NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 62

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

The affiliation of the St. Joseph Harrier Club (Dunedin), Union Harrier Club (Invercargill), and Caversham Harrier Club (Dunedin) to the Otago Centre has been approved by the council of the- N.Z.A.A.A. In connection with a request from the Otago Centre for a certificate of a record made by Mr H. A. Murray, the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. has decided To reply that there is no rule for the is3uo of certificates, but a proposal to adopt such a rule is under consideration. The University sports will be held tnis (Wednesday) afternoon. On Monday the greater part of the Caledonian Ground was submerged, but by the afternoon most of the water had been drained off, so ii there is strong wind and sun to-day the track may be got in fairly good condition. The races should be exciting, as there are many well-known athletes competing, and each race should be keenly contested. These sports, besides being an inter-faculty tournament, are ako the trials for the choosing of the University representatives in the inter-University tournament at Christchurch next Easter.

Albeit the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championships were held in _Christchurch as far back as March last, matters in connection therewith have not yet been settled. A statement of tickets issued and returned shows a deficiency of £3. Several members of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association spoke their minds pretty plainly at the last meeting of the council. Mr Batchelor complained that the secretary had not done what was expected of him in the matter of securing returns of tickets. In other matters there had been numerous omissions, and generally the affairs of the association had been neglected. The council had been made a laughing stock by the failure of its executive ofiicers to conduct the business properly, and he thought that there was need for definite action on the part of members. He moved that the secretary should be asked to resign. Mr Green said that he would second the motion. He had had complaints from a member of the Wellington Centre regarding the conduct of the council's business. The good name of the council had been lost through neglect, and the only way to restore it was to appoint an officer who would give its affairs that attention which they needed. Mr Styche said that he had hoped for an improvement in the conduct of the business, but he was sorry to find that there had been none. He regretted tnat he was a member ' of the council, for ii; had lost the respect of the centres. Mr Atack said that some steps must be taken to alter the position of the council. Not only had the executive officers been censured, but all the members were being blamed for the state of affairs that had existed. They could show that they were earnestly desirous of reform only by assuring themselves that those who were entrusted with the carrying on of affairs could be relied on. The motion was carried.

There is a probability of the athletic societies of the colony — other than amatevirs — being represented at a conference in Wellington about Christmas time. At the request of several promoters, Mr T. P. Gilfedder, of Invercargill, who is well known in the athletic world, has taken the matter in hand, and is communicating with athletic societies throughout New Zealand. Several Australian clubs have signified their intention of being represented, and local bodies are also showing enthusiasm. The holding of a conference will do good in many ways, and will lead to the better holding of sports and the establishment of reciprocity. I wish the undertaking every -access. The Union Harriers, of Invercargill, held their Three-mile Race on Wednesday last, a large number of members taking part. It was a perfect day for running, and with a dry course the race was fast. The scratch man, J. Sloan, put up fastest time (16min 20sec). The result was : — E. Drain (2min lOsec), time (actual) 18min 19 2-ssec, 1; J. A. England (45s.ee), 2; A. S. Wallace (45sec), 3 — the scratch man finishing fourth. The Ten-mile Cross-country Championship of Tasmania was won by G. Blake (Victoria), time 63min ISsec, with S. Schofield (Hobart), 63min 28sec, second, and Thompson (Launceston), 65min .15sec, third. The race was run over a somewhat heavy course, and Blake was kept going all the while to keep ahead of Schofield. These two runners occupied the same positions in the last Ten-mile Championship of Victoria, and will meet again m Melbourne on the 16th of September.

