ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XII, 20 March 1897, Page 353

ATHLETICS.

Since A. H. Holder commenced running (writes ‘ Victor ’ in the Wanganui Herald) he has competed in ninety-seven races, of which number he has won fortythree, while he has scored nineteen seconds, fifteen thirds, and has been unplaced twenty times. He has taken part in twenty-four hurdle races, winning no less than sixteen, while he has been second six times, third once, and unplaced once only. In the last eight stick events the Wanganui crack has competed in he has won the lot, and in most cases he has had to concede enormous starts. At the last meeting of the American Amateur Athletic Union several important alterations to the rules were passed. The most important changes are as follows : — Exhibitions by professionals are now allowed at amateur games. In all distance races of five miles or over five prizes can be given. No one shall be eligible to compete if a member of any club unless he shall have been a resident of the district nine months or more. No one shall be eligible to compete after February 28th, unless he shall have become a registered athlete, according to the new registration laws. From now on athletic club managers will be allowed to give prizes for competition among the clubs for points. This will re-establish the banner prize rule. In future meetings to decide the national championships of America, no athlete will be allowed to compete unless he is a member of a club which is a member of some Association of the Amateur Athletic Unionor a representative of one of the bodies allied to the Amateur Athletic Union. Apart from the disrepute into which he has drawn his paper through his remarks on the recent New Zealand Championship Athletic Meeting, * Prodigal,’ in the Sydney Referee has entirely lost what status he possessed in New Zealand as an athletic authority. His unsportmanlike attempt to belittle such excellent performances as those of Holder and Patrick produced only a feeling of disgust on this side. Wanting in logic and a knowledge of facts, the writer must be possessed of an unusual amount of the common or garden variety of assurance when he absolutely refuses to take as genuine the times clocked by four capable and entirely unbiassed time keepers. On a similar insane form of argument, we in New Zealand might as well pretend to doubt any of the times put up in New South Wales in recent years. I am quite confident that if Holder and Roseingrave meet on equal terms, the latter will get as great a shaking up as ever he experienced, and a beating into the bargain. The seventh annual sports’ gathering of the Takapau Caledonian Society was held on March 10th, having been postponed from February 24th, owing to the wet weather. The Waipawa Band was in attendance. There was a fair number of people considering that the day was showery and unpromising. The Committee are to be congratulated that everything went off so well. Mr Powrie seemed to be very much in request all over the ground. The North Shore Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club notify that they will hold a sports’ meeting on the Cricket Ground at the Shore on March 27th. A programme of 13 events has been arranged, and entries close to-night (Wednesday). The Thames Amateur Athletic Club’s Sports take place to day 'Wednesday).