NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 62

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

!A very promising runner in S. J. Smith has been transferred to Wellington. Smith is a member of the Civil Service Club, and won the Postal Cup, cf one mile, during the last croSs-country season. His performances among the Wellington distance runners will be looked forward to with interest. . The members of the Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club met on Friday evening to say good-bye to Harry iW. "Franklin, who has been transferred to Wellington. On behalf of the members, jthe president of the club, Mr A. Clothier, '■^reiented Mr Franklin with a handsome cake basket bearing the following inscription:— "Kia, Ora to H. W. Franklin, from the Otago C.S. Harriers, 8-2-07." Mr Franklin has been one of the most active members of the club, and his place will be hari to £ll. Until-an unfortunate accident whidi happened at football some seasons ago Franklin was looked on as a coming jepreseptative athlete. The best wishes of Donedin athletes will accompany him to bis new home. • From Auckland comes the -gratifying news that after a prolonged struggle the Attempt to form a Civil Service Amateur Athletic Club in that city is likely to be immediately successful. Mr Felix Morton, twp*, it be remembered, was treasurer «£ the Otago Centre prior to his removal 4o .the north, has been working in the ■atier, and feopes to see success crown his efforts before the season is over. The new club will complete the formation of Civil Service cl»bs in the four centres. I understand that an attempt will then be made ito form similar associations in InvercargiH, Oamaru, TSrnaru, Napier, and Wanganui. It is from the Dunedin Civil Service Club that the new movement has arisen, and a large amount of the work of organisation has been carried out either from Dunedin t> by ex-members of the Dunedin Club. The Ciwil Service Club are sending a tetey *cam for ike championship relay race, and have also entered for the handicap event. Otago wall therefore be represented in these events by the wearers of the amber and white. M'Corkindale, Campbell, Williams, and Brown will form .the C.S.H. team. The Christchurch Centi-e have notified the appointment of three delegates for the proposed conference of centres at the championship meeting. The conference (will be held at theTioneer Club rooms, probably on Friday, the Jfflnd inst. In this connection I .notice that b. Canterbury iVriter credits the N.Z. Council with the adea of holding a conference. This iB ineoraect. Otago proposed the conference, snd circularised the other centres independent of ihe council altogether. Moreover, the matter was mentioned in these columns «t the time of the Shrubb-Buffey tour, jwhen -the writer advocated the holding of ifchese conferences annually. Another point: *he idea is to have a conference of representatives of centres, not of centres and Council. To do the latter would be to ■fcultify the whole proceedings. What is (wanted is the representatives from the centres alone.

Otago's delegates at the conference of 'centres in Christchurch next week will profcjbly be Messrs Maxryatt, Hamann, and ©reaver. I hear that Wellington will be represented by Messrs Coffey, M'Villy, and ■Da-vies.

Mr D. Gollan, a member of the Civil Service Club, has been transferred to Wellington. Mr Gollan will make a useful member of- the Wellington Civil Service Club, should lie be induced to again don jthe racing .shoes. Otago' s chances of retaining the shield appear to be rather diminishing as time goes on. Crichton is unable to make the trip; so far nothing has been heard of Brydone; Bone cannot go; nor can Casey or Walker; while Gow is doubtful. This leaves a dozen men to do battle for the province. Hoare -and P. • Scott have entered, and any points scored by them will count for the shield. It is unfortunate that Keddell is unable to jump for Otago this year, as his presence at the meeting .would mean many points. The young athlete is probably wise, however, to reserve his efforts until his knee is thoroughly recovered. The team will leave Dunedin ■by the first express on Wednesday, the 20th, and will probably etay at the Zetland Hotel, ChristchuTch.

Mr A. A. Paape, vice-president of the Southland Centre, passed through Dunedin on «. flying visit north last week. Mr Paape is hopeful of being able to be present at the championship meeting, where Si© will represent Southland at the conference.

