NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 58

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

V. Jacobs, the D.A.A.C. athlete, who has been in Invercargill for onao months, has b&en transferred' to Dunedin.

Mr A. O. Duff, the newly-elected vicepresident representing Otago on the New Zealand Council, is well known in cycling circles throughout the -colony, and is a man of intercolonial experience in sporting matters. H& should prove a welcome addition tc tih© council, where his abilities will have ample scope. Those interested in athletics will have to bestir themselves if tho proposed visit of world's champions is to eventuate. It should be no trouble to raise the necessary guarantee of £70 in, Dunedin, but the fact should not be lost sight of that the guarantee only pays the expenses of the .earn. Given a fine day, us doubt t-here would be a big gate, which would, be an easy settlement cf the whole difficulty. The weather hero, 'however, is nof very complaisant, and every safeguard will have to be adopted to avoid a loss to the centre. The Civil Service Harriers had a run on Saturday at Ocean Beach, followed by a dip in the baths. The members of this club'are How going into training in earnest in view of the forthcoming club races. The Postal Cup, of one mile, comes up for decision at the end of next month, with the Railway Cup, of three miles, following, and the Civil Service Championship, of five miles, wt the cad of t,he > season. The last race will be held at Wingatui as usual.

The gratifying news comes to hand of the steady progress to recovery of Mr H. B. Courtis, the president of the Otago Centre. During his term of office. Mr Courtis has displayed a genuine interest in athletics, and has done all in his power to further the sport. His presence has been much missed from the centre during his iilnc-s, and one and all will be ,glad to hear of his return to health. Owing to tho wretched weather on Saturday some of the harrier clubs had only a small muster. Rough weather should not prr\ent harriers from turning out in force, aud a run under any conditions is much more enjoyable when there is a good attendance. The fact that each run counts for an attendance prize should also be kept steadily in view. At ihe last meeting of the Otago Centre the resignation was received of the hon. secretary, Mr Frank A. Webb. Mr Webb finds it impossible, in view of his business engagements, to continue in office. His loss is a severe one, as during the time ho has been secretary he won golden opinions for his work. Indeed, the centre has, wifcb. his assistance, .successfully run the most lmnortaut function undertaken since its inccptioH — viz., the Schools' Championshirjs, and it is due to his untiring energy and unremitting care that, a balance came out on the right side of the ledger. It is a pity to see one, so genuinely interested in athletics resigning his official position, but it is hoped his interest and support will not be lost to the sport altogether. I trust to see tho cenl'e recognise the services rendered by Mr Webb in some tangible way. lii a wrestling match in Melbourne between J. Carkeek (the English champion) and George Dinnie (sen of Donald Dinnie, the well-'kncwn Scotch athlete), the former threw his opponent with the "giant swing" in Bmin sscc.

The~ following were adopted as Victorian records at the last meeting of the V.A.A.A. :— l2oyds hurdles, 16 2-ssec, by G. W. Smith (equals present record) ; 440 yds hurdles, 53 2-ssec, by G. W. Smith ; 220 yds, 22 3-16set>, by N. C. Barker; one mi'e, 4min 30 4-ssee, by H. Sutt'on ; three miles, 15min 30<^c, by R. A. Ferguson; throwing the hammer, 130 ft lin, by W. O'Reilly. All these were made at the Austrolasiau champ ionsliirw on January 30 and Febi-uaiy 1 last. In "the case of O'Reilly's 39it 2v n for putting the shot, further evi-dence-"is to be" obtained. An application by J. il'DonalJ for walking records for each mile- from 11 miles to 50 inclusive was referred to the record committee. Nothing having been done by the other States to practically support the sending of a team to the Olympic games, it was resolved to abandon the proposal. The Meiburnian Hare and Hounds wrote stating that their club might be able to ~end C. H. Gardner lor the short hurdles, and that another member, L. M. Macpherson, expected to bo in St. Louis in August, and was prepared to compete in the long hurdles, and asking that they ho given letters of introduction and 1 official recognition. This was readiJy granted, and the spirit shown by the Mclburnians yi~s warmly praised. It was unanimously dctulcd to lecommend ihc annhca-

tion of Harvey Sutton for a Rhodes scholarship. After dibcussion it was resolved to suspend G. Blake for a period of throe months for having entered for a professional race. Mr Shappere's motion, "That no permits be granted to amateurs ti compete m any events at tiade or hot seaports wherein professionals are competing,"' was carried unanimously. Tho committee of the C^il Ser\ ice Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, at a meetin" on Friday night, decided to g.ve the projected visit, of the world's champions a cordial support, and £5 was Aot'ed towards the required guarantee. _ , _„ , The recently-formed Gore Harricis Club had an attendance of 27 at their last run, and hope to have even a better following before the end, of the season. Harrierism is booming in the south, and though it is looking pretty far ahead, the Gore Club hope to have a few representatives in next season's Otago-Southland .-ross-country race.

