ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 63

ATHLETICS.

HARRIER FIXTURES. —Saturday, August 3. — Dusedin Harriere.— Five-mile championship *nd Sealed Handicap at Forbury. Civil Service Harriers.— Run from St. Clair Baths; _ T ... V.M.C.A. Harriers.— Guests Mr D. Leslie, Roalyn. _ , Congregational Harriers.— Run from residence of Rev. A. Hodge, St. Clair. , -Dunedin Anglican Harriers, — Run from Anderson's Bay School. 40TE3 BY AXATEUJt. Cross-oountry runners are reminded that •ntries for the Civil Service Ten-mile Handicap -will close with the -non. secretary (Mr G. W. Brown, care Telegraph Department, Dunedin) on Saturday next, the 3rd prox. Great interest is being taken in this race, which, is the first held here over the recognised cross-country distance, and large entries are expected. The country chosen includes -the pick of the Taien Plain, than which no better harrier country can be found in New Zealand. Care has been taken to avoid any undue strain on the runners, who will assuredly find that the journey entails less bad after-results than some races held on a hard Macadamised road. The prices offered by the «lub exceed in value those ior any similar open crossjoantry race, and «re more than is usually given for flat racing. The winner will receive a handsome medal, valued at £3 3s, presented by MrM. Coughlan; the second will receive one valued at £2 2s, and third one worth £1 Is. In addition, the runner who creates the fastest time will receive a medal valued at £2 2s, and the first novice home will be likewise rewarded. The trail will start at the "Wingatui Racecourse, covering the country to near Outram, where ' a turn for home will be made. For some time past the Organising Committee of the Otago Centre have had in hand 4he formation of a club act Oamaru, tnd on "Wednesday of last week the president of the centre (Mr A. Marryatt) and Mr S. Jacobs (vice-president) visited the "White City, and had the pleasure of attending a laTge and enthusiastic meeting, when it was decided to form a new club, which was christened the Oamaru Amateur Athletic Club. The visiting members of the centre had made a. -vigorous canvass of the town during the <|ay, • with the gratifying result that on all sides .cordial promises of .support .were received. Dr Garland is tbe new president, and the Oamaru Club could not have made a better selection, a 6 the worthy doctor is & staunch supporter of athletics, at the same time holding -the most pronounced views as to the necessity for amateurism in sport. Among the vice-presidents are Mr R. Milligan, Mayor of Oamaru, to whom the centre is indebted for presiding at the meeting and granting tho use of the Boreuerh Council Chambers, and Mr St. J. Buckley, who 16 at present absent in EngJand, but who is a well-known supporter of -amateurism, -and who in the past lent invaluable assistance to the old club, while the other gentlemen are leading citizens and keen sympathisers with the club. The hon. secretary is Mr Len M'Donald, who will be remembered as a consistent supporter of the Dnnedin Amateur Athletic Club, and .one. of the mest popular runners who has donnea a shoe in Otago. Mr J. E. Hood, who has been connected with &tbletics in Oamaru ever since an amateur dub existed, is hon. treasurer; while the members of the committee are Messrs F. Williams, W. James, S. Mbwbray, A. T. Pittaway, H. F. Gibson, T. Begg, and J. Jessep. There is no doubt that a great opportunity lies before the new club, and • if guided by careful management there is no reason why it should not become one ■ of the strongest in the colony. It will be necessary to go slow at the outset, as ' the public will require educating «to a I certain extent to attending the meetings. : But with {nose gentlemen who have taken ; the matter in hand at the head, and a ■ large body of enthusiastic competitors to back them up, there can be no fears as to the club'« future prosperity. At last centre meeting a telegram was received from the Riverton Club advising that the club would be represented in the Znterolub Championship if the event were held on Labour Day. Riverton hie only

recently formed, and the keenness of its members is evinced by their desire to meet the pick of the clubs in the Teams Race. "Amateur" trusts that, although the date is altered the 24th prox., Riverlon will still manage to send a team, and that the new club's colours will be seen in tbe van on the day of the race. Several offers of trophies and donations have been received by the newly-formed 1 Oamaru Amateur Athletic Club, amongst the donors being Messrs S. J. Davys and H. F. Gibson, both ex-Dunedinites, and keen supporters of amateurism. At last Friday's centre meeting the President reported having visited Palmerston, where an effort <ras being made by Mr C. W. Turvey to form an amateur athletic club. Unfortunately Mr Turvey had, through illness, to come to Dunedin, and the meeting fell through. The Mayor of Palmerston (Mr E. H. Clark), who is himself an old-time amateur cyclist champion, is keenly in favour of forming a club, and, with the assistance of Dr Hisiop, hopes to form a club when Mr Turvey resumes duty. It is expected that a meeting will, be called in about three weeks' time. The recently-formed St. Kilda Club were present on Saturday at the combined run, and the club's colours — dark blue with a xed star — c-ttracted no little attention. 