ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 61

ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES. Inter-’Varsity Athletic Championships.— Easter, at Auckland. Festival of Empire Sports, London.—June 24 to J une 30. Australasian Championship Meeting.—Probably January (1912).

NOTES 11Y ill ATE UK

The athletic meeting - in connection with team for the inter-university tournament will be held on the Auckland Domain on Easter Monday. So far 1 have heard nothing concerning the Otago University representatives who will make the trip, but it is understood tiie local university will be represented.

The following is the Canterbury College team for the inter-university tournament to be held at Auckland on Easter Monday 100 yards, M. O. Barnett and 'J. Mansell; 220 yards,' J. Mansell and C. S. Thomas; 440 yards, C. S. Thomas and L. A. Bengali; 88u yards l , L. A. Dougail and C. b. Thomas; mile, L. A. Dougail and M. O. Barnett; three miles, VV. F. Tracey; mile walk, R. Twynehara; putting shot, W. Bennett; throwing hammer, R. D. Kirkpatrick and W. Bennett; high jump, T. D. Smith and L. .Hutton; 'ong jump,- R. Twynehara; 120 yards hurdles, W. C. Harley and L. Hutton; 440 yards hurdles, W. O. Harley; mile relay, L. A. Dougail, O. S. Thomas,-- J. Mansell, and M. O. Barnett.

Victoria College (Wellington) will be represented as follows at tire championship athletic meeting of New Zealand universities 100 yards and 220 yards, A. T. Duncan and G. Struck; 440 yards, A. T. Duncan and E. M. Mackersey; 880 yards, F. F. Reid and another, (not yet selected); mile, T. Rigg and M. H. Oram; three miles, T. Rigg and P. W. Burbidge; 120 and 440 yards hurdles, G. and C. Strack; high jump, P. J. M'Namana and F. HallJomee; long jump, B. Egby and P. J. M'Na'mara;. putting the weight a.nd throwing tho hammer, P. J. M-Namara; mile walk, A. B. Sievwright and G. M. Cleghorn; relay team, A. T. Duncan, F. F. Reid 1 , Oram, and Mackersey. Several new records were established recently at tire Victorian Amateur Athletio Association’s annual track championship meeting held at the Albert Cricket Ground. W. Murray in. the mile walk broke the long-standing Victorian teoord of A. O. Barrett. Murray’s time was smin 40 4-ss©c. L. H. Kelly beat his own Australian record of 6ft by a quarter of an inch in the high jump. J. L. Davis lowered his own Victorian 120 yards hurdle -Jigures—l6 l-10sec—by winning the race in, 15sec. R. Opie sailed for London by the Rua.hine on Thursday, being accorded an enthusiastic send-off. On. arrival he will have a trial with Woodger to see who is best fitted to represent Australasia at the Festival of Empire sports. On his latest showing there can be very little between the two New Zealand runners, and it is to be regretted they cannot both start. There will be plenty of other opportunities for these two crack sprinters to show what they oan do in England. One cannot help thinking that Otago has taken up a rather narrow view on the question of where the Australasian championships shall, be held next January (comments a Wellington critic); _ ,So far aa New Zealand is concerned it is probable that everyone would be perfectly willing that the sports should take place in Dunedin, but surely the visiting athletes ought to be considered. None of the Australian associations have more money than they oan find a use for, and it is more expensive to send teams to Dunedin than ill would be to Wellington—that ■ is, so far as New South Wales and Queensland are concerned, and these States would be almost certain to have a larger number of representatives than Victoria and Tasmania, for it is quite possible the latter may not be represented at all. If, however,' the expense was warranted the .lime question must be ® very serious obstacle to the claims of Otago. To hold /the sports there would mean that the New Souui Wales and Queensland runners would have to compete immediately after landing from, a long sea voyage, which would be most unfair to the visitors. Judging from past experience the “ g'ate ” ■would be much larger if the sports were held in Weilington, and! this, of course, is a very important point. Possibly a solution might be that, if Dunedin and Auckland were to hold meetings immediately after the championships, the Victorian and Tasmanian runners could compete at the former, and the New South Wales aud Queensland athletes at the latter, on their way home. G. A. Wheatley, the Victorian runner, left for England on March 3, but F. B. Brown, the hurdler, was in hospital with a eeptio throat, and had to postpone his departure. One cannot help regretting that Davis or Keddell are not representing Australasia. , 1 Frank Brown, who is to represent Australia in the British Empire championships at the Coronation sports, is the exchampion of Australia over quarter-mile hurdles, and ex-champion of the 120 yards hurdles in Victoria. He is 23 years old, and is an old Scotch Collegian. He has explored many unknown parts of Australia, and was the discoverer of the Maroombe silver-lead mine in the Northern Territory. He is also a well-known buffalo hunter, and has just returned from a trip through Arnheims’ Land, in the Territory, during which he gained much valuable information concerning the tribal customs of the natives of this almost unexplored portion of Australia.

