ATHLETIC

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8778, 15 November 1906, Page 4

ATHLETIC

NOTES. (By SPRINTER.) The agenda paper for the- annual meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A-, which has just been issued, contains several notices oft motion to alter the present rules governing registration fees. The Otago Centre' wishes to amend Rule 6, Section (b), to include the words " licenses shall date from May Ito April 30 in each year." The objeofc oi this is to make the annual fee fit in with the harrier' season in Otago, which is generally in full swing about September 30, the date upon which all licenses expire. The contention is that as several big road and cross-country races are held in Dunedin during August and September, a license taken out at that time only lasts for a few weeks at most, thereby deterring many from registering. But if the dates are changed so that the license expires on April 30, one taken out during the winter months would last throughout the following summer, the competitor thereby getting better value for his money. The amendments asked for by the Wellington Centre are of a more sweeping nature, and are on all fours with those proposed bj the Canterbury Centre last year, viz., that any member desirous of competing in N.Z.A.A-A--events shall obtain a license f,or half a crown, such license to hold good as long .as the competitor conforms to the rules of the Association. This will no doubt draw forth a warm discussion on November 30, as it is pretty well known there are several strong opponents to the life-time license 6cheme. The- matter really rests with the Centres, and they should not neglect to make their view's known on the matterAnother motion is to be brought forward on behalf of the Wellington Centre, urging that, in the competition for the championship shield, one additional point shall be counted in 1 all cases where a competitor breaks the Association's standard. t As the Association standards were all raised some few months ago, the Council will, I think, be pretty safe in granting this request, for whoever breaks the present stiff standards in future deserves to have a point extra counted for his Centre, and I do not think anyone vcould grudge itThe committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club is still pegging away in its efforts to revive the sport in the far north. Evidence of its enthusiasm and energy is afforded by the fact that no fewer than 126 new members have been enrolled this season. The club is fortunate in having secured the services of Mr D. M. Forsyth as honorary sec- ; retary, as he is proving to be the right man In the right place. One of the races for the club's December meeting is creating a widesjDread interest in Auckland. This is a relay race between teams representing the various mercantile, insurance, banking and professional houses in the -city, for which a handsome trophy is to b& donated. 1 am very pleased to see that the club intends to prohibit betting ©t its sports in future, for it is a moot point as to whether the gambling eyil was not a prominent factor in killing the club's meetings some four or five years ago. ''Cum Daingeann " is the motto attached to the Lion Rampant which adorns the tartan-edged programme of the Scottish Society's championship meeting at the Exhibition grounds, Christchurch, on January 1 and 2 next. " Cum Daingeann," 1 am told, is Gaelic for " Hold fast," and the tenacious manner in which the Scottish Society has stuck to its guns over this meeting certainly justifies the adoption of such a motto. Apart from the results of the Society's action upon the future of cash athletics, the programme is perhaps one of the beet that has been offered in the colony. The total prize-money is set down at £600, including £100 granted by the New Zealand Government towards the Pipe Band contest, open to competitors from all parts of the world. Substantial prizes are offered for dancing and pipe music, while sixteen scratch athletic events are provided, such as putting the stone, throwing the hammer, wrestling.,(Border and Scots styles), long and high jumps, pole vault, quoits and single sticks. No running events are provided. Entries for-* the Pipe Band contest close on November 30, and for other events on December 20, with Mr Kenneth Matheson, secretary, Christchurch. The Executive of the Public Schools' Atlrletic Association has almost completed arrangements for the annual

» sports gathering on' November 24 at : Lancaster Parlc. Through the courtesy , of Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop, Staff Sergeants-Major Farthing and Hoar will judge the military drill competition, for which twelve schools have entered. In addition to athletic events and physical displays by boys and girls, two novelties will be introduced, m. the shape of a marching song and a grand flag display by 1200 girls. Special train arrangements have been made, and the gathering promises to bo as successful as in former years. There i$ a tendency amongst some sports clubs to- charge an excessive nomination foes. For instance, a club will put on an event for 20s first prize, and charge 2s nomination. This charge is just twice the usually recognised fee. Of course- there was some excuse for this in the past, as clubs had no standard to guide them, but with the advent of the N.Z.A.U. the position is wholly different. The secretary of the North Canterbury Club informs me that this and other matters have caused considerable discussion at Centre meetings, and that a long list of item© affecting sport in North Canterbury will bo drawn up at the next meeting of the Centre, and sent to the various clubs in the district for consideration, j so that they can instruct their delegates, who will attend a full meeting of the Centre, to be held about the beginning of December. In the 600 yds Steeplechase at the recent Fifth .Kalgoorlie Hundred meeting, M'Manus won his heat easily c" the lOydsi mark in lmin 32eec. J. O. Hanlon (40yds) won the final in lmin 30sec. The course included two water jumps and ten fences. The match between the. Irish champion, B. R. Day, and A. B. P-cetle, is increasing in interest in Australia-. Day has retired to a quiet spot on the Western Australian coast, to undergo seven weeks' training, and as he is at present in robust health, he should be very fit by December 5. Day is spoken of as a very well-behaved young man, and has favourably impressed all those with whom he has come in contact. Pestle is said to have recovered the free use of his leg again. In the big Sheffield run in Great Britain last season, Day gave starts up to 16yds or 17yds. This is pretty clear evidence of the British handicappers' opinion of Day as a runner. Speaking of Po6tle ? s great performance in hie heat of the 60yds handicar nt Kalgoorlie on October 11, the "K| • goorlie- Miner " says: — "Included i« the competitors in the second heat ;rQtthe champion, A. B. Ppstle, and who. it was announced, would attempt to break the world's record' for 50yds. The Queenslander Wiae an odds-on favourite, but his backers must have felt anything but comfortable when lie got badly away. Half-way down thy. track Postie seemed to have no -chance, out in the last few yards he put in a really brilliant run, and, amidst a storm of applause, he just squeezed home from H. J. Theakston. The official time taken for the 60yds was Cccc — confirmed by four watches- — and there was no doubt as to its accuracy. Postk covered the 50yds in 5 1-lOsec, thereby beating the record of sJsec put up by W. Johnson at New York in 1884 aiici W. B. Clark in 1887." In his lieat of the Fifth . K'aigcorlie "Hundred/ Postie ran 138 yds in 13 2-ssec, winning the heat easily. | A very interesting letter has been I received in Sydney from Mr G. J. | Bruce, once; a prominent figure in a+.h letic circles in Sydney, but who is npv diving in Cape Town. Describing the coiidition of the sport there he says : — " Here in South Africa we have a unique state of affaire. Professionalism is absolutely unknown in. spoite meetings, amateur .bodies dominate everywhere, and amateur athletics are wonderfully sound and strong, though we have no outstanding champions? We have several good grounds in Cape Town, the best being the Green Point Cricket Ground, of which lama member. It is a municipal ground, .which we lease, and therefore have absolute control of at present. All the best grounds for sports, cricket and football in South Africa are in the hands of the local amateur athletic bodies just as it should be." All the Canadian championships with the exception of the 220 yds and Ku g AT Jun \?' J vero won b y members or the New \ork -and Irish American Clubs. For the latter club R T, Young won the 100 yds in lOsec; M j' ??!£ r' / tht ™; in S the discus, with 135rt 4m (world's record); J. Teevan the 440 yds in 50sec; J. Flanagan throwing the 561 b with 35ft 6in, and the hammer-throw with 167 ft • M pnJi stein the long jump with 22ft 9in ; M~ W^ Shephard, the half-mile in lmin Sfisec; and J. J. Ellen, the 1203£ hurdles in 16sec. For ths §w fJk