THE ATHLETIC WORLD

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11999, 17 October 1906, Page 2

THE ATHLETIC WORLD

BY "VICTOR." The annual meeting of the Taihape Athletic Club was held on Thursday evening last, when the president (Mr. F. H. Gibbons) stated that the result of last season's meeting had left a profit of .£l3O 11s. JJSO ot this had been donated to the Domain Board to assist in carrying out the extensive improvements that are in hand, which leaves the club the respectable sum of .£BO 11s to start the season with. It was decided to give away .£l5O in prizes at the meeting to be held on New Year's Day. The American sprinter Maxim Whittingham, who is at present in Sydney training for the Wren Handicap and other important events, intimates that he will be willing to run the winner of the PostleDay match over three distances — the 75yds, 130 yds, and 300 yds respectively. A boy named Thomas Peters, aged 8 years, has a record of 16 wins and two seconds out of 18 starts in running events in and near Sydney. His last performance wa-« tv win the eight-years' cham-pion-hip at t'U' Pubbc Schools Sports i>\diii.'y (.'i-iket (irwvl. The English crulat t'.am which is lo tour New Zealand will leave Eingland tomorrow (Thursday). The biggest foot-racing carnival which has been held in Australia for many years ia that which will eventuate at the Exhibition Oval, Melbourne, on the- nights of November 3, 6, 10, and 12. The principal event of the programme is the " Wren" Five Hundred, the first prize of which is 300 soys, second 70 soys, third 20sovs, and fourth 10 soys, whilst 100 soys will be divided amongst winners of preliminary heats. The handicaps for the Wren Handicap, 130vds, at the above gathering, have made their appearance. A. B. Postle (Queensland), B. R. Day (England), anS Max Whittingham (America) figure on the scratch mark, and have to concede start? up to 15yds. J. Flanagan (Victoria) has 3yds, R. Cromie (W.A.) 3£yds, J. Todd jyds, W. McManus 6yds, and J. Marsh tJtyds. The three Southland representatives who went across to compete have 'jeen treated ac follows: W. Robinson 7lyds D. Dodds Byds, and J. Currieß}yds. It will be interesting to see how the New Zi-alanders get on, though I fancy they could ouch have done with a bit more start to have any chance of distinguishing < )i< riarOvc 3 . A H Po-tle received a telegram from J \n r^-'.i. ')HVrni«- Vm £75 arpearance ■n«.ii«-\ \-* "-iiv.;. te a 4a 4 ' !*c bier enrnival to V In H t ?-Tnl''oiupc ii Novi'/ni/cr. The (bni.if'H! -i <> >a~ rt t],c time .ii \al;*ti'>rlie. rlso received offers of fair aii.ounts N> conn e'-e it (.be Leonora an<i Morgan siiorts n.e. lings on the 19th and Jtjtli. Pottle acccj tvd. all three engagements, and intends returning to Kalfouriie about a fortnight before hia great iii )*• h with Day. Local rowing men consider that the New Zealand Rowing Association have made a big mistake in deciding to abolish the weight restriction of boats for maiden races, and the arguments urged against the decision are very strong ones. The result of the new rule will be that those clubs which can afford to be continually building new and lighter boats will be the ones which will win the races. An Auckland writer hopes that the local Association will be able to arrange for the rule not to take place in that province, and the same course could probably be adopted here. ' *"'" ' ' The Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club intended holding a big sports meeting on Boxing Day had it been possible to do so without clashing with the Stanbury-Webb sculling race, but as it has been "decided to hold the latter event between 2 and 3 o'clock that afternoon another date will have to be chosen for the sports. A meeting of the committee of the club will be held early next week to dieeuss the matter, and select a suitable day for the gathering.