ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 246, 11 April 1895, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

Tommy Sullivan, and “Wag” Harding will row for the championship df England on the Thames course on the 9th of September next. If thoroughly fit and well I expect to see Sullivan reverse the verdict on this occasion.

An old boys’ race will be placed on the programme of the Mt. Eden School’s Annual Sports to be held in the Domain on St. George’s Day. The headmaster and Messrs. F. Ballin and T. Moncur receive entries.

The All Saints Amateur Athletic Club held their annual general meeting on Thursday of last week. The reports of the secretary and treasurer were read, and the club was found to be on a thoroughly sound financial basis. It was decided that the gymnasium be opened in the 17th inst., and several members were proposed and referred to the committee for election. Wellington Athletic Club held their crosscountry race on the Hutt racecourse on the 20th inst.

At a meeting of the New South Wales A.A.A. held in Sydney on March 20th, on the motion of Mr Coombes, seconded by Mr White, it was decided on the casting vote of the chairman to recommend to the N.Z.A.A.A that the Australasian Championship Meeting be held on Dec. 26th and 28th.

The Auckland Rowing Club’s Champion Crew loft for Picton Championship Regatta last week, and at latest advices had arrived and were putting in good work. George Barrett has been somewhat off colour, but fortunately the medical practitioner consulted is of opinion that the indisposition was nothing to speak of, and expected to see Barrett fit and well in the course of a day or two—though this misfortune will interfere with the crew’s preparation. Our “ reps ” should give a good account of themselves, and if anything beats them it will be the Lyttelton crew. The St. George’s Juniors (over lOst.) journey ed South on Monday and should also give a good account of themselves. The crew comprise Messrs Thompson, Croker, Winks, Brown, and George (cox.) Their weak point is, perhaps, Croker, who replaced George Clark (previously a member of this crew) but I hope to see him justify his inclusion. An agreements has been entered into with Messrs. Thos. Cook and Sons, by the Intercolonial Committee, to give publicity to, and to organise the transportation of the public from all parts of the world to the Olympic games of 1896 at Athens, 1900 at Paris, and 1904 at London. Referring to the annual balance sheet of the V.A.A.C., “ The Prodigal,” in the Sydney Referee, says :—“ The financial aspect appears to be rather serious in view of the Association’s agreement to go to New Zealand, and this matter is referred to in the report. Mr Parkinson, hon. sec. of the Victorian A.A.A., thinks that another serious matter is the loss of the services of Messrs. Flack, Greenwood, Thurgood, and Dr. Jones, and on the day of battle this will be found so. The genial secretary tells me—l suppose I ought to keep it a secret —that he thinks New Zealand will wipe us all out this time. Well, it may be so, but if McPherson and Dalrymple —I saw the latter yesterday, looking exceedingly well—elect to start, and the others we rely upon, viz., A. E. W. Wachamann, J. Tizard, and R. C. Reid, distances; A. G. Miller and S. J. Hill, sprints ; Harry Goodwin, D, H. M’Cathie, and Walker, walks ; and W. G. Cole and L. Flett, jumps and hurdles, elect to compete in the test events. I have no serious fear about the result, even though we have no weight and hammer men, or pole vaulters.” The balance sheet which “ The Prodigal ” refers to shows a deficit of some £25. As something like £lOO will be required to send a Victorian team to compete at the next Australasian Meeting to be held in New Zealand, a sub-committee has been appointed by the V.A. A.A. to devise means for at once wiping out the deficit. Mr B. J. Parkinson has been re-elected secretarv of the Victorian Association.

On Saturday afternoon last the West End Rowing Club concluded their season by holding Trial'Fours, when some very close races eventuated, the winning crew turning up in R. Reid (bow), J. Shepperd (2), F. Horspool (3), and E. Oswald (stroke), which def.ated J. Lowry’s crew by about a length, after an exciting race. At the close of the afternoon’s sport a' meeting was held, and as the treasurer’s statement showed the club to be in a sound financial condition, it was decided to order a couple of stump outriggers, to be ready for next season. The inquiry in connection with the alleged misconduct of Auckland athletes at the Championship meeting was held at the British Hotel last week. A deal of evidence was taken by Mr J. F. Logan, the local officer of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, assisted by the Committee of the Auckland Club, and though the results have not leaked out, I hear that in all probability the result of the inquiry will prove rather favourable than otherwise to the local athletes. The evidence has been forwarded to Christchurch together with a request that a thorough understanding of the disqualification of Martin and Roberts in the 440 Hurdles be sent on to Auckland in order that the local body might have a fuller knowledge of the aforesaid disdisqualification. M. F. Sweeney, the American amateur who has accomplished many sterling performances at high jumping, cleared 6ft, 3£in at the Worcester (Ma e s.) Skating Rink on February 13. This is an indoor record. In a letter to the secretary of the New York Athletic Club, S. K. Holman, hon. secretary of the London Athletic Club, stated that the team to represent his club in the match against the New York club would probably include Bradley, Fry, Downer, Bredin, Lutyens, Horan, Williams, Shaw, Barry, and Ovenden. Bradley, Fry, and Downer (the Scottish champion) have been elected members of the London Athletic Club.