Amateur Athletics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 231, 3 December 1904, Page 20

Amateur Athletics.

The sports meeting under the auspices of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club, at the Basin Reserve lae>t Saturday, was favoured with beautiful weather and a splendid gathering ot spectators. The competitions were good, there being laige fields in the majority of the events. Much interest was taken in. the intercollege championships, the wins of Goodbehere in these two contests being very popular. He has filled out nicely since last year, and his running deserved all the commendation passed on it by those who witnessed his performances at the College gathering at the early portion of last week. Goodbehere bound® .rather than runs, and, for a youth, has a telling stride. He put me in mmdl of Alf Patrick m his best day, when he madfe "haoks" of the opposition in the; 100 yds raoe. There seem to be immense possibilities in Goodbehere and, if he does not do too muoh before he properly fills out, he should make a name for himself m the athletic world. J. H. Prendeville's run of 16mins 13secs in tKe three-mile event stamped him as above the average as a distance runner. This was his first appearance on the running track, the only time he was heard of before being when he won the road race conducted by the Harriers a month or two back. Prendeville is an ex-St. Patrick's College boy, and. of course, did some running when at that institution. Though he has not a particularly pleasing style, Prendeville runs with great judgment, and, as he is on the young "side, age will, no doubt, mellow his powers, and in a year or two he can be expected to foot it with the best m the colony in distance events. A younger brother of W. H. Pollock's (our local champion) won the quartermile off the 35yds mark, and showed excellent iudement. He may be expected to improve. The Wanganui runner, Craig, showed fine form over the hurdles, and is on the up-gracte. This is the runner who was let out to the limit in the 120 yds handicap at the championship meeting and, at the business end of the race, was almost a street ahead. M. M. Roseingrave, the Irish champion hurdler, competed at the meeting after a three-dears' spell resulting from an accident. His fencing was much admired, but, although he got on terms with Craig at the eighth hurdle, the latter beat, him in the run home Rosemecrave's "cronk" leg did not seem to trouble him much, and, should he get into form, he will be a hard man to beat at his favourite game at the championship meeting. I must confess to a feeling of disappointment that there were not many outstanding performances at the meeting. Pollock started a few times, but did nothing sensational. Webster was an absentee, the journey from New Plymouth being rather a long one for the meeting. Stubbs ricked his thigh in Mb first run — the heat of the 100 yds — and did not start again. Taking the meeting as a guide, Wellington's chance of retaining the champioship banner this year is a very remote one. There were three startere va. the twomile walk and it was a very sorry exhibition. At least two of them should have been put off the track early in the raoe. Ross was not a starter, so I presume he has given this phase of competition best. The bicycling events were interesting, and relieved the tedium of the runming races. There was nothing: sensational in the performances, although I was pleased to see Best, the representative footballer, win the mile event. The, different races were got off all right, although nobody seemed 1 really responsible for them being started to time. One race in particular was delayed about ten minutes while one competitor was being rubbed down, the others in the meantime standing on their marks. If it had been one of the younger runners that asked' for this favour I am satisfied he would have received summary treatment by the officials. There is a set time on the programme for starting separate events, and if a competitor is not ready at the time appointed the race should be started without him, whether he is a champion or only a beginner. The financial part of the meeting was exceedingly pleasant to the club, the takings going far beyond expectations. The revival of the sport is now a positive certainty, and I can only wish that amateur sports meetings may long remain in favour with the general public. • • • The annual sports of St. Patrick's College were held at the Basin Reserve on Monday. There was a fine Catherine of supporters of the institution, and some interesting racing:. Kennedy, a tall lad, from the West Coast, won th<? championship of the College, and bids fair to be heard of in the running world later on.