ATHLETICS, Etc.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 289, 6 February 1896, Page 4

ATHLETICS, Etc.

The Auckland swimmers who returned from the championships over the other side recently, had no chance with the Australians. Mr St. Clair, who accompanied the team, told the Sydney people that swimming held a premier position among sports, as many as 10,000 people attending swimming galas where only 2,000 or 3,000 would be present at cricket or athletic fixtures. This might happen in an inter-colonial gathering, but as far as local enthusiasm is concerned I should say that an attendance of 1,000 would be looked upon as satisfactory, whereas athletic fixtures draw from 5,000 to 8,000 spectators. The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club’s autumn carnival will take place on the second or third Saturday in March.

At a meeting of the Irish A.A. A. on December 7th, the request of the London A.C. for the assistance of Irish athletes in the forthcoming International Match was discussed. It was decided that “as the contest is between England and America, the Irish A.A. A. could not see their way to take any action in the matter.”

The North Shore Club propose holding a meeting at the end of February, but I hardly think it will eventuate At the (’aledonian sports at Bundaberg (Queensland) on New Year’s Day M. A. Conroy gave an exhibition high jump, clearing 6ft 2in at the first attempt.

G. Holder secured the honours in the amateur events at the Wanganui Caledonian Society’s sports on January 22nd. In the 100yds, starting from Iyd, he won by a foot from Tilley (6yds) in 10 3-ssec; won the 210yds, from 3yds, after a close finish with Tilley (13yds) and Pownall (3yds) in 24sec ; and from syds ran a dead heat in the 440yds with with Pownall (syds) in 53 2-ssec. Mr Webb presented a rough balancesheet of the New Zealand and Australasian championships meetings, which showed : —New Zealand meeting —Receipts £7l Is lOd, expenditure £96 16s lOd, debit balance £25 15s. Australasian meeting—Receipts £217 19s 9d, expenditure £145 9s 2d, credit balance £72 10s 7d. The Association’s share of the profit over the Australasian meeting was about £35, but a further sum of £49 5s had been spent in keeping representatsves in Christchurch, for the meeting, and in sunnry expenses. The Association would have to bear a loss over the two meetings of about £64.