AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. .■-.•A.t'the meeting, of. the cbuncil ,of 'the Zealand' Amateur' A'thldtid Associa-' -tion held-last evening to'.receive-, progress- reports, as to. the championship meeting at the Basin Reserve next Saturday,, matters'were shown -to he in a very forward condition. " Mr. J. - C. •Cusack,, the. honorary ' secretary, '.re-' •ported that the .entriea -were eminently satisfactory,', All. the centres • have nominated teams, those from the; South. Island being particularly strong. The various handicap, events have filled well.

The chief: topic in - athletic oircles consists" of' speculation, as to whether Wellington can. Tetain the championship shield. The general impression is that tho situation .is fairly safe. The home position, is strengthened considerably frbin the fact that there will unfortunately be-only one outside competitor in the two championship walks, so the majority of points in these events must be a gift for the local walkers. ' The visiting • pedestrian is' David Wilson,, of Canterbury. It is in the distance races, the hurdles, and the jumping events that the outside opposition is strong. ' Quite apart from the athletic attraction. of the meeting, the gathering makes a peculiar' appeal to public support from the worthiness of the. cause, to which the-proceeds therefrom are to be devoted. - So far there has been no previous movement in Wellington to establish a local fund for the future care of our -sick and wounded soldiers and those dependent upon them,'but. if Saturday's meeting is the financial success anticipated and deserved, this reproach will be removed, and the fund started in good' earnest. .The enterprise of the Amateur .Athletic Association has the hearty support -of the Mayor - and .his Patriotic' Committee. The . City Council is giving'the use of the reserve free of .charge, and the Cricket Association has greatly- assisted by cancelling its 'fixtures for the day. The Wellington which had Its annual rowing regatta arranged for the same day, has postponed it,for a. week in sympathy. It now remains for the .public to do its part.