The news of the death of Lieutenant Haly Garcia — once half-mile champion of Now Zealand— has been received with general regret in the south (says an Auckland paper), where he was well known, and an old friend of his writes to me as follows: — '"Poor Garcia! He was a very keen all-round ' sport.' He was not very athletic to look at — in fact, he was rather a ' slouch ' in his bearing, when he was jounger; but there was nothing in the way of games that he couldn't do, and do well. He was a splendid hurdler and half-mile runner, a fine footballer (being a long kick and phenomenally cool), a vigorous, though not a scientific, batsman, a lawn tennis player of much more than average merit, a good rider, and a firstclass swimmer. In fact, so very expert wat> he in the water that I can't understand how he came to be drowned. He was a most versatile sort of fellow, with a great talent for drawing and caricature; in fact, he went to London to study art. But the South African war drew him to the army, in which several of his family have served. He was always full of UTo and energy, and it is very difficult to realise that he has come to so sudden and sad an end."'

After a tremendous firish with tho Scottish champion, J. P. Stack, in the 100 Yards Dash at the Salford Harriers' sports, J. W. Morton, the English champion, won in 10 2-s&ec.

The winner of the Four-mile Championship at the English Amateur Athletic meeting, J. Smith, to wit, was defeated in the Northern Counties' Mile Championship at

the Sa'ford Harriers' sports by a fine runner named Roberts, who v. on in 4min 29 l-ssec.

The annual international athletic contest between Scotland and Ireland decidod at Powd-crhall grounds. Edinburgh, on July 8, attracted 5000 spectators. Scotland yon by eight events to three. *he" events igsultcd : —Half-mile.— W. D. Anderson, Scotland. 1; W. H. Wel<=h, Scotland. 2. Time, 2min. Throwing the Hammer. — T. R. Nicholson Scotland, 153fi s|in, 1 ; P. Ryan, Ireland, 147 ft 10J,in, 2. 100 Yards.— J. P. Sfcark, Scotland, 1 ; D. Murray, Ireland, and R Kitson, Sbotlanr], dead heat. Tcme^ 10 4-ssec. High Jump. — C. Lsrburv, Ireland, 6ft lin, 1; J. B.Mihv. Scotland sft 9iin, 2. 220 Yards — J. P. Stark, Scotland, 1; D. Murray, Ireland, 2. Yard. Time, 23 4-ssec. One Mile.— J. M'Gough, Scotland, 1; 0. N. Morphy, Ireland. 2. Time, 'fmtn 30 l-ssee. Putting the Weight. D. Hogan, Ireland, 46ft 6^in, 1; T. R. Nicholson, Scotland, 42ft lin. 2. 120 Yards Hurdle.— R. S. Stronach, Scotland, 1: J. Murray, Ireland, 2. Time. 15 3-ssec. 440 Yards.— W. Hals-.vell, Scotland. 1; J. Mackenzie, Ireland, 2. Time, £0 4-ssec. Broad Jump.— O. Leahy, Ireland, 22ft 52in, 1; H. R. Neilson, Scotlaud, 22ft 4Jin, 2. In last week's issue mention was made of an amateur athlete in Scotland who was detected 3 mining with his pumps loaded with lead. The Scottish A.A.A. has taken prompt' action in the case, ihe offender being permanently suspended.

The long-distance runner, A. Shrubb, turned out for the sixth time in the race for the Atalanta Cup, a perpetual trophy, value 50gs. It was announced that he would endeavour to beat his own three-mile world's grass record of 14min 25see, made on the same ground in 1902, but the champion had! no one to extend him. He left his mosfc dangerous opponents quite early in the race and making the whole of the running himl self, finished in 34-min 38 4-sseo, He ran strongly for two miles, and had he had anyone to take him along in the last miie would no doubt have achieved his object. He passed ihe mile post in 4min 32sec, and two miles in 9min U 3-ssec. At the latter point Shrubb held a 200 yards lead of Aldridge, Hulford, and M'Nicol. This trio were having a great race for second place, and eventually Hulford got the best of it, beating M'Nieol by a couple of yards, with Aldridge tailed off. Shrubb rattled along? to the end. and ultimately won by 250 yards in 14min 38 4-ssec.

