ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 651, 30 October 1909, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

(Bt Merooby.).

:'■;". ;:/,. Novembjr 9.—W.A.A.C. Spring/Carnival (Basin Reserve), and Marathon Race (Basin Reserve to Taita and.back). ,-' '/■ i . New Year's Dav.—Wellington Provincial.Cham-: ' pionships (Basin Reserve).: . . ;;-,' January 29.—Civil Service A.A.C. Mooting (Basin Reserve). ./. .".. ;,. ".. .'.' ;/ ' February.—NX Championships (Auckland). February—Port - Nicholson'. A.A.C, ..Meeting . (Basin Reserve). ■ ;.,;; ..."."■.',;':,, ~ Entries'close to-day for tho W.A.A.C' Spring Carnival on November 9, and for. tho Marathon 'race, in-conjunction therewith. *~:.'■: : ~...; , Arrangements, in '/connection with "■thV' W.A.A.C.'. meeting on tho'-,King's birthday seem to bo well in. hand, according' to tho reports of the various sub-committees in chargo of the details. The Marathon is oi' course on-. tailing the largest share of labour, but all seems, to bo going smoothly enough so far. Tho arrangements to date are that tho competitors (having passed the medical test-at the hands of Dr. Napier ;M'Lean) will lino, up on ,tho'mark,>t .I.3o,.their' attendants having alcrcady sot but for:Ngahanrariga) 'They will run 0110 lap: of tho' BashV'Reserve, leaver'''by the north gato and so'on to ; their long .'journey, being, picked up at' Ngahaurangs ; by.' their waiting , ,/En' route- they ,y ill be ac--cpmpanied.'by.:a .supervisory, '.motorrcar and;.a .trap to''pick, .up, stragglers in leases of "crocked" ;feet- or •other/emergencies. '-• As': tho', runners., pass tho various stations both-on tho way and back,' tho; news of tho placings: will he telephoned to the Basin Reserve and notified to tho public from tho'. big' cricket .scoring' board,. so that tho exigencies- of the race, can bo, followed up to the final stages. The competitors will re-enter the Reserve by the north : gnto and complete tho distanco with: a lap on ,tho track. A map of the course is bonig. printed by tho secretary of tho centre for circulation among the entrants, clearly showing the route, cross roads, and chief points all-the'way from tho Basin Reservo to the terminal point,' adjacentl to Mason's Gardens at Taita. A copy of this chart will also appear in the-sports, programme. - . . ■.-', The sports meeting .proper, which will occupy the time between the start and finish of the big; road-race, should be productive of a "good afternoon's racing if the affair is supported ,by. runner's and jumpers as it deserves to bo.' TliO number 'of entries'.receivcd .to-day should:be lafge' and variedj as; all: classes of .contestants, are catered for except,tho walkers. Most of these, however,-will be on tour between Wellington and Taita and will-be so busy, thinking about tho scenery and .-other things to notice the absence of the walking events at tho Basin Reserve. ;-• , 1, .-■ - ' One of tho features of the local outbreak of " Marathonitis." is the ' frequency with which "Mercury" has been asked as to the most suitable kind'of foot-gear for:'a contest of this nature. The matter is an all-important one, as naturally enough, no matter how.physically fit and well a rtinncr-mhy.fcel'Avnilst on his long task, onco his feet give out ho is done. At tho same time opinions differ greatly, and: each runner should be able, during his, preparation on the roads, to find out how he.is best suited. Tho most popular Wear appears to bo stout tennis shoos, but if these are used, an emergency pair should bo carried by tho attendant. Not only is there a danger of the rubber giving out under the strain, but a shoe of this sort often gets unpleasantly hot and trying to the-feet, and a change en routo is of. great rest and. comfort. "Andy" Syme, the noted N.S.W. Marathon runner lias hitherto affected such a shoe, but it is-re-ported that, after winning the Victorian Marathon last month, .he affirmed-that he would never do so again. The writer was 'shown,'.:by W. F. Simpson just prior to the big Ashburton race Inst February, tho foot-gear the' Veteran intended to wear for that occasion.' it was simply a well-used pair of every-day. laco-up boots with low rubber heels and a light, but stiff, sole. : Miles Dickson and Moore, also of New Zealand Marathon fame, both, affect boo'ts, but theirs are the elastic-side variety, also -with rubber heels,' mado light ih the upper and stiff in the 501e... .-./-,,,

i- "Mercury" regrets to learn that W.,Bennett, the harrier champion, has sustained an injury to a foot, which may. preclude his starting in the Marathon Race on November 9. It appears that Bennett, while doing a training spin qii the Hutt Road, camo hard against a big stone, and it is'feared thai a tendon was injured' in consequence. -, rOwing to .extreme prossnro on' our-space, ■ a number of other interesting notes;by "Mercury" are unavoidably held over.] J