NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 54

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

TO A CORRESPONDENT. P. T. A., Ben Ohau.— The publication you ask for has to be procured from Australia. Despite the fact that the attendance at tsie inter-v arsity sports held at Auckland under the management of the recently-formed Auckland University College A.A.C., was small, it is pleasing to record that there is a balance to the good. , t It has been decided to form a harriers branch in connection with the Ashburton Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club, and Mr William Anderson has been appointed captain. . . The New York Amateur Athletio Lnion has accepted as world's records two performances recently made in hurdle races at an indoor meeting held in the Exposition Building, Chicago. The holders of the records are H. Kirby, who ran 75yds over low hurdles in o^sec, and M. Brookman, and Fred Schule, who tied in the high hurdles in lOsec. At a recent meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletio Association a letter was read from the English Association in reference to F. M. Sp-indle, who was applying for reinstatement. The Wanganui Club strongly recommended the granting of the application. It was decided to endorse the WanganuL Club's recommendation. The Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association met on Friday, Dr Thomas presiding. It was resolved that the council should be recommended to grant the application of the Christchurch Harrier Club for affiliation. A letter from the Canterbury College Club asking that Mr W. H. Moves should be granted two standard badges for his recent quarter-milo performances was referred to the council. An Auckland correspondent, writing to Sydney Referee, anent the recent inter'varsity athletic sports held in Auckland, at Easter, and re Nigel Barker, the Sydney University sprinter, competing at ,the meet ing, says: — "Correspondence did pass between here and the Sydney University on the subject, but it was felt here that the proposal was brought up rather late, and, besides, it was feLt that it was better to ensure fhe success of the New Zealand portion of the carnival before inviting representatives from Australia. This is only the second time that the carnival has been held. Howe-ver, the matter is being ke.pt in view by the New Zealand University A. A. A., and probably at some future date invitations wili V>e tent to the Australian University athletes to compete at our annual university carnival. If this is the case, it is probable that Australasian university championship events will b& placed upon the programme, apart from our own championships." It has frequently been pointed out in these column* tihat Barker or any amateur from the Australian side could have competed at the inter-v arsity sports, but only in tho two open events, 100 yds and 440 yds, set down on the programme. It must surely have struck the Sydney University sprinter that he could not compete in New Zealand Universities' events, else w% N.Z. University Championships? As the Auckland correspondent points out, it is probable that at some future ,date invitations will be sent to the Australian University athletes to compete at the annual New Zealand Ln'ter-'varsity Athletic Tournament, and the Australasian University championships will be placed upon the programme apart from the N.Z. 'Varsity ohampionships. It is a pity that Barker did not cross the pond to compete in the two open events, for had he done so be would have measured strides with L. B. Webater, the New Zealand sprinter, and probably have downed tho s-peedy Webster, who did not run up to his championship form ; but tho presence of a. sprinter of Barker's calibre alongside might have brought form to the speedy New Zealander. Anyway, the race would have been worth a pilgrimage to witness. Drawing th-e Colour-Line. — Tho Queensland Amateur Athletic Association lias notified the Australasian Union that it has lecidtnl not to allow aboriginals to compete in any event 'held under its auspices, and at the same time 'has asked tho executive officials if they concur in this decision. Tliia high-handed action on the part of the Queensland A. A. A. is past all findinjr out, and does not redound to tho credit of the officials of that association. Arv amateur is an amateur all the world over, be he "bloick or white. Some of the blackest (in colour) amateur athletes I kn-cw are the whitest men on and off the athletic field. What a howl there would be if the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association barred or attempted to bar the Maori from competing in events under its auspices. I venture to say that worn such a tiling even hinted at in this country amateur athletes from Auckland to the Bluff WOuld rise en masse in indignation ut such an insult to their worthy confreres of the Native race, and demand an abject apology. Australia drew tlie colour-line when she refused to play Marsh, an aboriginal and one of the firest bowlers, black or white, ihe Commonwealth ha.s produced, against the English- ' men ; now Queer.sla.nd is attempting to draw the same despicable distinction in athletics. Is this a grovel in the direction of an llegrd White Australia? I sincerely trust the Amateur Athletic Union of Ar.