A weak spot in the conduct of meetings in New Zealand has been time-taking in. short sprints, and this is realised by the N.Z.A.A.A., which body is trying to copo with it. A sub-committee appointed to deal with the matter has come to a finding, and its report covers many useful recommendations. At a recent meeting a runner was timed at 11 3-ssec for 120 yards, whilst at another another sprinter _ was clocked at 9 4-ssec for 100 yards. It is hard to secure the services of really competent timefakers at any time—in point of fact, there are very few really masters of the art,_ like old Frank Hewitt and others “Prodigal” could name, to be found anywhere. Of those officiating at amateur meetings the best he has ever happened across is Mr W. T. Kerr, but he is a man of vast varied' experience. He has again and again told “Prodigal” to a tick what men could do, and in this respect the Sydney writer tell?, rather a good story, although it is at the expense, of New Zealand watchholders. The morning that Stanley Rowley loft

Sydney for Auckland to run A. J. Patrick, of Wellington (in March, 1898), I asked Mr Ken- to go out to the Sydney Cricket Ground and tell me exactly how fast our crack was running. Rowley ran right through at his best for 100 yards, and Mr Kerr's watch showed "three yards outside. As Patrick was reported at the .timei as a euro even-timer, it can be guessed things did not look too bright, especially as b.K. •had a sea trip before him, and was if memory serves, not too good a sailor. Mot quite satisfied, I asked Stan. Rowley if he would have another spin, and' halt an hour later (or loss) he again faced the music. 1 i.ad another glance at the watch, and again it showed 10 3-10seo Returning to town, I mentioned what had happened to a good judge of the game, who consoled me with the remark: "I'll stand that 'three yards worse' to beat the New Zealand eventimer' and you mark my words, 1 U be right nine times out of ten." And he was correct that time, at any rate, for Rowley beat BPatrick by half a yard in lOseo to the Auckland watehholdere. ~._,-, ~ Some few months ago Mr R. 0.. Jarrett (Mastorton), Mr J. Northey (Dunedin), and Mr F A. Homibrook (Christchuroh), arranged to hold the first annual physical development championships in New Zealand at Cihristchurch next October, the second championships to be _ held in the North Island, and the third in Dunedin. It is their intention to approach different physical culture teachers throughout the Dominion, and seek their advice a.nd co©peration. The following is a rough outline of the work that has been accomplished bv Mr Hornibrook as secretary for the movement during the last few months. A representative committee of Christchuroh citizens has consented .to act as judges, consisting of Lieut.-colonel Hawkins, officer aommanding the district; Mr Herdman Smith director of the Christchuroh School of Art; Mr C. R. Woledge, and Drs W. F. Browne, J. F. _Duncan, W. H. Simpson,, N. Guthrie, J. R. Thomas, and J.. D. Marks. These gentlemen have decided that she actual irules of the competitions shall bAsubrnitted to them, and that the judges. {©reach competition shall be chosen from amongst the members of the committee. The following competitions have been suggested:—(l) Best developed man; (2) Best developed lightweight (under lOst). Conditions: (1) That a physical culture as Bpciation be formed., having for its object the encouragement of physical culture development competitions annually. (2) That Biroh association be open to all physical culture teachers. (3) That the membership fee be one guinea per year. (4) That the entrance fee for each competitor for each competition be ss; but competitors not attaohed to any affiliated school of physical; culture be charged 10s for eaefii competition. (5) That the points be awarded on the lines of the development competitions held throughout England and America. In athletic' circles it is hoped that the Australian ethletes who will tour England j during the Empire celebrations will be induced to return home via this country (writes the New York correspondent of " London Sportsman), and incidentally compete here. Wi sadly need something or another to revive a healthy interest in the sport, and a couple of international contests might help. Guy Raskins, of New Zealand, would, of course, be no stranger;, and not a few of us would go a long distance to see him taclde Melvin Sheppard, whom he defeated when both resided in Philadelphia. Guy Haskins is on his way Home via America to train under the famous Mike Murphy, trainer of the American "team of athletes who made history at the Olympis Games in London in 1908. To my mind, it would have