NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 58

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

The evening sports meeting held by the Tokomairiro Harrier and Amateur Athletic dub at Milton on Wednesday, the 27th. ult., proved the best meeting the club has yet presented to the public. The weather was excellent, and a large number of the townspeople walked out to the sports ground, where they were rewarded by seeing large fields and splendid contests. The Milton Band was present, and materially helped by its music to enliven the proceedings. Not / only were there a largo number of local' athletes engaged in the different events, but a large contingent came from Balclutha and from. Dunedin, thus making the meeting thoroughly representa-. tive. The Toko. Club's handicapper (Mr A. Parlane) had had the assistance of the centre handicapper (Mr W. M'Donald) -in . making up the handicaps, with the result that the racing was keenly contested, the finishes being good. The following are the results :— Youths' Race, 100yds— H. Curran 1, H. S. W««staff 2, A. M'Namee (Balclutha) 3. Won easily by about three yards. Putting the Shot — J. Leslie (hep. oft), 26ft 4in, 1; A. Johnstone (lft 6in), 26ft 2in, 2; W. Gregory (2ft), 25ft 9in, 3. Johnatone's wae the longest throw (24ft 9in) exolusive of .handicap. 100 Yards Handicap —V. M'Donald i. H. CurTan 2, J. Leslie 3. AH qualified started. The field was despatched to a good start, and a splendid race resulted in M'Donald gaining tho verdict fey about two yards in the good time of lOJsec against a strong wind, a yard separating second and third men; eight starters. Mile Handicap— T. M. Haslett (Dunedin), 30yds, 1; V. M'Donald (Balolutha), 10yds, 2; T. W. Dallas (Dunedin), 40yd?, 3. The field were bunched together shortly after the second lap was entered on and immediately after this Haslett to6k the lead, and was closely followed by M'Donald- and Dallas. A number retired after the second lap had been covered. The positions were never changed, and Haslett increased his lead, eventually winning by about 40yds, a greater distance separating second and third. Time, 4min 55sec Of the local runners, Curran showed excellent form, winning his race in a way that suggests great things for him later. In the 100 Yards, although defeated, be was close up in good time considering the wind. J. P. Comber started in the 100 Yards, but has not yet struck form, and so was unable to concede the handicaps set him. He is a promising athlete', and will, if { am not mistaken, come into first class company this season. Victor M'Donald. of Balclutha, was the most successful of the visitors, winning the 100 Yards outright from the 3yds mark, the time being recorded as 10|sec. and running second to T. M. Haslett, of the University Club, Dunedin, in the Mile. It comee as a surprise to find the winner of the Civil Service Ten-mile - Cross-country Championship winning a 100 yards race in under eleven, and suggests possibilities about M'Donald that were quite unexpected. He would be wise, however, to ascertain his metier and then stick to it, being far more likely to become a champion in this way. Hazlett had a fairly easy task in the Mile, winning by a good margin. The time, 4min 55sec, would be affected by the ■wind. The track, too, is not of the best. Mace, who was on the scratch mark, could make no impression on his field. Putting the shot brought out a good field, which goes to prove the contention of those who see in the formation of the country clubs the foundation of Otago's strength in field events in years to come. The performances were very promising, and ■with practice some of the competitors will do much better by New Year's Day. Mr Edward Moore, whom the club are iuoky enough to have as secretary, had «very detail well in hand and with the assistance of a band of efficient officials cot the meeting through in good style. The Toko. Club's annual sports meeting on New Year's Day should prove a brilliant success. . , , „ After the sports were concluded the visitors were entertained by the club at a smoking concert, when a very pleasant evening was spent. The club adopted the excellent ©lan of taking advantage of the occasion to distribute the prize* .won at the meeting. Such promptitude is to be commended, as when a man has won _his prize naturally he wants to have it as coon as possible. In presenting the prizes Mr J. W. Petrie spoke of the splendid m&nner in which the events had been contested, and strongly urged on all the benents ot amateurism in sport. The Civil Service H. and Amateur Athletic Club Till meet enrlr next week when the date of ihe annual scorts meeting will he fixed. Tt will, I understand, eventuate in. Januaxx, '

