ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 62

ATHLETICS.

February 15 — D.A.A.C. Annual Athletic Meeting. February 26. — Balclutha Harriers' Evening Sports Meeting. February 29 and March 2 — Australasian Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting at Hobart. Easter Monday — New Zealand University Inter-collegiate Athletic Championship Meeting, at Caxisbrook.

NOTES BY AMATEUR

The members of the New Zealand team to represent the Dominion at the Australasian Amateur Athletic Championship meeting at Hobart this month will arrive in Dunedin from the north on Thursday night, and on Saturday will take part in the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club's meeting on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday next, 15th inst. The team consists of Henderson (Wellington), sprints; L. M'Kay (Wellington), field events; Stubberfield (Canterbury). Kerr (Wellington), walks; Trembath (Gore), middle-distance events; Murray (Canterbury), hurdles; and Orbell (Canterbury), jumps.

Immediately after the D.A.A.C. meeting the New Zealand team of amateur athletes take ship by the Marama, sailing from Dunedin at 3 p.m. on Sunday for Hobart, via the Bluff. The members of the team will arrive in good time to have some practice before the Australasian Championships, at the end of the month.

I Amateur athletes throughout the Dominion, and the public generally, will regret to hear that after the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club'e gathering t>n Saturday rrgjrt Hector Btirk. the New Zealand champion mile »nd middle-distance runner, purposes retiring from the running track. During his career, which has extended over a period of some vcars, Burt has put up many splendid performances to his credit. It is quite unnecessary to enumerate these I—indeed,1 — indeed, the long list of wins which he has recorded would, though interesting, occupy much space. Burk is retiring at the top of his career, a-nd although he has not been running so well this season as in previous years, is still an undoubted champion amongst us. Probably he was at his best in the year 1905, when, on March 11, at Carisbrook, during the ShrubbDuffey meeting Burk established a New Zealand record for the half-mile by covering the distance in Imin 58 l-ssec. and a week later, at the New Zpaland Championship meeting, at Christchurrh. defeating the renowned English champion Alfred Shrubb over the m Up in thp then record time of 4min 27 3-ssec. This time was subsequently beaten by Shrubb at Auckland, the Fnglishman doing 4min 22sec in that city. Burk, however, proved that he was capable of reducing his own figures by racing TVheatley. of Victoria, to a stride in the mile in Sydney at the Australasian meeting in 4min 23see, and this with £ spiked foot ! When Burk first came oat as a runner the writer declared -him to be a. future New Zealand champion, which he has since more than, amply demonstrated. There were not wanting, however, critics who scouted the idea, and who went to infinile pains to point out that " Amateur " was allowing his enthusiasm to over-run his judgment- These critics pre now, and have bepn for some time, the most ardent admirers of the Dunedin champion.

Apronoe of the foregoing, the fact that young Trembath. of Gore (whom the writer hokls in great esteem as a runner), has refused to meet Burk over a test half-mik-at the D.A.A.C. meeting as ovisrinally arranged, has caused a deal of disappointment in sporting circles. Everyone knows what a fine runner the young man from Gore really is. arid thoy. too. recognised the merits* of Hector Burk. To have witnessed a test over the half would have been worth a pilgrimage. Trembath has probably good reasons for resigning from the content, but it would have been more sportsmanlike to have gone on with the race, esnecially in view of the fact that he is shortly to compete at the Australasian Championship meeting. The merits of the two runners have been much discussed of late, and it would have b*»pn interesting, not to say instructive, so far as amateur athletics are concerned, to have fettled the argument in the manner originally arranged. Trembath apoears to have been willing to carry out his part of the contract, and Burk, I know, was more than anxious to meet the Gore runner. -However, everything appears to have been done <o bring the two athletp; together, ■ and -matters ■ were pointing to a " race of a lifetime " when one competitor, acting -on advice, draws out on the eve of the meeting. This is exceedingly regretted, and I have the best authority for stating that Trembath will have no chance of meeting Burk. as has been suggested, after the Australasian meeting, for the Dunedfri' champion had made up his mind, win or lose, to retire from the track after Saturday next. _ * JB-" the way, it will be interesting to my readers to know that Burk, on his retirement from the running- track, purposes taking 1 up cycling and giving that sport a trial for at least a covrple of seasons. The last of thp series of evening athletic meetings of thp Dumvlin Amateur Athletic Club will he hod on the Caledonian Ground on Friday. February 21.