The weather was again bleak for the final evening meeting of the series of evening sports gatherings so successfully promoted by the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club. Nevertheless there was a. fair attendance of spectators, who evinced a keen interest in the excellent programme provided. Proceedings opened with the 100 Yards, in ■which the runners had to face a. stiff^ breeze from the bay. Some excellent racing in the heats took place, while the final produced a fine finish, M'Kay (9ivds) just winning from Dansey (3£yds). The time was llsec. The Half-mile was a good xaoe. For once the men who were out on the marks made use of their heads, and set out at a good pace, giving the backxnarkere little chance of making up their pround. It was early seen that Laurenson jTOyds) held a. strong hand, and this (attractive .runner soon made a gap between himself and the field. Although fiiurk {scr) made a great effort io reach him, the Civil Service representative carried too .many guns, -and, finishing strongiy, wan easily. The time was 2min ♦ feSsec. Bank was caught napping at the post by JFarier vtsy<is), "who unwaged to make a dead heat of it for second .place. Hho -Long Jump does not call for .special mention, as despite the wind the performances were mediocre. The best jump of tite' evening' wajj done by Dansey, who got 19ft 6in. The hammer-throwing hke.wise was not of a iigh order, the wnmer turning up in M'F&rlane, whose throw wae 69ft 9in.

The Otago and Southland teams for the N-Z. championship meeting, to be held -m Chmtchureh on the 21st and 23rd inst.. jril! leave Dunedin on Wednesday next t>y the first express. Consequent on some of tho competitors tailing to obtain leave, it has been found

necessary to make several alterations in the Otago team for the championship meeting. The team is now constituted as follows:—100 Yards, Bass; 220 Yards, Bass and M'Corkindale ; 440 Yards, Burk and M'Corkindale; Half-mile, Burk and Gordon; One Mile, Burk and Gordon; Three-mile, Burk and Murray; One and Three-mile Walks, Uow ; Long Jump — Bansey, Gilray, Ruddock. and Da vie f 120 and ¥■. 0 Yards Hurdles— O'Kane, Gilray, and Ruddock : Pole — Overton, Davie, and M'Lachlan ; Hammer. ii'Lachlan and Davie. Otago will not be represented in the Putting the Weight. The following team from Otago will compete in the Three-mile Steeplechase at the championship meeting: — Scott, Foster. Goidon. Murray, and Struthers. Acknowledged with thanks from Mr Hamann, secretary of the Dune Un Amateu- Athletic Club, complimentary tickets for the D.A.A.C. sports, to take place at the Caledonian Giound oa Saturday next. February 16. The ex-Oamaru sprinter, E. B. Fraser, now of Lawrence, who represented Otago at the championship meeting in Christchurch in 1905, and who was again selected to represent the province this year, is unable to take part in the meeting. Large entries have been reoeived for the' Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club'■sports on Saturday next, February 16, and the meeting promises to be one of the most successful ever held by the club. The meeting is made additionally attractive this year by the fact that the Otago team to compete at the championships in Christchurch will be competing. In view of the big gathering the form displayed by the Otago representatives will be watched with interest. Ib is rather interesting to note that in the Wellington team for the championship meeting there are no fewer than three -exDunedin athletes in Tbomassen (the field exponent). M'Kay (who is competing in the three jumps), and Halligan (the huidier and broad jumper). A prominent name missing from the Wellington team for the New Zealand championships is that of Fleming Rose, the ex-champion walker. Since Kerr has come on the scene Ross has been eclipsed.