The importation of Shrubb and Duffer, so far as the New South Wales A.A.A. is concerned, proved a financial failure — quite a severe loss to our governing body (says a Sydney writer). The preliminary arrangements, in which neither N.S.W. nor Victoria had any voice, although they are expected to share the expenses incurred, ran away with a, lot of money, chiefly through the use of the cable. Misunderstandings between ihe N.Z.A.A.A. and Mr 0. Herbert, hon. see. to the English A.A.A. , and in the allowing of Duffey to return from England to> America, accounted for a considerable and actually unnecessary expenditure of money. The N.Z.A.A.A. undoubtedly showed enterprise in bringing out the stars, but had they deferred the visit until next summer, and carried on all negotiations by letter, there; would have been a large saving of money. The man who would have beaten Shrubb ere Smith did (says -an Athletic News writer) is Tom Edwards, of Poulton-le-Fylde, stayer, bowler, jockey, tra'm&r, dog owner, and goodness what. If Edwards had not had charge of so many things that can run perhaps he would have done a littio more" himself. One can never forget the day at Hamilton Park, in the first international cross-country race, when he, a practically unknown, followed Shrubb home at a respectable and respectful distance, being the only man who could stay with the Horshara stayer against a gale of wind and a blinding rainstorm, after J. J. Daly. Aldi'idge, George Smith, and the rest had crumpled up like tissue paper. The Scottish champion hurdler Stronacb defeated the American timber-topper Ainslee in the 120 yards Hurdles at Ayr recently getting 1 over the sticks in 16sec, thus equalling the Scottish, record for the race. The> American got away badly, and concluded by knocking down three hurdles. George Butterfield, of Darlington, tns one-mile English champion, is 26 years ofl age, and has won ever £500 worth of prizes. He commenced running when 11 years or age, and in addition to the mile championship, he has won sprints^ quarters, and longer distances than the mile. He has a fine style, and is a plucky runner. The Scotch sprinter, J. P. Stark, running at a recent sports meeting in Scotland, won two 100 yards handicaps, and during the afternoon did lOseo off 2J,yds no fewer than five times. Consistency, thy name is Stark! Alfred Shrubb is a champion still m runnhi"- if not in name (says an English writer). He fairly staggered the sceptics at East Grinstead sports by romping home an easy winner of the 100 Yards Scratea Race in 11 l-ssee, and then, after a couple of hours' Test, winning the lwo Miles Handicap easiQy from scratch in 9min 26&sc. The track, of beautifully level turf, had been carefully measured, and it took 9 laps and 82 yards to make up the complete distance. One thing 1 which surprised the onlookers in the sprint was Shrubb' s oekrity in getting off the mark. Adopting the popular position of hands on the ground," Shrubb was "off" in response to the pistol fixe like a greyhound from, the leash, and he beat J. Barnes by a good five j?l:<ds. Barnes was a rattling good runner a few years ago — one of the best in the district,— so Shrubb was not competing against duffers. He subsequently stated that he owes his improved sprinting power to the lessons which; Duffey had given him on the way to and from, and during the sojourn in, Australasia. The handicapper who puts Shrubt* on limit in an open sprint had better look out far fast times. Shrubb won against Barnes, slowing up and looking round. Ths record for the Mi'e Walk), held by the English amateur champion. G. E. Lamer, of 6min 26sec, was still further reduced by that athlete a few days ago to 6mm 25 2-ssec. Larnsr ako won a two-mile race ■easily in 13m in 2] 2-ssec. . The feat of walking 2000 miles in 1000 hours was accomplished in England the other day by James Buxton, a Derbyshire footoballer, who weighed 12st at the beginning of the journey, and only lOst 71b at its conclusion. . There is a probability of James Jeffries, the champion boxer of the world, coming 1 out to Australia shortly. A cable has been, received in Melbourne advising that Jeffries would come out to Australia and fight for the championship if guaranteed £500 and expenses and a £2000 purse. Jeffries has

