaeion of the Auckland Caledonian sports, as to who was the better man, the pair met in a wrestling match, Cumberland style, at the Auckland Hibernian Society's sports. The knatch was best two falls of three, and Skinter easily proved himself master of the situakion getting in the two falls on end, both fbeautifuly clean, Xhe winner M certainly > much lounger man than hi 6 opponent, and (appeared to have the best of it as far as {condition was concerned, but as he secured Jthe verdiot with euch eaee, and showed himVelf so thoroughly well versed in all points V>f the game, it i* Very doubtful if Tuohy in 3his best day would have found himself equal jto holding his own with Skinner, f The Dunedin Harrier Olub has been in >xifitence for two years, and, Judging by the Success of their operations, it would appear ks if the sport had come to stay. The country in the vicinity of Dunedin, and, indeed, throughout Otago, is admirably adapted for Srosa-country running or paper-chasmg. /This form of pastime has of late years become wonderfully popular in the old counttry—so much so that almost every Home sporting paper records the pleasant outings Sai the numerous clubs. Not the least attractive part of these outings is the little social feathering which invariably takes place before the members proceed to their respective homes. On these occasions harriers are warned, however, not to indulge in '^brewed tea." An erstwhile pedestrian champion of England writes that " hare and hounds " is to be commended. The exercise can be taken [very much at one's own pace — racing being optional; but I am not in favour of more ■than one run per week, supposing that the distance traversed be eight miles or more. It iB surprising how this one run every seven jlaye keeps a runner fit. It is quite an erroneous idea that " paperchasing," "hare and hounds," or whatever •ihe sport may be called, is hard, fagging [work. There is not a quarter of the exertion expended as there is, for instance, in football. Of course, as in every other athletic ■port, harriers must endeavour to make themteelves "fit." Let the young fellows who lhave no particular aim and object on Saturday afternoons during the winter months form harrier clubs, and \>y consistent methods of training, ere long many of them /will feel the benefit of this exhilarating and pleasurable form of exercise.