ATHLETICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1931, Page 2

ATHLETICS

AMERICAN'S TOUR

FINANCIAL' RESULTS

WELLINGTON, April i 8

One result of tbe American athletes’ tour of New Zealand was the- bettering of New Zealand records. At the fifteen meetings af which he competed Harlow Rothert, broke tbe 1921 shot put record of P, Mu-nro, and the sprinter George Simpson clipped one-fifth of a second off the New Zeaand straight track record for 220 yards, and several times equalled the 100yds. record of 9 4-s.se c-

tV hen at the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur AthleticAssociation it was mentioned that several applications to have the performances recognised as records were received, Mr L. A. Tracy said that in Rothert’s case as the tour progressed his performances became better and better, and it had occurred to him whether, instead of passing the performances advised to- date, the council should not wait until all the applications had been received, and then deal with them in chronological order. Mr V. Hugo said he thought that Rothert was entitled to a record for each performance as lie bettered it. It was decided to adopt the suggestion of Mr Tracy both in the ease of Rothert and Simpson. Mr Tracy said he was not yet in a position to announce the financial resuit of the American tour, but he was hopeful that the council would "come out all right.” Balance-sheets were tQ hand for the Auckland and New Plymouth meetings, showing profits of £144 and £lB 16s lid respectively. A profit of £l4 had been shown on the meeting in Gisborne, and the profits from tbe Canterbury and Waimate meetings were expected to be approximately £2O and £SO respectively.' The financial result of the Taihnp© meeting had been the surprise of the lot. The profit bad been. £75, but the fact that expenses were lower there, than iti Other centres had assisted considerably. -Mr F. Reid (Otago) suggested that a letter should be sent to the Waimate Club congratulating the officials upon the conduct-of-the; meeting. • Tbe council agreed, and a letter is also to be sent to the Tailiape Club.

AMATEUR STATUS. AN OLYMPIC PROBLEM. WELLINGTON, April 20. Under the strict rules of the Olympic and Empire Games, the position of amateur athletes who have at one stage .in their .career been professionals js of some interest to those who control athletics in New Zealand. Sometimes, afi.in the case of.the brilliant Tailiape runner, Don Evans, who, since his re-, insfcatenvent ass an amateur, has been active in the promotion of amateur sport, runners; cannot be sent to rep re. sent their .country at an Olympiad or Empjad, The Secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, Mr L. A. Tracy, wrote some time ago to the chairman, Mr H. I. Austnd, who was then in England, saying that with the approach of the Olympic Games at ,T.os Anaeles next year the subject of eligibility at these international contests was engaging tbe attention of those in New .Zealand. Mr Austad wrote thereupon to Sir Harry Barclay, past honorary secretary of the English A.A.A., mentioned tbe topic and citing tbe case of Evans in particular. A copy of Mr Austad’s letter was read at the meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council. “Evans’s case, in tbe opinion of my association,” Mr Austad had written, “does not come under the category of reinstated athletes as one may know them in such countries as America.” Mr Austad asked for an appointment with Sir Harry Barclay in order to discuss the matter, but the result of the discussion- is not yet known.