been better had Murphy been able to train Haskins on English soil, and thus give not only Haskins, but Woodger and Opie the benefit of his services. The Dunedin Harriers met at Portobello and ran from Mr S. P. Leith's as the guests of the committee. Paper was dispensed With, and the pack (some 20 members), Bnder Captain Thomson, ran over the hills to within a stone's throw of Wiokliffe Bay, and home via the road, the new members showing up well on the run home. The other members sat down to a very enjoyable dinner, after which Mr George Jackson, in a very able speech, welcomed the . new members. The run was necessarily a abort one, and members caught the 5 p.m. boat home. The Caversham and Pacific Harriers held their combined opening run of the season on Saturday afternoon from the residence of Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., Caversham. A photo, group of each club was taken. The pack, which numbered close on 55, then started on its run, which Lsd up the Valley road and on to the hills overlooking Green Island, finishing on the Valley road. After returning from their run the members sat down to a sumptuous repast provided by the host and hostess, after which a very pleasant evening was spent in music, song, and recitation. Mr L. Sanderson (vicepresident) returned thanks on behalf of. the Qaversham Harriers, and Mr T. A. Dawson returned thanks, on behalf of the Pacific Harriers, to Mrs Baxter, Mr and Mrs Sidey. and lady friends for their many kindnesses rendered to their respective clubs. Mr Sidey, in replying, thanked the speakers for their kind remarks, and wished both clubs a verv successful season. Mr Sidey congratulated the Caversham Harriers on their winning the interclub banner last season, and hoped to see them retain it this season. Mr Sidey also spoke of the good fellowship existing between the two clubs, and he trusted that this feeling would long continue. The singing of " Auld lang syne" brought a most successful opening and enjoyable run to a close. The members of St. Joseph's Club held their annual official opening run from the residence of their president (the Hon. .J. B. Oallan, M.L.C.) on Saturday. The excellent muster of 19 turned out, under Captain James Swanson. 0. Swanson and P. Anderson were in charge of the paper, and laid an ideal trail down the hill in front of the carsheds ; Kaikorai Valley, right through to Wakari. From here the trail led on to a popular plcnio resort (Fraser's Gully), and' thence to Fraser's Oreok. After a short spell here the trail Was followed on through some very bushy country till Brockvillie road was met. From here the younger members showed great staying powers, for a steady pace was maintained till the cable power station was Jieaohed. When nearing homo a sprint was arranged, afterwards resulting in a close finish for first place-between L. Coughlan and Jos. Hughes, the former winning by a few yards. The members were hospitably entertained by their hosts The Y.M.C.A. Harriers held a practice run starting from Albany Street School. The hares (A. Gillies and R. M'Pher-

son) took the trail up the track past the cemetery, then through Opoho, passing the football ground, and over near the fish hatcheries. The trail then struck up Signal Hill, and after skirting the hill for a while led down into Ravensbourne. Here the Main road was reached, the pack arriving at the hall after a most enjoyable run. There seems to be every prospect of the club being again among the foremost in the city. On the 22nd inst. the club will be the guest of its president (Mr H. D. Bedford). The extraordinary attitude of the Otago delegates at the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Aiiiateur Athletic Association when it was decided to hold the Australasian championships at Wellington, has occasioned great surprise in local amateur athletic circles, though no surprise is furnished by the attitude of the council generally. Indeed, with the knowledge at hand, it would have afforded greater food for reflection if the council had accepted the recommendation of the recent conference of centres that the meeting be held in Dunedin without some opposition. The feeling displayed by the Wellington, delegates at the conference in Cha-istchurch last month anticipated opposition to the centres' recommendation when such should be considered by the New Zealand Council. The authorities of the New Zealand Council had apparently . decided beforehand—so far as they could decide—that the Australasian championships would be held at Wellington. Colour is given this statement by the fact that before the last conference of centres recommended Dunedin as the venue the New Zealand Council