1 All the applications for reinstatement for- ~ warded by the Tuapeka Amateur Athletio Club have been granted by the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. This will be gratifying news to our Lawrence friends, and will do much to assist the club. Those amateurs who can spare the time for the trip will find an excellent programme at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's sports on the 16th of this month. The events include ail the usual amateur distances, Long Jump, High Jump, Steeplechase* of one and a-half miles, and a Half-mile Relay Race. The orizes include a handsome lady's bracelet for the quarter, and a challenge cup to be awarded on points. ' Entries will close with Mr T. A. Claughton, Box 126, P.O. Timaru, next Monday. It will be remembered that our South Canterbury friends sent a team to 1 ta*e part in the Cross-country Interclub | Championship two years ago. Otago athletes now have the opportunity of returning the compliment as well as the prospect of meeting with those excellent athletes for whom South Canterbury is known. Encouraged by the success of the first evening meeting, the Palmereton Amateur Athletic Club intend' holding another on Wednesday, the 11th. The programme will consist of a 75 YaTds, 220 Yards, 440 Yards, and Mile Handicaps and a High Jump Handicap, the. first event taking place at 6.45 p.m. Entries (Is in each case) will close on Saturday next with Mr C. W. Turvey, Box 3, P.O. Palmereton. In addition to die above, two relay races will be | held for teams of four, one for members i of the Palmerston A.A. Club and the other ' for boys under 16. It is hoped that some Dunedin athletes will take part in "the meeting, and already a large number of ! local talent isr in consistent training, bo that the fields should be good and the contests keen. Palmerston will have the assistance of the brass band, which will play during the evening. Some excellent illustrations of the New South Wales Public Schools Championship meeting in the Sydney Mail have been ■ shown the writer. -In a living design, 4 "Sunny New South Wales," 3000 children took part, and the effect, as shown in the | picture, is splendid. One notices that the , public support these functions in large numbers, there being a tremendous crowd of spectators. A novel item is an obstacle race, in which the competitors have to do a sum on a slate on the ground during the race. The Otago Centre is again moving in the matter of holding -the Schools Chaml pionship in March next, and it is to be hoped that, with the aid of the School Committees and teachers, a much greater . measure of effect will be attained this year than formerly. Why not "Lovely Maoriland," with" 1000 children taking part. PerhaDß that would act as a draw. On Tuesday, the 10th December, the Tuapeka Club hold the second of a series of evening* meetings, when the following events will be contested : —220 Yards and Mile Open, Schoolboys' Race over 220 yards, and a Mile and A-half Bicycle Race. The club are still handicapoed by the fact that the .ground is not yet in good order, the -track requiring a good bit of attention. Doubtless,' however, by the time this is in print the necessary improvements will have been made. The proposal to halve the reinstatement fee between the centre and the New Zealand Council met witb short shrift at the hands of the latter body, as members of the local centre no doubt expected. Seeing that the applications for reinstatement are the result of work of the centre and clubs, there seems no reason why the fee should not be divided in the same way as the permit fee. The proposition, I understand, came up on account of the large numbers of applications for reinstatement that were going forward as a result of the organising campaign of the Otago Centre, and it was fairly enough concluded that the whole of the five-shilling fee should not be retained I by the governing body who, after all, did ' nothing to obtain them. Some nonsense . was talked on the subject, when it was said that the council had doubled Otago's revenue by granting them the whole of the license fee. The fiftt of the series of evening athletic meetings promoted by the Dunedin Amateur Athletio Club is to take place on the Caledonian Ground on .Friday evening, when the following events will be decided : j 75 Yarde Flat Handicap (open), One-mile ' Flat Handicap (open), Long Jump Handicap (open), 220 Yards Flat Handicap (D.A.A.C). The second meeting will be held on Friday, December 13, the events comprising:—44o Yards Flat Handicap (onen). Putting the Weight Handicap (open), Twoi mile Flat Handicap (open), 50 Yards Flat | Handicap (D.A.A.C.), Half-mile Walk Han : dibap (D.A.A.C). . It is quite evident that amateur athletics ere going to boom in Dunedin this season. Over 20 new members have joined the D.A.A.C. since the annual meeting, and several others promise to come out this year. Acknowledged with thanks from the secretary a complimentary ticket for the smoke social and presentation of prizes lof the Dunedin Anglican Harriere, set down to take place on Tuesday, December 10. The gathering promises to be very successful. . From the secretary of the Wellington 'Centre of the N.Z.A.A A. comes to hand a copy of the preliminary programme for the summer sports carnival, to be held on the Basin Reserve on December 21. Fol- > lowing are the events: — 100 Yards (maiden), 100 Yards (open), 220 Yards Bracelet (open), 440 Yards (open). 