An interesting event at the Pioneer evening meeting held recently "was a three-mile walk, in which A. Rowland and P. H. Stubberfield, starting from scratch, both covered the distance in 22min Msec. This time is 7sec leas than the standard, and" the walk was one of the finest performances eeen in Ohristehurch for years. George O'Malley, a gentleman who undertook to walk around the world, arrived in Sydney the other day, having completed a tour he began at 'Frisco in October of 1897. Now that the teams have been chosen to represent the various provinces at the New Zealand championship meeting some idea of the prospects may be gathered. Wellington has made several alterations in the personnel of the team selected -a few days ago, and is now in the field with a strong combination. Canterbury is well represented, and will put in a bold bid for the shield. Otago's prospects are not over bright, but several of the men selected who are not looked to to win a championship may run prominently. Southland is being represented for the first time with a team which, though weak numerically, includes one or two promising performers. Auckland has so far not nominated its representatives. In the sprint events, particularly the 100 Yards Championship, Wellington has a strong claim with Henderson, Goodbehere, and Fi«her, and I expect to ccc the first-named annex this event. The 220 Yands should produce a close finish between Henderson, of Wellington, and Drake, of Canterbury. On present form Burk, of Otago, should about win the Quarter from Drake, of Canterbury. The Half-mile will produce a good race, and I expect to see Burk first home, with Murray, of Christchurch, second, -and Bradbury, of Wellington, third. Burk has also a good chance in the Mile, in which his most dangerous opponent will be Bradbury, of Wellington. In tlio Xhree-mile "I like the prospects of Bradbury, with Prendeville second, and Murray, of punedin, third. The 120 Yards Hurdle* will probably find a winner in Murray; -of Ohrßtehurch, with O'Kane (Otago) and ©rbell (Canterbury) fighting oul a finish for second place. The "Quarter"' hurdles may come to Otago, with O'Kane as the winner. On present form Kerr, of Wellington, should win the Mile Walk. while the Three-mile may go to Rtubbe'field, of Christchurch, with Rowland Second. Tho High Jump looks a good thing for Orbell. Failing Laurie, of Auckland, competing, iPLachian, of Otago. stands a gocd chance of winning the Pole "Vault. Rains, of Christchurch. -should just about win the Shot, and Thomaascn, of Wellington, the Hammer. -

At a refnf meeting of the Pet Nicholson Amateur Athletic Club W. Gosling, who has been included in the Wellington team for the championship meeting, won the Mile and A-half Flat off 40yds in 7m:n 0 2-s?ec, beating Pendeville, who was on scratch, by five yards.

If the Dunedin clubs are. likely to be represented in the Relay Race and Crosscountry Teams' Race at thn N.Z. A. A. A. championship meeting, it is about up to the Wellington harriers to see that they are not left altogether in the lurch, sajs a Wellington writer.

An excellent suegestion has been made in connection with the championship moctiner. to the effect that a cup be ffiven to the bc«<- all-round athlete competing ot, the gathering. It is to be hoped that this will be given effect to.

Owing to tho de.etruciion by fire of a portion of the South Canterbury Athletic Club' 6 material, it was found nocessarv to postpone the annual «ports meeting- last week. The meeling will now be held on Thursday, February 28, when .'t is hoped the club will more than recover the lots sustained by the fire. -

A joung- aspirant for championship honours, in the course of a letter permeated with enthusiasm, writes to to say that he has been training for a month in the country, and during most of that time has been working 13 and 14- hours a day in the harvest field. After reaching home at 7 or 8 o'clock at night he goes out training, and comes in at 9 p.m. for his dinner. It will be generally admitted thafc 14- hours under a blazing sun is a pretty fair day's work, and there are very few who would care to indulge in running practice afterwards ; but it is safe to asume that the spirit of amateurism is far from being dead when such instances as* these .are recorded. Wellington % unearthing a few sprinters this year of the proper type. One Bridsre is the latest to come |wo*iinejrtly before the publio per medium of » "fine performance m a 120 yards flat race the other evening,

which he is credited with winning off 4yds in 11 4-ssec.

Prendeville, who was reported to be an unlikely starter at the championship meeting, has evidently decided upon competing, for we find him selected in the Wellington team. Last year's winner of the longdistance event is evidently not in the best of form, for he was fceaten out of a- place in the mile and two-mile events at the Wairarapa meeting a few days ago.

