ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

A NEW RUNNING GROUND. A very considerable amount of interest is being taken in the series of professional handicaps which are to take place at the new ground, Khyber Pass, commencing on the 20th inst. A considerable sum of money has been expended in getting the ground into first-class order, and the executive have worked very hard, so that there will be no room for complaint on this score. The track will be brilliantly lighted by electricity, and the running will thus be very clearly seen. Entries close for the opening event, a Novice Handicap, on Saturday next, and handicaps will, appear on Monday. As there appears to be a large number of men in training, the promoters expect that the entry list will be a very lengthy one. Mr. Buchanan will act as starter, and Messrs. Lackey and I. Hill as judges. If Wednesday evening proves fine there should be a large gathering at the new grounds, for the sport promises to be most interesting.

The main objection raised at the Athletic Union Conference to 'the proposed agreement with the New Zea-

land Amateur Athletic Association was against the clause providing that an amateur should stand down for twelve months before being allowed a transfer to the cash ranks (writes “Sprinter”). Several members of the conference held that an amateur with a clean record should not have to undergo a term of probation, and they were prepared with reasons. They quoted the case of boys who go to school and college and compete as amateurs, but subsequently go to districts where they can obtain little or no amateur racing, and if they want ■sport must join the cash ranks. Or again, there are young men who begin to compete as amateurs and find the game too expensive and travelling prohibitive. Either they must be content with very little sport or they must make their sport pay their expenses, and the Union delegates are satisfied that there should be no restriction of their choice. The conference was emphatic in rejecting the clause, and it iseems altogether unlikely that any such provision will find a place in an agreement between the Association and the Union. Actually the amateurs will not have to concede a great deal in the matter, for under the second clause anyone they disqualify for corrupt practices will be debarred by the Union. The next Australasian Amateur Championship Meeting is to be held in Tasmania, but up to the present the T.A.A.A has not fixed any date. * * * * At the Port Nicholson A.A. and C.S. sports at Wellington on Saturday, Kerr is reported to have walked a mile in 6min 27 l-ssec., and two miles in 13min 55 4-ssec. It is somewhat significant that in a later telegram from Wellington it is reported that at a meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. the members were strongly of opinion that the time was not opportune for seceding from the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union, and also expressed the opinion that, owing to frequent unsatisfactory decisions regarding the fairness of walking in walking contests, a photograph should be taken at a period of the race, as being the only effective means of coming to a satisfactory decision. The centre will also recommend that each centre appoint a judge of walking events held by the clubs under its jurisdiction. *.* * * Evidently the Americans are determined to be as well represented in the Olympic Games of 1910 at Athens as they were at the games held last spring. Of the 15,000 dollars raised to send out the 1906 team there is a balance remaining of 2889 dollars, and this sum has been placed in a savings bank to form the nucleus of a fund to defray the expenses of the next team It is the intention of the United States to have particularly strong representation in the lawn tennis, fencing, and rowing competitions. President Roosevelt, who has expressed his strong approval of the Olympic Games movement, has accepted the honorary presidency of the American Committee.

Commenting on the question of the likelihood of the withdrawal from the Australasian Union of the New Zealand A.A.A., “ Harrier,” in the “ Australasian” says:—“lt is exceedingly questionable whether New Zealand would derive benefit from the right to form separate rules. The compulsory Union rules only relate to competing and to reinstatements; in all other respects each body has full powers of internal management. To alter competition rules is not sought, and it all appears to boil down to a few alleged cases of hardship in particular applications for reinstatement. Laxity in reinstatements occasioned unpleasant talk between the Associations before the Unions existed, and will do again unless the practice is kept uniform. The present demand from New Zealand for easier reinstatements is absolutely at variance with the uncompromising attitude of New Zealand’s own delegates to the Union. These gentlemen were the strictest of the strict, and. wished to make it absolutely impossible for an amateur who broke his status ever to be reinstated. What a whirligig, to be sure. Truth to tell, I think some one or other in New Zealand is pulling the strings to get out of the Union, for reasons far other than appear on the surface, and any gag is good enough to work the purpose if the centres can be gulled by it. After all, the Union is a purely voluntary one, and unless New Zealand considers its advantages outweigh the disadvantages, no other State would expect them to remain in.”

In its review of English athletics in 1906, the “I.S. and D. News” says:— “ Eventful, indeed, for the foot-racing fraternity, has been the year, which, at the time of writing, is all but closed. Bests on record in the walking way have been removed; and although rather fewer championships have changed hands than have been retained, the fact that these titles are no longer monopolised to the extent which once they were is shown by seven fresh holders having been found. Of these the most wonderful man in the walking way was A. T. Yeoumans, a Leicestershire man who took up his residence in Wales. Yeoumans, according to the most expert judges, fairly walked a mile in 6min 19 4-ssec, and two miles at a relatively faster rate. The figures have yet to be accepted by the A.A.A., but it is worthy of note that the only people who have demurred to their adoption were people who were not there ‘to see.

The most sterling champion of the year in the track-running way was Lieut. Wyndham Halswell. He gave a taste of his quality by winning the 100 metres and 250yds races at the spring meeting of the South London ■Harriers at Kennington Oval; then hied him way to Athens, and had the Stadion been less crowded by American competitors, whose method differed from those of the British athletes, would undoubtedly have won, instead of just losing, the events in which he there played a prominent part.

Another English athlete who did well both at the Oval and at Athens was Lieut. H. C. Hawtrey. He won the three miles race at the firstnamed, and the five miles race at the last-mentioned meeting.

As regards athletic performances of more than average merit on the path, the splendid running of K. Cornwallis, the Oxonian, and of the Cantabs, A. R. Welsh and R. P. Crabbe (who ran a mile in 4min 21sec, and a half-mile in lmin 55 4-ssec, at Cambridge), are worth remembering. The way in which Welsh won the mile for Cambridge against Oxford in 4min 21 1-5 sec, on a heavy path, and in dismal weather, went far to alleviate his side’s sorrow over the beating which Oxford administered by seven events to three. It was also a noteworthy double first which Cornwallis secured by winning the quarter in 51sec, and the half in lmin 56 2-ssec, on one and the 'gam e day. Since then, and, indeed, quite recently, Cambridge had its revenge by again defeating Oxford in the cross-country race, and supplying, in F. M. Edwards, the first man home.