been wired to advising tbat the terms are •ccep'ted. 'It is proposed to match the winner of .the approaching contest between Squire 3 and Kerrick against the world's champion. The sprinting story told in these columns the other week (says the Athletic News writer) recalls to mind another of a slightly different complexion. In the days of the Olympic Club at Birmingham, John S. Barnes, the manager, used io have a lofty idea -of his sprinting abilities, and not without a certain amount of justification, for, as the 6aying goes, John, considering his age, could "hop it a bit." After Dick Burge's memorable battle with Eddie Connolly, the talk turned on sprinting, and a match was fixed up between Barnes and Burge. "The event was decided in the hardware city, and Barnes won. Burge always could travel, earning fame as a sprinter before he Teally came out as a, boxer, and the Americans were very proud of his success. After the race there were high old times at the club, but the clever Barnes did not long remain a proud winner. A fat bookmaker at the club, who shall be etyled ''Billy Smith"'' for the sake of this narrative*, offered to run Barnes 50 yards for £50 aside on the following terms: — Barnes to concede "one yard start, amd the peneiller to -Be allowed to " select' his own course. .. The -betting man close on 18st, was almost. ''as broad ->as he was long r and the whole* things 'seemed ridiculous. " Smith." .. tow-ever; 'was- in -earnest, and- Barnes, looking "on the ~ maEtch <*as- easy money, agreed -to all 'the conditions. "He had, however, reckoned ■'-without*'* the course.--" The pitch * selected bythe bokmaker wa&-down a- narrow " "entry, in- Birmingham, -just wide, enough to allow the bookmaker trot along, but leaving scarcely room enough for a fly_ to pass. 'Barnes was. fairly trapped, for Smith, with his start, in front, Barnes's only way to get past him being to climb up his - tody- and over, his ..head, for which infringement a- "foul would 'have been claimed. The fcetting-man jogged. steadily over the 50 yards and,, of 'course, the" /prize. A ;ra*>& -over -100 "yards "between a man and a horse, whicfcvrew 'to have -been decided in England) last mon*h,.set a correspondent in a reminiscent- mood, in which he states: — "Bednjt one who -assisted in the-B. R. Day v. -Lady.- "H. "match at Blackpool, a few personal reflections, should not be amiss — especially as showing -the relative paces of fcoth. ' Now. Day was baaiten a yard, over 220 yards distance; in 11 4-seeiC, which, to my mind," means 'he was .a yard, inside evens, and three watches, -my own included, tallied! as to that time. It -is a. pity; Day ever left the amateur ranks ! At 100 'yards he had the trotting- mare "beaten tc pieces ; so Jiad he th© verdict at 110 yards; but it was in the -concluding stages that she- came <with>- such a rush that ah© .picked Day -up 5 yards from' the 1 tape -and,- wen" a, yard., 'Now, -Day .was striding 7ft 3in all the way, on ai track/npt ' "too 'stiff,'' but -what; -was £*dy JR.,' doing when, she" was' travelling at top speed? years^agofcbe'ol'd' dame could -do-'"9sec", 'standing' start,- 'trotting -10Q yards—every 7df - the week. • That was how «he and Day started' in their snatch — standing, — and in the- early stages it looked, a. runaway affair for fche man. But when >the/great lumbering, bull-necked white 5 -mare :got -her wide- paces going theri she travelled like a whirlwind. Not the prettiest- of movers when -sprinting — she resembles Charles Bradley or Parlby, when they were. at their "bipsjest and were.poundans: along, — the old girl can -still /do lOsec, •I foeKeve. for the hundred-everv itayituthe week. At 100 yaids^l think Day will just win; at 110 the mare, wound thoroughly ■up. And travelling -for life and death, mijKht sustget ,up<and beat him. But I hardly thinlc 11 4-ssec is her fleetest time for 120 yanfe."