ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 60

ATHLETICS

' MEETING OF CENTRE. The monthly meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Otago Centre) was held on Tuesday evening, when Mr E. L. Macassey presided. The chairman welcomed Mr M’Carthy, of the Waikouaiti Club. A letter was received from the New Zealand Council in reply to a query of a definition of an active member. —The council's ruling was that an active member was a competitor who had competed, in at least one event.—Mr Melville moved that the New Zealand Council should be written to pointing out that many good club men who did not take part in competitions should be regarded as active members.—Carried. ' It was also decided to ask for a defiition of what constituted one event. Applications for transfers to the Otago Amateur Cycling Club for J. Simon, T. Crossan, W. Hodge. T. M’William, C. W. Fallowfield, H. Stokes. H. Mussen, A. Nickers, S. Campbell, H. A. Oekwell, J. Harwell, J. C. Fogarty, N. Johnston, S. Bremford, W; A. Isaac, J. A. Johnston, J. Campbell, H. Cooper, C. G. Lucas, T. W. Scott. T. Dillon, A. L. Rosenbrock, F. Deans, C. J. Garside, J. Ewing, J. Cruickshank, R. G. Ravenwood, P. Traill and A. Harris were received, and a good deal of discussion resulted.—Mr Gibson stated that a lot of propaganda work had been going on. When the club was formed an assurance was given that it would not interfere with existing clubs but following the discussion in regard to cycling points in the List Shield, the delegates had broken their promises.—At this stage the centre went into committee. On resuming a motion was confirmed that the applications should be granted, subject to clearances being ir. order. The following transfers were dealt with and granted:—C. H. Duff, from University Club to Dtincdin Club; A. W. M’Rae, from Anglican Club to Leith Club; W. H. Hobbs, from Pacific Chib to Caversham Club: W. M. Beveridge, from Cargill Road Club to Leith Club (subject to satisfactory clearance). An application from G. Kennedy' to be reinstated into the amateurs was dealt with.—As he had stood down for four years, it was decided to forward his application to the New Zealand Council with a favourable recommendation. An application was also received from H. S. Eccles, which had been previously refused.—Mr Emmerson pointed out that Eccles had only competed at one small country meeting, and it was decided to forward the application to Wellington to be reconsidered. It was decided to hold both the monthly and annual meetings on October 23. The chairman referred to the death of Sir William Sim, and it was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Lady Sim. It was decided that sprinters should be graded into A and B Grades for 100 yards races. It was decided that the sports secretary should be authorised to accept standing entries for the track season, and the !•••’-« as to payment of entries should be enforced. Mr Breen suggested that there should be a night meeting every week for about six weeks. Mr Melville suggested that important races such as the Edmond Cup should beheld later in the year, as runners did not have time to get fit for these races. He gave notice of motion to move at the annual meeting that the dates for important races should-be reconsidered.—Mr Breen also expressed himself as being in accord with the proposal. Mr M’Carthy, on behalf of Waikouaiti. said he wished to thank the competitors from Dunedin who helped to make the last meeting a success. He also announced that arrangements were being made for another meeting.

RETIREMENT OF NURMI. LONDON, September 21. Nurmi, the world-famous runner, who is staying at Budapest, states that he is retiring from athletics at the end of the year. He finds that it requires most intense training to gain his customary speed His parents, who are religious fisherfolk, never approved of his athletic career, because it involved Sunday racing.—Australian Press Association. THE OLYMPIC GAMES. CAPETOWN, September 19. . The t .Olympic hurdler Weightman Smith considers it is unfortunate that women’s events are included in the Olympiads.' He advocates separate meetings. . ’ He says it was un-

pleasant to see women completely exhausted and weeping from disappointment, and dominion girls at Amsterdam massaged by masseurs while others were changing their clothes. The greatest disadvantage was in travelling together. It was impossible for any manager to please a team containing girls.