NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 62

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

The harrier season having now got properly under weigh, I would be pleased l to receive notes of Saturday's runs from the secretaries of the respective olubs. Also copies of the syllabus for the first half of the season. Congratulations to Mr C. R, Andrews on his re-election to the presidency of the Civil Service Harriers and Amateur Athlctio Club, and also to K. G. Anderson on his election to the captaincy. By the way, I am pleased to note, too, that Messrs J. Faulks, A. Marryatt, and G. P. Keddell have been elected life members of the club. On Wednesday next, May 11, the St. Andrew Harriers run from Anderson's Bay as guests of the committee, and on the following Wednesday will decide their Novice Race, of one mile and a-half feat. Apropos of the letter from a correspondent in last week's issue respecting the alleged disqualification of Arthur F. Duffy, the American sprinter and world's 100 yards record holder, in Wellington, in 1905, I have received this interesting explanation : —" Dear Amateur,—Your correspondent in writing you re the disqualification of A. F. Duffy, the American sprinter, is not quite accurate. Duffy was entered for a 100 yards handicap, which was included in the programme of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club's Shrubb-Duffy meeting. Mr Geo. Watson was the club's official starter. Mr Watson had evidently made up his mind that Duffy would not boat him as he was reported to have done further south. The result was that after Duffy had brokeu over his mark three times, Watson ordered him off the track. Duffy then approached Dr Newman, the referee, and reported the incident. As 6000 people had attended at the Athletic Park with the object of witnessing Duffy and Shrubb run, the referee naturally agreed that they were entitled to see the American sprinter, and he conferred with Mr Watson, who absolutely declined to start Duffy, and handed the pistol over to Dr Newman. The latter then asked Mr J. H. Pollock, a vice-president of the club, to start the race. The latter, who had formerly acicd ais- starter for the Feilding Athletic Club, Wellington Caledonian Society, etc., took the pistol, and after administering a few words of warning to Duffy and the rest of the competitors, effected such an even start as to elicit a round of applause fiom the onlookers. Throughout the day Mr Pollock acted in all races in which Duffy was engaged, and experienced no trouble with the American. Mr Pollock, it may be mentioned, was taught starting both as a runner and an official by the English Champion, Frank Hewitt. Mr Leslie, of Wellington, ono of the most efficient starters in the Dominion, has had the benefit of Mr Pollock's advice, and closely follows the mode suggested by Mr Frank Hewitt. Regarding Mr Watson, he undoubetedly was a competent starter, but Duffy and most sprinters loudly complained that his set, which extended over several seconds, got on their nerves and thus caused them to break.—l a.m, etc., Eye-witness. Wellington, April 29." An esteemed ex-Otago enthusiast in Wellington writes me interestingly anent the location of the next Australasian championships and amateur athletics generally. "Regarding the Australasian championship meeting, the championships cannot take place until the end of 1911 or the beginning of 1912. In that case it is, of course, out of the question to fix the location now. There are many things to be taken into consideration in regard to the championships, such as the finance, etc. But that will all be done by the next council, who will have lots of time to decide. It will undoubtedly help athletics in Otago if the meeting were held in Dunedin. I am sorry to hear that the past season was not so successful. As you say, you must have some topnotehers to attract the public, and not only that, but to draw others into active participation in the sport. One Hector Burk or one Woodgcr draws young Fellows into tho game more than all else. You see. it is in human nature when we sec someone putting up a big performance to quietly think we could do the same if we had the mind (as the man said who observed that he could have written Shakespeare's works). I am sorry Keddell is going out, and hope he will bo induced to come into the sport again next season. We are experiencing a mild boom in the North Island, as reinstatements come in freely every meeting of tho council, and mainly from tho newly-formed clubs in Hawera, Palmerston, Woodville, and thereabouts. • We have every hope of covering some other parts of the map at an early s 1 <te, and intend prepa.ring the ground in y\n winter.to allow of ah early start in •".l-j spring. Feilding, I _ believe, is ripe, ad it is only a question of calling a i;-L. -7 there at the right time. The ......_; ; s engaged on codifying the rules