had, in a communication to the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association and the New South Wales body, given those associations to understand that Wellington would be the convincing ground. Quoting from a report of a meeting of the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association: " The New Zealand A.A.A. sought the views of the council as to the most suitable date for the next Australasian meeting, to be held, it is understood, in Wellington. It was decided to suggest euch a _ date as would enable competitors to include the Christmas and New Year holidays in the leave from business they would require to take part." This would betaken to indicate that though the matter had not been decided the New Zealand Council had practically made up its mind that Wellington would get the meeting. The New Zealand Council, by the powers delegated by the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union, to which it is affiliated, has the right to control the Australasian championship, with power also to delegate all or any of its duties to an3' affiliated association. From this it will be agreed that the New Zealand Council is within its rights in allocating the championship meeting of 1912, ignoring, if need be, the recommendation of the conference' of centres. It would be supposed, then, that there was no occasion for the motion tabled at the conference of centres in Ohristchurch by the Wellington delegates, and subsequently defeated—- " That this conference is of opinion that the allocation of the • Australasian championships is a matter for the council." The. object of the Wellington motion was an attempt to destroy the effect of the recommendation of the conference of centres held in Auckland in 1910, and to prevent the recommendation oif the 1910 conference being confirmed by the conference of 1911, thereby gaining for the council the confidence of centres on the question of the Australasian championships. It was recognised that despite the recommendation of the centres it was necessary for Otago to further protect its interests in the matter of the championship meeting, and to this end the local centre instructed its delegates (Messrs Marryatt and Pollock) to vote in favour of Dunedin. requesting the centres of Canterbury and Auckland to do the same by their delegates. The opposition to the recommendation of the conference of centres was recognised and anticipated, but the disloyalty of the Otago delegates was unlocked for, and is beyond all justification. It was clearly the - duty of the Otago delegates, holding as they did convictions totally opposed to instructions, to have advised the lecal centre that they Could nb£ obey instructions, and to have given the Otago Centre an opportunity of reviewing its position. This was the" only attitude to have adopted in the circumstances, and failure of its compliance was to make disloyalty worse disloyal. The attitude taken ud by the Auckland delegates is in marked contrast, and in every respect defensible. Though their personal convictions were opposed to the recommendation of the centres and to the instructions of the centre they represented they did their duty to that centre by writing expressing their convictions, to receive the reply that Auckland was in honour bound to support. Otago. Had the Otago delegates done this they would have been doing only what was their duty to the centre which they represented. The quarrel is not so much that Messrs Marryatt and Pollock voted contrary to the instructions of the centre (though this were disloyal enough), but that they did not apprise the Otaao Centre before the meeting of the council of their intention to vote contrary to its instructions. The wisdom of tieing the hands of delegates in matters of sport legislation may be debatable, but this fact does not relieve Messrs Marryatt nnd Pollock from their responsibilities to Otago. The question of ihn allocation of the .Australasian championships is one which should hive a wider outlook than mere provincialism, and, to do the council justice, it may be supposed this aspect of the case did not influence it in its judgment in conning to the decision to hold the Australasian championship meeting of 1912 in Wellington. The council hafi no doubt cone into the question deeply and considered the matter from all its aspects, and having information at its disposal denied the Otago Centre, is in a position, to decide the most suitable ve.nue. At the same time, the recommendation of the Conference of Centres in 1910. and again in 1911, might well have been given some consideration, and not totally ignoredi, as anneariq to have been tbf: case. The Auckland delegates furnished the opportunity for the council to refer the matter back i/> the centres, together with the opinion of the council, which was a reasonable and a just nrocedm-e, Of to defer consideration, but this was defeated', and the decision come to that the meeting be held in Wellington. Welling-' tori's claims are wrobablv stronger than those of Otago, but if the_ Empire City, on account of its central position, is always •to be considered more favourably than

