AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 252, 27 November 1914, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

MATTERS IN CANTERBURY.

The opening of the amateur athletic season in Canterbury has been considerably hindered by the war. Many of the best athletes in the district are now members of the Expeditionary Forces, and consequently the affairs of the clubs have been greatly dislocated. A few weeks ago the Canterbury Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. issued a circular letter asking the clubs to supply information about their active membership, in order that the centre might have material to work upon in arranging its programme for the season. It is obvious that no good purpose could be served by planning big meetings if there are not-suf-ficient amateur runners left in the district to make such meetings successful. So far, only two clubs have replied to this circular. The Canterbury U.A.C.'s reply states that that club's membership is now approximately 85. It has lost 33 members, 24 of whom have resigned since last season, while the other nine are serving with the Expeditionary Force. The club's committee has unanimously approved the centre's proposal that the centre should hold a series.of evening meetings during the season. \. ■ The Canterbury •■ College A.A.C. re : ported that its present membership is about 30, but the majority of these are country members, and 11 members are with the Expeditionary Forces. Nine of last year's members have; resigned, and 11 new members have'joined. At present,' the club has only eight or nine members who* would support the evening meetings. The club, however, intends to do all. it can for; athletics during the summer; months, and. will support the centre ito the utmost of its power. -. -

CENTRE'S ANNUAL MEETING. An untoward accident has also hindered the Canterbury Centre holding its annual meeting, which should have been held several - weeks ago. The centre's former secretary, Lieutenant D. Ml Robertson, resigned . office'when he volunteered for active service, but some little time elapsed before a new secretary could be appointed. Unfortunately, a.nuruber of the centre's documents, letter books, etc., which Lieutenant Robertson left in what he thought to be safe keeping in Christchurch, to be handed over to the centre; wentastray in the meantime. The absence of these documents and books prevented the annual meeting from being held at t&e proper time. Hoyvever, the meeting has now been fixed for next Thursday. It probably will be necessary , for . the centre to appoint committees to plan several important matters of policy, to be put into effect as soon as the present national tension eases off. So now the centre can be relied upon to " get busy?' in earnest. For; one thing, it lias the advantage of having a very energetic andcapable .-.officer in its new hon. secretary, Mr -W. Turner. ' First of-the- clubs to swing into the season's operations is the Canterbury A.A.C., which is arranging a series of evening meetings. • If possible, six s of these will be held. ' Three have been already mapped out —details have appeared in The Sun—and.if the .club finds that it cannot hold the remaining three unaided the centre will go to its assistance. The first of the .series will be held at Lancaster Park next Tuesday, at 5.3.0 p.m., when a 100 yds handicap and a mile handicap will be run. Entries will close this evening.

The Canterbury A.A.C.'s programme for the three evening meetings already planned was approved at a-meeting of the centre committee yesterday, subject to a sub-committee being satisfied that the holding,of the Secondary Cup Competition on the Christ's College ground does not contravene the conditions governing the presentation of the trophy. I understand that the principal reason why the cup competition has not been fixed for a neutral ground is that it is hoped to arouse greater interest among secondary school pupils than would be/obtained by holding it at Lancaster Park. Presumably the competition will "go the round" of the various secondary school grounds. In any case, in such a -competition, no school gains much, if any,, advantage by the competition beings held on, its own ground, provided ihm the; pupils of other schools are enabled to give the support of their presence to•-. their representatives. . ~■. i

AUCKLAND NOTES. The New Zealand champion walker, D. Cashman, late of Wellington, is now permanently located in Auckland, and will assist the Auckland "Club. When the opportunity arises. Says the Auckland "Star":—"The Auckland sprint champion, L. J. Mark, has announced that his last appearance on the track will be at the inter-faculty University championships next Monday. Mark's retirement is unfortunate in view of the holding of the? New Zealand championships in Auckland this season. The prospects of Auckland regaining the banner on her Own convincing ground • looked particularly bright ! at the opening of the season, when there was every reason to believe that Hill, Dormer, Mark, and Cashman would be available, but now the reverse is the case. Outside of A. A. Edwards, who is contemplating an early return to Australia, there are none in who are even likely to extend the strong contingents 'both Wellington afIVT Qtago have at their disposal." ■■■>■■■ ' . , WORLD'S RECORD EQUALLED. New Zealand athletes will be glad to hear of the success of George Parker, a brilliant member of the American team which visited Australasia last season, in equalling the world's amateur record of 21 l-ssec for 22QydS. Parker accomplished this at the -California!!