*trnla!=i3 will give the Queensland A. A. A. its answer! Going from home for news. The following appears in the latest Sydney Referee to hand: — "Last month our old friend Harry Dunn, of Cum be^ And 'rastling fame, met the Maorilamd top-notcher, R. J. Scott, at

Drmedin. Scott won at catch-as-cateh-ean | etyle, Dunn triumphed in American side hold i work, and the Cornish style wasn't concluded when the bad conditions underfoot rendered a postponement necessary." This event did take place, but not in Dunedin, as stated by the Referee. Keefton was the deciding ground, and the event was postponed indefinitely owing to the illness of one of the competitors. • A 15-h.Qur running match between Hurst and Hart, the well-known pedestrians, was decided at the Tee-To-Turn Grounds on March 23 for £50 aside. A start was made a few minutes past 7 in the morning, and, in spite of the faot that Hurst was several times rnn to a standstill, he obstinately refused to give in, and ultimately won the match by exactly a mile. At the end of the first hour Hurst was leading by a couple of laps, his ecore at that time being 9 miles 3 laps. Fifty miles was coveridi by Hurst in fahrs 53min 15eec. Tho ultimate result of the contest was in doubt up to the last. Hurst had been going badly in the fourteenth hour, but made up a lot of ground towards the <md. Hart, on the other hand, could only juet walk round in the last hour, and when the pistol was fired Hurst had covered 89 miles 3 laps to Hart's 88 miles 3 laps. Last month, at the Health and Strength Institutes tho final competition for the City -of London Police Weight-lifting Championship was decided. Inspector R. Moody officiated as_ referee, while Pojice-eergeant Tapp was judge. In the single-handed lifts P.O. W. J. West succeeded in raising 1271b with his right, ana with the left 1161b. P.O. F. Humphreys'.? best with ihis right was 1251b, and 1121b with his left, whilst in the two-handed lift both competitors, after several minor lifts, tied at 200!b. West thu6 secured premier honours by only 6lb. It is announoed that the Amateur Athletic Union of America will have charge of the Olympic games, which are to be held at the WorMs Fair in St. Louis (next year. J. E. Sullivan, of New York, secretary of the organisation, say* he has received a cablegram from Baron Pierre de Coubertin of Paris asking the Amateur Athletic Union to assume full control of the games. When the Olympic games were awarded to Chicago an association was formed in that city, which was to have complete control of the affair. Whe-n the games were suddenly transferred to St. Louis this organisation was disbanded. It is thought that a similar body would be formed in St. Louis, but the rcequest from Baron Coubertin would indicate that he is not in favour with this plan, and that he prefero to have the Amateur Athletio Union at the head of affairs. The Orago University have decided to form an athletic club in connection with that institution, with the main object of encouraging athletics amongst the students, and for the further object of controlling the next inter-'vareity athletic tournament, and for selection of teams for the same. A meeting will be held on Thursday next, when rules already Irawn up will be submitted. Mr Lex M'Lean, the well-known strong man, forwards me a lengthy letter in reference to a challenge whioh recently appeared in this column from one "Hercules." M'Lean states that he has pupils who could lower the colours of "Hercules" with ease, but should he ("Hercules") mean business let him put up a substantial deposit with the sporting editor of the Otago Witness, when he (M'Lean) will immediately cover it, as ho is anxious to .