other centres in the Dominion, by the self-same argument of centralisation, the Australasian Championship meeting some years- hence must go to Wellington. Mr J. B. Callan (vice-president of the Otago Centre) interviewed on the Otago Centre) interviewed on the question said: "It is absolutely untrue that there has been any division of opinion in tlie Otago Centre as to the advisability of Otago endeavouring to obtain the Australasian championship meeting. There has been a division of opinion with regard to the stand that ought to be taken with regard to the expanses of the meeting, but that was only because some of the members thought a certain course respecting the expenses might prejudice Dunedin's chance of obtaining the meeting, which everybody was desirous of obtaining. The matter was again discussed at the Conference of Centres held at the recent championship meeting in Christchurch, when a motion in favour of Dunedin was again carried. Some opposition to it was made by the Wellington delegates. The two gentlemen who represent the Otago Centre on the New Zealand Council, having received instructions to support Otago's olaim, gave no intimation to the centre that these instructions conflicted with their convictions. Of course, the council must have a local existence, and must necessarily consist of members who are residents of the town, and if the delegates persist in looking at every question from the point of view of the town in which they reside, and disregard the wishes of the district or province they represent, a position very similar to the untenable position that arose two or three years ago in Christchurch may recur. It is a curious fact that the Conference of Centres, which was initiated as a moans of arriving at the feelings of the actual runners throughout the Dominion, was in its early days warmly supported, if not actua-lly initiated, by some of the gentlemen who, in their present capacity as members of the council, disregard the expressed wishes of two successive conferences of centres, and vigorously proclaim that a conference of centres has no official standing. At the last Conference of Centres a motion was placed upon the order paper by the Wellington Centre that the .allocation of the Australasian championship meeting was a matter purely within the province of the council. This motion was defeated. Among other arguments by which the Otago Centre supports ite claims are: that the last Australasian championship meeting, having been held in the North Island, it is the turn of the South Island, and that Chris-, church, having already had the honour,' and, indeed, not snaking any claim to .hold the present championship meeting, it is Dunedin's turn. In any ease, the real thing we have to complain of more than anything else is that the men who represent us in Wellington had ample time to let us know that they did not see their way to accept our instructions. But they did not do so. OTAGO CENTRE, N.Z.A.U. "A." meeting of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand Athletic Union was held on Wednesday night. Mr C. E. Keast presided over a small attendance. . The Secretary of the New Zealand. Athletic and Cycling Union wrote notifying that the following counties would form the Otago Centre, as defined by the executive : Clutha, Bruce, Tuapeka, Taieri, Waikouaiti, Waihomo, Maniototo, Vincent, Waitaki, and Peninsula. —Tho Secretary pointed out that the Otago Centre had lost Lake County, in which four societies had their headquarters.—lt was decided to protest against the deletion of tho Lake County district from the Otago Centre's territory. Tho Secretary of the Arthur's Point Sports Club wrote enclosing half a guinea affiliation fee. —The Chairman pointed cut that this was one of the clubs that had been deleted from the centre's control. The Secretary of the Kaitangata Athletic Club wrote forwarding a guinea as the annual fee to the Athletic Union. In reference to the nomination of D. Dodds, Clinton, for the Kaitangata Sheffield Handicap, he stated that the nomination fee had not been paid. In view of previous similar occurrences he asked that the union deal with him as severely as its iiules would permit.