880 ■ Yards (open), One Mile (open), Three Miles (open), 440 Yards Hurdles, One-mile Walk, Three-miles Walk, 220 Yards V.M.C.A. Handicap (for members under 16 years), 220 Yards PubliQ Schools Championship Teams Race (conditions Teams of four men open to teams of affiliated clubs; three men to run 220 yards and 1 one man to run 880 yards). Long Jump. | Pole Jump, Putting the Shot, Throwing , the Hammer, Blindfold Sack Race (ppel entry), One-milo Bicycle Race, Three-miles Bicycle Race. Public interest in amateur athletics in Sydney is waning. At the meeting of the New South Wales Athletic Association the 1 other day there was an attendance of only 500 spectators outside^ competitors and officials. Much interest was taken in the New South Wales 440 Yards Championship, decided in Sydney the other day owing to the appearance of Nigel Barker, who had not turned out since his appearance ' at the Olympic Games at Athens.. Barker was opposed by A. J. Wilkins (100 yds and 200 yds champion of New South Wales), 1 0. W. Rci (also of fl» University A.C., j

and 440 yds champion of Queensland), and * the cream of New Sbuth Wales sprinters. Two hundred yards from home Barker went to the front and won easily in 51 3-sseo. Amateur athletics are said to be on the wane in Maeterton, and there is little : prospect of a sports meeting being held ! in the district this season. Dear Amateur, — A certain -writer has en- | deavoured to belittle my statements with ' reference to W. F. Trembath, the Gore crack. In giving Trembath's best times from scratch he has erred slightly. In i the first piace he gives Trembath'e best ' time for 880 yds from scratch as 2min Bsec, whereas it is a well-known fact that Trembatb started off the 40 yards mark at j the Christchurch Exhibition meeting and ; conceded starts" up to 40 yards (80 yards limit) and strode in a winner with the I greatest of ease in the official time of i lmin 56sec, or equal to 2m in 3 2-seec at the outside..' At the same meeting he ran his 440 yds in 52 l-ssec (official time) off the 8 yards mark, and to show how consistently he runs he competed at the South Canterbury Amateur Club's sports at Timaru' 'three days afterwards, and won in 52 2-ssec off the 5 yards mark. ! Now, your correspondent admits that Trem- ; bath ran a 440 yds handicap off scratch, i conceding starts up to 40 yards, in 52 2-seec, and the latter performance was put up on a gravel track, which was in worse order than a lot of our public streets, and Trembath was in the. lead at 220 yds and won with the utmost ease. Your readers must Eurely admit that Trembath will go very near doing his quarter in 52sec and the 880 yds in 2min or better. As he is ?oung and improving, I am very sanguine of his doing the above times comfortably on s> good track, and I have proved conclusively that he is better than Hector | Burk over the quarter, and that he will j always provide the Dunedin crack with a good go over the half. Yours faithfully, — Amateur Enthusiast. Gore, November 30. There are at least two veteran athletes in Melbourne who " wear " remarkably well. K. F. M'Crae, though 40 years of age, was virtual scratch man in the 120 yds Open Race at the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association meeting on November 8. H. C. Davis, who must be as old, won the High Jump, and 'was second from scratch in the 150 yds Hurdle Race at the National Bank sports at Melbourne on November 10. Both were winners in the first Australasian championship 6ports more than 10 years ago. A close analysis of the voting for the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. shows some very in-and-out running on the part of ' the Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury j Centres. The first ballot (says the writer j in the Canterbury Times) gave Messrs Cooper and Green five votes each and Mr I Olliver four votes. This left Messrs AJtax- j ander, Atack, Batchelor. Hamber, Kinvig, i Nordon, Grierson, and Mason to go in the , second round, with three votes each. • This ; ballot resulted in the return of Messrs ; Grierson, Mason, and Nordon, with four ' votes each, leaving Messrs Atack, Batcbelor, Alexander, Hamber, and Kinvig with three votes each. Mr Kinvig then retired, and a third ballot was instituted to eliminate the tenth man. This resulted in Mr Hamber getting an additional vote from Wellington, while Auckland, Canterbury, and Wellington voted for Mr Batchelor, thus securing the election of both. Messrs ' Atack and Alexander scored two votes each, , Otago having rejected Mr Alexander, and Wellington treating Mr Atack in a similar ' way. Mr Alexander, feeling,, no doubt, that an undeserved slight had been administered by his old centre, decided to I retir in favour of the ex-president of the council. Otago's action, therefore, in plumping for Mr Hamber virtually secured the neturn of Mr Atack. for had Otago remained loyal to its old representative his return was assured, and Mr Atack would have been beaten. It is significant that although Otago and Southland studiously struck out the names of Atack and Batchelor in each ballot, these are the two gentlemen that the council