of the association at present, and hopes to print a new a.nd up-to-date book by the end of the season. A sub-committee has been engaged for some time in unravelling the rules, and making an attempt to make a ooncise set. The council has decided to ask Mr J. B. Callan, jun., to peruse the draft before they are finally disposed of. It is thought that his legal mind, combined with the sound knowledge he has on athletics, will just top off the committee's work to a tee." The seventh meeting of the Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club was. held on Friday evening, Mr C. R. Andrews (president) being in the chair. The following office-bearers were elected:— President, Mr C R. Andrews (re-elected); vice-presidents—Messrs J. Faulks, J. Wilson, R. G. Anderson, J. Melville, J. Carson (re-elected), J. Murray, and' E. L. Haskins; captain, Mi R. G. Anderson; deputy captain, Mr H. Bond; handicapper and starter, M. J. G. Stephens (re-elected); timekeepers, Messrs H. H. Rice and L. Anderson (re-elected); hon, auditors, Messrs W Willett and F. J. Johnson; committee —Messrs A. Melville, H. F. Titchener, H. M'Corkindale, J. Johnston, A. P. J. Campbell. R. F. Mitchell, D. Orchard; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr F. M. Whyte; delegates' to Otago Centre .N.Z.A.A.A., Messrs Willett and L. Anderson. Messrs J. Faulks, A. Marrvatt, and G P. Keddell were elected hon. life members for services rendered to the club. Consideration of the annual report and balance sheet of the club was held over until a later meeting. It was decided that the opening run be held from the Anderson's Bay School on May 7. The club anticipates having another successful season, several new members having signified their intention of joining. It is interesting to know that the Australasian Championship Shield won by New Zealand has been handed over to the president of the New Zealand Council of the A.A.A., who is well known to us at this end.' The trophy adorns our worthy friend's smokeroom, where any Australian who wishes to see it during the next decade may do so by coming across to j\ew Zealand. ,-,./-< President Taft has recommended to Congress an appropriation of £IO,OOO to allow the United States to participate in the farst international sporting exposition to be held at Vienna in May this year. Discussing the important proposal, President E. U Brown, of the National Amateur Athletic Union, said athletics is in for a great boom if the recommendation is passec. Should it be done, it will be something entirely new to the amateur sporting •world. ~ . , . . ~ The latest compilation of American athletic records given out in New York credits George V. Bonhag, of the Irish-American Athletic Club, New - York, with no less than 31 American running records, ol> or which were made during the season ct 1909 C M. Daniels, or the jNew xor;< Athletic Club, holds practically all the individual swimming reooras and also in several record relay teams. Danieia holds 43 records, made at various timea during the last few years. A well-known firm of Geneva watchmakers have recently constructed a stopwatch which registers the tenths <n £*conde. Hitherto the smallest fraction of time wgistered by any time-piece has been the nftri of a second, and it was commonly thought that smaller divisions could not be marked, owing to the excessively sensitive mechanism that would be required. The watch, which registers these tiny fractions of time is fitted with the anchor escapement, and it can be controlled either by hand or by electricity. It has been thoroughly tested, and the experimenters have shown that its registration is perfectly accurate. If the watch becomes used universally in the timing of athletes a few records will probably soon go by the board by a tenth of a second. A race, designated by its promoters the Marathon Championship of New South Wales, will be held at Newton:, Sydney, on Prince- of Wales Birthday (Friday, June 3). The distance is 26 rriks 385yds. The first prize is valued at £lO. plus a £3 3s medal; the second at £5 and a medal; the third at £3; the fourth at £2, and a medal for each competitor finishing within 30min of the winner. The English National C.C.C was decided' at Derby on March 12, in dull and very cold weather. Twenty-four clubs sent teams, and the field comprised, 247 runners. There- were 5000 spectators, a special train from London taking up from 4CO to 500. Results:—

M. S. 1. F. C. Neaves. Surrey A.C. .. 58 3-5 2. J. Keyser, Paris Metropolitan H., France 50 6 3-5 3. G. C. Wallach, Bolton H. .. 59 9 4. "VV. Scott, Brousrhton H 59 10 5. J. Jvturphv, EDdlamshire H. .. 59 12 G. H. "Baldwin, Derby H 59 15 7. A. Aldous, Hallamahire H. .. 69 27 8. F. J. Buckley, Dublin City and Suburban H 59 34 3-5 9. J. Cooke, Ballamshire. H. ..59 44 10. C. H. Buffell. Hisdigate H. .. 59 50 11. Ei. M-assey, Birchfield H 59 56 12. E. Green, Birchfield H 69 8 Neavea won by 100 yards. Both the winner and the French crack were enthusiastically cheered. The club plaeings were: — Halla.mshire. H.—J. Murphy (5), A. Aldous (7), J. Ccoke (9), E. Glover (15), W. Cotterill (18), A. Turner (29) 83 Highgate H.—C. H. Ruffell (10), C. Johnstone (17), A. G. Home (20), G. Pearce (25), W. H. Brooks (26), J. A. Pearce (31) 129 Birchfield H— E. Massev (11), E. Green (12), E. V. Lonev (23), A. Ashby (24), " J. Marsh (32), A, Pallett (33) .. .. 135 It is announced that Melvin W. Sheppard, of the Irish-American A.C, and Harry Gissing, of the New York A.C, will tour England during- the sunvmei" months. In confirmation of this the New York correspondent of the London J3porbsman says:—The following- appears in the New York Times—an absolutely reliable paper —to-day, and has given rise to considerable comment in local-athletic circles: " Fir-ad by the success of Nat Cartniell, the former University of Pennsylvania sprinter, Melvin W Sbeonard, Irish-Ameri-can Athletic Club, and" Harry Gissing, New York Athletic Club, plan an athletic invasion of England. The pair have arranged to leave Now York early next month, and expect to be abroad until the end of the summer. The fact that Sbeppard is under suspension by the Military League will in no way affect the plans of the pair. Sheppard has been anxious to return to England since the London Olympic Games, nearly two years since, when he disagreed with the majority of the