— Referred to the New Zealand Executive, to be placed on the defaulters' list. L. C. M'Lachlan wrote thanking the president and other members of the executive for their efforts to raise funds to enable W. F. Trembath to visit England to compete for tho world's half-mile championship. —Received. A rough balance sheet of the Trembath meeting held last Saturday showed that the receipts so far amounted to £4 Os 6d. The expenses totalled £2 16s, and £1 2s 6d had been handed to Mr M'Lachlan. It was decided to vote £2 2s to Trembath from the centre's fund. —The Chairman said the meeting had proved that the ticket system was a perfect nuisance. Competitors fees would be returned on application to the secretary. It was decided to specially thank those outsiders who assisted at Saturday's sports meeting. The secretary was instructed to write thanking Mrs Blanoy for her generous donation to the Trembath Fund. Mr Varcoe was appointed to represent the centre at tho goldficlds sports meeting, and Mr Brady at the Blueskin meeting. Accounts amounting to £7 7s 3d wore passed for payment. The bank pass book showed a credit balance of £3l 10s. A meeting of the newly-formed South Island Union was to have been hold, but owing to tho small attendance it was declared lapsed for want of a quorum. The monthly meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand! Amateur Athletic Association was held on Friday night; presentMessrs E. Rosevear (president), A. R. Barclay, L. Sanderson, A. C Smith, J. List, W. Renwick, H. C. Murray, G. Farens, J. Brooks, J. B. Callan, R, G. Anderson, D. Melville, A. Melville, H. Divers, PI. G. Briokell, P. Breen, and R. F. Mitchell. M. Mickelson wrote asking the position of his application for reinstatement.—-The secretary was directed to inform the writer that the* matter was out of the hands of the centre. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote stating that tho Reserves Gomimittee li&d agreed to undertake the expenditure of tho £6 offered by the centre on the erection of a hand-rail "at the north end running track. It wa« also intimated that the committee had declined to maintain the_ track.—lt was resolved to approach the City Council asking it to undertake the cutting of the grass on the reserve. Mr Breen was appointed treasurer of the centre in place of Mr List (resigned), who still retains the office of secretary. The Secretary of the Wellington Centro wrote stating that at a meeting of the

centre, on the 24th March, a motion was carried to the effect that the conference of centres should be for the purpose of discussing matters of general interest to the sport, with a view to arriving at a common understanding and' making recommendations on matters of policy and principle for consideration and final discussion of the council, voting to bo by centres, and not by delegates.—The matter, was held over, pending consideration by the centre of the constitution of the conference of centres. On the motion of Mr Barclay, it was resolved—" That the secretary be instructed to write to the New Zealand Council calling attention to the resolution passed by the conference of centres that the- council be recommended to hold over the printing of the new rules until further consideration can be given to the Otago Centre's recommendations in respect thereof, and that the Rules Amendment Sub-committee be asked to prepare a fresh memorandum to be sent to the New Zealand Council." Mr Barclay reported verbally on the conference of centres held in Christchurch at the time of the championship meeting, detailing the business transacted at the conference. The resolution that the Australasian championship meeting be held in Dunedin was carried with three dissentients The dissentients were the Wellington representatives. The voting was 10 to 3. —Mr Divers and Mr Sanderson, who also attended the conference as delegates from the Otago Centre, made a few remarks. —It was agreed to thank the delegates for their services. The President stated that Mr Hooper some time ago presented a cup to a club in Dunedin to hold for the purpose, of improving long-distanoo running, and it had been used in connection with the Port race. Mr Hooper was anxious that the centre should be the body to hold the cup. If the centre accepted it, it meant it would control the Port rciad race. Tho cup had been returned to Mr Hooper by the club that originally had control of it.—ln reply to a question, the President said the Dunedin Harriers had handed in the cup. —Mr Brickell said the Dunedin Harriers did not feel they could continue to run _ the race satisfactorily.—After a discussion, Mr Hooper was thanked for the cup, and it was agreed that the centre should have control of it.