NOTES BY AMATEUR

Otago Witness, Issue 2855, 2 December 1908, Page 62

NOTES BY AMATEUR

Amateur athletes throughout the Dominion, but particularly in Otago, would hear with cteep regret of the death of Mr Lang, one time president of the Otago Centre, and more recently a vicepresident of that body. Mr Lang's enthusiasm for amateur athletics was unbound-ed, and his interest in the sport was always in the direction of progress. The deceased gentleman took a very keen interest in tbs> schools' athletic championships, and his work in connection with amateur athletics amongst the schoolboys will not be forgotten. Courteous and obliging always, his death leaves a blank in amateur a*hletie circles in Dunedin which will bs hard to fill. It is with some degree of pleasure that I draw the attention of losrery of athletics to a very excellent story which appears in this week's issue of the Otago Witness entitkid "A Hj*pno'cisod Runner." The gift of writing a really readable athletic story is given to few, but Mr A. J. Heighway, who is responsible for •' A Hypnotised Runner," has this gift to \ remarkable degree. As an athlete himself, h% gets right into the heart of things, and surrounds bis story with the atmosphere of the cinder tract. I make no excuse for asking lovers of athletics to read this narrative, for I vsTily believe they will enjoy it as much as I have. Acknowledged with sincere thanks from Mr J. T. Hamann, hon. secretary of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Olub, honorary member's ticket for the season 1908-09. Air •Hamann's courtesy 13 unfailing, and is deeply appreciated. Athletes and enthusiasts must haie experienced a thrill of excitement on reading the graphic cable account of the race between the two Mdutlion heroe-s — Hayes, of America, and Dorando. of Italy — over a 26miles conr-e at the Madison Square Gar•dcTij>, New York, ii*e other day. Dorando clearly averted tin >upjriority by beating Hayet> and finishing -trongly at the end cf what must ha\ - b"en a "gruelling"' race. One can ivnrc-l\ lniagmo the excitement over <t rate m which Tor 26 miles t he .v>o men ran -jfi-ide for stride, and thoii at the iiniih for Dorando to win by 60yd-. By the way, Dorando and Hayes have vor-ei\ed big offer? :o go on the musichall f-tago, and both hava accepted. I notice that the promoter* of the Australian Marathon ha\e in\ited Dorando and Hayes to compete in that event. Unless eometlung tempting ii offered neither Hayes nor Dorando will care to leave America at the present time, when music-hall managers are still bidding for their service:-. " Prize-winner " writes : " The. thanks of all amateur runn-er-3 arc due to Air Titchener for his exposure re the Civil Service Harrier Club's 10-Mile Handicap. I understand that Mr M'Knight has since received justice from the CS. Club. Now, J-ii-, what is to prevent an amateur receiving an order on any firm he desires? I hokl that he is entitled to this, seeing it tak-^o \ lot of time axid trouble to win a race. A runner should ba- in a position to u c e his order to th 3 best advantage. Could jou, Sir, enlighten me as to the objection <=ornc of our amateur bodies have to this. Hoping the different clubs will tak'3 this matter up." — [This eolumr is open for expressions of opinion on the point.— Amateur.] From the secretary of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club comes to hand a copy of the first syllabus of the evening athletic sporta meeting's , c o popular during the past few seasons. I doubt whether any centre in Maori land controls their evening meetings with tuch excellence as the D.A.A.O. Given fine weather the meetings — the first of the series of which commences on Friday evening next, December 4 — should again attract excellent entries and large attendances of the general public. The Caledonian Ground i& in good order at preset, and the events should be productive of ia c t tunes and good finishes. Tine e\ent o sot down for decision ou Fri-

