ATHLETIC AND ROWING NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14044, 30 October 1909, Page 2

ATHLETIC AND ROWING NOTES.

(By Official.)

November Sth.-Glenavy Spurts ._ November 9th—Mackenzie Caledonian Society Sports at Fairlic. December 16th. - Pleasant Point Caledonian Society. t»u+,-;,.+ December 16th Morven District December 2rth.-Te.nuka Caledonian 27th-Waiinate Caledonian 27th.-Rakaia Athletic P March lTth.-Gcrakliue St. Patrick's Sports.

In "sprint events the starter usually has a "deal of trouble to get his men off on cental terms, and now and again it happens that one man gets such an advantage by "beating the gun' that the race is a gift to him. To guard against any such happening all sprint races should be run in tapes, and the men should start behind worsted threads, the breaking of which before the "gun" should entail a penalty. A starter should insist on nil starts being fair, and without hesitation should declare a "no-start" if he considers an- man has gained -un.duc advantage. The firiiur of a second sh»t sh-uld be the signal for a no-start. Starters should therefore use either a revolver or a double-barrelled 'run. In* judging all finishes in cycle and foot raeiim. the officials should stand lvifk at least ton feet from the edge of the track. In a close finish if the judges are at the edge of the track it is very easy to make mistakes, the tendency' being to declare the man on the far side the winner. At the Exhibition Championships in Christchurch, a runner who was given first place (dead heat with another), was actually fourth in the finish, but the judfres were placed so close to the edge of tlie track that it was almost impossible, for th:»m to decide on what was a very clo=c. finish.

Much trouble was given to the handieatmcr last year by competitors not sending in their full performances. Competitors must understand that they are liable to disqualification if they do not send in an absolutely correct list, of their performances for the previous two years. This year it will he compulsory for entries to be on the ollicial forms. These can always be got from Club secretaries, or from me Centre Secretary.

Rakaia Athletic Sports will as usual be held on December 27th (the 20th this vear fails on a Sunday). There is talk of an Athletic Spoils Club being formed at Methven. By a slip of the pen I stated that M. Mctcalt was winner of a Timaru to Christchurch Road Race. As is well known it was his brother George who won the race in 1809.

The Pleasant Point programme for December. 10th is to hand'. The chief running events are: —130 yds (£l2), -1-fOyds (£4 ss), SRHyds (£4 ss), one mile (£5 l : 's>. Tlie chief cycling events are handicaps over distances of half mile, one mile, 1 i and 2 miles respectively. The prize, money for the two-mile event total* £lO 10s. Tlie jumps an; high, hop step, and pole vaulting, and there are wrestling, stone, and hammer events, while Highland musK' ami. dancing count eight events.

Several competitors at the Woodburv Sports did not register, and unless they attend to the matter at once they will find themselves debarred from further competition at nnv snorts. Owing to the King's Birthdav holiday being observed in the Oamaru district on Xovember Bth (Monday), the Glenavy Sports will be .held on that dav. \

.in attempt, is to be made lo revive the South Amateur Athletic Club, and it is K> bi: hoped that it will prove successful. There is no reason whatever wliy an amateur sports meeting .should not. be held in Timarii at least, once a year. J am told that the Club has no liabilities, and that the financial past will present no difficulties. . All that is wanted is an energetic committee of a dozen young men. The S.C. Harrier Club has several very fair runners in its ranks, and when there is a sprinter of the class that C. A. McWhirter is, it is a .shame-that there are practically no events for them to compete in.

Tavciicr (Belfield) and G. T. Smart CChertsey), will be competitors at Fairlie on November .Oth. and it is not at all unlikely that J. Riddell, of Washdyke, will be there. Frank Spring, of Seadown, the halfmile runner, is not likely to compete this season. His knee is giving him trouble.

Morven district sports are to be held on December Ifitb, the prize money, amounting to about £ls. It is to be hoped that the Committee will have better fortune financially tbi'ii tbey did last year, when they lost over £ll by their meeting. The cycle races at Chert-soy, October 13th, I am informed, were rather . a disappointment, and time nfter time the limit men finished on th"ir own. In one race the limit men at the finish were just on the back markers' wheels -bavin" nearly l;»r<nofl them. I'a'-e was the trouble. . McCarthy and Garrett were the best of the limit, men, and F. L. Knowles of the back markers.