The Civil Service Harriers are to be the guests of their popular vice-president (Mr A. Marryatt) on Saturday next, June 25. Judging by 'the handsome manner in which they were treated last year, ihe approaching run wi'l be the record of the seascn. The new members of the Civil Service Harriers arc fa^t impiovin,g in speed, notably S'eigh, Steven I , ' and Harland, who should give a good account of themsehes in the \arious races during the season.

Harrier clubs in Chrislchurch are not nearly so successful in Christchurch as in Dunedin, is the opinion of a correspondent. There is not the enthusiasm for the sport there should be. Cycling has such a tremendous hold that the idea of running when it ie &o ea»y to cycle strikes the average young fellow as idiotic. A'Juch regret is expressed in athletic circle .«. and in the Civil Service Harriers in particular, at the sad accident which befel H. Franklin whilst playing football last Saturday, he having the misfortune to break his left log above the ankle. It is all the more regrettable, as he intended Saturday to bo his laet game on the football field, and was going to devote the remainder of the season to the Harriers. Franklin had a bright future before him on the running track, besides being a very fair juniper. He was the best sprinter in his club, as his successful running last year proved. He has the sincere sympathy of his clubmates. ono and all wishing him a f-peedy lecovery, and hoping that the after effects will not compel him to sever his connection with athletics. The most important business at the meeting- of the Canterbury Centre on Friday last W a<, the discussion of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association's proposal to invite a team of champion athletes to visit the colony towards the end of the year. It ways moved— "That this centre views with favour the council's proposal to invite a team of athletes to visit the colony, and that a sub-committee should be appointed to canvass for the amount required." The motion was carried, and it was decided that the affiliated clubs should be asked to assist in the collection of the amount required, and that the centre delegates should be a committee to canvass the city.

It is regrettable that while H. Murray's 10-mile record has been passed by the N.Z.A.A.A , it is not possible for the young Duncdiii atiilete to have his performance registered as an Australasian record owing to the rules of the head council, which provide that only records created at championship meetings shall be registered. My Auckland correspondent wires: — The Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Ama-, teur Athletic Association will meet in a day or two to consider the circular sent out by tho governing body relative to the proposed visit to the colony of a _team of American amateur athletes. From what I can gather, it is most certain that the required £uaranteo will be forthcoming, provided the centre has the assurance of the association that the team will be a representative one. I regret to learn cf the illness of Mr Alf. Jay. one of Otago's delegate on the council cf'the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. At the recent annual meeting of the English Amatetir Athletic Association all the old oflice-bearers were re-eleded. The balance sheet showed assets valued at £1559 j.h-6 9d. There was a deficiency on the year of £4- 14s sd. The spring championship meeting produced a profit of £11 10s 6a, and the championshin sports in July a profit of £34- lcs. It was agreed thst ihe object 6 of the association be extended by the addition to rule 3 of the words—" To promote international competitions. ' J. Colquet. who claims to be the champion high and long jumper of ths world, is eomlng to Australia, having been engaged by tlie Wirth Brothers for a season^ through tho Commonwealth. Colquet is credited with the performance of some remarkable feats. He is a great high and long jumper and a trick jumper. His feats include jumping 'off a brick placed on end over a chair on to another brick (also eiidwajs^ and, over a hurdle 6fc 6in high, and jumping off a brick over a chair on to another brick and over 12 chairs on to a man's face and off again. Colquet jumps fioni the ground into a tub of water placed 10ft away on the top of a 3ft table, and otit again, without wetting more than the soles of hio shoes. He sometimes substitutes a basket of eggs for the tub of water, and jumps among the eggs and out again without breaking an egg. Another rcnarkahlo iump is over a fourwhepled landau, hood and all. He can clear 12ft at ono standing backward jump, and over 10 chairs, each placed 10ft apart, finishing by jumping over three horses put together 10ft from the last chair.

