ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 459, 11 May 1899, Page 6

ATHLETICS

LBv

Vigilant .]

The management committee of the Auckland Amat< ur Athletic and Cycle Club met at the Amateur Sports Club rooms on Thursday evening to consider the recommendation made by the

club, urging the disqualification of A. O. Keating by the N Z A.A.A. for a term of two years. The New Zealand Association submitted Keating’s notice of appeal, accompanied by certain sworn statements, and at the same time requested that a copy of the referee’s report of the affair should be forwarded to Christchurch. During the discussion that ensued, all the committeemen who witnessed the race in which Keating was disqualified said that they were quite convinced of the runner’s intention of “ competing to lose.” The committee adhered to its previous recommendation, and instructed the secretary to forward to the Association a copy of Mr Leo. Myers’ report upon which the recommendation of two years’ suspension was founded.

The executive of the N.S.W. Amateur Athletic Union has considered the question of using a wire cable in hammer-throwing, raised by the N.Z. A. A. A., and has decided to recommend that the matter be left in abeyance until the question could be put before the councils of the Australian Associations. At the same time, it was pointed out that there was nothing in the English Association rules to prevent the metal portion of th© handle being of wire rope, and that a record would be allowed if it had been thrown in America. As the New Zealand Association asked for a ruling whether the weight used for putting should be of iron, or lead, the official opinion was that it must be of iron. A suggested way out of the difficulty is that Madill’s New Zealand record should be quoted as under American rules. “ Vaulter” says: —“A. E. Reade, who is 33 years of age, sft 2in high, and weighs lOst 51b, writes me that he is prepared to beat Weston’s (English) walk of a thousand miles in a thousand hours. What is more, he is prepared to do it without a particle of meat, although not a vegetarian, but he is quite convinced that meat is not a neessary article of diet.”

1 he Americans are rather fond of holding athletic meetings under cover. The Boston Athletic Association held an indoor carnival recently, which attracted an attendance of 500. The best performances were done in the weight-putting and the high jumping. In the former event each of the placed men put the 161 b missile over 43ft. The winner, F. Beck, scored 46ft lOJin with a 2ft 6in handicap; the second man, W. W. Coe, registered 45ft 2-Jin with a 2ft handicap; whil© the scratch man, Sheldon, showed 44ft 9|in. In the high jump the winner cleared 6ft 3£in, including a 3in handicap; second man, 6ft 2|in, including a s|in handicap ; and the third man 6ft 2in, including a 4in handicap. J. H. llempton, the champion sprinter of a few years ago, drew the first prize in Tattersall’s sweep on the Canterbury Cup. The value of th© first prize was £1548 net. It is said that Downer is not satisfied with his recent defeat by Bredin, and that he has challenged the Londoner to run a distance of 475yds, on level terms, for £5O a side. Referring to the deadlock about the Queensland championship dates “ Prodigal ” writes :— As matters stand, it would appear that the mail vote decision of N.S.W., New Zealand, and Victoria, carried to its logical sequence, means that the Q AA. A. must submit fresh dates, or the Union must cancel the meeting. No one desires any such step to be taken, for all three associat ons named earnestly wish to study the views of the Queenslanders as far as is possible, and fully appreciate the di i culties of the position they ar© in. On Monday last the result of the mail vote was communicated to the Q.A.A.A. by the Union officials, and it is to be sincerely hoped, that th© officers of the former body will see that there must be concession to the desires of the majority of the associations in the Union. As a way out of the difficulty, I would suggest to the Q.A.A.A. that they abandon August 5 so far as Australasian championships are concerned. This date could, perhaps, be used by them for cycle events (th© Q.O.U. is working in conjunction with them), and some of their own Queensland championship* might be decided, which, together with handicaps, would make up an appetising programme. It would fill in the date upon which they have secured the ground, and would afford an excellent chance for their selectors to pick out the Queensland rep. team —test races, as it were. On Thur*day, 10th, and Saturday, 12th, the championship* of Australasia could be decided. Thursday’* programme might not draw a payable orowd (in Melbourne in 1893 the first day—a Thursday—was well attended), but the takings on the two

days aggregated should more than pay ex’s. 1 think some such scheme would be accepted by New South Wales and Victoria, and very probably New Zealand—the colony that must be mostly studied—would also give way. And it should meet the wishes of Queensland considerably more than half-way. Since writing the above I have seen letters from Mr W. Pritchard, hon. sec. to the Q.A A.A. to the Union officials, and from the latter to the Q.A.A.A. hon. sec. Mr Pritchard sets forth the views of the Council of the Q.A.A.A., and their reasons for the original dates, which “the Council was unanimous in its desire to adhere to.” The letter from the Union to the Q.A.A.A. practically embodies views on the way out of a difficulty identical with mine stated above. In conclusion, I can only say that concession after concession has been made to our good friends of the North, and nothing more, so rar as I can see, can be done. The Q.A.A.A. might also with advantage put a strong curb, if in their power, on their newspapers champions — “ the official organ ” for instance.

£25 is the prize for selecting the winners of the three races named in our Racing Skill Com petition on page 24.