ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 441, 5 January 1899, Page 7

ATHLETICS

[By

Vigilant.]

The Auckland Amateur- Athletic and Cycle Club lost one of its brightest ornaments .last week in the late Frank Poland, whose life was so suddenly cut short in the blush of manhood through An accident at the Railway Station. The deceased, who was a brother of those well-known football exponents, Hugh, Jack, and Jim Poland, had been running at the gatherings of the Auckland A.A. and C.C. for years past, and only recently won the sprint double, 100 and 250yds handicaps. A manly straightforward young fellow, Frank was extremely popular with his club mates, who will, I feel sure, regret his untimely end, and sympathise with the family in their sad bereavement. 1 W. Larkins, an ex-Aucklander, who has been in Wellington for some years, was in town on a holiday trip last week. “ Wally” is a prominent mem Her of the ■Wellington A A.C., and himself an old sprinter. He thinks it hardly likely that the Empire City Club will send a strong team to Dunedin to do battle for the championship banner. . . The Queensland Amateur Athletic Association is leaving no stone unturned to promote the success of the next Australasian Championship, to be decided at Brisbane during August of 1899, and have even gone as far as sending invites to England, America, South Africa, and foreign associations. While it is hardly likely that many visitors will be attracted from outside parts, it is said that the A.A.U. of America will be represented. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has recommended the selection of. Mr R. Coombes [as president, and Mr E. S. Marks as treasurer and secretary of the Amateur Athletic Union, to hold office till the first meeting of the Union.

As mentioned earlier in this column, it is hardly likely that Wellington will be largely represented at the N.Z. Championships in Feb., though the following are in training-.—Wood-win, walking; Fitzherbert, jumping, Manson, hurdles; Murdoch, hammer throwing; Bridge, Herbert, Browne, Dodd, Williamson, Clarke and Howard, running events. Strong man Sampson has been laid up over on the other side, having collapsed after one of his exhibitions of snapping a chain by the expansion of his biceps. Our old friend Donald Dinnie has arrived in London, and heralded his return by taking exception to a published statement that o:ie Saxon could raise from shoulder to stretch of arm over head 2381 b; and with little finger 2641 b. “Donald” deposited £lO, offering to raise the amount as much as Saxon liked, and that he could not raise within 501 b of the weight stated after which he undertook to back his “ friend,” George Davidson, against Saxon for an allround match at weight-lifting and weight-throwing for any reasonable sum, or G. Davidson and himself against Saxon and either of his brothers for no less than £lOO aside.

fcThe New Zealand wrestler, Harry Dunn, has defeated Lucifer, the American, in two of three wrestling matches arranged, and the latter has declared the third match off on the score of indisposition. j jjThe_Southerir writer “ Vaulter ,f deplores the apathy in Southern (Christchurch) amateur athletic circles, in the course of a few remarks on the establishment of an Amateur Sports Club and Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association in Auckland. Was it not ever thus —or at

least since the departure of L. A. Cuff —in the Cathedral City, more particularly with the governing body of the N.Z. A.A.A. The school of professional foot-racing is not subdivided into many classes (says the English writer “ Ranger ”), and the few select ones in the top class seem to be the only ones who are making any money worth mentioning—and very little at that. The big boom that was to do so much towards benefitting the poor pedestrian has not been of much service to the humble and needy professional foot-racer ; for the shekels, thus far, have gone into the pockets of the few who need the assistance least. Well may it be said that professionalism in the athletic way is a business rather than a sport. W. Huckstep, the Auckland champion distance ped., had hard luck at the Feilding sports on Boxing Day. He ran second to within a yard or two of Logan, the winner of the One Mile Handicap, in the phenominal time of 4min 25sec. He also ran second to the same man at Wanganui sports.