NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2589, 28 October 1903, Page 53

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

J. Duncan, the well-known New Zealand footballer, has boon appointed handicapper to the Otago Caledonian Society, vice W. J. Burk, who has resigned after 17 years' cervice, owing to business reasons. The selector of tho New South Wales team for the Australasian Championship meeting, to be held in Melbourne in January has selected several front-rank schoolboy athlcteo amongst his string of " possibles."

There is a probability of Mr A. L. Stycho, secretary of tho N.Z.A A.A , re-signing office after the annual meeting of the association owing to business reasons. Tho "gato" from tho reoent Cross-country Championship, held on Lancaster Park, Christokurch, on Labour Day, did not pan out within pounds of what was expected. The gross receipts were £31 and tho expenditure £46. Tho alleged New Zealand Cicss-coumtry Championship. — As a championship fixture, the first New Zealand Orcss-country Championship can scarcely be considered as more than a, qualified success. There wero only two centres represented, Otago *nd

Canterbury, and of the 16 competitors who started, not more than half a dozen were able to make a creditable showing for the full distance. The attendance of the public, too, saye "Sprinter,"' wae extremely disappointing to the promoting body, the Canterbury Centre, which had certainly deserved better results.

The St. Louis World's Fair authorities hare assured the success of the athletio department of the fair by appointing James? E. Sullivan its director. A more experienced man could not well be found.

At the annual championships of the New England Association of the A.thletic Union of America, W. W. Cbe, jun., put the shot 46ft 6in.

At the games of the Irish Societies, held in Boston, De-nis J. Mahoney threw the 561b •weight 37ft 7in — a new professional world's record. The claim that he used an additional S hook, giving him 4in, was not substantiated, and until the referee'e finding is proven otherwise, this will etand as a professional world's record. At the annual sports of the Ottawa Police Athletio Association, held at Ottawa, Canada, C. Desmarteau, of Montreal, the American 561b weight champion, threw the 561b weight for height 15ft, which is only 6|in ehort of Mitchell's world's record. He won the discus, was second in the shot-put, second in the hammer, won the 561b weight for distanoe with 34ft liin — an exhibition throw covered 34ft 7in.

At the South London Harriers' sports, held at Kennington Oval, on September 13, Shrubb won tlie Two Miles Handicap from scratch in 9min 17sec, which constitutes the world's amateur record. The previous best was G. George's 9min Yt 2-56 ec, created in April, 1884. The world's professional record is held by Wm. Lang, who, ac far back as 1863 covered two miles in 9min llgsec.

At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Caledonian Societies' Association at Wellington last week, it was decided to offer .the ohampionship meeting to Oamaru. D. Courtney, G. M'Keague, and A. Missen were disqualified for 12 months on a report from the Hawke's Bay Society.

The North Otago Caledonian Society has decided to accept the offer of the Caledonian Societies' Association of the championehips for their meeting on January 1 and 2. The sum of £450 is to be given, £50 moro than for the last championship held at Oamaru. A biass bands quickstep competition will probaibly be held at the meeting, the prizes to be £50. £20, and £10. The following is tne result of the Christchuroh Harriers' One-mile Handicap, which was run on Thursday: — G. W. Lawrence, 80yck, 1 ; W. C. Hart, 15yds, 2 ; B. Hampton, 100 yds, 3; A. Sipthorpe, 125 yds, 4. The other starters w-ere: — W. Fle.wellen scr, N. Wood 50yds, W. Thomson and E. Cobeldick 75yds, J. W. Stubberfield 80yds, W. F. Anderson 110 yds, G. T. Jones, A. Poison, and R. B. Marshal 120 yds, J. Le-thaby and A. E. Frost 130yde. The winner came in 10yds ahead of Hart, who just beat Hampton for second place. Time, 4min 43 2-ssec.

Messrs Brickell and Cannon, the- hon. secretary and treasurer respectively of the Dune-din Harriers, are to be complimented on the excellent manner in which they managed the club's annual social and presentation of prizes. They not only studied the club's finances, but also had due regard to the depth of the junior members' pockets. The consequence was that the latter were more than satisfied, whilo the former was asked to pay only about 10s, which was done cheerfully.

The arrangements for the Dunedin Harriers' 10-mile Handicap are well in hand, and it is likely that a good race will ensue. The fact that Murray, Kendriok, and Burk are competing is sufficient guarantee of this, and it should also prove a source of attraction to the general public. Entries closewith the secretary (Mr R. W. Brickell) on Friday night, and it is anticipated that there will be a fairly large field.

Although the curtain has now been rung down on Harrier sport for the season, it is understood that Murray, of the Dunedin Harriers, will make an attempt to lower the New Zealand record for 10 mile?. Murray has been at the forefront of harrier running during the season, and his success in attempting a new record will be hailed with enthusiasm by all lovers of the sport. The agitation regarding the new registration fee seems to have quietly fizzled out here. In other parts of the colony it is understood there was little or no objection to the new rule, and after full consideration of the matter I feel sure Otago will follow suit. The rule is a wise and a necessary one in the interest of all athletes, and rle, foe is so small as to cause hardship to no one. In connection with this rule, it has been sugge_ted that the intention is to allot each licensed competitor a number, which he will enter and run under during the season. This is an excellent idea, and if carried out should work well.