At a recent meeling in Masterion, Bradbury, who is one of the chosen to represent Wellington, won the Mile off scratch in <?min 33sec, and Two-mile in lOmin 24 2-ssec without being extended. These performances point to Bradbury having a big say at the Xe-.v Zealand championship meeting. Harry Murray, the Otago long-distance runner, who was beaten by Prendeville, of Wellington, in the Three-mile Championship at the big meeting held in Duncdui last year, is anxious to turn the tables on the Wellington representative, and will have an opportunity of doing so at the approaching meeting in Chrislchurch, as Prendeville has now been included in the Wellington team. But on recent form it is not Prendoville but Bradbury from whom the Dunedin representative will have the most to fear.

The Congregational spoits at Tahuna Park on Saturday last proved very interesting, and attracted a goodly crowd of ■supporters of the churches represented. The racing reached a fairly high standard, good performances being registered in every event, and although the Moras* Place team secured a runaway victory with 54 points, interest was well sustained to the end. The most prominent runner was W. H. Xirol, who secured the 100, 220, and 440, besides pulling off the Relay Race by running into "first place in the last quarter. C*. Gilray and T. Overtoa (two members of the Otago team) competed, anil each had little difficulty in securing first place — Gilray annexing the Long Jump with 18ft oin and also the 120 yds Hurdles, while Overton accounted for the High Jump with 4ft llin. Gilray' s effort of 18ft 6in does not sound like championship form, but this may be explained on account of the uncertain character of the take-off. Owing to the non-arrival of the timekeeper no times were taken beyond that of the Half-mile, in which C. Darling obtained first place in the p-ood time, considering the heavy wind, of 2min 12 4-ssec. In this event Love, of Port Chalmers, who secured first in the Mile, ran into second place. The PoTt Chalmers team performed very creditably, they, with four men, equalling King Street's tally with eight men. One or two of the competitors were on the young side, but what was lacking in strength was atoned for by pluck, and a young St. Cla.ir representative deserves a, word of praise for the determined manner in which he ran out the Half-mile. This is the more praiseworthy when the reward is not even a laurel wreath, but merely the coveted word "First." Commentinir on the recent talk of secession by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association from the Austral as" an Union, "Harrier," of the Australasian, has this to say : —To which I would add merely that it is exceedingly questionable -whether New Zealand would derive benefit from the right to form separate rules. The compulsory union rules only relate to competing and to reinstatements; in all other respects each body has full powers of internal management. To alter competition rules is not soueht, and it. all appears to boil down to a few alleged cases of hardship in particular applications for reinstatement. Laxity in reinstatements occasioned unpleasant talk between the associations before the union existed, and will do so again unless the practice is kept uniform. The present demand from New Zealand for easier reinstatements is absolutely at variance with the uncompromising attitude of New Zealand's own delegates to the union. These gentlemen were the strictest of the strict, and wished to make it absolutely impossible for an amateur who broke his status ever to be reinstated. What a whirligig, to be enr<>- TrtitH to -fcell, I think some one or other in New Zealand is pulling the strings to get out of the union, for reasons far other than appear on the surface, and any gag is good enough to work the purpose if the centres can be gulled by it. After all. the union is a purely voluntary one, and unless New Zealand considers its advantages outweigh the disadvantages, no other State would expect them to remain in. Arthur S. Duffey's appeal against his record being expunged by the Amateur Athletic Union has been Fquelched by the court*. The Lower Court held that Duffey did not show he had any right for action against the Amateur Athletic Union to compel the reinstatement of his alleged record-. Duffey thereupon took the matter to a higher .court, and the Appellate Division handed down a decision sustaining the decision of the Lower Couit.

