THE AMATEUR CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 400, 24 March 1898, Page 6

THE AMATEUR CARNIVAL.

Given fine weather, .th 6 Autumn Carnival of the AucklantLAmateur Athletic and Cycle Club, to be held, at the Domain Ground on Saturday afterrydon, should be one of the most largelyattended functions of its character ever held in this eentre, and that is saying a great deal, as it

is no uncommon occurence for this popular body to attract from 5000 to 6000 people to its meetings, The principal cause of the unusual amount of interest that surrounds the gathering is the fact that the programme embraces a 100yds and 250yds soratch race, in which Stanley Rowley, ■ champion sprinter of Australia, A. J. Patrick, champion 250yds sprinter of Aew Zealand, and George Smith, champion 100yds sprinter of New Zealand, will be brought together over the 100yds distance, while both Rowley and Patrick will again meet in the 250yds event. Both Patrick »nd Rowley have arrived, and are —although perhaps none the better for the sea trip—in good form, while the effects of the voyage will have had ample time to wear off ere Saturday comes round. Both will also have become thoroughly used to the Domain track, so that there will be

no room for the “ after game ” whichever way the result may go. Good judges look upon Rowley as the most likely to provide the winner of the two big events, and the handicappers of the Auckland club are evidently of the same opinion, as they have placed the visitor 2yds behind scratch when framing the handicaps for the 100yds Open Handicap. All things considered, I am inclined to ca st in my vote with the majority, though I do not agree with those who look upon the result as a hollow' victory for the bydneyite, who will, I feel assured, have to extend himself as he has never done before to keep in front of the Maoriland pair With reference to the respective merits of our two men, I must admit to a sneaking regard for Patrick as against Smith, recognising the fact that the strong wind at the recent Wanganui meeting interfered with little Patrick to a greater extent than the Aucklandor, whose superior physique was bettei able to withstand the elements than the more frail Wellington lad, and shall be inclined to place them as under in the 100yds Invitation Race — Stanley Rowley... ... ... 1 A. J. Patrick ... ... ... 2 Geo. Smith ... ... ... 3 ■ For some unaccountable reason the Auckland champion has not seen fit to enter for the 250yds distance, a fact that has occasioned considerable surprises in local athletic circles, it being generally anticipated, that after having been bumped out of this event at Wanganui, Smith would have been only too anxious to try conclusions with the plucky little Wellington representative. However, in his absence, I shall place them : —

250yds Invitation Race. Stanley Rowhy ... ... 1 A. J. Patrick ... ... .. 2 with R. Oliphant as the most likely man to upset the Southern representatives, provided he faces the starter. I make this proviso, feeling somewhat doubtful as to whether the popular policeman will take a hand in the 250yds, as his name appears in the 120_t ds and 440yds Hurdle Races, and I fancy that he is particularly anxious to bump up against Smith in the longer stick distance, after his defeat at the hands of his club mate in the recent N.Z. Championship 440yds stick event. Large fields will also turn out in all other handicaps, and as the handicaps seem to have met with pretty general satisfaction, interesting and closely contested events should follow.

“ Jimmy ” McKean, who is keeping in good nick, will endeavor to establish a fresh record in the Half Mile at Saturdays Gala, and Hori Eruera also intends having a shot at Lis present Australasian reeord of lift |in. for tho Pole Vault ; while J. A. Skinner, our hammer throwing champion, will endeavor to hurl the 161 b hammer further through space than has yet been done by any man in this colony. Let us hope the trio will succeed in establishing fresh figures. As stated by me in these colunns some time since, D. Wilson, champion amateur walker of New Zealand, will not be a competitor at Saturday’s Carnival, he having decided to take a spell. This being the case, F. H. Creamer will also stand out of the walks, as his only object in entering was to again measure strides with Wilson.

The Thames Amateur Athletic Club will be represented in the two sprint championships at Saturday’s Amateur meeting by C. D. Finn. Finn is said to be a student at the Thames School of Mines, and is unknown to me as a sprinter, though I notice, the handicapper of the A. A C. and O.C. do not hold his chances in the scratch events in high esteem, as they have given him 4yds start in the 100yds Handicap, Smith and Patrick being on the mark, while Rowley owes a couple of yards.