ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 510, 27 September 1900, Page 6

ATHLETICS

[By

Vigilant.]

AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING. o The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club held their twenty-third annual meeting at the Amateur Sports’ Club rooms on Friday evening last. There was a good attendance of members, Mr S. Thorne George (President) occupied the chair. The Committee’s annual report, read by the secretary (Mr Ohlson), while congratulating members on the successful racing at the Spring and Autumn Carnivals, expressed regret that, owing to adverse circumstances, these meetings resulted in financial loss The accompanying statements, however, showed the Club to be in a sound position, ar d, with the apparent increased interest in amateur racing, the ensuing season was expected to prove a profitable one. At the N.Z A A Association’s Championship Meeting, held at Wellington on February last, the Club was represented by Messrs Smith, Laurie, Madill and Dickey, and these, though forming numerically a small team, succeeded in securing the Championship Banner —a performance which must be considered highly creditable. George Smith won the 100yds and 250yds Flat and the 120yds and 440yds Hurdles, and, as the heats and finals of all championships were decided on one’ day, this result must rank as one of very considerable merit. 0. 0. Laurie won the Pole Vault and High Jump ; J. Dickey secured 2nd prize ip. both the One and Three-mile Walks ; while W. H. Madill was successful in the Hammer and Shot events Messrs Laurie and Madill succeeded in gaining Standard badges. At the Australasian Championship Meeting, held at Queensland on November 9th, 1899, New Zealand won the Australasian Championship, being repre sented by a team of five, four of whom, Smith, Madill, McAffer and Te Paa, were members of the Auckland A. A. and 0 Club. Smith won the 440yds Hurdles, McAffer the One Mile Walk, Te Paa the Pole Vault, Madill, the Hammer event and Malthus (South Canterbury) the Three-mile Bun, individually, and as a team, thus worthily maintaining the honour of the colony they represented. At the Spring Carnival, F. Ewen, by his victories in the. Two-mile and Fivemile Bicycle Handicaps, succeeded in winning the Club’s Victor Ludorum for Cycling, while, at' the Autumn Carnival, H. A. D. Anderson, after, a tie with H. G. Bell, by his victory in a 600yds test subsequently held, secured the Victor Ludorum' for pedestnan events. Upon the programme of the Spring Carnival was placed a Two-mile Bicycle Alliance Championship, which produced entries from Christchurch, Waikato and Auckland, and resulted in a win for H. H. Brookes (A.A.A. and O.O.), with H. Coates (Waikato A.A. and O.C) second. The 100yds Schools’ Championship, run at the Spring Meeting, was Won by G. A. Ilbert (A.uckland College and. Grammar School). The Annual Bicycle Hoad Race of the Club was held on May 24th, G. W. Spragg securing first prize, with 0. Henning second. The thanks of the Club were due to Messrs W. Tonks, G. B. Ritchie and R. Lees (Delegate to the N.Z.A A.A.), and also to its delegates on the N.Z. Cycling Alliance. The balance-sheet showed assets £261 5s lOd, including £ll6 9s lid in the hands of the trustees ; the liabilities were nil. The receipts for the year were £544 Ils 3d, and the expenditure left a credit balance of £24 15s lid, noth withstanding that there had been a loss of £73 5s 2d on the Autumn, and £3 Os 6d on the Spring Meeting. Apart from the expenses of these two meetings, the Club had subscribed £25 towards the expenses of the New Zealand team, sent a team South at a cost of £22 4s 6d, and donated £lO 10« to the “ More Men ” Fund.; The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, congratulated the Club on the achievements of their members at the Australian and New Zealand meetings. Those were records of which they ought to feel extremely proud. Financially, the Club was in an exceedingly good position, although there had been a loss on last season’s meetings. He trusted they would do better this year. The. election of officers resulted as follows : — Patron, Lord Banfurly ; Vice-Patrons, Messrs J. H. B. Coates, John Marshall and S. Thorne George; President, Mr O. E. MacOormick; vicepresidents, Messrs Leo Myers, George Dunnett and F.'W. Edwards ; hon secretary, Mr F. J. Ohlson; hon treasurer, Mr O. E. Palmer; auditor, ,Mr W. R. Holmes; committee, Messrs 8. W. Somerfield, O. Heskgth, J. Farquhar, W. H. Martin, A. A. Davis, W. Dickey, W. Mercer, W. H. Toy, Alex Williamson, B R. Dacre, W. W. Pilkington, W. H. Cooke and George Henning; delegates to the Cyclists’ Alliance, Messrs Mac Cormick and Ohlson; delegates tothe N.Z.A- A.A., ' Messrs Lees, Ritchie and Tonks. The secretary of the Auckland Cycling Club wrote asking the Club to combine with them in an openihg run to Potter’s Paddock on October 6th, afterwards playing a friendiy game of football, one club against the other, teams to be composed of bona fide cyclists, not necessarily racing - men.. The letter was referred to the Committee to deal with, i Mr C. E. Palmer moved“ That the delegate of this Club to the N.Z. Cyclists’ Alliance be instructed to vote for an amalgamation with the N.Z. League of Wheelmen on the terms submitted by the sub-committee of the N.Z A.A. A last year, wit. the exception of clause 6(‘ That for the time being, up to some period to be decided upon, the control of the amateur section be exercised from Auckland ’).”

This motion was carried unanimously. The usual honorariums of £lO 10s to the secretary and £5 5s to the treasurer were voted. Mr MacOormick, the out-going treasurer, stated that he would return his honorarium to the Club in the shape of a trophy for the next Spring Meeting, an announcement which was received with loud applause. Mr MacOormick moved, and Mr Cook© seconded : “ That it be a recommendation to the Committee to take steps to alter the constitution of the Club so as to admit professional cyclists.” Mr Macfiormink said he did not imply that ho was in favour of admitting cash eye ists, he only wanted to get the feeling of the Club on the matter.

After a long discussion the motion was negatived by a large majority. 3 Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring President and out going officers.