1 understand the club will not affiliate -with the centre this year, but hope to do co next year, when an earlier start will be i made. Amongst the members one was > pleased to meet Mr T. Ashton, who has apparently given up chasing the "orange" for pursuing the paper. A lengthy discussion took place at the meeting of the Otago Centre last week on the motion of Mr D. Melville to rescind the previous resolution fixing X»abour Day as the date of the Interclub Race, and altering the date of that fixture to August 24. Sfr Melville, for the Dunedin Harrier Club, relied on the fact that the date decided on by the centre was too late in the year, as many harrier clubs had already ; finished their season early in September. Mr Sanderson, for the Caversham Club, a» pportod Mr Iklelville for the same reasons, as <lid Messrs Bauohop (Port) and Melville (BalcluthaU Mr Dreav^r (St. Andrews), on behalf of his ohib, strongly op- ' posed ar.y al f -eration, and stated ihat mem- ! bers of bis club would for the ifirst time meet those of Saturday clubs on equal terms if the race were held on Labour , Day. Mr J. T. Hamann also opposed thealteration. The President stated that the date selected had been chosen in ignorance of the faot that some olubs ended their season early in September, and mentioned that the recognised cross-country season lasted until the 30th of that month. Mr Melville's motion was carried, and, ac a result, -the race will take place on the 24th of next month. A strong committee has been set up to undertake the management, with Mr H. Mackintosh as secretary. At the same meeting it was decided to adhere to Labour Day as the date of the Interprovincial Cross-country Championship, and the New Zealand Council are to be duly advised to that effect. If Centerbury can be represented — and early steps should be taken in this direction, — there is no • reason why the race should not eventuate. A letter was received from the Canterbury Centre explaining that the centre was agreeable, in the event of the other centres beinpj of the same mind, to +ry the reeonstitution soheme of the New Zealand Council propounded by Mr J. E. Green. The Otago Centre, however, adhered to its previous resolution on the matter to defer I consideration until the next conference of centres early next year. It was also de- | oided to instruct Otogo'e delegates to vote in this direction. A communication was read from the New Zealand Council at last meeting of the centre advising that any amateur competing a* a proprietary meeting would be disqualified for life. Otago refused a permit for an amaiteur event on the pro- , erramme of the Dav-M'Lachlan match in • Dunedin. and the centre is not likely to change its mind, x> that the decision arrived at by the council is not likely to affect local runners. Where does the council obtain its authority to differentiate between proprietary and ordinary profee- j sional sporte meetings? The Dunedin Harriers hold their Fivemile Championship and Sealed Handicap Race at Forburv Park on Saturday. Eijrl teen entries have been received for the Taoe. On present form F. Mace should ag*>in win the championship, but there will be a good race for the other positions. The majoiity of the members have been doing hard training-. " Phis is what you call a harrier run !" was a remark overheard as -the fast pack ' ran towards Wakari on Saturday. Captain Mace made the pace warm, and the deputy captain was not called on to use his whistle very often. A mistake was made by the hares laying the trail through the bush instead of coming down past the , reservoir. Several of the fast pack dodged this bit, and taking a short cut set out after the main pack ; as the others reached the road ihev followed, until the fast pack became a thin line, extending from the quarry to Woodhaugh. The main pack t was caught after leaving Maori Hill, and a I good run home resulted. The unanimous opinion was that it was a first-class run, and the visitors ehowed their appreciation when the call for cheers was given. | The Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club hold a social function on Wednesday evening, ' August 7, when the annual presentation of prize 3 will take place. I am indebted to the energetic secretary (Mr J. T. i Hamann) for a cordial invitation to be I present. | Captain Hussey, the popular captain of ( St Joseph's Harriers, speaking after the combined run on Saturday, gave atterance to a word of warning in connection with long runs. Those who followed the press reports would, he said, have noticed that there was a tendency to make the runs long, some clubs commonly having runs varying from 10 to 13 miles. This tendency he took >pportunity to deprecate. The ' result would) only be the utter discouragement of young and untried runners and the consequent deterioration of the sport. A seven-mile run, such as they had had that day, -was quite long enough, and gave opportunities for the best development of tho sport along safe and sound lines. These words might well be commended to all harriers and prospective hares. Saturday last saw a great gathering of harriers, -which went far to Bhow that this popular sport ia steadily growing in favour amongst Dunedin's young men. There certainly is a strange fascination in being ( able tP at least onog ft week completely