The firal word before thr D A.A.C m^etinar on Saturday next. ' This catherintr, despite the dropping out of the Test Half hetw-een Burk and Trembath, Dvomisps to he one of the finest amateur athletic meetings ever held in Otajro. The entries are largo, and the cricks of thp colony will ho competing with those who do not wear the blue riband c-hamnionship. For the champions of the colony to com-pet-p at one meeting is an occasion which falls to a. province only once in *- while, and to this centre has fallen the honour. All that is required to make the meeting a success is fine weather. Mr W. J. O'Kanp fDunedin) and Mr A. Paane (Invercargill) visited Gore the other day in the interests of the D.A.A.C.., who were anxious that the half-mile test match arranged between Burk and Trembath for the" 15th inst. should eventuate. As the result of a long conference it was announced that Trembath definitely declined to meet Burk on the 15th. Representations were made through Mr Paape (secretary of the Southland Centre) that, that body were of opinion that as Trembath had given his word to meet Burk by signing the entry form, he should carry out his engag-ement. The local secretary of the D.A.A.C. (Mr Hamann) has received the following confirmatory message from Mr A. J. Gibhs- vice-president of the Gore

Harrier Club ; " Trerabath advises me will not appear, until after Hobart. This decision final J' . The new rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association have been printed in a neat book, and their perusal is of interest. Several alterations have been made in> the rules, which are now comprehensive enough in all conscience. Amongst others, one will note that the value of a first prize may be £10, instead of £5, as in the former rules. Until attendances at sports meetings look up there is little feax of the alteration (which has been in force some little time) having any effect.

The strength of the various centres, .as set out in the nowly-printcd rules of the N.Z.A.A.A., will prove of interest. Otago heads the list with J.b clubs, then comes Canterbury with 14, Wellington 13, Southland 4, and Auckland, " last, loneliest, and apart," to misquote Kipling, has on paper two clubs. In this connection the recent alteration in the method of election of delegates to the council will remove what was a glaring inconsistency, in that Auckland, with two clubs, had the came vote as any of the much larger centres. Under the new rules it is presumed that the two Auckland clubs, unless they have more* than 50 members, will have but one vote each, while each club delegate in the larger :entres will have the same right.

The Otago Centre held a, meeting on Monday night, ■when it was decided to call the representatives of the schco] committees, teachers, and centre together in a fortnight's time, when the coming Schools' Championship' meeting will be taken in hand. The present intention i» to hold the meeting in March next. An interesting: discussion took place at; the centre meeting: on the ruling recently given by the president of the council ag to what majority, if any, was required to make an alteration in the rules of the council. The president rules that a bare majority was sufficient. The following is the clause in the rules referred to: — "The following motions shall require the votes of two-thirds of the councillors present: Motions to make new rules or to alter or rescind existing rules." The president's ruling seems puzzling, and so the centre thought, for they decided to ask that the matter be referred to the Australasian Council for settlement.

The Balclutha Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club intend holding an evening sports meeting on Wednesday, the 26th inst. The following programme will be submitted : — 100 Yards Flat, 220 Y-rds, ■ Half-mile, and Broad Jump. The ■first prize will in eaoh case be a trophy valued at 15s, and where there are four entries or more a second prize of 7s 6d' will be given. Entriesi (Is) will clce with the honorary 'secretary, Mr Vie. M'Donald, or with Mr Don Melville, care of A. and T. Burt, Dunedin, on the 19th inst. This is the first attempt of the Balclutha Club, to cater for outside competitors, and a good meeting may be looked foi. The Balclutha boys have loyally supported sister ■cluibs in the district, and it is now the turn of the latter to reciprocate. A large contingent is expected to enter from Milton, and Lawrence, Gore, and Tapanui will send their quota, and a number of Dun- i edin runners will no doubt make the trip V Under the present management the Bal- I clutha Club has emerged from a morifeimd condition to a state- of vigorous activity. The meeting on the 26th will still more hearten up amateurism in the district. The popular president of the Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club j (by the way, the new rules of the New j Zealand A.A.A. wrongly designate this club the Civil Service Harriers) ie under orders of transfer to Christchurch, and Mr Clothier leaves for his new home next ■week. The loss will be a severe one to the C.S. Club, as Mr Clothier during hie two years' term of office has always shown , the greatest interest in the welfare of the club and its members, and ako in ) the sport as a, whole. He has given a deal , of his time to furthering the interests of [ the club, and will be sorely missed both for that and for hie genial presence, which has been so keenly appreciated by the members. " Amateur hopes that Mr Clothier will continue his interest in the sport in Christchurch, where his services vsill no doubt be sought after by the Civil Service Club in that city. I The work done at the conference of centres in Wellington last week for the benefit of amateur athletics has quite justified the system, and it is now certain that at all future championship meetings a conference of centre delegates, will be held. The proceedings in Wellington were marked by the utmost cordiality, and there was apparently no need for the threats that were introduced a week or two ago. Now that the trades picnic Is in such popular vogue, the runner who wishes to retain his amateur sta+us should inquire carefully into the conditions, etc ; , of the races at these picnics before entering for , the same. j When the question of the New Zealand , Council bearing half the loss (if any) of \ the ehampionehii. meeting was raised at the recent conference of centres in Wellington, the council's representatives pointed out that any profits arising out of the championship meetings had always found its way back to the centres, in the payment of their members' expenses when competing at Australasian championship meetings, but if the council was called upon to make good any losses on championship meetings, the centres would be called upon to raise funds for Australasian teams' expense? and other incidental expenses che j council was often put to. Nevertheless, | the motion that the council bear half the loss was carried by a majority. |

