Amateur Athletics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 194, 19 March 1904, Page 21

Amateur Athletics.

"The greatest athletic carnival evei seen in Wellington," sounds a bit ambitious. This, however, is the aim ot the committee which is working up the appioaching sports meeting of the Amateur Athletic Club, which takes place at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, 26th instant. The events for the day include all outdoor sports, and a gymnastic competition and medley race. Th 1S latter event consists of walking, running, and cycling each one lap. The gymnastic competition has been thrown open to all members of the local gymnasia and colleges and, with some of the local champion® competing, should provide a fine exhibition. In addition to Wellington's own champion team, a strong combination ot visitors from all parts of the colony are to take part m the sports. All races will have New Zealand champions competing from scratch, and, with the handicap men to pull them out, some good tussles may be looked for. An, effort is being made to get together the Australasian team which represented this colony at Melbourne recently. Of these, Messrs. Pollock and Ross are well-known local athletes, and will both be competing, while Mr. W. F Simpson, holder of the Australasian recoids for distance running, will make an attempt to still further reduce Jus own record for two miles running. A special event of that distance has been included in the programme, and members of the Wellington Harriers and others will act as pacemakers to the champion. All the events should be well contested as a great infusion of new blood has recently taken place, and the numbers training on the Basin Reserve each evening provide amusement for an interested crowd of spectators.