Athletics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 447, 16 February 1899, Page 7

Athletics

[By

Vigilant.]

The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will hold its Autumn Carnival on Saturday, March 11. The programme includes 100yds, 300yds, quarter-mile, half-mile, and one mile running handicaps, 120yds hurdles handicap, two mile walk handicap, and the high-jump handicap. Entry night is fixed for Saturday, February 25, when Mr J. W. Browne, the secretary of the club, will receive entries at the Amateur Sports Club’s Rooms, Durham Street West. I notice (says “ Cross country” in The Leader) that “ Prodigal,” of The Referee, speaks of the three colonies —New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victoria—as having practically agreed to the racing rules of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia. This is incorrect, at least as far as Victoria is concerned. A few weeks ago I mentioned that the agreement for union had been adopted by our council, but that the general meeting of members to confirm it had lapsed for want of a quorum, and I suggested that the council might authorise the signing thereof, and have their action confirmed later; but as regards the regulations for racing, the same have never been considered even by our council, let alone the members; in fact their consideration has been deferred till the conference this year at Brisbane. “ Prodigal” also mentions that George Hawkes, of Toowoomba, who has thrown the hammer 130 feet 8 inches, has been registered by the Queensland AAA. He will be a help to Queensland next August, but will find a sturdy rival in W. Madill, of New Zealand.

On Saturday last the Oddfellows held their Premier Picnic at Home Bay, Motutapu. The weather was beautifully fine, and the boats, which carried passengers from all parts of the district, were well loaded, although I fancy the crowd was not quite up to expectations. The committee is to be congratulated on the splendid arrangements, everthing going without a hitch. An interesting programme of sports was carried out, all the items being well contested, particularly the tugs-of-war. There was only one open race on the programme, the 150yds handicap, which was won by F. Gladding (9yds), P. K. Ness (7yds) being second. G. S. Sankey (9yds) won the Past Grands’ Race, J. P. Hansen (syds) the Friendly Societies’ Handicap, Wheatley the Old Members’ Race, F. Brewin (7£yds) the M.U. Members’ Race, Glover the 100yds Representatives’ Bace, and F. Walton (scr) the 100yds M.U. Race. After a great struggle, Good Intent won the tug-of-war with 2 points, Thames being second. Smith, Madill, Wilson, and Te Paa have returned with their blushing honors thick upon them, and have been warmly welcomed and congratulated upon their great deeds accomplished down at Dunedin. Though the gallant little band did wonderfully well, and.fairly carried off the honors of the Championship Meeting, they have by reason of superiority in numbers, left the banner in the keeping of the Otago athletes. Why should not the banner go to the team gaining most events ? That is the course followed in the inter ’Varsity contests between Oxford and Cambridge. The seconds and thirds do not count, and the winners of the odd event are the victors. This method has always been followed in meetings between English and American athletes, and I think if we have inter-provincial championships we should have an odd number of events, and the team winning the majority of contests should hold the championship banner.

Wilson’s disqualification in the mile walk is still much talked about, and it is not denied that while two judges thought Wilson “ lifted,” the third praised him for a fine performance. The judges were experienced men at the walking game, for they had each gained honor and glory in the same branch of sport in bygone days; so we may rest assured that they gave, to their way of thinking, a fair and impartial decision. Still, the fact remains that a big preponderance of the spectators present felt satisfied that Wilson’s method of progression was fair and above board. I suppose we shall soon know the result of Wilson’s appeal to the New Zealand Athletic Association.

On Saturday, March 18th, the H.A.C.B. Society will hold an athletic and cycle meeting on the Domain Cricket Ground. All pedestrian events will be run under the rules of the N.Z. AA. Association, and the cycle races under the rules of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen. The running races will include 75yds, 100yds, 220yds, one mile, half mile, 150yds Friendly Societies Handicap, 120yds Hibernian Handicap, and a 100yds Handicap for juvenile members of the H.A.O. B. Society. The prizes for all these events are well worth the winning and ought to bring together good fields. The wheel events are a three distance handicap for League amateurs, half, mile and mile and a half races, a Multicycle race of two miles, the Hibernian Wheel Race, two miles, with £2O in prize money, and half and one mile dashes, Mr Pat O’Kane, the sports secretary, will receive entries for the various events at the Metropolitan Hotel on Saturday, March 4th.