ATHLETICS, Etc.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 274, 24 October 1895, Page 4

ATHLETICS, Etc.

The Committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club held a meeting at the Club Room, Metropolitan Hotel, on Friday evening last, eleven of fifteen gentlemen comprising the committee being present. After reading and confirming the minutes of the previous meeting, it was decided that an additional two-mile handicap race for cyclists (roadsters only), and a long jump be added to the November programme, it being the opinion of the committee that the former event would meet with a ready response at the hands —or should we say feet —of the many local wheelmen who are not possessed of the necessary racing machines, hut who would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of contesting a race of the class in question. I might here mention, for the benefit of intending competitors not acquainted with the fact, that rule 91 of the Cyclists’ Alliance, which previously read that the minimum weight of roadster machines should be 301bs, wrs altered at the recent meeting of the Alliance at Christchurch, and now stipulates 281 b as the minimum, under which weight no machines will be admitted to the roadster event. A lengthy budget of correspondence and several other matters were dealt with, and Messrs. Wright and McKean, who had been proposed at the previous meeting, were elected members of the club. The following have applied for election, and were proposed by various members of the committee present : — Messrs. Appelby, Anderson, Thomson, Taylor. Lernme, Graham, Higgins, Beuth, and Gibson.

McKean, of Tuakau, who was elected a member of the A.A.A. and C.C. at the meeting of last week, is, I believe, the runner who some time back defeated Howie, of Auckland, over a half-mile, in something like 2min 7sec on a heavy track. I am told that he can clock between 2min 4sec or 2min ssec on a decent track. Rumour says that the well-known local distance runner, G. B. Beere, will endeavour to lower the existing New Zealand mile record of 4min 31 2-ssec, established by D. Wood, of the C.A.A.C., in season 1890-91, at our November Carnival, should the circumstances prove favourable. I have it on good authority that H. W. Batger, of hurdle fame, will be seen over sticks again before many moons, and I sincerely hope that my informant is correct in saying that the champion will don colours as soon as he gets through with his law examinations, and also that he will successfully negotiate the legal hurdles. Batger’s championship performances over the 120yds hurdles, as a representative of the W.AA.C., are: 17sec in 1888-89; 16 l-ssec, 1889-90; 16 2-ssec, 1890-91 ; and 16 4-ssec, 1893-91; while he also holds the Australasian record of 16sec for this distance over ten flights of hurdles, 3ft 6in high. In the 440yds Hurdle Championships (10 flights of hurdles, 3ft 6in) his times are: 61 2-ssec in 1890-91; 61 4-ssec, 1891-92; and 65 3-ssec, 1893-94. The ’9O-91 performance stood as a record until T. Roberts’ grand performance (61sec) of ’94 on the Domain eclipsed Batger’s time, and classed “Tommy” as the champion 440yds hurdler of the world.

Seeing that the City Council accrue a tidy revenue annually from the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club and other bodies for the use of the Domain Cricket Ground it is a wonder to me they do not conserve the interests of their clients by keeping the pavilion and surroundings in order. Athletes in training complain bitterly of the state of the room at the back of the pavilion, wherein they find it necessary to strip nightly during the course of their preparation for any sport’s gathering in which they intend to compete, the room in question being unclean and at times overrun with vermin, and that insignificant yet bloodthirsty member of the insect world —the flea — attractive enough in its way to all interested in entomology, but of no vital importance to the welfare of athletes in training. Several portions of the fencing surrounding the grounds are also in very bad repair, and a trifle spent in this quarter might also prove advantageous. lam sure that if our City Fathers would turn the paternal eye in this direction and give the genial caretaker, Mr “ Bob ” Yates, carte blanche in the matter of having the shortcoming in question rectified, that gentleman would be only too pleased to see everything ship-shape, and thus confer a boon and blessing on athletes and others who frequent Auckland’s most popular resort, or he is not the Yates of yore. The question of introducing a blackboard, or some device of a similar nature, on which the scratchings in the various races at our athletic gathering might be posted, is an innovation worthy the consideration of the management committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club. The suggestion is not an inspiration of the present moment, but has been frequently spoken of for years past, and as no move has been made in this direction I see no reason why it should not be ressurrected, and this time. I hope, to some purpose. As one and all who are in the habit of attending the athletic carnivals at the Domain well know a great difficulty is experienced in recognising the various contestants engaged in the events owing to the similarity of the colours worn, and the distance which often divides the spectator from the runner. Not infrequently one hears an enthusiastic patron of the sport urging on Tom, Dick, or Harry to further efforts, whereas if the blackboard had been erected to notify the fact they would have discovered long before that the competitor on whom they had been wasting their encouraging remarks was enjoying the race from the pavilion, or doing the rounds with his best girl —had been scratched, of course, though they were not aware of the fact. Will the committee kindly give the matter their consideration ?