-apture another scalp. M'Lean is willing (vide letter) to lift, wrestle, or oox ''Berenice," or any other man in the world, eive or take two stone in* weight, for from £50 to £100 aaide. To make the match more interesting M'Lean will allow a handicap of 201b in each separate lift. HARRIER NOTES. When will the. members of the Dunedin Harriers who from time to time go out and lay the rail look for good country and when they find it lay the trail accordingly? The Dunedin Harriers have been unfortunate in their trails this season, and last Saturday was another instance of good country not being made use of. The members of the Civil Service Harriers after their run last Saturday stated that they had enjoyed it very much. They will enjoy it more so when they strike dry weather and dry, open country. Some of them did mot oare for the bogs which were traversed last week. In the course of a few weeks they should have a largo membership, for they have a great compass to draw from. It is high time that the new men in the Dunedin Harriers put a little more enerjry into their work and moved along a little faster, thereby making the runs brighter. Some of them are terrors for "hanging, ' thereby keeping the main, pack back. Ihe Novice Race is fast approaching, and it is time- that the jianiors were- opening out a little. AN AMATEUR ATHLETIC INQUIRY. An inquiry was held by the Dunediu Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last night into the circumstances connected with the running of the Half-mile (Handicap) Amateur Flat Race at tho recent Dunedin Cycling Club's Championship meeting at tho Caledonian Ground. Dr Roberts presided. Mr W. L. Hooper conducted the case for the centre, and Mr Macassey appeared on behalf of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club and for Mr John Stalker, a competitor in the race, against whom allegations of suspicious running were niaie. Mr Hooper, in opening the proceedings, said numerous complaints had been received by the Otago Centre regarding the running of two races at the D.C.C. sports. According to the rules, he (Mr Hooper) should have adjudicated, but as he might be thought a prejudiced party it was agreed to ask Dr Roberta to act as judge. The inquiry was led up to by certain letters. The first one was from H. Steven Reid, of Maheno, who wrote : "In connection with the running of the Half-mile Handicap at the Championship cycling meeting on March 21, 1 hereby state I was a competitor in the race and was wilfully obstructed by J. Stalker. Hearing that an inquiry is to be held, I ask that this be taken as my evidence.'' Witnfsses were requested to leave the room. Some discussion then took place as to the inquiry being opened to the press, but it was stated that this was the special request of the D.A.A.C. The first evidence called was that of H. Murray, who said he belonged to the Dunedin Harriers, and was running in the half-mile event alluded to. He had asked for an inquiry, as he thought he- had been " bustled" in the race. In the rate hr intended to run right out from the start. He tried to pa|s Stalker, but could not get past on the outside, so tried

f the inside. Stalker blocked him there, whicH was quite right, as it was against the rules to | pass on the inside. Witness then tried, to get past on the outside, but Stalker " bored " him out to the outside of the track. This was at the beginning of the race, and ha thought it was intentional. To Mr Macassey: The witness thought a competitor named O'Kane wa3 running inside of Stalker's track. It had never been said to him (Murray) that if he did not make some excuse for not winning he might be disqualified. The blocking stopped witness from winning tho race. Thomas Gordon, another competitor, said ho complained on the grounds that lie was hindered in the race by Stalker. When he came up level with Stalker he was struck in the side by Stalker's elbow. Witness was trying to pass Stalker, but Stalker hindered him. There had been plenty of room to prss, and Stalker was running level with no one else at the time. For about five yards Stalker ran with his elbow against witness's side, and Stalker was " hugging " him down the track to the 220 yards mark. The interference commenced opposite the grand stand and continued to the 220 yards mark. Witness was shoved out of the track. Witness was in the middle of the track coming up to Stalker, who left the inside to force witness out. At the entrance to the straight witness was bumped out, but could not say by whom. In the •dressing room Stalker asked him how he was going to run the race, and he replied he would make the pace hot from the start. To Mr Macassey: Stalker and he were running alone at the time, and witness had made the complaint voluntarily. J. Price said he saw the race, but saw .nothing wrong. .He noticed a little bumping about 200 yards from home. Eeid came up on the outside of Stalker and there was some little collision, but witness thought it accidental. Witness blamed Reid for going too close and not giving Stalker sufficient room. Mr Hooper : Did you not make a statement to the secretary and myself that it was a disgraceful race- for an amateur event, and had Starker bumped you like that you would have " put the spikes into him " ? The Witness said this was when the matter was being talked over, and only in relation to what was said to him — a supposititious case, and nothing to do with what he had seen. Gordon had asked witness how ho (Gordon) should run the race, and he replied, " Run. from