Athletics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 443, 19 January 1899, Page 7

Athletics

[By

Vigilant.]

N.Z. NATIVES’ ASSOCIATION SPORTS.

Tha annual sports and picnic gathering of the New Zealand Natives’ Association on Saturday drew a fine attendance to Pine Island. The rather dull morning no doubt prevented a good many families from taking advantage of a cheap day’s outing, but still the gathering was large, and the Osprey was well packed on both trips up the Waitemata. . The sports programme was lengthy and interesting and the various events resulted in good finishes without exception, the close results reflecting the greatest credit upon the handicappers, Messrs Creamer, Purdy and Tate. The secretary of the Sports Committee, Mr F. H. Creamer, met with encouraging success, for everything went off without a hitch.

The Members’ Cup, 150yds, fell to J. Donovan, 9yds, who won afte»- a good race from Tate, ter., and W. Cummins, 61yds. Huckstep won the Half Mile Handicap from the 10yd- mark, with G. Dow ey, 45yds second, and W McMillan 15yds third. Ihis was a good race, Huckstep winning after a fine spurt on the part of the placed men. In the Quarter Mile Handicap Huckstep proved successful at the second attempt. In the first race all but a couple of the runners went in side some flags, and after consideration the committee decided to run the race over again. When this was done Huckstep 15yds won from G. Downey 25yds, and W. M'Millan 7yds. Huckstep ran splendidly. I think he had a bit the best of the handicap in this event. Hooker 14yds won the IOOy. s Handicap, with Maddern and Barnes, both on the 16yds mark, second and third. The winner aho ran second to Leslie in the 100yds Apprentices’ Handicap. Each sprint produced a fine finish, inches only separating the placed runners. The 75yds race for single ladies caused no end of a flutter, and loud were the cheers raised in honor of Miss Cook when she defeated Miss Morrison and Mies Waldron. The married ladies race also occasioned plenty of excitement, for the finish was close, and Mrs Button only just got ho ne from Mrs Davis with Mrs Nash a very good third. No times were taken as the track was very rough.

It is s lid that Bell will be unable to get away for the New Zealand Championship. The question of getting in the crons is the disturbing element. Agriculture and athletics do r ot run together in the busy season.

McCormick, the hammer-throwing ex-cham-pion, is training assiduously at Dunedin for the Championship Meeting. Tincler is prepared to give Bacon or Crossland 10yds in one mile or 20yds in two miles for £lOO or £2OO a side. I think the Irishman would have the best of the deal with either of the runners mentioned. Bacon is beyond the age for improvement, therefore it can hardly be hoped that he will recover his former brilliancy. As regards Crossland, I don't think he would have a chance at the handicaps mentioned, providing Tincler went to the post fit and well. The Auckland Friendly Societies’ Gala and Sports Meeting will be held in the Domain next Saturday, when a very attractive programme will be put before the public. Both cycle and pedestrian races have brought good entries, including our best men. A race for amateur members of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen has been included in the list of events. The distance is one mile and a half, and the prizes will be trophies of the value of £3, £2, £l. Entries for this event closed on Tuesday evening. Given fine weather, the gathering of Friendly Societies and their friends should be a great success. Captain Lorraine, the “ King of Parachutists,” will make a balloon ascent next Saturday at the Friendly Societies’ Meeting in the Domain, and will go through his marvellous trapeze performances while falling through the air. I see that Arthur Skinner threw the 161 b hammer 141 ft 4in, with a run, down Otago way during the Christmas holidays. His best standing throw was 95ft. J. English jumped sft 10 3-Bin at the Sydney Caledonian Sports. M. M. Roseingrave could not get over more than sft 6 3-Bin.

Yesterday the Wellington Athletic Club were to run a series of races from 100yds to a mile, with a view to finally selecting the team to do duty for the province at the forthcoming Championship Meeting at Dunedin. The Canterbury A.A.C. has requested the following athletes to go into training for the coming Championship Meeting: — C R. Williams, C. Hiorns, A. H. Josephs, S. Pentecost, M. E. Lindsay, J. L. Smith, H. C. Garsia, C. O. T. Rutherford, C. F Overton, W. F. Simpson, and J Moir.