PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 66

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

Already the secretary of the newlyformed Gtago Athletic Association has had inquiries from several societies re affiliation. As the annual meeting is to be held in August it behoves all societies and clubs to join tho association, so as to have a voice in tho selection of the Executive Council for the ensuing year. Several of the older and more financial societies are kmongst the number desirous of being under one ruling body, having at heart the purification of cash athletics. Says the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Referee: — "The boom which i 3 promised in Melbourne next spring in professional athletics is gradually developing. Mr E. J. Wright has already announced Particulars of the Sportsman's meeting, to c held iH the Exhibition Arena on October 15 and 20, at which £300 will be distributed in prize money, while Mr J. Wren is at present busily engaged in framing the programme which is to be played out at the same rendezvous, under his management, on November 3 (Derby night), November 6 (Cup night), and other nights till, concluded. Prize money aggregating close on £1000. will be allocated, the chief dish of the feast being a Sheffield Handicap, of 120 yards, for £500. All other classes of running will be liberally catered for." North Canterbnry lias now got its association in full working order, with close on 20 societies affiliated. Otago, when properly combined, should_ have near 40 societies and clubs under its control. For the Roekhampton carnival record nominations have been received, there being over 500 in all events. For the Sheffield Handicap there are 106, and they include pedestrians from every State in the Commonwealth. A. B. Postle is on 7vds, Maurice Buxton on 10yds, Thompson (Stawell winner), Todd. and Ryan, on lljyds; M'Manus and M'Grory on 12^yds, Egan on 13yds, Flanagan on 14yds, and Terry on 15yds. with a limit of 20yds. In the Sprints Handicap Postle is on 2yds, with limit 11yds: total entry 120. In the Half-mile Postle and Dave Smith are on scratch. with the limit 60yds. and a total entry of 83. This should be a good race between Postlo and Smith, as the latter (who has competed successfully at various meetings in Oamaru) 13. if in anything like form, capable of doing under 2m in. Possibly Postle will reserve himself for the sprints. A meeting between the two champions would be worth going a distance to see. P-. Wallburton, the well-known sprint runner> i» still in the Christchureb. hospital, suffering from an accident while playing football. I ant, however, jjleased to hear that he is rapidly on the mend. According to tho New South Wales Athletic League Calendar for this month the. number of clubs registered to date is 117 T or 35 more than at the end of July last year. The number of pedestrians registered is 1600, or 209 more than last year. • Egypt is one of the very few countries where there are more men than women. The male sex in the dominion of the Khedive exceeds the female by 160,000.