has delighted to honour by electing them president and vicepresident respectively of tho N.Z.A.A.A. for the ensuing 12 months. It must be very gratifying to all followers of the sport that : these gentlemen are once more entrusted with the reins of government, for had they been rejected, together with Messrs Aschman and Hoar, the council would have been deprived of its backbone, to the ultimate detriment of the sport 'generally. As it is, however, the present council, although not as perfect as one could -wish, still contains the names of at least half a dozen reliable and experienced men, with whom the future of athletics is absolutely safe. Tasmania can have little chance of gaining any successes at the next Australasian meeting in Hobart in February, but -the gathering may serve to add interest to the sport, find incidentally benefit the association. Their champion results were mediocre, except that F. Fairthorne, of Launceeton, proved a sound sprinter and as distance runners Clemes and Schofield are, we know, much better than the times at this meeting would indicate. Fairthorne's 100 yds in 10 l-ssec reads excellently, but the time is probably a bit flattering. In the 230 yds he led N. W. Barratt most of the way, and wa6 only just beaten in 24 2-ssec. Barratt's quarter in 56sec and half-mile in 2min 17sec show that he had no real oppoteition. The other chamnionship winners were: — Mile Walk, F. Ford, Bmin 27sec; 120 Yard® Hurdles, T. Rockliff. 18sec; 440 Yards Hurdle*. F. Edwards, lmin 15eec; Three Miles Flat, H. Ward won in I6min 31£ sec, but this wae from a handicap. S. Schofield, who finished a good second and beat 16min, gains the championship. At the la6t meeting of the general committee of the English A. A. A. the hon, eecretary presented his report of conference held in J.ulv, 1907, at Birmingham between the A.A.A.", Scottish A.A.A., and Irish A. A. A., and the following alterations and additions to the competition rules were agreed to : — By making these alterations the English A.A. A. is slowly but surely following the American lead. It will be noticed that the American hammer-throwing rule has been adopted. This means that throws in future will be from a 7ft circle instead of a 9ft circje. Here (says " Prodigal ") we follow the American rule except in the case of the diameter of the circle, which we have kept at 9ft, to follow the English lead, whilst here we insist that tho head of the hammer shall be spherical. We will now have to fall in line with the other bodies and throw from a 7ft circle. With regard to shot-putting, the English A.A.A. has now adopted the American and Au«trajasian lead of U6ing a 7ft circle instead of the old 7ft square. The new English

rule re costume is a good one, andean improvement on ours. (b) An addition* to rule 15 (Rules for Competitions) — " All open betting must be put down, and a notice prohibiting betting must be conspicuously exhibited at or near the entrance or entrances to all sports enclosures." % (c) That rule 34 (Rules for Competitions) be altered to read as follows : " Every competitor must wear complete clothing from the shoulder to the knees (i.e., jersey sleeved to the elbows, and loose drawers with slips) ; and in 'any event in which a water jump is included the drawers and slips must be dark in colour. Any competitor will be excluded from taking part in the sports unless properly attired. A copy of this rule shall be placed in a conspicuous place in the competitors' dressing-room at every athletic meeting." (d) To add to rule 53 (Rules for Competitions) after the words "from the pegs " the following: "In 'any competition each competitor shall be allowed to commence jumping at any height he desires, but having commenced he shall continue attempting each height as the bar is raised, until he either fails three times or retires." (c) To add at end of rule 54 (Rules for Competitions) after the word "wood" the following : " Bin wide and not less than 2ft 6in long, and shall be sunk flush with the ground. The ground shall be removed to the depth of 3in and the width of 12in in front of the taking-off line." (f) To add to rule 67 (Rules for Competitions) : First line— before the word "shoulder" adi "front of the." Second line—" 7ft circle in diameter " instead of " 7ft square." (g) That rule 66 (Rules for Competitions) be altered to read as follows : " The head and handle may be of any size, shape, and material, provided that the length of the complete implement shall not be more than 4ft, and its weight not less than 161b. The competitor may assume any position he chooses, and use either one or both hands. All throws shall be made from a circle 7ft in diameter. Each competitor shall be allowed three throws, and the best three competitors of the first trial shall be allowed three more throws each. The farthest throw of all 'shall win. All distances shall be measured from file circumference of the circle to the first pitch of the hammer along a line drawn from that pitch to the centre of the circle. Foul throws and letting go of the hammer in an attempt' shall count as trial throws."*