break away from all the trammels of *sity civilisation and to indulge in a merry, free, almost boyish romp among the hills and bracken. The St. Joseph Harriers have since their inception held a combined run of all the Ducedin clubs from their fine hall in Rattray street, and this year their generous invitation was responded to ] by 134 harriers. This >big crowd was aplit up into two packs, the one under Qa.pta.in Hussey {of fcfie St. Joseph) and the other under Captain Mace (of the Dunedin Club), and, picking up a good trail led by the hares, set off for Roslyn, across the Kai- ] Ivorai Valley, around the lower slope* of Flagstaff, and back via the reservoir and Queen's Drive. On arrival home, and after a general wash and clean up, an adjournment was made to the large concert hall, where the refreshments generously provided by Mesdames Jackson and Powell and other lady friends jf the St. Joseph's were much appreciated. These ladies had gone to considerable trouble, and. A3 remarked by the various speakers, all harriers present were deeply grateful for the practical interest they had shown in the «port. A request for three cheers for the St. .Joseph's, and another for the ladies, was most .enthusiastically taken up by the large crowd present. Captain Hu6sey responded on .behalf of his club in a real hearty, sportsmanlike speech. The Dunedin Harriers, before leaving the hall, gathered together to bid farewell to their deputy captain, Mr R. C. Moore, and to ask his acceptance of a silvernfounted ! umbrella as a token of their esteem. Mr ; J. B. Callan, one of the first members of the club, referred to the splendid work which Mr Moore had done for the Dunedin Harriers, and to his ever ready willingness to help the sport along in every possible way, and in making the presentation wished him, on behalf of- the club, all success in his new sphere. It was with deep feeling that Mr Moore thanked members for -their gift, for, as he said, he had formed many real friendships among the members and found it very hard to | say goodbye. He iwed a lot to the sport I in the way of good health, recreation, friends, -etc., and would consider it his" duty to try and yeturn the debt i>y helping •to form a club in Lawrence. Mr Moore is leaving to start business in Lawrence, and his loss will be keenly felt by the club, for he had endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. The Wellington Harriers have asked that the local centre take over the annual Teams' Road Race owing to the harriers not being in a financial position sound enough to enable them to carry it on. The Wellington Centre has agreed to the proposal, and the race will become an annual fixture. A resolution was recently carried by the Wellington Centre that the council be asked to obtain the opinion of the Australasian Union on the question of its power to bar amateurs competing with professionals when no prizes are offered. Some time ago there was a suggestion amongst local harriers to establish a longdistance race on the lines of the famous " Mara-thon," but the movement never got further than a suggestion. This has been brought to my mind by the fact that the V.A.A.C. has granted permission to the Melbourne Harriers to promote an Australian Marathon subject to certain safeguards as to the condition of competitors. The race is -to be held on October 5, und is to be open to all amateurs in Australia. An entrance fee of 10s is to be charged, to be refunded if the competitor goes a certain distance in the race or withdraws on medical advice. The distance is to be 25 miles. The Otago athlete, Mr A. C. Palmer, who has already made his mark in the world of Rugby football in England, was very much in evidence at the United Hospitals' sports, held at Stamford Bridge recently, and materially assisted London Hospital to win the challenge shield once more. The London tale of points was '88, to which, by scoring two firsts and a second, Palmer contributed 23 points. His first essay was in the 100 Yards, in which he was beaten by half 3. yard in 10 2-ssec by Rice, a fellow London student. Then Palmer captured the 220 Yards, securing a comfortable victory by four yards in 23 2-ssec. Palmer's, next effort was in the Long Jump, which placed to his credit the very respectable leap of 21ft fjin, which was 16in better | than any of his rivals could manage on the day. Altogether, London scored 7 firsts and 6 seconds, Bart.'s 2 firsts and 2- seconds, Guy's 1 first and 2 seconds, King's 1 of each, and Middlesex nothing. A special meeting of the council of the j New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association will be held on August 1 to consider a motion in favour of an amendment to the rules to provide for the annual election by the centres of an executive council of seven members. At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Centre the resignations of Messrs Aschman and Batchelor, who acted as delegates on the council for the centre, were received and accepted. The Canterbury Centre has decided to approve of the proposal to reconstitute the council in the direction of reducing the number of councillors to seven, and altering the method of election. Sydney Harriere recently held a Fourmile Road Race, which brought out a field of 35 competitors. The winner turned up in H. A. Alanson, who, with 55sec, completed the journey in 