AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

OTAGO CENTRE MEETING The monthly meeting of tho Otago Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. last night, Mr E. L. Alacassey presiding. The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr F. W. Kaltcnbach (trainer of J. Standen and D. Gray, the Australian cyclists), who was present by invitation, and also the delegates of the newly-formed Northern and Oamaru Amateur Athletic and Otago Amateur Cycling Chibs. LADIES’ CLUB. The Dunedin Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club applied for affiliation, it being decided to favorably recommend tho application to the Now Zealand Council. Advice was also received that tho Ladies’ Club would stage its annual meeting on March 23.—1 t was pointed out that this was not an absolutely general holiday, and that it might bo better were tho meeting to be held on the previous Saturday. The question of open amateur events being included on the ladies’ programme was discussed, the selection of the events being left to the Sports Committee. CLUTUA SOCIETY’S REQUEST. Mr L. J. Scott, secretary of the Clutha Caledonian Society, applied for permission to stage two or three amateur events at a meeting on March 24. This gave rise to some disucssiou, Air A. T. APJndoo stating that the application might bo granted, as tho Clutlm body was a country club.

Air P. W. Breen said that a motion was on the minutes to the effect that no amateur events be permitted on a professional programme, and, furthermore, the professional controlling body had requested the affiliated clubs not to include amateur events on their programme. He thought tho inclusion of amateur events on professional programmes were merely for purpose of bolstering up the other events.

Mr J. A. Johnston said that a number of enthusiasts in Balclutha were desirous of renewing the amateur club, and perhaps that was why the decision to stage amateur events had been arrived at. Mr Breen said notice of motion would be necessary if permission were to be granted, and lie held that the centre must he consistent, and should turn down the application. The letter eventually was received, the secretary being instructed to write explaining the position to the Clntba Caledonian Society. TRANSFERS AND REINSTATEMENTS. Transfers were approved as follow, to take effect from April I: —J. E. Green, from Anglican to University; L. Henderson, T. J. King, R. L. Knowles, J. K. M'Jndoe, C. E. Dawson, and W. R. G. M'lndoe, from Cargill Road to Northern: and R. Lamb, from Cnversbam to Mornington. Jt was decided to favorably _ recommend for reinstatement tire applications of G. E. Carson and L. Hubbard (Oamaru), but to recommend to the New Zealand Council that W. A. Cubitt’s application bo declined, as he had been an amateur prior to competing as a professional. GENERAL. hi response to an inquiry by the Canterbury Centre the New Zealand Council ruled that cycling records could be established in events where the time recorded did not reach standard time. From the minutes of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association it was noted that tire Northern H. and A.A.C. and the Oamaru A.A.C. bad been granted affiliation, the latter being subject to receipt of the amatur declaration.

The Secretary of (ho Tuapeka Sports Club advised that a sports club had been formed at Lawrence, with tho object of assisting all branches of sport. Its first venture had been an evening sports meeting, and it was prepared to hold a Saturday meeting at an early date, and give trophies for prizes if it were in order Tor amateur athletes to compete there. Tim matter of affiliating with tho association hnd been discussed, and was not considered advisable at present. —lt was left in the secretary’s hands to write explaining the benefits of amateurism, and pointing out that by affiliating with the Otago Centre athletic meetings could be held whenever it was desired to hold them. Tho Secretary of the Council of tho X.Z.A.A.A. wrote with reference to tho protest by the lady runners against the referee's decision at the provincial championships, and advised that the centre had been asked to forward a copy of the programme, together with a copy of all circulars in connection with tho meeting, and also evidence as to where they were and when obtainable, and that the events did not start before the time mentioned in the programme.— Tho secretary was instructed to attend to the information required. The Secretary of tho Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. advised that M. R. Spillane’s certificate of reinstatement, which should have been forwarded in October, had inadvertently been left among athletic material, and ro regretted very much that it had not been forwarded when it was issued.—The Chairman commented upon the matter, and said that the fact that Spillanc’s certificate had been mislaid meant that he had been debarred from competing at tho Otago and New Zealand championships. He also referred to the tone of another letter received from the council in regard to other applications; and, on tho motion of Mr M‘.lndoe, seconded by Mr M.'Kcnzie, the secretary was instructed to write regretting the tone of tho council secretary’s letter. Mr Melville moved that competitors who had been competing regularly during tho season, but had missed their entries for the next two meetings, should bo handicapped at the discretion of tho handicapper and the sports secretary, Mr Breen seconding the motion, which was carried.

It was also resolved that no compntititor be allowed to start until ho had paid his entry money. Air Breen brought up tho question of athletes at a championship meeting who might compote only in the preliminaries of tho field events on the Friday night, and not again on the Saturday, and it was resolved to ask the New Zealand Council for a ruling as to whether a competitor’s preliminary effort would enable him to qualify for a place in a championship if ho did not compete in tho event the following day.