ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 857, 9 August 1906, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

It is understood (says the Otago “Witness”) that Hector Burk does not intend competing in handicap races in future, but will reserve himself for scratch events. He realises that conceding big starts plays havoc with his constitution. Burk intends training steadily during the coming season with a view to competing at the big championship meeting to be held in Christchurch this year.

The following is the programme arranged for the professional champion-4 ship meeting to be held at the New Zealand International Exhibition .on January 18 and 19, under the auspices of the New Zealand Athletic Union :—lOO yards flat race, championship of New Zealand, £2, and £1 ; championship bagpipe music, pibroch, £3, £2, and £1; 120 yards hurdle race over 10 flights, championship of New Zealand, £4, £2, and £1; flying handicap, 75 yards, £6, £2, and £1 ; throwing stone (Irish style), £3, £2, and £1 ; New Zealand Exhibition handicap, 100 yards, 6 yards limit, £6, £3, and £2 ; Reel o’ Tulloch, championship of New Zealand, £3, £2, and £1 ; championship wrestling (Cumberland style), £5, £2, and £1 ; halfmile handicap, £4, and £1 ; vaulting with pole, £3, £2, and £1 ; grand exhibition handicap, under Sheffield rules, 135 yards, £4O, £5, and £1 10s; Irish jig, championship of New Zealand, £3, and £* 5 championship hammer throwing (i6lb hammer), £2, and £1 ; schools relay race, one mile, for boys under 14 years, teams of four, prizes four gold medals ; 220 yards flat race, championship of New Zealand, £4, £2, and £1 ; Highland fling (in costume), championship of New Zealand, £3, £2, and £1; putting ball (Scots style), championship of New Zealand, £3, £2, and £1 ; championship wrestling (collar and elbow style), £s< £ 2 > and £1 ; championship hop, step, and jump, £3, £2, £1; Highland fling. for girls under 16 (in costume), championship of New Zealand, first prize his Excellency the Governor’s gold medal, second and third silver medals; quartermil ■ handicap, £7, £2, and £1 ; throwing i6lb hammer (no wheel round), £3 £2, and £1 ; 440 yards flat race, championship of New Zealand, £4, £2, and £1 ; championship wrestling (catch-as-catch-can), £3, £2, and £1 ; sailors hornpipe (in costume), championship of New Zealand, £3, £2, and £x ; New Zealand Exhibition handicap, one mile. £B, £3, and £1 ; bagpipe music (reel and Strathspeys), championship of New Zealand, £3, £2, and £1; hurdle race, 120 yards handicap, over 10 flights, £5, £2, and £1 ; 880 yards flat race, championship of New Zealand, £5, £ 2 i and £1 ; New Zealand Exhibition handicap, 220 yards, £5, £2, and £l. The winner of most points in wrestling (three styles) is to receive the handsome gold medal presented by the late Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.

During the past week the. whole Executive Council of the New Zealand Athletic Union put in some live work on behalf of the cash athletic body (says the

“Weekly Press”). The president, Mr. G. W. Woods, and Messrs. Reardon (Wellington), Thomas Duncan (Masterton), James Clarke (New Plymouth), and J. W. Trewin (Feilding) have been doing excellent work in the North Island, while Messrs. T. P. Gilfedder (secretary) and John Kennedy (Geraldine) have performed similar services in the South Island on behalf of the governing body. It is quite evident that the policy of the Union as formulated at the Conference is finding favour amongst cash athletic clubs, as about 200 have taken advantage of its protection, and we will now look for higher and purer sport on the professional track. Registration protects competitors themselves, and helps to secure for the public better sport. The good intentions of the Union are being recognised and appreciated by kindred bodies, including the Amateur Axemen’s Association, League of Wheelmen, etc., while the Exhibition Committee has placed confidence in the Union by putting the athletic sports under its control. The Union will supply the officials and will also make necessary arrangements.

The N.Z. Amateur Boxing Championships will be held at Wellington to-day and to-morrow. The Auckland team consists of Messrs J. McConnell (heavyweight), Lewis (middle-weight), Blewden (light-weight), J. Godfrey (feather-weight) and Ward (bantam-weight). Mr R. Keenan, secretary of the Northern Boxing Association, has gone South as manager of the team.

The Council of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association have adopted an agreement with the N.Z. Athletic Union, which reads as follows : —(1) Each organisation hereby recognises the other as the governing body of the branches of sport each is constituted to govern ; (2) that each organisation hereby undertakes to recognise, enforce, and maintain the suspensions and disqualifications of the other ; (3) that before reinstating any person as an amateur, the application for reinstatement shall be referred by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, to the New Zealand Athletic Union for endorsement or otherwise; (4) it' is agreed by the New Zealand Athletic Union to refuse the entry of any amateur into any cash competition unless the said amateur has abstained entirely from all competitions held under New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association laws for a period of at least 12 calendar months; (5) it is agreed by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that any body affiliated to the New Zealand Athletic Union may obtain a permit to place amateur events upon its sports programme, without payment of any fee.