In speaking to the motion that the headquarters of the New Zealand Amateur Athletk? Association should be removed to Wellington Mr Ross, of Wellington, stated i hat " the strongest centre in the Dominion was the Wellington Centre; in fact, it was as strong as the others put together." The statement is somewhat surprising, for we in Otago had calculated that the local centre had some claims. Mr Ross was evidently carried away, for later on he stated that there was only one other place besides Wellington that had a claim to the headquarters, and that wax Dunedin. and he would sooner see them removed there than be kept at Ghristohurch. An interesting meeting of the Wellin&ton, Centre was held on Tuesday evening last. I am indebted to a friend in Wellington for forwarding me a copy of the report The business was the- vexed question of the removal of the headquarters of the New Zealand Athletic Association. Mr Rose set the bali rolling by Wving— " That in the opinion of this centre the time Las new arrive^ jdaas tb§ headquarters vi the

N.Z.A.A.A. should be removed to Welling- . ton." The mover said that recent bapponings in connection with the championship meeting were not the sole reason w'iy the proposal was brought forward. Tor some considerable period — two or three tears at anyrate — not only the Wellington Centre, but also .lie other centres had 'ie!d tne headquarters of the association shouJd be removed to Wellintgon. He might point out that the strongest centre in tne Dominion was the Wellington Centre, m faco it was as strong as the others put together. Wellington had shown that it was quite capable of carrying on the management of the association. The council as at present constituted had not given general satisfaction. -No doubt the councillor? weve men of ability, but they were out <f sympathy with the wishes of centres. Y'ne fart was that the members of the coujkji! resided in a city where amateur athletics were practically dead. The Chrisrehuroh Centre was as near as possible a d&ad centre. In Wellington there were i number of gentlemen who were well versed in amateur athletics, and could conduct the affairs of the association efficien-Iy. It could not he denied that on a number of occasions the council had taken up tin altitude which could only be- described as autocratic. Mr Coffev held lhac ths motion was ill-advised for several reasons. No administrative body for the wholi- of the Dominion could afford to please everybody, for if they embarked on that mission they would find that they would please nobody. There could bo no doubt but that the present feeling had been accentuated by that now historic declaration made by Mr Green, the secretary to the New Zealand. A A.A. at the smoUi «n=™j on Saturday evening. The members of the council were, it must be admitted, gentlemen of large experience in matters appertaining to the sport, and were, doubtless, actuated by a desire to further the interests of the sport in the Dominion. It was perfectly true that they Had deliberated on certain matters in a manner winch did not meet with the approval of some of the centres. There was no guarantee that if the headquarters wore removed to V7ollington greater satisfaction would be f,iven on all matters to the various centres. Mr M'Villy declared that he could not recall anything that had aroused such strong feeling among members connected with sports bodies as the incident which happened at the smoke concert on Saturday evening. Why M'Kay was left out of the ream io go to Hobart he did not know. He hoped that the resolution would not be regarded as the outcome of pique. On every occasion when bickerings had occurred between the council and a centre the Wellington Centre had taken up a dignified attitude. Some 12 months ago the other centres had asked. Wellintgon to assist in having the headquarters Temoved from Christchurch, and he did not think he would be 1-etray-ing any secret if he mentioned that overtures were made to the Wellington Centre to see whether the centre would be prepared to have the association here. The centre decided to remain loyal to the association, because it was thought that such pettifogging matters should not be flowed to influence more important matters. Other centres might say the resolution was passed owing to the fact that M'Kay was not Selected. As the older members would recollect, he (til© -speaker) had assisted on rupre than one occasion to put the council in its place — i.e., to bring it up with a double round turn. He would be sorry to see the motion carried, as he was satisfied capital would be made out of it. If the motion had read that the headquarters be removed from Christchurch he would have supported it, but, for the reasons he had stated, he did not want to see the headquarters removed to Wellington. The motion was carried.

