ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[Bi "Proxt."]

GETTING ENGLAND UP AGAIN, March 2.—Karori Club's Carnival, Karon Park. March 13—Levin A .A. Club's Sports Meeting, the Racecourse, Levin. March 16.—Challenge Competition, Athletic Football Sports Club and Victoria College A.A. Club, Kelbnrne Park. March 23—Victoria College A.A. Club Sports, Kelburne Park.

How They Propose to do It. English writers have been for some time past bemonning the decadence of amateur athletics, and various excuses havo been put forth as to the reason why the English athletes compare so unfavourably with tho Americans. One of the principal reasons advanced-was the want of proper coaching and proper appliances. This has evidently had an effect on the English authorities, and has stirred them to action. In an endeavour to uplift the sport from tho somewhat languishing condition into which it had fallen, and with a view to encouraging athletes, a club has recently been formed in London called "The English Athletes' Advisory Club." Lord Dcsborough, who was the loading light at the Festival of Empire Games last year, is president of this new club. According to English exchanges, the principal objects of the club are:—

(a) To discover new athlotio talent, (b) To hold meetings from time to time for the purpose of discussing various topics, such as judgment, diet, breathing, arm action, bony carriage, indoor training, etc. (c) Appoint experienced amateur athletes to act as coaches and adviserß. It will bo the aim to appoint experts at each branch of track and field athletics to visit the chief training centres as coaches, which will enable our athletes to obtain the best advice possible. Tho coaches will first be appointed by tho committee, and thereafter will have to bo reelected each year at the annual general meeting. Old amateur athletes of experience will also be appointed as district advisers in villages and towns throughout the United Kingdom, while members seeking information and instruction will be advised by letter, as far as possible, where the help of a district adviser is unobtainable. The funds of the club will be mainly devoted to the purchase of shots, hammers, jumping standards, vaultiug poles, javelins, the discus, etc., which will bo 1 placed at the disposal of the district advisers for tho uso of any likely athletes they may discover.

Could We Do It Here? This is no doubt a step in the right direction, and one which will do the sport an immense amount of good. A club such as this would be of very great assistance to amateur athletics here in New Zealand, and I commend tho same to the favourable consideration of tho N.Z.A.A.A. If a club such as this were formed in New Zealand, giving special attention to the field games, I am confident that, in a short space of time, we would have New Zealand _ athletes who would be able to hold their own in whatever company they chose to compete.

Victorian A.A, Championships. Somo excellent performances were recorded at the Victorian amateur athletic championship meeting at Melbourne on Saturday last. The cables informed us that a world's record, threo Australasian records, and two Victorian records had been established. W. Murray, who walked a mile in Gmin. 22 4-Ssec, did not put up a world's record as alleged, for,he took three-fifths of a second longer tlian>G. H. Gouldiug did to walk the same distance. Murray finished second to Kerr in the Australasian championship mile in Gmin. 32 4-5 sec. last December. Having seen ' him compete here, I am somewhat dubious as to the time recorded last Saturday. He is certainly n .very stylish walker, but he did not striko mo as being in the world's championship class. As "Prodigal," of tho Sydney "Referee," has time and again maintained that a mile ennnot bo walked fairly under Gmin. 43 sec, it will bo interesting to hear his opinion on Murray's time in Melbourne. In the threo miles, Murray beat the Australasian record by 40 l-ssec. B. H. Watson, who put up a new Australasian record by winning the half-mile in limn. 5G 3-10 sec, recently won the "track championship of the Malvern Harriers' Club." Of tuo thirteen events on that clnb's programme, he competed in eight, being first in tho 880 yds., halfmile, ono milo, and 350 yds. hurdles; second in the long jump; fourth in putting tho shot, and throwing tho hammer, and tied for second place in tho high jump. Brake, who established new Victorian figures in the pole vault, is tho present Australasian champion. Davis, in winning tho 120 yds. hurdles in 15 3-ssec., took one-fifth of a second longer on tho journey than Kcddell did at the last Australasian meeting, but Keddell was greatly assisted by the wind.

Another Alleged World's Record. The cable informs us of another world's record—this time in America. Ralph Eose is credited with breaking the world's record for putting the shot—the distance covered being 50ft. 2in. On August 21, 1909, at San Francisco, Rose put the shot 51ft. Ojin., which is the existing record.

Hawke's Bay Caledonian Meeting. Some 3000 people attended this meeting on February 21. While no startling performances were recorded, tho meeting proved successful. A feature was tho close finishes in most of the events, which speaks well for the handicapping. In the high jump event, four competitors tied at sft. Bin—Wintleman (scr.), Phillins (2in.). Ellis (3in.), and Harris (3in.). In the hop, step and jump event, the first and second places were filled by scratch men, who cleared 40ft. 31in. and 40ft. 2in. respectively.

Canterbury Centre's Meeting. Excellent sport was witnessed nt this meeting, which was held in Christchiirch < last Saturday. Opie was evidently running at his best. He won his heat in the 100 yds. in 9 4-ssec., which equals the Australasian record. After winning his heat in the 220 yds. in 22 l-ssec., he was unplaced in the final through being blocked. In throwing the hammer, 135 ft. Slin., M'Holm established new Australasian figures. Ho knocked 3ft. GJin. off the existing record. Kerr won tho mile walk very easily in 6min. 58 3-ssec, and Hill (of Auckland) gained numerous friends in the Cathedral City by his performance in the milo run. , From a private source I learn that the nicotine was very poorly patronised by the public. Rome of the officials failed to puf in an appearance, and thoso who did turn up, with few exceptions, did not show much enthusiasm in carrying out their duties. Truly Striking. How dees this strike the amateur athletic clubs of New Zealand? The last annual report of the Now York Athletic Club shows that the expenses of the athletic teams last year amounted to .£II.OOO, whilo the total receipts were ,£SOOO.- Considerable discussion has been going on among the members oyer the item "salaries" as appearing in the balance-sheet. The item expenses" also caused a great deal of comment. The amount charged bysome of Die travelling members was by no means small.

Mr. Cecil M. Chapman, metropolitan magistrate, speaking at Westbourne Park Chapel, London, on tho subject of "Woman and Citizenship," snid women wanted recognition as human beings;' they wanted liberty to make use of the talents they possessed. The attitude of mind of nine out of ten men was tho attitude of mind of Burke, that women were a negligible quantity. Women asked for no privilege without welcoming the corresponding responsibility. What they wanted was ft human world, a human home. Mr. Diehard Davey, a director of the Imperial Tobacco Company, died at Falmouth, on January 7, aged GB.