AMATEUR ATHLETES

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 280, 7 August 1909, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETES

— » NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONS FAREWEUED. TRIALS ON THE BASIN RESERVE.. The members of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic team, which left for Sydney yesterday, on its way to compote at the Australasian Championship meeting, to be held at Brisbane, were entertained at an informal lunch at the Hotel Windsor yesterday. Tho chair was occupied by Dr. A'. K. Newman, president of the association, who was surrounded by-the team, and a number of supporters of tho sport. The chairman remarked that he was glad, as the head of the sport, to be present; and wish the team good-bye and success. He considered the team was a strong one, even though Messrs. Haskins, Orbell, Murray, and Wallace were unable to make tho. trip. These men would have brightened the New Zealand chances, but ho still hoped to seo tlem retain the banner. .When they sent Kerr • Home to tho Olympic ' games, that athlete had said before leaving that he would drop on the track before he gave'up, and -ho (the speaker) 'hoped tho same spirit would fire the members of the present team. Personally,- he was. convinced that they would all do well. When Mr. Coombes was in New Zealand recently, he had stated that New South Wales had a 'man. who "could walk Kerr blind." (Laughter.) Dr. Newman remarked that if he was a betting man his money would go on Kerr. ■ (Applause.) M'Kay was a man who would have

the hardest row; to hoe, but he would no doubt-be prepared for it. Woo'dger also had a formidable opponent in Nigel Barker, but, if he got off ■ the ■ mark .'promptly; Dr. Newman thought his stride was'such that Barker would have to follow' him! ;If every 'man mado-up his mind to do his best, and all kept fit and well, he looked forward to welcoming the team, back with, the: 'banner (Applause.) ..:..,

: ?f r -, c - E - Bridge, manager- of the. team,said he was cheered by Dr. Newman's remarks. He had had an idea that: the .team was being lookedrupon outside'as .a sort" of forlorn hope. Personally, he'was quite 'con•yinced as. to the quality-'of the team,' but it might be; short, in quantity.''. With reasonable luck' he .thought they must have a fair chance.'' ' -' '

Mr.. J. H. Pollock, who is. travelling-with' the team, and who, with Mr. Bridge, will represent New Zealand at the conference, also spoke, and expressed the opinion that, 'although the team was not strong numerically, it would do credit U> the Dominion." • Later m the afternoon'the team proceeded to tho Basm Reserve for the purpose of having a few practice trials.' The ground was too heavy for .serious work,, and- the running men had to content themselves with half-a-dozen practice starts. The. ground was. too bad to enable the hurdles or tho -jumping gear to be brought'out. : Kerr the walking nominee, did three'rounds at ; a solid pace, being assisted over tho second. round, by JJ. Leslie, the former 'outtins on a spurt' fil f the ,-fH, IOO - yards ' and coming,hWe Erst with three, or four yards to spare. Kerr, who is lighter at present than he has fn°r™ iin lon i g , tI T past ' kiu form Although ..he has not been able to do much training on' the track of late, he has kept himself hard by .playing football for holnglewood Cub.- Woodgor also appeared rJS IS tfae * mk / condition.. .DuncaVand Ooodbehere- turned,' out to-assist the members of the team, but their services were not made uso of on account of the state'of