f day next include 75yds Flat, handicap (open) ; 220 yds Flat, handicap (D.A.A.C.) ; One-mile Flat, handicap (open) ; Broad Jump, handicap (opei|. The second meeting will be held on Friday, December 11, with the following events: — 100 yds Flat, handicap (D.A.A.C.) : 350 yds Flat, handicap (open) ; Two-mile Flat, handicap (open) ; Half-mile Walk, handicap (op'en) ; Putting 1 the Weight, handicap (open). Special trophies, for competition amongst members of the D.A.A.C. only : First prize, value £4 4s; second, value £2 2s, will be given i to competitors securing most points during the eight evening meetings. Points to count as follows : First, 4 ; second, 2 ; third, 1. Entries close on Saturday (1 p.m.) preceding each meeting. It should ; be noted in connection with these evening meetings that tickets admitting to eight meetings can be purchased for the reasonable sum of 2s 6d. Ladies are free. I A meeting of the General Committee of I the English Amateur Athletio Association was held early in. October. It was at this meeting that the judge's report on the Olympic 400 Metres Race was considered, J. O. Carpenter, the American .runner, being permanently suspended. Quite a batch of records .came before the committee, and the following were passed : — Throwing the Hammer, S. P. Gillis, 164 ft sgin; Pole Jump, E. B. Archibald, 13ft; j 120 Yards Hurdles, F. C. Smithsoh, 15sec ; Half-mile Flat, M. W. Sheppard, lmin, 54sec ; Nine-mile WaUOB. E. Lamer, 67min 37 4-ssec; 10-mile Walk, 75min 57 2-ssec; Pole Jump, E. T. Cook and A. C. Gilbert. 12ft 2in; Throwing the Hammer, J. J. Flanagan, 170 ft 4iin; 600 Yards, H. Montague, lmin llsec. ~ , H. St. A. Murray, who represented tho -Dominion at the Olympic Games, strange to say, holds -only one of the open records of Christ's College, despite a long residence there. In 1903 he broke the BcO yards open record in 2min 7 2-ssec, but in 1904(his last year) he ran the 880 Yards Handicap from scratch in 2min 7 l-ssec. The General Committee of the English A.A.A. met at Birmingham on October 3. On the business paper was a letter from the A.A. Union of Australasia seeking an alliance. The London Sporting Life, in its report of the proceedings, alludes to 'the matter thusly: "Application ha^vinpf been made by the Amateur Athetio Union of Australasia for a working agreement with the A.A.A., the committee placed on record their regret that they were unable to accede to the request, inasmuch as their rules and the constitution of the English governing body did not allow them to enter into an agreement with any organisation outside the United Kingdom." R. E. Walker, the hero of the Olympian 100 Metres, in the course of an interestingletter to the South African contemporary, says: — "The final of the 100 Metres was a great day. I was so nervous that I oould not eat my breakfast, and zax trainer let me smoke to keep the race off my mind. Just before the race, when I was Deingr rubbed down, I fell asleep, and the trainer wakened me a few minutes before the race. I do not know whet sent me to sleep, but a doctor said nervousness did it. However, 1 got on my mark quite fresh, but very nervous. Hector, Kerr, and Cartmell ; coiild -not keep still, and -were continually ! running about while I Bat down waiting for the starter to get us on our nr-arks. We all got on our marks eyeing each other, and, I will never forget -the moment when we were tokl to 'get set.' At the sound of the pistol I got away well, but at 30 yards was a foot behind. At 50 to about 70 yards I was level again with Rector, and from there I simply snot out of the bumch. As -one of the Americans 6aid, 'I guess I don't know how he did it, but he did it.' " Dorando finished first, but was disqualified, and the race was awarded to Hayes. EVENING SPORTS XT PALMERSTON. At Palmerston on Wednesday evening the Palmerston Athletic Club held a most enjoyable evening meeting, which was well attended. The following are the results: — 100 Yards Handicap.— A. Jackson (6£ycis) 1, A. Gow (syds) 2, W. Young (6£yds) 3. Also started: C. Morris (4yds), A. Reid (6ivds). Tinifc 11 2-ssec. 220 Yards Hurdle Race.— A. M Leod (11yds) 1, W. Young (6yds) 2, A. Jackson (scratch) 3. Also started : C. Alorris (3yds), A. Gow (4yde). Time, 13 2-ssec Half-mile Handicap.— W. Al 'Kenny (50yds) 1 A. V. Young (scratch) 2. Also started: A. Jackson (35yds), A. B. ATLeod (55yds). Time, 2min 22sec. One Alile Bicycle Race.— J. Pullar (60yd-?) 1 W. Sloan (3Cyds) 2. Also started: J. Kennard (70yds), J. Turina (scratch). Timo, 2min 54eec. A couple of boys' races were ako run, and the prizes were presented by Mr E. E. Clark, M.P. BEATS HAVES. NEW YORK, November 26. Doiando beat Hayes at New York by 60 yards after a splendid race. November 26. The race between Dorando and fiayes was run on covered tracks in Aladison Square Gardens, the distance being 26 miles 385 yard 3. Dorando "s time was I64min 20 l-ssec. It was a neck-and-neck race till the twenty-sixth mile, when DoraJido went ahead and fini*hed strong. Hayes was exhausted. Ten thousand spectators were present. While training Dorando took frequent meals, including three quarts of chianti (an Italian wine) daily.

CHAMPIONS JNVITED TO AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, November 26. Doxando and Hayes, -who came in first and second in the Marathon, Race in the Olympic Games, have been invited to participate in an Australian Marathon Race.