ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 60

ATHLETICS

By AMATEUR. NOTES. C. M. Olsen, the-' champion half-mile runner, is taking up harrierism this season. The clubs affiliated to the Canterbury Centre are to be asked to obtain a sprint coach, a distance coach, and a field events coach, and the centre will be asked to arrange for expert coaching. The ladies’ sectjpn of the Hutt Valley Harriers’ Club turned'out for the first time on April 21. It is believed that this is the second ladies’ harrier club in New Zealand and the pioneer ladies’ club in the Wellington district. A system of second-class racing will probably be adopted in Christchurch next season. The idea is to encourage new runners by the fact that they will not run in open company right away. L. Madigan, a well-known member of the Port Chalmers Rowing Club, has joined the Caversham Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, as also has MTnnes, a promising runner from Green Island. The Otago Secondary Schools’ Championship meeting, which was held in Invercargill in March, resulted in a loss of £4 5s 3d. The Invercargill Club has imfde the amount up by a levy on the Southland schools.

By running 60yds in 6 l-ssec. Young James Quin.” of Holy Cross University, U.S.A., equalled the world's record for that distance at the New York Athletic Club Games. The Caversham Club has decided to divide its runnels into three packs, which will be taken charge of by the following: —No. 1, C. R. Hebbard and C. K. Heaton; No- 2, J. H. Williamson and C. Cameron; No. 3, D. I. Inglis and J. W. Tapp. I have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the first syllabus of the Abbotsford Methodist Harrier Club. Provision is made for the following runs: —May 5, St. Clair baths; May 12, Fairfield; May 19, combined run with Northern; May 26, combined run with Cargill Road; June 2. Wingatui; June 9, Edmond Cup race; June 16, Abbotsford Church; June 23, Brighton; June 30, Port road race-

Despite the wintry conditions last Saturday, the St. Kilda Club had another very large attendance, some 35 members taking part in a very enjoyable run from Waitati as the guests of the boys of the Red Star Club. The hares, J. Donald and Deputy Captain R. E. R. Mercer, were responsible for an excellent trail, and some excellent harrier country was traversed. There is still that tendency for runners to get ahead of the whistle, and although it is very good to see members very keen, they should try to overcome that idea, as later in the run they will have their chance to show their abilities as runners when the pack is divided into fast and slow packs. A large number of riders -are making anxious inquiries with respect to the Timaru to Christchurch road race this year (says the Christchurch Star). Last week inquiries were received from the West Coast and New Plymouth. The financial position of the centre will be known this week and a definite decision regarding the race will be made at an early dateSuch well-known distance runners as J. W. Savidan, New Zealand cross-coun-try champion, Gordon Kells, one-time New Zealand cross-country champion, and N. F. Cooper, will be seen in action in Auckland again this winter (says the Sun). At the opening meeting of the current harrier season Savidan (scr) beat Cooper (6sec) by eight yards in the one and a-half mile steeplechase.

At a meeting of delegates from the athletic clubs in Christchurch last week it was decided that a circular be sent to members of all football clubs, and that a deputation be appointed to go round the clubs in an endeavour to bring footballers into athletics during the summer. It was also decided that the clubs be asked to organise in order to attract new runners, and* to make suggestions to the centre for the popularising of the sportThe Christchurch Star states that the Canterbury Centre intends to form a harrier sub-committee this winter to control the harrier branch of athletics. The club business of the sub-committee will be to raige the funds necessary to send the Canterbury team to the NewZealand championships. OLYMPIC GAMES. AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEPARTS. TK m . SYDNEY, May 1. xt i j team departed by the Naldera, and was given an enthusiastic farewell., Carlton had a narrow escape from serious accident, being struck heavily on the forearm by a tackle block. He suffered severe pain, but fortunately the arm was not broken. LIFE ON SHIPBOARD. WELLINGTON, May 2 A radio message from Mr Amos, the manager, says: The Olympic representatives have settled down to life on board the Remuera, and a start has been made with the training operations to be carried out during the voyage. Moorhouse, the swimmer, who is making his own arrangements for the trip to England, leaves Christchurch by the Hurunui next Wednesday. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAINING. LONDON, May 5. lhe Austraban Olympic team will arrive on June 14, and will stay at the Onslow Court Hotel in a quiet area in South Kensington within ten minutes of Hyde Park. This is as central as is possible for training purposes. Captain Vieary Horjiiman says it has been difficult to arrange for accommodation for a team in which so many sports are represented. He is especially anxious to avoid too many hard pavements for walking exercise. He says

NORRIE BELL TURNS PROFESSIONAL. XT . T HAMILTON, May 5. Norrie Bell, a leading amateur golfer, has turned professional. He was runnerup in the New Zealand Open Championship, and reached the semi-finals in the Amateur Championship last year. He was seven times Hamilton champion, seven times Waikato champion, and three times South Auckland champion.

A. I. W. Wood .. .. 93 18 — 75 L. Humphreys .. 81 0 — 75