1 1re Amateur Athletic Union's acceptance of Dan J. Kelh'e 9 3-sm>c for the 100 yds has caused considerable diEOitsscn all o\cr rhe Stale? (says the Ameiican correspondent of Sydney Referee). Incidentally, Arthur Duffey. of Georgetown, is among those who thiiik that Kelfy is not rightfully entitled to the mark. All through the East, however, there is a disposition to disciedit the performance and deprive the wild and woolly West of the glory that attache*! to Rcllv's achievement. In the diecnasions evoked by the matter, the work of the various Pacific Coast sprinters for ma-iy yeare past has been reviewed, and iir i-> instanced that Bob Ilaky, a member of the Olympio Club of San Francisco, was the first Californian to do the 100 in ]o--> than lOsec. This wa* 25 \eais ago. It i< believed that RchiffcTt-fein ami Chailev Parsons wire the l"-t men be', woe n Halov's day arid the debut of Dan Kolly. Parsons's greatest achievement was at th^ Amateur Athletic Union games in Portland. Parsons started in tho 100 in company with Archie Halm and Clyde Blair, ami defeated them both, the official time being given out a* 9 4-ssee. It ifi an interesting fact that Kelly, who now hoick the world's record, was in the race, and finished a far-away fifth. Many who saw Schifferblein run in the fast eighties declare he was faster than Parsons. He was a nervous fellow, however, and worried and fretted so on the mark that he could not be relied upon to 6how his beet when most expected. A valuable addition to the psychology of sport i 6 afforded by C B. Fry when he speaks of the concentration ot will and attention of mind required in athletic feats:— "From personal experience I can affirm that if a long jumper, either during Uis run-up or afc the moment of taking off, lets his mind wander ever co slightly from -concentration on the effort, he knocks from 2ft to a yard off his jump — he does 20ft ox 21ft instead of the 23ft of which he is

capable. I go so far as to say that the great difficulty of long end high jumping is to concentrate the will. Much the same holds good of sprinting. A runner only realises the full speed of which he is capable by an intense, concentrated, and Busstained effort of will. If during the race 'he allows his mind to wander a hair'sbreadth off the single idea of leaching the tape, his speed falls off."

AMATEUR ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 5.

The following will represent Canterbury afc the championship meeting on February 21 and 23 : — 100 yds and 220 yds — F E Drake, "W Anderson J. H. Worgan, and J. Anderson. Three Miles.— Nelligan. M'Cully, ? W. Moore. Claughton, and Shsunahan. 440 yds Hurdles.— H. St. A. Murray, C. L. Orbell, and J. Anderson. Hammer. — B«ird and P. M'Neil. 440yds.— F E. Drake, W. Anderson. 7 H Worgan and C. F. Binns. One Mile Walk.— P. H. Stubberfield A. Rowland, R. Twyneham, and Holderness. High Jump.— C. L. OTbell, G. H. Davies, and C. F. D. Cook. 161b Shot.— Pl. G. "Wains and Ollyns. Half-mile.— H. St. A. Murray and J W. E!hs. Three-mile Walk —P. H. Stubberfield, A. Rowland, and S. Twyneham. Pole Jump — G H. Davies and G. Batstone. One Mile —Nelligan, S. W. Moore, and J. W. Ellis. 120 yds Hurdles.— H. St A. Murray, C. L. Orbell, and J. Anderson. Long Jump. — C. L. Orbell, F. H. Francis, and J. Anderson. INVERCARG-ILL, February 5. The Southland amateur representatives for the championship meeting are: — 100, 220, and 440yds.— R. C. Stoke md R. Nash. Half-mile mnd Mile.— "W. Trembatn and R. E. Bust. 440 yds Hurdles. — "W. Trembath. WELLINGTON, February 6. Several alterations have been made in the personnel «f tibe team selected a few days ago to represent "Wellington at the Amateur Athletic championship meeting at Christchurch. The final selection is a& follows : —

100 yds Flat.— Henderson, Goodbehere and Fisher.