A London 'jable adv;=es that Alfred Shrubb, the English long-distance, champion, has broken ye-t another iocord. This time at Glasgow, where 'he ian four miles m 19mm 23 2-ssee. The previous best record for this distance was held by Peter Cannon, who, on November 8, 18c8, cohered the distance m 19min 25 2-ssec. Within the past two month:: .Shrubb ha« broken the existing records for two, three, four, and five miles — truly a wondcrlul achievement. On performances Shrubb is the greatest distanco runner tho world Las ever known. An article on the famous athleto appeared in our last week's issue.

C. B. Fry's Magazine for- May states that Shrubb, of Horsham, is <V forc m o=t figure in track athletics to-day. The pride of the famous South London Haxners. he has been four times champion of England at cross-country running. Few men have held such a long and successful career; tew men have broken surh records; and never lias one man come to ■v\itlim an ace of so many record,^ and ju^t failed. But he

has not failed always. He holds the Amatour Athletic As>-o^'«it'Oii's records for ] OOOyds, two, t'nvc, tlirec and thrcc-quar ters, and four mile«, and there has ne\er Ihed a man who har= met with uth few dc-feats in actual scratch iacc~. Shrubb stands about sft 6m, and scales little u>oie than S^t. Thi-j is his fifth season on the path, and whilst admirers were abkiug Low long he wou'd l-i^t, he beats hi-= own lecord over two mik«. His gieattNt ambition i-= to win tlii- half-mile championship.

A few weeks ago we publi^h^d cable news to tho cflcct that Alfiod ft'.uub'o had created new iiguics fur ihe ini'o. T lhc ms.il to hand brings particulars of the performance. London S^ort^man sa-\ s : —A. Shrubb, holder of many records and amateur champion at one, four, and ten miles flat, and the National Cross Country Champion 1992-3-4, added another to his long list of triumphs at the London Athletic Cub Giounds, Stamford Bridg-e. Hero the members of the South London Harrier* L.eld an evening meeting, a long progi'ammo — considering that the start was not made until half-past 6 — including a fi\e-imle handicap, specially arranged to enable Shrubb to do what ho failed to accomplish at the S.L.H. spring fixture held leccntiy at Kennington "Oval. Everytning * wa> i" fa\our cf fast time*. The weather had undergone a pleasant change, and there was hardly a breath of v.md to interfere with th& progress of the competitors, while Charley Perry had a path as well as it could l;o possibly made Starts extending to oOOyds were allotted, and within hail of l.mi Shrubb had runners liko A. Aldridge, G. Pearce, F. S. Clevel-ey, and G. Still to pull him out. The little South Londoner looked in excellent trim, but he almost brought tears to tho eyes of some cf the critic; when, going off at a smashing pace, lie covered his half in 2hhii 8 3-ssec ,nd the mile in 4-min. 31ser. > The general idea was that Sbrubb had again started ioo fast, and there was still a .shaking of heads when the watch marked 9min 30 3-ssce for tho two miles, as against his 9min 47sec at the Oval. At throe miles and a -quarter Shrubb wiped oui ihe record for this distance (made by W. G. George), and at four miles and a-quarter he again created new figures. Just previous, the scratch man looked lik& having a bad time. He rolled a bit, and his face had a drawn and rather distressed look. Recovering, however, Shrubb ran his last mile inside smm, and, though finishing third in the handicap, he broke the tape in the marvellous time of 24miu 33 2-ss«c. In this way lie beat the previous best amateur time of 24-inin. 53 3-ssec, made hy Sid Thomas in ■V-eptom-ber, 1892, by 20 l-ssec, and, in addition, lowered the figuies of 24-min 40^e c which had Ftocd to the- credit of Jack White, the. Gateshead clipper, who wa? prpsent, for 40 years and "a day. Shrubb's lap times

"Best on record.

Sydney Tivoii was packed on the evening of Tuesday, Jim© /, when Carkeek and "Mcurr.ouk. "the Alg-Tian Gioiit," met for the second time. On the first occasion CarIccek forfeited £25 to Mo us on k for having failed to secure a fall in Ismin, and after the content the Alg-firia;i made n bet of £25 that he would thiow Cavk-eek in the Grseco-Boman style in 30min. It was to «ettle this that, the> pair mci. The contest lasted the half-hour, and Mouzouk therefore lo^t his money. He never had theslightest, cha'ico cf scoring, though several times, tli» contest became very excising. At its conclusion Carkeck stated that h" 1 wotVd' wrestle' Mourzouk on anyone e-ke, in cntch-as-catch-can style for as much motley as they ecu Id find. Ho could not. ho said, take Mourzouk on to a finish at Grseco-Rcmau owing to tho fact that the Algerian was two itou^ heavier in weight, and 22 years younger. Carkeek and Mourzouk were- to moot again for a £50 purse presented by Mr Rickards, the match to be the best two out of three falls — one. GraecoRoman and the other catch-as-catch-can. If a third bout were necessary the winner in tho s-hortc«fc tun© to have choice cl style.;.

