ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 9 December 1908, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

The match between Shrubb and Longboat is “off,” in consequence of Canada wanting Longboat to compete in the Toronto Marathon race. A match may be arranged for this month. Shrubb has taken Harvard College cross-country team in hand to coach until the championship race on November 27. He will live in America if successful in getting a permanent position with a college team. The result of the meeting held in Auckland last week was that a New Zealand Marathon race, to be held in Auckland early next year, is now an assured fact, and this should go a long way towards reviving amateur sport. The Amateur Club holds its annual meeting on the 14th inst., and an endeavour will be made to run a sports gathering ou the same day as the Marathon race.

A conference between delegates representing Otago, the Southland, and Wellington centres affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, was held at Christchurch, Nine delegate* were present. Mr A. Paafe was in the chair. It was decided to set up an executive to administer the sport in the Dominion, consisting of Messrs. A. Newman. R. W. MeVffly, J. Dawson, W. Coffey, F. Ross, A. Davies, A. Marryatt, F. W. Larkin, and M. H. Pollock. It was also decided to write to the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia, detailing the circumstances leading to holding the conference and requesting recognition of the executive as a governing body to the administration of amateur athletics in the Dominion. It was further decided that the next championship meeting be allotted to the Southland centre. The conference was the outcome of the recent deadlock between the council and the affiliated centres.