200 yds Flat. — Henderson, Gocdbehere, Fisher, and "Wilton. 440 yds Flat. — Henderson, Goodbehere, Fisher, a-nd Wilton. 880 yds Flat. — Bradbury and Gosling. One Mile. — Bradbury, Prendevihe, and Gosling. Three 'Miles. — Bradbury and Premdeville 120 yds and 440 yds Hurdles. — Halligan and Cook (Nelson). One and Three Mile Walks.— Kerr (and possibly M'Coll). High Jump. —Halligan, L. M'Kay, Thomassen (Nelson), Cook (Nelson). Long Jump. — M'Kay and Halligan. Pole Jump. — M'Kay. Putting the Weight.— Thomassen and M'Kay. Hammer Throwing. — Thomassen and Murdoch.

It is probable that P. A. Nicoll will compete in the walks if he is reinstated by the N«w Zealand Council on Thursday. Mr W. H. Pollock will a<rt as manager of tibe team, and will also enter for one or two events.

WELLINGTON CENTRE, N.Z.AJL.A. WELLINGTON, February 9,

The local centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic. Association has decided to givs a free hand to its delegates to a conference to be h«ld during the ohampionstip meeting at Christchurch. The meeting, however, was strongly of opinion that the time w»s not opportune for seceding from the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union, and also expressed. the opinion thai owing to the frequent Tinsatisfactory decisions regarding the fairness of walking in walking contests photographs should be taken at different periods of the race as the only eSective means of coming to a satisfactory decision. The centro will also recommend th»,fc each centre appoint a judge of walking events held by clubs under ite jurisdiction.

PORT NICHOLSON 1 ATHLETIC SPORTS

WELLINGTON, February 9.

The Part Nicholson Amateur Athletic Club and the Civil Service Amateur Sports Club held a combined athletic meeting on the Basin Reserve this afternoon. The weather was beautifully fine, and there was a large attendance of the public, many being drawn to the ground by the announcement that Kerr, the walker, was to attack some of 'uhe existing records. In the Mile Wali he conceded starts up to lmin Sssec. The winner cf the event was R. Hayes, with lmin 30seo start. Cashman was second, and Kerr third. Kerr's time was 6min 27 l-ssec, which* is 1 l-ssec over his New Year's Day time, but l-ssec better than the previous New Zealand record made by Creamer. In "the Two-mile Walk Kerr conceded etarts up to 2min 30sec, ar.d, walking in fine style, won in 13min 55 4-osec, beating the New Zealand record hy 16 l-saec. The world's record for this di&tance is 13mm llsec Tracer '2mhi lOec) was second, and T. Lambert (lmin 55sec) was third. The Onemiie Flat Handicap was won by W. Gosling (15yds), W M'Kenzie (120 yds) was second, and J F. O'Sulliv-an (150 yds) third. Time. 4min 28 l-sEec. Ike Two-mi'e F.at ie.l to M. fcfulcahy (70yds), who won hy 15 yards from J. Prcndervillo (soraich) in lOmin 12 3-ssec. Prendervi lie's time was lOmin 17 2-sEec. Onemile Bicycle Handicap: Sutherland (owe 20yds) 1. Wyatt (scratch) 2, Evigon (80yds) 3. Time. 2m.in 18 2-ssec. A. Evison (50yds) won ihe Half-mile Handicap, Brunnette (55yds:) being second, and Wyatt (10yds) third. Time, lmin 4sec. 120 Yards' Hurdles: Collerfcu (scratch^ 1. Evenson (9yd=) 2, M'Kay (owe 2jds) 3. Time, lg l-ssee. 220 Yards Flat: Davtson (syds) 1, Carruthers (12Jyds) 2, Cur~ liLng-hanift (15yds) 3. Time, 23 3-oßec. 440 Yards Flat- J Wilton (+yda) 1. A. Burge (2oyds) % A. Cunningham (24yds) 3. Time, 51 3-ssec.