The Council of the Otago Centre of the X.Z.A.A.A. met in the Otago Cycling Club's looms on Hie 14tb, when there were present — Dr Buck, Messrs R. W. Brickell, J. J. Kingston, A. A. Marryait (vuce-presidents), arid the following delegates:— Messrs A. Cannon and R. J. Jackson (Duriediii Harriers), J. T. Hamann and J. Mooiiey (D.A.A.C), H. Divers (North Otago), J. Faulks and H. Mackintosh. (Civil Service), "W. T. Ta:boys (.St. Andrews), F. A. "Webb (Invercargill jlairiers), George Moieton (V.M.C.A. Harriers). Mr Brickell (vice-president) presided. The Treastuer reported a credit balance of ;SlO 7s 9d. Mr "Webb handed in his resignation as honorary secretary to the centre. — The resignation was accepted with regret. In connection with the Schools' Championship nieetung, C. W. Hoggan wrote thanking the committee for investigating niaiteis. The Secretary of the Caledonian Society wrote enclosing the society's cheque for £2 2s as a donation to the committee. The Secretary submitted a balance sheet showing a profit cf £7 0s lid on the schools' sports meetii%. The Secretary of the N.Z.A.A. wrote intimating that H. Murray's time of 56min losec for 10 miles had been passed as a New Zealand re -ul, but intimating that it would be useles.<. owmg to rules lately passed, to apply for «n Australian record, as the event was not one -nh'ich appeared on "the Australian T7n programme. Mr A. C. Duff had been rlected as vice-president on the council fren 1 die Dunedin Centre. Mr Jf>y, a delegate, wote giving particulars of the meeting of the council, and also geneial information respecti'.g athletics in Christchurch. Ihe Secretaiy of Ihe Invercaigill Harriers foiwaided copies of the club's rules and regu'ations, and a p-"igT«7}nn;e of runs. A sub-committee wps appointed to go into the question cf the centre giving a guaiantee of £70 towaids tho expenses of a visit to Dunedin of a team oi v oriel's champions liom Ameiica, and repoit. A very strong Ilaivieis' Club has recently been formed in Goie, with a mombei&hip of 27. Already foui excellent cross-country runs have taken place. The district in and around GoG >''o J* natural harriers' country, beins r'v,^o e el largely of lii'ls and rolling downs, with a plentiful intermixture of valleys, creeks, and bogs. The first run took place from the residence of the president, Mr J. B. Faitt, who has shown considerable interest in the club. ai;d ha> oft'ei ed a gold medal for competition during the season. The laafc run was from the Goto Coffee Pdkce, v,bere Mrs I. I?. Laudelk,

th c -. proprielrc?'. lT^aled t'uo lr.pmhp! = w'ili i cfre-hm'-nt- .r.id oti'oird th" club f'c ii-e of her bathnom any time thej de=ircd ir<3 u-e. In this l.itler ruii 2] mcmboi-, took part, and the trail wa^ laid o^er -oaw iiiift country, to ncgotirito v. lnch it -\,ns ni>c ic -=aiy to run through or jump ovi— wsip unfortunately jumped li'to— several wide creeks overflowing with leeent ram=. The club has among its member* some \ cry promising -printei-', and it is hoped that at some future date arrangements v\ ill be nnr.de to try conclu-ions with one or more of the Dunechn llairi=r^' Club-.

J Mile I Mil© ■2 Mile . Mile .} Miles J Miles I Miles i. Milea >i Miles !l Miles . . 11 3-3 22 Miles .. 2 8 3-5 3 Miles .. 319 3^ Miles .. 431 3^ Miles .. 5 414-5 3 1 Miles .. 6 591-5 i Miles . . 815 1-5 4} If i!es .. 930 3-5 4J Miles .. 10 45 3-5 4f Miles ..12 0 3-5 5 Miles . . 13 17 1-5 . . 14 33 4-5 .. *15 50 2-5 „ 17 5 1-5 .. 18 19 3-5 .. 19 35 .. "20 5 2-5 .. 22 6 3-5 .. 23 23 3-5 . . *24 33 2-5 -a