ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3832, 5 June 1875, Page 2

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

To the Editor. * ~ ® IK > Last Tuesday’s issue of the Evening bTAR contains a letter from “ Old Sport,” who sks, “ Would it not be possible to hold athletic meetings in some large building in or near Dunedin?” Being an admirer of athletic exercises, and having been a member of one of the leading Loudon athletic clubs, it was with the greatest pleasure that I saw some me take this important matter into consideration, as I know, aud can prove, that athletic exercises—if taken in moderation—are beneficial to any youn<r m en. But, unfortunately, some athletics tamper too much with their constitutions in going through the ordeal of training. For instance, if a man wishes to run a mile decent time, it is absolutely necessary for him to be in condition, otherwise he would break down bifore the distance was half completed ; it is also necessary for a man to know what “staying powers” he is possessed of, or he would probably start at a pace he could not keep up, and when called up n for a spurt at the finish would be “played out;” and would have no spurt left in him. At meetings in the old country, how many athletes hj ive I seen faint from exertion a few yards from the tape ? , w ’ ? u , ch Performances, instead of proving beneficial to the human frame, do a great deal injury, and the principle causes of such exhibitions {is over training. Some young men are under the impression that co enable them to win a lung distance iace they must lose about two stone of super Houh flesh, amt sweat themselves 1 o such an extent that they weaken themselves considerably, and do themselves an immense oodily injury. Having tigmed in the athletic ueua at Home, with fair success, I know this o he perfect folly. I could run in sprint aces, laid also in long distance races, without oosmg an ounce ia weight, and without makmg “ an exhibition ” of myself—although 1 carried plenty of “superfluous'flesh,” as it is eyroneuUely oajlod—anii if evflryboe tfraiafcd j

themselves to a moderate extent, without going to ° far against niture, I am certain that athlete exercises ate beneficial, as they strengthen both the body and the mina. There are plenty of straights near Dunedin where pedestriamsm could be carried on, without entailing the expense of a large building, such as the Drill Shed, as “ Old Sport ” proposes, to say nothing of the inconvenience and expense of laying tan, or some substitute for a conn-e; as the volunteers would, 1 am sure, object to have a running track m the Drill Shed to impede their movements. The Lambeth baths in London (where Old Sport ” says he has witnessed very successful sports, was used in the winter season exclusively as a gymnasium: in the centre a platform was raised for boxing competitions, horizontal bar, &c. Besides “ Old Sport must kuow that no form can be shown m a place where you are constantly turning corners: he must also be aware that a short man can get round a bend easier than a tall one, therefore such a course could not be a fair oue. What I should propose would be to form an athletic club, and to rent a fair sized room in some mpeetable hotel where a horizontal bar could be fixed and taken down at pleasure, and where boxing, fencing, itc., could be carried on, and at the same time the expense of a club room be saved. As to the pedestrian part of the programme there are several good places on the Town Belt if arrangements could not be made with theDunedin Cricket Club, and where could a better place be found for hare and hounds and' cross country runs than round Dunedin ? At Home our club, |for one, was always glad to give its services tor the benefit of any good object, and I trust that at a not very distant period the Dunedin Athletic Club may be announced to give a series of athletic exhibitions m aid of some deserving charity or institution. Thus would it prove not only the means of providing innocenc amusement and young men out* of mischief, to use Old {sport's ” words, but be likely to prove a benefit te others deserving aid.—l Dunedin, June 5.