ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 15, 18 January 1924, Page 3

ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The first'attraction of Welcome Week, the Wellington Provincial Amateur Athletic Championships, will be held at the Athletic Park to-morrow, the first event (3 miles walk) being timed for 1.50 p.m. Always a popular gathering with the public, this year's meeting promises to provide better contests than ever. The' competitors "will include fully 70 per cent, of, the athletes who have chances of winning New Zealand championship honours at Dunedin in' March. Additional interest attaches to the. meeting from the fact that "the final selection of the New Zealand team for the Australasian Championships at Hobarfr next month will be made on the form shown to-morrow. The entries constitute a record for any championship meeting in New Zealand. Undoubtedly the two closest contests of the day will be. the hundred and quarter. The Wellington sprinters, Leadbetter, Tracy, Jenkins, and Wilson, will probably find A. L. Lewis (Canterbury) their strongest opponent. A better all-round collection of quarter-milers than the first eight in to-morrow's race has never been seen together in one event in the Dominion. Tracy, Candy, the two Gullys, Scott (Hawera), Sullivan, C. H. Taylor, and Ridgan (Christchurch),- who both arrived this morning, are all ca*uble of 53sec and better. Other attractions will be the appearances of H. E. Wilsan (in the hurdle events) and E. A. Rose (in. the distance race). Both are out to break records. The Wairarapa; has always produced good jumpers, and a strong team of them wilLbe leaping^tomorrow. Grathani, Lozelle, Harvey, and M'- Jl Kenzie will be there. Their chief opponents will be Wilton (Manawatu) and Thompson, Smellie and Whyte; of Wellington. There will almost "certainly be one Australasian record to-morrow. P. Mnnro has been performing exceptionally with the discus, and he is as good as ever with the shot. Amateur cycling has come back to its own in public estimation. The twelve in the mile championship comprise, among others, such very fine ridfe as the Oakley brothers, of Masterton. The 100 yards ladies' championship should see "Miss Dawsori, present Dominion champion, thoroughly extended. Altogether' a really splendid afternoon's sport is assured. The attention of officials is drawn to a notice elsewhere.

. An unusual attraction at ' Newtown Park during Welcome Week will be an ostrich yoiked to a sulky. Big Ben is a beautiful specimen of a South African ostrich,1 trained to harness in the motjon picture business, where he was used on account of his commanding physique and feathering. Now he is an adept at racing, not merely as an ornamental exponent for show purposes, but a fully accredited racer who has taken part in 81 speed contests, in only one of which he suffered defeat. He has taken part in all manner of, races in all parts of the world, and has competed against trotters, gallopers, whippets, and greyhounds. Such a versatile performer will be worth seeing. »