field and track championships meeting last month. In doing it he defeated another famous American sprinter, Howard Drew. The story of Parker's success is thus told by an American writer:—"California has another sprinter, a white boy, who is at least equal to Drew, the coloured champion. His name is Parker. In the Coast championships he ran within 2ft. of Drew in the 100 yds dash, and in the 220 yds dash he beat Drew by 2ft and equalled the world's record, 21 l-ssee. The Coast writers describe the race as the greatest ever seen in the West. Parker was doubtful of his ability to beat Drew at the hundred,,but had plenty of confidence when the 220 came. At 100 yds Drew led by 2ft. At iSOj-ds Parker came to Drew's side and started a furious sprint. He pulled ahead an inch at 1 a time. Drew tried his best to hold the flying youngster, but was out-pa'ced. Parker was not headed again, and broke the tape with 2ft to spare. He is said to have a,great 'jump' in the last few yards. More fine material for our next Olympic team." At latest advices there was every chance of Parker's record being accepted by the American Athletic Union, as it had been officially confirmed by the Pacific Association.

JEAN BOCIN'S DEATH. The news of the death of Jeanßouin, reported by the Paris newspaper "Excelsior," was received with feelings of great regret by all British sportsmen. He had been killed fighting at the front, and fell crying :"Long live France! Avenge me!" Bonimwas probably the most brilliant runner produced by France. His best distance was 10 miles, though in later, years he ran splendidly, over 5000 s metres, and his great struggle against :Hannes Kolehmaineii in- the Olympic games at Stockholm win not soon be - forgotten. The Frenchman was second, but a. great second at that. ,

Bouin: ran in the Olympiad in London, and did well in a team race, but his best efforts in the United Kingdom were seen across country. He was second to A. C. Wood in the International at Belfast in 1910, but then he won three "Internationals" off the reel—at Caerleon, Edinburgh, and Paris. He held the half-hour record of six miles 89yds, made at Colombus in November, 1911, while last y-ea* he went to Stockholm and set.up a fresh hour's record of 11 miles 1422 yds, which took the place of Harry Watkins's old figures. APPLEGARTH A PROFESSIONAL. A sensation was caused in English athletic circles a few weeks ago When W,.,R. Applegarth, the famous sprinter, amateur champion of England at 100 yds and 220 yds, announced that.he was joining the professional ranks. It,was stated that Applegarth had entered into a properly-drawn-up contract with a well-known London professional sprinter (who was not named in the announcement), authorising ,the latter to act as his manager, and to issue on his behalf such challenges to matches and entries for . handicaps* and scratch razees as he might deem advisable. Then came a challenge; signed by Applegarth, to any man in the world, for. a race over a distance of 100 yds, for £IOO, open to £2OO a-side, on any fair cinder track in the United Kingdom, the'raee to take place before the end of November. This challenge was promptly accepted by E. R. Terry, manager of ".Tack" Donaldson, and when the lasjt mail to hand left England negotiations for the match were proceeding. It may be remarked in passing that another famous amateur sprinter, G. H. Patching, the South African, who immediately preceded Applegarth in the English amateur sprint championship, is also joining the professionals. Although the subject is not now really pertinent to amateur athletics, now that Applegarth has become an out-and-out professional, the following comment on the matter, from the. ''Sporting Chronicle," is of interest: — '' There is, after all, even more honour attached to a world's sprint championship than there is to the A.A.A. championship at 100 yds, and if Applegarth can land this race for England nobody in this country will object. Since.A. B. Postle beat W. Growcott at Clayton the sprint honours have been with the Australians, and Jack Donaldson is nowadays entitled to the titles from 100 yds up to 600 yds at any rate. "Since July 25, 1908, then, the Australians have held the sprint championships, ' and while not suggesting that the title will change, should all the formalities of a match between Applegarth and Donaldson be completed, and the men test their paces on the track, we must insist that it is high time some Englishman had a say in- the professional distinctions. Donaldson, Bergmeier (Kanaly disputing), Hedeman, Vermeulen, and Holmer. are the present world's champions; eould Applegarth seize one title it would be matter for considerable satisfaction.

"Certainly the .amateur champion has proved incontestable the fastest amateur the world has known from 100 yds to 220 yds j some of his 150 yds and 220 yds races have been remarkable, and he has run many a • fast 100 yds. He has the conviction that he can beat Donaldson, and there is not the slightest doubt he will have the opportunity of trying his luck in such a test. "Donaldson, on the other hand, has been longing for the opportunity for another match. Since the fall wherein he beat R. E. Walker and A. B. Postle in the great three-handed 100 yds sweepstakes at Weaste, and when .he ran away from the South African at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd, he has been flonging for another; engagement." ! A. L. C.