Some of the hurdles used at previous meetings of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club have been over the regulation height (3ft 6in), with a consequence that competitors in stick events who have been schooling over hurdles of the correct height have frequently struck the top rail of the faulty sticks, and have been thus thrown out of their stride. The matter has been taken in hand by the committee, and the error which has hitherto existed will be eliminated in future. By the way I might also inform hurdlers who are in the habit of training at the Domain that Mr Yates will in future have the sticks under lock and key, and that they will be at the disposal of those in training on the understanding that they be returned to the caretaker immediately after use. Training for the November Carnival of the A.A A. and C.C. is now in full swing, and a couple of hours spent on the Domain track between five and seven o’clock in the evening sees quite a host of our athletes undergoing their preparation. The veteran, E. O’Hare, had Fairweather, Symons, and Roberts in hand, and judging by the present appearance of the trio they should be in the pink of condition on convincing day. A couple more in McKean (Tuakau) and P. Ryan go into this stable shortly, and if the former is anything like his old self he should prove very troublesome in the distance events. F. Ballin, the wellknown sprinter, is already hard as nails, with no superfluous weight about him, and if Hewson goes on improving him like this up to the 16th of November he should be dangerous in the dashes. Reid had young Barton looking well, and to see him getting off his mark and his nice style of moving is a treat. A. Moncur and E. T. Laurie put in some useful work, and I notice the latter’s leg does not seem to trouble him now. W. H. Martin, our 120yds hurdler, who is in the hands of McGuinness, seems a perfect glutton, and put in enough work for half a dozen. G. B. Beere was going strong, and is credited with covering a half-mile in his work in about 2min 6sec, pulling up strong. Croker, who, it will be remembered, won a half-mile from his mark in something like 2min 3sec, is striding along nicely, and did a good spin on Monday morning. A couple more of Hutton’s men who attracted my attention were Freeman and Quaid, both of whom are shaping well, and should prove hard to beat in their events when the time comes. J. McDermott expects A. A. Davis down fromNgaruawahiashortly, and I opine that he will prove troublesome in the mile if in anything like his old form. Several others were on the track, including Oliphant, Anderson, Grant, and our well-known three-mile walking champion, Creamer. Sammy Goodman does not seem to have anyone in hand for the November Carnival. Has the vet. given the business best. The New Zealand and Australasian Championships are drawing nearer to hand day by day, and it is to be hoped that all local athletes w r ho “ fancy themselves ” will make a point of undergoing a thorough preparation, with a view to the Christchurch trip. The Banner, as you all know, is now in the possession of we Aucklanders, and although the number of points scored at Napier, which enabled us to wrest the much-coveted trophy from the previous champions (Wellington), has not jet been worked upon it and the fact that the pole has not yet arrived from the Empire City, local athletes must not forget that it is their duty to endeavour to retain the pride of position which was lost to us for a term of three'years, and to bring about the desirable result the Auckland contingent would do wisely to be at its best by the time the deciding day (December 28th) comes round. If the Management Committee propose holding trials with a view to selecting our champions I would urge upon them the advisability of doing so almost immediately after the November Carnival, in order that they might have an opportunity of testing the men in their prime in preference to holding the matter over and allowing runners to become stale. At the same time T might take the opportunity of asking all amateurs who (as I previously stated) fancy themselves at all to compete in the trials, and not run away with the idea that because some other man is a trifle better than themselves over their pet distance that their chance of being included in

