ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 235, 24 January 1895, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

Now that the Championship Meeting is drawing near I would impress upon our athletes the necessity of settling down to their training, as one and all must be cherry ripe when the time comes if we are to “ top the poll ” and bring the banner north. The test races will be held in about a fortnight’s time, though I fear the committee have not acted wisely in the matter of selecting a time. A man may be brought up to concert pitch in order to run in the trials, and then go off, as two weeks is a long time to keep a man thoroughly strung up. Bull, Francis, Jones, and Boberts have been picked to run a quarter-mile test, and Jones and Boberts, I believe, straight out for the shorter events, which practically reduces the distance to a test between Bull and Francis. In the half-mile, Beere, Farquhar, O’Conner, and Bull are the selected, and I hear Francis will also compete: while for the one and three miles, Farquhar, Beere, Davis, O’Conner, and Bull will comcete. Farquhar and Boberts intend leaving earlier than the rest of the team in order to have a couple of weeks on the Napier track, so I conclude neither of these men intend to run tests.

Unfortunately, Buchanan will not accompany our team to Napier, having ricked his back whilst on a yachting cruise recently. Martin, Beere, and O’Conner are striding along in great style in view of the forthcoming meeting, which also may be said of Brady and Creamer, who are preparing themselves for the walks. Secretarv Wynyard notifies that the North Shore Amateur Athletic Club will hold its next gathering on Saturday, February 16 th. Several athletes have already started training for the March carnival, and others will no doubt start shortly.

King, the Sydney sprinter, has left Auckland. Prior to his departure I hear he was anxious to make a match with one of our leading amateur sprinters, offering to concede him six yards start in 100 yards for a large stake, but the latter declined, not wishing to break his amateur status.

Bert Davis, the long distancepedestian, had the misfortune to get lost in the bush for a day at Ngaruawahia. He says he was prospecting for gold at the time of his misfortune.

A good number of the Athletic public intend, I believe, to take a run down to Napier with our boys to help them carry the banner back. The well-known trainer, J. Pickering, has, I hear, been on the sick list. Several of the local trainers have intimated their intention of accompanying the team to Napier. Everyone will be pleased to hear that George Walker, the popular trainer, at present in the hospital, is gradually recovering from his attack of typhoid fever.

Entries for the Championship meeting close with the secretary to the N.Z.A A. Association, Mr L. A. Cuff, on the 12th of February. Tim O’Connor is, I hear, making preparations for his events, viz., throwing the hammer and putting the weight. I look forward to a good contest between Tim and McCormack, of Wellington. The Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club has decided to hold a trial meeting in view of the forthcoming Championship Meeting at Napier. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Webb, Cussack, and Wood, were appointed to make the necessary arrangements. The Hawke’s Bay A.A. Club have postponed their test races in connection with the Championship Meeting until February 2nd. Mr Gurr writes to say» that everything is going well, and the men are training hard. At the recent meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association the following Auckland applications for re-in statement were favourably considered :—H. V. Burton, A. Anderson, A. J. Webber, and B. Oliphant.

Our Wellington correspondent writes me that Hempton will not take part in the Championship Meeting. This decision on the part of the champion, coupled with the probable loss of McCormack, will prove a great blow to Wellington’s chance of annexing the banner, and I hope Hempton may be persuaded to alter his verdict, and that McCormack will obtain the necessary leave. Mr Batkin will probably be appointed starter at the Napier championships. F. C. White, who for so long held the high jump record, will be a competitor at the Championship Meeting. “Sprinter,” in the Canterbury Times, says : —“ W. Hayward is now training at Lancaster Park, and tells me he will be a competitor at Napier provided he gets well. I hope he will train on all right, as with Hempton out of the road, he should be able to secure the hundred yards, and the club just now is very short of championship competitors.” If he is to win he must beat Jones.