AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 31, 13 March 1914, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

TOPICS OF THE WEEK. Amateur athletics in and around Christchurch are "booming" somewhat at present. The' New Zealand University sports, to be held in Christchurch at Easter, are bringing quite a number of men back to the old spiked shoes, even at this late hour in the season. Canterbury College should have a fairly strong jteam at the University sports, but its chances cannot be gauged until definite information can be obtained regarding the men who will be available to represent the other University colleges. Of course, the absence of C. S. Thomas will mean something like a ten points handicap. .However, if "Jack" Mansell stands up to a hard, day's work in his usual courageous style he should prove a tower of strength to t;he Canterbury College team. All distances up to and including the 880 yds, arid patting the shot, come within his scope, and it is something of a gamble to decide which, distance is his best. He* has run some very good "quarters" during the last two seasons, as well as some good "hundreds." Many enthusiasts will wish Mansell good luek, for so far championship honours have not. come his way, and he surely deserves a change of fortune. D. practising assiduously with the hammer, but he will have to improve considerably to gain the coveted "bronze." By the way, are there no old hammer-throwers in Christchurch who could spare enough time to drift along, to Lancaster Park sometimes and give a few hints to budding "hammerers?" A similar question may be asked of old walkers and jumpers. .

The Presbyterian Bible classes will also hold a tournament at Easter, and many of their men are in training. What about resuscitating the Presbyterian Athletic Club?

Next Tuesday-the Canterbury College Club will hold the third evening meeting of the present series. The programme will eorisist of 75yds, 220 yds, and one mile handicaps; and the 440 yds hurdles championship of Canterbury. The 75yds oil Tuesday should provide a good with Mansell, Brinkman, Drake, De Rago, and M 'Whirter—the .last-named is jmaking a reappearance after a spell of two years—all running well.

Probably the 220 yds will not-attract as many starters as the'short race will, but as most of the runners are now in good fettle, an excellent race should result. W.. Barnett, of Canterbury College, may be a competitor. He has not competed this season, but he is a strong runner, and he may prove dangerous. He appears short of work at present. Rumour has it that the 220 yds championship of Canterbury is Barnett's goal. '

With such an even field of niilers as Christehurch has at present, the winner of the mile will be hard to pick. It will be interesting to note how Farrow, now mile champion of Canterbury, runs behind a field—a good test of a runner's ability, despite the adverse criticism of handicaps which the American athletes have dealt out.

The 440 yds hurdles championship probably will develop into a contest between Cook, present champion of New Zealand, - and Pratt, of the 'Varsity Club. The latter is training hard and should give Cook a good race. It is with regret that I have to record the retirement, for the rest of the season, of Alex M'Leod, one,of Canterbury's representative sprinters, and "Bert" Flanagan, distance runner. Both are suffering from strain. It is hoped that a six months' spell will enable them to recover sufficiently before next season comes round.

Congratulations to '' Tommy'' Anderson, of the Pioneer Club, who won the high jump at the South Island Championship meeting at Otautau. His jump of sft 4Mn was a good performance, considering the rough ground and the strong wind. More should be heard of him. STOP-WATCH.-

A NOTABLE SCHEME AUSTRALIANS FOE -PANAMA. Sydney followers of athletics are enthusing over, the South Sydney Harriers' proposal to send a team to the Panama Exposition games next year. Australia will be invited to send a team of athletes to the games, but it is almost certain that none of the governing associations will be financially strong enough to undertake the responsibility of such a tour. The announcement that the South Sydney Club intends sending a team has, in the circumstances, been hailed with delight. The proposed tour is the outcome of suggestions offered to Mr E. P. S. Parke by the manager of the American team of athletes recently in Sydney. Mr Peixotto intimated that one of the objects of his trip to Australia was to influence the athletic authorities to send a team to Panama. A few months in Australia were sufficient to convince Mr Peixotto that none of the Australian associations was in a position to do so. He then approached the South Sydney Harriers, and, it would appear, with success. The South Sydney Club is probably the most successful athletic organisation in Australia, from both the competitive and financial points of view. For several years its members have won for the club supremacy, and the credit balance shown in the last financial statement *is convincing evidence of the soundness of the funds. The club does not intend hoarding up big credit balances. Negotiations are now proceeding with the San Franciscan athletic authorities, and something definite will be known shortly. At present it is proposed to send four men. That probably means

that the team would include a sprinter, a! middle distance runner, a hurdler, and probably an all-round jumper. The club is well off in the way of talent. It has several State champions in the ranks.

The men who stand out prominently as possibilities for the tour are, Bradley and, Thorpe. Smith would be a good broad jump man, but J. Frazcr would only be a fair hurdler. He will have to improve to stand a chance of being selected. It is quite probable (remarks a writer in the Sydney "Daily Telegraph") that the men who will eventually secure places in the team are not present-time champions. The intervening months may work their surprises. It is to be hoped that they will. The committee of the South Sydney Club is going to do everything possible towards the development of new men. The standard in all branches of athletics must. be improved. The Americans whilst in Australia gave' many lessons, the basis of them all being thoroughness. It was not their particular style of running that carried them to victory so much as thoroughness and enthusiasm. Australasian athletes must have impressed upon them the fact that success begets success, but, to obtain the initial success, system is essential. Members of the South Sydney Club have undoubtedly a great incentive before them, and the struggles for inclusion in the team for America should be keen indeed, and beneficial to the sport.