'American athletes who were members of . the United States Olympic team, and declared that tho British athletic authorities had accorded him fair and impartial treatment. Since that time he has always been outspoken in his praise of th©' British . athletic fairness. The two athletes will be ' watched by the Amateur Athletic Union j of the United States and the Amateur Athletic Association of England, although I it is freely predicted by prominent athletic | authorities there that the pair will follow the example of Cartmell and turn pro- , fessional should the inducements to do so prove satisfactory. There is one point j about the trip that is puzzling- to the A.A.U. officials, and that is how men of j the moderate means of Shepp'ard and Gis- I sing can afford to spend the summer in England. The cost of the trip, including- | the passage by steamer, will not be less j than lOOOdol each, irrespective of the loss of salary during the summer months. Sheppard confidently expects reinstatement by the Military Athletic League, but should he fail in this he will not abandon his trip, as there is no alliance between that | body and the Amateur Athletic Association of England, and he would not be barred i from amateur competition on this account. The pair are thoroughly representative of America's middle-distance runners, and are among the speediest half-milers in the country. In the London Olympic games, two years ago, Sheppard won the 800-metre run in lmin 54 4-ssec, and the 1500-metre event in 4min 3 2-Ssec, creating- new records in each event. Emilo Lunghi, the Italian, was second to Sheonard in the 800-metre race, while Wilson "was runnorup in the long-distance event. Both of these men competed in this country last summer under the Irish-American Athletic Club oolours, and are in England at present. This quartette constitutes the fastest middle-distance runners in the world, and will furnish some spectacular races in Eng- | land this summer."

St. Joseph's Harriers held their weekly run on Saturday from the Santa Saibina' School, North-East Valley, as the guests cr the ladies of St. Vincent de Paul Society. J. Swanson and A. Dunne laid a good trail up past the school, then turned to the right on to the road, which was followed for some distance. Then the trail went through some bush, across paddocks, along Pine Hill road, and over some good Harrier country to the top. of Pin© Hill. From here the. trail followed the road via Leith Valley and Woodhaugh home. After the run the members were kindly entertained by their hostess"'. On Saturday Urn Congregational Harriers ran from the George Street School. There was a large attendance. The bags were taken by Messrs C. Begg (deputy captain) and A. A. Henry, who laid a good trail up over the- Belt, through the Maori Hill Bowling and Tennis Courts, around the back of th® Golf Links, and then back through the Reservoir Reserve and down through Woodhaugh home. The pack, under the captain (H. G. Walsonh, kept fairly well together, arriving back at the school about 4.30 p.m. It was intimated that the next run would be held from the residence of Mr A. Fieldwick, Heriot row. The Cargill Road Methodist Harriers ran from the Roslyn Methodist Sunday School. M'lndce and Winefield were the hares, and' laid a good trail past the Wakari School and over the hills, circling round and coming back via Parser's Gully. Sixteen mp-r" - turned out, and, most of them baii-, aew to the game, and the country being suitable, the run was enjoyed. Alter arrival home refreshments were provided by the ladies connected with the church. The Rev. T. W. Newbold welcomed the Harriers to the district, and then an enjoyable hour was spent, musical items being g-iyen by the members and the ladies. Captain Rainsford thanked the ladies for a very pleasant entertainment. The Corstorphine Harriers ran from the Musselburgh School en Saturday. The trail led over Lawyer's Head and along the Tomahawk Beach, then across the Sandhills, finishing up with some fast w>6"k on the read. N.Z.A.A. ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, May 2. At a meeting of the council cf the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association tonight Justin F. H. M'Carthy and M. J. E. Nolan were reinstated as amateurs. Some discussion took place on the question of boundaries in view of the proposal to take Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Nelson ' districts, from, the Wellington Centre. It was stated that the cause_ of the agitation was chiefly that at championship meetings ether districts, were called in to aid Wellington. The conference of centres at Auckland, which had considered the ouestion, had not yet reported: It was decided to await a report of the conference before coming to a decision. DISPUTE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, April 28. The Amateur Athletic Association discussed a proposal to secede from the New South Wales Sporting Federation. Strong exception was taken to the latter's attitude as regards League footballers. The debate was adjourned to permit of a mail vote V.- the Australasian Union as to whet ■> League footballer, even though he recti es no remuneration, ie an amateur athlete.