The new committee of the Otago Centre would do well to seriously consider the advisability of holding a school sports meeting during the coming year. Such an e%ent, apart from its assured popularity, would, I think, give a decided filip to athletics in Dunedin. The cost would not be- great, and if well carried out, the meeting would instill a lasting interest in the sports in the rising generation. The presentation of prizes in connection with the Civil Service Club will take place at a smoke concert in the Choral Hall on Friday night. Tho dead heat for the Lady's Bracelet (Civil .Service Harrier*) between Titchener and Frank'yn will be decided some evening thio week Now that the Otago C2ntre has added Murray's name to tho=e nominated for tho tr-p to Australasia additional interest will be lent to his attempt to lower the tenmile record. Should he prove successful, lis chance* of get'int? a place in the New Zealand team should be considerably enhancpd. Splendid weather favoured the Jiurton (England) Tinted meeting on Spptember 5, but recent rains made the track very heavy. Duffey, the world's champion, turned out in the hundred yards, but was beaten in his heat. He complained of not being "fit," and said the going was against him. He won the Hundred Yards Invitation Race by six inches, in 10 l-ssec. In a wrestling match, Grreco-Roman style, for the championship of the \ror!d( ETackenshmidt, the Russian champion, br-at the Italian cn*.mpion. Antonio Pierri. Georges Hackenshmidt, a Russian by birth, has been pronounced by Colonel Fox, the chief inspector of British army gymnasia, to bs the finest athlete he has- ever aeen (.tripped. Ho rtands sft Bin, his chest measurement is 50j-in, and ho scales 16.0. Hackenshmidt is only 25 years old. — Hempton, the old-time sprinter, who has been of late olerk ia thd Wellington

(M.L.) Customs, has risen (cays Bulletin) W be collector of customs at New Plymouth. Hempton is now over 40, and it is 11 years, since he did his famous 100 yds over thei cinders at Christchurch in 9 4-ssec. It would have been a world's record but for tha fact that Macpherson, of New South Wales, did exactly the same time a year earlier or? the grass track at Auckland. One-fiftb of a eecond has been chipped off that record in later years.

The annual meeting of tho Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Ath« letic Association was held on Friday evening. The report stated that during the ehort time it had been in existence the centre had been successful in awakening au' increased interest in athletics, and there were indications of success in the future., The centre's representative team had yon the Cross-country Championship of New Zealand, and the committee had to thank 'its representatives for their loyal support. The report was adopted. The election of officers resulted ac follows: — President. Dr Thomas;' vice-president, Mr J. F. Wachsmann : secretary and treasurer, Mr C. East ; auditor, Mi L. W. Harley; vice-president of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Atln letic Association, Mr J. F. Grierson ; delegates to the council, Messrs C. T. Aschmaii and F. W. Johnston. A suggestion to appoint official handicappere and timekeepers was discussed, and the secretary was instructed to write to the council, asking for definitions of the duties of these officials. It was decided that it should be a recommendation to the council to exempt from t*ia operation of the registration rules competitors in races for "old boys" at school spopfe, strangers' races, officials' races,, and volunteer and fire brigade events on any programme. Votes of thanks were passed toi Messrs J. E. Green, J. F. Wachsmann, and T. Steele for their assistance lo the committee and to the members of the teamwhich represented the cemtro in the Crosscountry Championship Race. At the track and field championships, of the Metropolitan Association of the Amateur Athletic Union of U.S.A.. held at Celtic Park, Long Island, on August 22, Hhe 100 yds was woa by P. J. Walsh in 10 l-ssec. The 220 yds fell to the same runner in 23 3-ssec. H. Valentine won tho 880 yds in 2min 0 3-seec. S. S. Jones won the 120 yds Hurdles in 17*ee. The Mile wag won by A. Grant in smin 1 4-ssec. H. L. Hillman annexed the 440 yds in 55 4-ssec. The 220 yds Hurdles went to the same athlete in 27 2-sseo. The Three-mile Run -was covered in 15min 57 2-ssec by J. Joyce. Flanagan threw the 16lb hammer 158 ft 7^in and the 561b hammer 34ft 4iin. M. J. Sheridan won the discus throw with an effort of 126 ft Bin. Jones won the High Jump with a fino effort of 6ft. The 16U* shot put was won by Fe-uerbach with 43ft 9Jin. The Running Broad Jump was woa by Meyer Primtein. with 23ft 2£in. ThePole went to F. Allis, with a vault of lift 7in.

Over real country the Ton-miie Ctoss^ country Championship of Tasmania, under the auspices of the Tasmanian Amateur Athletic Association, took place- on Saturdayy 10th inst. From noon rain began to fall, and continued throughoiit the afternoon, making it unpleasant for the spectators and more so for tho competitors. The course was twice round the Show Ground ; them out and across Lacrosse Ground, through to Albert Park, and across paddocks; across Dei-went Park towards El-wick, round track; of Elwick, and home again by -way of the main road, finishing! twice round Show Ground. The race was splendidly contested throughout, and after a most exeit* ing finish the solitary Northern representative, B. L. Thompson, beat W. H. Clemea by about? two yards, Sl.S 1 . Schofield close up third, and H. Williams fourth. C. Hannigan, whilo running prominently, had to retire owing to his kneo failing. Thompson's time for the 10 mile 3 was 61min sseo ; Clomes, 61min sisec ; Sehofield, 62min.