CARLTON TO KEEP AMATEUR STATUS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 7

CARLTON TO KEEP AMATEUR STATUS.

WANTS TO COMPETE AT NEXT OLYMPIC GAMES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 23. In regard to a report by cablegram that a Melbourne sports promoter will make a strong bid to induce tho athlete Carlton to turn professional, the Australian champion stated to-day that he had received offers previously to leave the ranks of the amateurs some being very tempting. He had no desire to accept them, and had no intention of accepting thft latest one, if it were made to him on his return to Australia. Carlton indicated that he was looking forward to many more years of activity with amateur athletes, and he was aiming to have at least one more trip to the Olympic Games. In regard to the different classes of tracks, this Australian visitor said that, as was the case in New Zealand, running in Australia was done on grass tracks. He considered the athletes of these countries required a good deal of experience on cinder tracks in order to fit them properly for competing at big meetings, at which cinder tracks were the rule, with those athletes of other countries who specialised in cinder track running. It would take a grass track runner about twelve months, he thought, to become accustomed to cinder track running. “It is much easier to go from the cinder track to the grass track than to go from the grass to cinders,” Carlton added. CANTERBURY TEAM. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. The following: team of amateur athletes to represent Canterbury at the New Zealand championships at Dunedin next Friday and Saturday was approved by the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last night. The team will be sent in its entirety if suitable financial arrangements can be made:— 100yds—O. F. Hart, R. Cordery. 220yds—R. Ccrdery440yds—O. C. Harley, M. A. Blackmore, A. Bullivant. 880yds—O. C. Harley. One mile—M. N. M'Donald, R. M. Barrer. Three miles—R- M. Barrer. Jumping—R. Neville, L. Smith. Pole vault—W. J. Batstone. Putting the shot—N. R. Anderson. Throwing the discus—F. J. French. Throwing the javelin—F. J. French. 440yds hurdles—L. Willis. Relay team—D. F. Anderson, M. A. Blackmore, G. F. Hart, R. Cordery. 100yds ladies’ —Miss E. Martyn. Cycling events—F. J. Grose, T. E. O’Brien, L'. Pearce. ST PATRICK’S SPORTS. PROGRAMME CRITICISED. Criticism of the method of preparation of the Christchurch St Patrick's Sports Association's programme for its annual meeting on March 14 was voiced at the meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last night. After discussion a permit for the meeting was granted, and it was decided to suggest to the association that three amateur cycling races should be put on, or else the two arranged for should be deleted from the programme. The centre resolved to point out to the association that the programme should not have been printed before being approved by the centre. STRENUOUS PROGRAMME UNDER DISCUSSION. A protest against the programme of racing and travelling required to he carried out by the three visiting American athletes was voiced at the meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last evening. The protest will be forwarded to the New Zealand Council, with a recommendation that the distance runner, Rufus Kiser, should be asked to run in only one event on each day. Mr Cr. G. Lockwood complained that the visitors had been asked to compete at Wanganui on the Thursday and then leave by car that night for Wellington, where they ran on the Saturday against the best that New Zealand could produce. At Wellington Kiser was forced to compete in a half-mile event after having run a mile race. That was no way to treat, visitors, who should be in a fit condition when they reached Christchurch. The tour was not being conducted properly and the travelling arrangements were not good. He moved that a protest along those lines be forwarded to the New Zealand Council. The chairman (Mr E. H. Cross): Will it do any good? Mr Lockwood: Well, let tis get our kick in. We want the men fit when they reach Christchurch. The motion was carried unanimously, the honorary secretary (Mr G. L. Austin) remarking that the visitors were having a strenuous time at present in competing at Invercargill and then at Dunedin at the end of this week. INVERCARGILL INDIGNANT. MEETING ABANDONED. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Februa.rv 23. Considerable indignation has been expressed by the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club at what it terms the unfair treatment accorded it in the matter of the Americans’ visit, which was set down for Wednesday, and which now has been cancel hid. The club accepted philosophically the fact that Simpson's injury would preclude him from running, but was of opinion that the confinement of Kiser to the mile, which event was not included in the club’s programme, was most unfair, and was tantamount to a complete withdrawal. Moreover, over a long distance there was no competition to offer Kiser locally. The club considered that the presence of Rothert would not, in itself, constitute so big an attraction and lastminute advice that neither Evans nor Lay would he able to attend confirmed the club in its decision to abandon the fixture to save further expense. At a meeting of the club this evening it was stated that it lmd already expended the sunn of £2O, and It was decided to communicate with the Otago centre, requesting that the New Zealand Council make good this amount.