THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5846, 24 December 1879, Page 2

THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC SPORTS.

The forthcoming athletic contests between the Wanganui and Wellington Amateur Clubs are now exciting considerable interest amongst the lovers of manly games, more especially as it has been made known that the Governor has signified his intention of being present, and that the prizes will be distributed to the successful competitors by the Hon. Lady Robinson. For the Two Mile Walking Match, the Wanganui crack, Powell, will be unavoidably absent, but his place will be taken by Marshall, who will probably perform, the distance in about 174 “in-1 but ifc is con * sidered that either Beswick or Lynch (for Wellington) will do it in 17 or less. Throwing the Hammer.—Brown and McGregor (Wanganui) are both credited with 65ft. to 67ft. “Thomson (Wellington) can do from 73ft. to 74ft., and King (Wellington) can manage about 71ft.; so that this event will probably fall to Wellington. For the 100 Yards Race it will be difficult to pick the winner out, as each of the four competitors entered can do it in less than Usee. Bishop (Wellington) or Marshall (Wanganui) will ruu very close for it. For the Quarter Mile Race Marshall (Wanganui) is credited with having done the same distance on a straight course, with the wind in his back, in less than 55secs.; hut Rambert (Wellington) has made the running . heavy path in oosecs. As the above will, it is considered, decide the . : favor of either club, and as the same combatants are entered for both, a good deal of interest is excited as to the likely winners. Mile Flat Race.—Allison and Turner (Wanganui) have both done the distance in smin.

3 sec ; but rvt the weekly sports Berry made tin- .same distance easily in smin. 3w., after running t.w«> heats of 250yds. vach. Throwing the Cricket Ball >houM pr »ve a gift t>* Wangagai. u< Brown can do lOGyds., whilst Bnr.aes t;u- K' t mm that Wilingtm cau put forward, hi- <-ulv : eeu able manage 09>ds. The l!;gl; Jump will aH» g.> to VJuiganui. as Bart -u is credited with sft. 4ia. "i* sft. siu., whilst Ti. mn-n or Camnbeff, W.11i.-iron's best imnpt-rs. me not l.kely to L-xeecd sfr. lin. or sft. 2::i. There will be a closer contest for the 1. vjj dump, Vierwecu Mar hail (Wang*- ■* ;ud 0 iraplu-11 ; W-.-ffiog-ton>. both of " ' . will be tolerably entain to to-, th- .v- something over 19 fee:. The Wanganui mau is, however, more generally fancied Patting the Weight (IffibsV —McGregor iWanganui) is credited with doing 3?ft. with Idlbs.; but as Werry an 1 Stuart have both out lOlbs. over 35ft,, Wellington should be able to carry off this event. The 12u Yards Hurdle is looked upon as a pet, race with tin* Wanganui team, who have pnt forward, p’haldicot as their champion ; but Bishop will make the running very warm, although Incan hardly be expected towiu it. The Three Mile Flat Race should prove a certainty for Wellington, if Berry is in anything like condition, as he is capable of doing the distance under 16min., and Lambert will back him up well ; whereas neither Allison nor Turner Wanganui) are credb-H with much under l.’Smiu. There are two “dark horses,'’ however, entered, for this event, namely, Fitzherbert (Wanganui' and iiurnes (Wellington). It would be very difficult to pick out the winners in the handicap events, as a large number of the competitors will be new men. The sports will commence at noon, and at 2 p.m. the combat between the two clubs will take place. It is expected that the entire programme will be finished at a quarter-past five o’clock, and every effort will be made to be as punctual as possible with the vari-ms events.