CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 58

CASH ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES. Jan. 22 — Caledonian Sports, Wanganui.Feb. 26 — N.Z.A.U. Running Championships, New Plymouth.

By Sport.

The adyent of 1908 and the passing of the first two days thereof has resulted in the passing over for another season fully a score of athletic and Caledonian gatherings in , Otago alone. In most cases the weather experienced wa6 beautiful, and this fact alone helped to make the majority of meetings the success they were. Although runners were fewer than for some years, the competition was as keen as ever, and great interest was evinced in the many competitions — that is, as regards" the Kaitangata, Waikouaiti, and Dunedin gatherings, , which I visited. According .io the dailies, the others were even more successful. All things considered, the Christmas and New Year gatherings were highly successful from every point of view. The Otago Caledonian sports passed off successfully^ the attendance of the public being about 11,000 for the two days, which

is nearly 1000 in excess of last year's total.The running was, despite the small entries as compared with former years, above the usual standard! of high-clasa competitors. All the other events were well up to. the standard, if we except the fact that"" the redoubtable Fordes, of Southland, were, owing to a recent family bereavement, absent from all competitions.

A programme is to hand for the twenty- * second annual gathering of the Irish Athletics Society of Southland, set down for decision on Wednesday, March 18 next. As usual, the principal event is the St. Patrick's Sheffield Handicap, 135 yards, to be run in heats ; first prize, £40 and president's gold medal; second prize, £7; third prize, £3; fourth prize, £1 10s; nomination, 10s; acceptance, ss. Other running events are the 75 Yards Handicap, £5, £2, £1; 220 Yards, £4, £2, £1; 440 Yards, £4, £2, £1; Half-mile, £4, £2, £1;. One Mile. £5, £2, £1. Other events include piping, dancing, jumping, wrestling, etc. Entries for the Sheffield and 75 Yards closes*- on February 29; all other events on March 7. With reference to a paragraph re th© position of • tho Wanganui Caledonian Society, the secretary writes etating that "the credit balance is considerably . higher than the figures mentioned." In my notes of December 18 I said the credit balance at the annual meeting was £11 14s Id, and this information I obtained from the Wa.nga.nui Herald of Saturday, December 7. At the monthly meeting, hold about the latter date, the report referred to stated that "the bank b?ok was produced, and showed a credit balance of £13 14s Id." The mistake made was in stating it was the position as at the annual meeting, wh v ich apparently was held last July. ' A comparative showing of the takings al the sports of the Caledonian Societies of Southland, Otago, Oamaru, and South Canterbury will, perhap, be of interest. Thie year the Invercargill Society took £222, as compared with £269 in 1907, £315 in 1906, and £304 in 1905, which shows a marked falling-off in the gate money. The Dunedin Society this year took £33* 10s for the two days, as against £295 103 for 1907. At Oamaru £303 11s wasi taken for the two days, as against £267 18s last year and £352 4s in 1906. The takings at the Oamaru^first day's games amounted to £174 2s, being in excess of *those of the first day of any gathering held on the old ground, with the -exception of the New Zealand championship meeting of 1904. The Timaru Society easily to^ned the list for the, two days, taking £263" the first day and £105 the second, or a total of £363. The special prizes at the Oamaru Caledonian sports' were won as follows: — Most points in cycling — G. Sutherland 11, B. Campion 9; most points^ in running — H. Brinkman 7, iV. Curran 6; most points in piping and dancing — D. Cameron 12 (four firsts in piping), A. -Currie 12 '^(three firsts, ono second, and one third', all in dahcinpr). Cameron, with mest firsts, won the medal. All the specials were gold medals. ' ' , Jas. M'leod, secretary of the New Plymouth Caledonian Society. which is this year holding the N.Z. Athletic Union running championships, was in town during the past week, and is at present visiting friends in the country. G. Blagdon., winner of the £30 Sheffield at the local Caledonian sports, hails from this city. Prior to winning this race Blagdon had never been first past the post, his only successes being third in the Maidens at Otepopo and Palmerston. and third in the 135 yds event at the evening sports held on the 18th ult. Had the race been run the first day, 'following^ on the preliminary heats, I question very much if Blagdon would have ' beaten Hannah, the promising Invercargill runner. However, I must com; pliment Blagdon on his initial'success, which is well deserved.

The Wairarapa Caledonian Society held a very successful gathering on January 1, the weather being perfect and the takings £206 19s above the average. 'J. M'Kechnie, of Dunedin, was very successful in the piping and dancing events, and with W. H. Kilgour and Campbell Smith scooped the bulk of the prize-money. • , T. Sime^ of Dunedin, was fairly successful at Timaru on January 1 and 2. On the first day he was third in the 100 Yards, and on the second day third in the 220 Yards, and first in the 100 Yarde " Special " Caledonian Handicap, of £8 (for first). The high jumping at Timaru was much above the average on the first day. The heights cleared were not less than sft sin. The winners were D. o' Conns] 1, with 3in start, and F. Brady (6:n start), who gave the scratch man sft llin to clear, before a tie could be niade. E. Ryan 1 ; from scratch, cleared sft l_oin, and was not placed. _G. Campbell, with l£in 'start, cleared sft 9in, thus securing third nlace. Truly South Canterbury ia the home of jumpers. The takings at the gate on the second ctay of the Duaedin. Caledonian sports were JBIB2 9s 6d, and aiot £132 9s 6d, as printed by a typographical error.