the team is completely obliterated. For such I believe will not be the case, as the Auckland Club, which is financially the strongest in the Australias, will, -no doubt, decide to send a strong contingent South in order to maintain, if possible, the position they now hold as the premier province of the colony, and needless to say every point counts. In running through the performances of Southern athletes during the past year I have not yet noted anything that would lead me to believe that with our very best team in the field Auckland will be called upon to play second fiddle to any other province at the Championship gathering, and must credit them, all going well, with the ability to again do the trick. But perhaps it were not wise to crow thus earlv in the day as we may be asked to step down from our lofty pedestal, though I opine that such will not be the case if the committee act wisely and well and the men lay themselves down to the task of a thorough preparation. , The Aucklanders reinstated at the meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A., held at Christchurch on Friday, October 11th, were J. Clarke and E. Payne. The application of F. Wilson, also of Auckland, was refused. O. M’Cormack’s record for throwing the 161 b hammer, 106 ft was passed by the N.Z. Association, subject to a certificate being received as to the length of the hammer and the correctness of the tape. From present appearances 1 should say that little difficulty will be experienced in arranging, the rowing contest for the world’s championship and £SOO a-side, between “Wag” Harding and Jim Stanbury. The latter is evidently anxious to bring the matter to a head, as in reply to Harding’s challenge he states that he is fully prepared to accept it, and will cable an acceptance as soon as his arrangents are completed. Stanburv prefers the Paramatta to the Thames, but will le» nothing stand in the way of a match, as he is of opinion that he can comfortably defeat the victor of the recent Harding-Sullivan contest. That old battler, C. Hesketh, will not run at our November carnival. His leg, I understand, is the cause. Bob Fitzsimmons is training in a most thorough manner for his contest with Corbett. The well-known Wellington “ rep ” footballer, J. Swindley, has returned to Auckland, and should strengthen Auckland representative ranks next year. F. Jervis is also back in town. I should like to have seen a sculling race on the Ponsonby Regatta programme in place of one of the dinghy races. Sculling does not seem to be fostered here as it should be. I have to thank Mr S. P. Glynes, hon. secretary of the Waireka Football Club, New Plymouth, for his favour of the 16th, inviting our representative to attend the Club’s Annual Social, to be held to-morrow (Friday) evening, and though I fear he cannot have the pleasure of being present in the flesh, yet shall he be there in the “ speerit.” Many of our readers are of opinion that the Auckland club could well afford to offer more valuable trophies for competition at their gatherings, considering the healthy financial state of that body. And so say all of us. The elements proving unfavourable, the opening of the season, which was to have eventuated on Saturday last, was unrvoidably postponed until next Saturday afternoon. The West End Rowing Club held a meeting at the Club’s shed on Saturday afternoon last, Mr J. Clarke (captain) presiding. The accounts for the year were passed, and the statement of receipts and expenditure showed the Club to be in a satisfactory position. The Club has now seventy active members on its roll.

-- The Waitemata-City Boating Club held their annual meeting at the Waitemata Hotel on Friday evening last, the commodore (Mr L. Ehrenfried) occupying the chair.. The report and balancesheet were read and adopted, the latter showing a slight credit in favour of the club. Amongst other business it was decided to change, the colours of the club to blue and gold; Mr Geo. Moore, a former vice-captain, was elected a lifemember ; and Mr J. Scott, a well-known New South Wales oarsman, was elected the club’s honorary coach. The most

pleasing feature of the evening was the presentation, by Mr T. B. O’Connor on behalf of the club, to Mr L. Ehrenfried of the Union Steamship Company’s Championship Challenge Cup, which was won by the club in 1885 and 1886. Mr O’Connor, in a neat and eulogistic little speech, referred to the past services of the commodore and to the pleasure it afforded the Waitemata-City boys in making the presentation ; to which Mr Ehrenfried made a suitable response, informing those present that he would continue to take a deep interest in the welfare of the club. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : —Commodore, L. Ehrenfried ; Vice-Com-modore, Captain Harrison; President, J. J. Dickey; Vice-Presidents, T. B. O’Connor, Drs. Darby and King, Professors Seagar and Egerton, Messrs Jackson, T. Foley, M. Keesing, J. Swindley, H. Johnston, G. Watson, W. J. Napier, J. Endean, J. J. Holland, A. Myers, T. Thompson and W. Crowther, M.H.R.’s., J. T. Julian, M Davis, J. Davis, W. J. Courtney, J. O’Brien, T. H. White, H. Parker, H. Atkinson, F. Jagger, H. E. ■Partridge, J. Gallagher, and A. L. Smith; Captain, W. Smith; Vice-Captain, H. Reston; Treasurer, W. D. Cossar; Secretary, H. N. Goldwater; Committee, G.

Tuck, W. Evers, 11. Dyer, G. Moore, R. Moore; Auditors, M. Foley and H. Diggens ; Delegate to New Zealand Rowing Association, M. Marks, Wellington ; Delegate to Auckland Rowing Association, W. D. Cossar.