the start." To Mr Macassey: Witness was giving impartial evidence. He considered the bumping was Reid's fault. Mr Hooper: This is a most wonderful reversal of evidence to what you gave before. A letter was put in by Mr Hooper from O. H. Brooks, who stated there was a clear caso of blocking by Stalker, and also one from W. Musker, a spectator, who stated that an undue amount of interference took place, and tha runners behind Stalker seemed to have considerable difficulty in getting through. G. Nicholson, another competitor, saw a« little "bumping" between Stalker and Reid, but considered' it wa9 accidental. Reginald Sise, an umpire *t the sports, did not see any blocking at all, and no complaints were made to him as to the running of the race. A letter was read by Mr Macas9ey from Mr Seel ye, umpire on the other side of tho ground to Sise, who stated there was nothing unfair | in the race. I R. Crow said he watched the race closely from start to finish, but saw no unfair running. A. Findlay, handicapper of the amateur events, said he watched tho race very carefully, being handicapper, and saw some bumping. Gordon caught up. on Stalker, who then, made the pace. Stalker never altered his position as to the track, running close to the grass all the way. Witness saw nothing in Stalker's behaviour he could take exception to. He did not think Stalker either wilfully or accidentally obstructed Gordon. He would contradict' Gordon if the latter said Stalker " bored out.'' At another stage of the race Murray tried to get in between Stalker and O'Kane, who were running level, and then bumping took place. Murray had no right in that position. With, regard to Reid, be tried to get up past Stalker on the inside. Stalker was then running close insida, and it was quite wrong; for Reid to attempt it. Stalker properly blocked that. V. S. Jacobs, the winner of the race, did not see any blocking of Murray. If Stalker had blocked Murray witness would have seen it, and to block Murray, Stalker would have had! to cross O'Kane, who was running next to Stalker. W. J. O'Kane, a competitor, said when Murray came up to Stalker he (the witness) was just at Murray's heels, and if there had been, any blocking he would have seen it. Murray tried to cross witness- at the 220 yards flag. If Stalker bad " bored " Gordon he would have had to go in front or behind witness, and that was not done. J. T. Hamann, a- competitor, saw no blocking. He saw Reid try to pass Stalker on the inside. There was no jostling by Stalker, and the collision was Reid's fault John Stalker then gave evidence on his own behalf, and said he had 25 yards start, and immediately took the lead. The first man to conr up was Gordon. As soon a3 Gordon finished his sprint witness sprinted. Gorckm tried to follow, but witness shook him ofi, as he was unable to last. It was possibly witness struck him with his elbow if he came- up close. Witness led the field until Jacobs passed him. No other competitor passed him until between 200 and 250 yards from home. Witness was running close to the grass. At about 220 yards from the finish. Reid retried to pass on the inaide, but witness at once shut him out. Reid called out to witness to let him pass, but witness did not allow passing on the inside. Witness dropped out at the straight. Witness never saw Murray at all at tho place referred to by Murray. This closed the evidence, ana discussion took place as to the rules, Mr Macassey contending that the centre had no power to hold an inquiry," as a complaint had not been lodged within the specified time. Mr Hooper said there seemed to bo a lot or heart-burning over this matter, but if it was his own brother ho would have brought the charges. Tho "smell of the Tace " had goneeverywhere, and had even reached Canterbury. He was astonished at anyone trying to upset the inquiry ou a question of rules. He thought there had been a sort of conspiracy to get one man to win. He was sorry to say there were bookmakers on the ground, and there was not a single bet on the race except on Jacobs. — (Cries of " Withdraw.") Murray had said he was blocked by Stalker, and Gordon alleged deliberate blocking. Reid said he was wilfully blocked by Stalker, and Brooks arid Musker alleged blocking. Prico had given, very different evidence from what he had stated to the secretary and. himself (Mr Hooper). Tne cutting up of amateur races was becoming a. very considerable trouble and a very regretable ihing, too. , Mr Jacobs a&ked a withdrawal of the statements as to betting. Mr Hooper: I will withdraw nothing. Mr Macassey said there had been considerable ill-feeling between the centre and the D.A.A.C., and that was the root of the matter. It could be seen from Mr Hooper's attitude that the whole thing was irregular. Dr Roberts said he would take time to consider his judgment