19min 33 3-ssee. The English sprinter J. W. Morton took part in the West of Scotland Harriers' sports at Ibrox Park recently, winning the 100 Yards off scratch in 10'4-sseo. The grass track upon which the Olympian gamed are to be held in London next spar is to be three lans to tho mile and 25ft in width, and the measurements of all races are to be metres instead of yards. The prizes will consist solely of Olympic medals (gold, silver, and bronze) and certificates. The British Olympic Association, ' under whose control the gamee are to be carried out, will make no contribution to the expenses of British or foreign competitors. Commenting on the recent refusal of the English Amateur Athletio Association to xccept A. T. Yeouman'a application for the one-mile (6rain 19 2-ssec) and two-mile (12min 53 l-56ec) records, an English writer says: "Ac regards the style of the Welsh flyer, he has walked in London, and it has been passed, and the times mentioned above were made before judges possessing the proper qualification. As a consequence of this, a very Tretty question ie opened, and this is: What is the good of times when they are accepted by the local judges but refused recognition by the governing body ? Yeouman must have either walked or lifted, iq the events jn which he made

the times referred to. That ie was perfectly fair was proved by the fact fchat he was not pulled out; but still his record ie not passed. Aiter this, what is a man to do? To secure uniformity- among the judges is what we need, but to. accomplish this tbe same men would need to officiate at every ridividual meeting. That, of course, is impossible, so what axe the A.A.A. to do?" B. 5. Day, who left Auckland for Vancouver recently, expects to make a match, with Duffey or " Shrubb in America over distances from 100 yds to a mile. On his return to England Day states that he will have backing to run Postle 200 yds, 300 yds, and 400 yds in London. The annals of sport show nothing more despicable than the incident which happened in the three-mile championship race between Tom Longboat, the Indian, and Frank Nebrich, the American champion, at the great athletic festival at Buffalo. The finish of every race was marred by the crowd, which numbered 12,000, overflowing upon the track, and prior to the start (according to the Toronto Daily Star) two big racing automobiles had to be run among the mob to -drive them back* to the fence. All went well until the Indian entered the straight for home, when a man ambled across the tract. Instantly he -was followed by the mass, through whom a way had to be -fought for the Indian runner, who had assumed a commanding lead. Suddenly, when 50yds from home, he was tackled in Rugby football iashion, above the knees, by one of the spectators and brought heavily to the ground. ' Apparently he was badly hurt, but, being placed on his feet, he continued the race, and won by 20yds, amidst a. scene of the wildest description. The time was nearly two minutes hehind the record. . Latest advices from New Zealand point to the commencement of a struggle between the council of the New -Zealand A..A.A. and the various centres of that association— a contest that, if really started (says "Prodigal"), must end in the complete defeat of the council. Of course, there are two sides to the case at issue. 'The centres or some of them, have recently forwarded to their representatives on the council instructions as to how they should vote on certain questions, or, at any rate, a request that they should vote in « certain way. Now, it can be strongly argued -that to make <juite sure that the wishes of a centre should be voiced in the council instructions to. its representatives as to its views must perforce be sent along to headquarters. The councillors, or some of them, take an entirely different view of the case. They say in effect, "Although we officially represent the centres, we intend to vote on questions as our judgment and experienoe direct us. and we decline to be little •more than vote-recording machines. 1 oan fully appreciate the position and tne feelings of both sides, But if the representatives of the council were very closely in touch with the bodies they are supposed to represent, there is very little likelihood of friction, except in isolated cases. However, the councillors in many cases are clearly out of touch with their constituents, the centres, «nd - have been for some time. Personally, these councillors are most estimable gentlemen, who devote much time and labour to the advancement of the sport. This is admitted. At the «ame time it must also be admitted that the position would be intolerable if. say, the various centres were in accord on some subject, only to find their representatives in the council voicing views perhaps diametrically opposite. Members of Parliament know the experience, and they either, in such a case, .would tjerforoe do what their constituents wanted, or stick to their own opinion and resign— or be defeated at the next election. The council, as a whole, has just passed a resolution practically telling the centres that they will not accept further dictation from the bodies they represent. Presumably the centres will reply by abolishing the council at the earliest possible moment allowed by the constitution, or they will appoint fresh representatives more amenable to their wishes.