At the recent conference of centres in Wellington Mr A. Davies moved that the joist now used in the take-off for the long jump should be abandoned in favour_ of a chalk line. He said many complaints had been made about the dangers of the wooden joist, and many jumpers had met with accidents therefrom, while many more could no s t jump from the joist at all. The joist wds^ completely out of date, and should be" superseded by a chalk line on the turf. Mr Macfarlane (Otago) opposed the motion, stating that G. P. Keddell, the New Zealand record holder, could not iump at all from a chalk line. Mr Batchelor pointer out that it would be a distinctly retrograde step to go back to the old stalk line, as experience had shown that better performances could be registered with the wooden joist, which had really superseded the chalk line, and was now the recognked method of jumping in all known athletic organisations. In tho discussion the Chairman advocated the us© of a,n indiarubber take-off instead of the wooden joist, but the proposal did not meet with any support. The motion was subsequently withdrawn. Dr Newman, of Wellington, who is a keen patron of amateur sports, has dravyn attention- to- -the ■ unsuitability of the Basin Reserve for athletic sports. He says the track is very uneven, and it is almost impossible for athletes to get near standard time's on it. He is convinced that, had Sharpe been running on a cood track in the New Zealand championships, he would have registered something very closely approaching standard time in the Three-mile Championship. The course for the 100 Yare's Championship is tho only one that can be called cood. He urges the local centre to get a better ground for its sports meetings. The provincial amateur athletic championships were decided at the Hutt on Saturday. H. Kcrr. the New Zealand champion, whose style ha? been the subicct of much controversy, satisfied the judges as to his fairness. Results : —Mile Walk Chamoionship: H. Kerr 1. P. Fitzgerald 2: time. 7m.in 8 1-sspc ; won by 2CO vard6. 100-Yard6 Championship: Bass (Canterbury! 1, H. Tf. Daweon 2: time, 10 3-ssee. Haifmilo Championship: W. Gosling 1 A. E. Burge 2: time. 2min 5 4-ssec. 220 Yards Cbamoionship: H. H. Dawson 1. E. Fisher 2: time 24 l-ssce. One-mile Championship: A. E. Buree 1, W. Gosling 2: time, 4min 48 4-sspc. 440 Yards Flat Championship : ' W. H. Pollock 1, E. E. Fisher 2; time. 53sec.

An appreciation of an ex-Ot&go rvnnar at. .the recent championship meetina: Sharped performance in the three-mile event (15min 40sec) stamps him as a sterling distance runner. And I understand his claims for inclusion in the Hobart team weve not overlooked Guy Haskine, the University oi Pennsylvania, inter-collegiate runner, defeated Melvin Sheppard. of the Irish-American Athletic Club. New York, on December 14 at Philadelphia, in one oi the greatest iMi j&rde' i&dcpr races ever seen in

Philadelphia. As the two men are the finest middle-distance runners America possesses, a great crowd was on hand to see the contest. The race was exceedingly close, Haskings winning by a yard and a.halt.

The Australasian Amateur Athletio Championships are now within measurable distance, seeing that they are to commence at Hohart on February 29. Up to the present the personnel of the Victorian team is only matter of conjecture, but one thing appears to he certain, and that is that G. A. Wheatley will not be included in its ranks on this occasion.

__ Queensland is one of the first of tho States to pick its representatives, which are as follow: — T. Maher, for high jump, broad jump, pole vault, 120 yards, arid 44j yards, hurdle race; also T. Frawley for high jump, broad jump, pole vault, shot and hammer events ; H. Fay, for 100 yards, 220 yaxds, and 4*o yards; A. J. Lutton, for half-mile and three-mile races. B. K. Berry, _ who is making the trip with the team, will also represent Queensland in the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, and 120 yds hurdles. v

New South Wales have a more than useful high-jumper in A. H. Scott, of the East Sydney Club. At the recent Highland Society sports he won the event aS sft sin, and then, by consent of the officials, he went on and successfully cleared sft 7in, sft B£in, and sft 94in, at which h© desisted. He never once touched the bar, so may quite likely be capable of even more than this height. Like most recent jumpers, he comes in from the side.

A splendid finish was witnessed in tfie> Inter-university Cross-country Race ><3>3 > tween Oxford an<J Cambridge." The con* test was the twenty-eighth of the series of matches between the two universities, and with the Light Blues -successful on the last five occasions, they could claim 17 victories to their rivals' 10. The struggle on the present occasion wa\s thought likely to be a close one, and so it proved, for Cambridge won by 1 point only, their five men coining in first, third, sixth, eighth, and ninth. The first man home was E. C. Inman (Caius, Cambridge), who, curiously enough, came in last 12 months ago; but the finish was a "©ally grand one. for only six yards divided bin* from J. F. Warsley (Magdalen. Oxford), whilst A. H. Pearson (Queen's, Cambridge) came in third, about the same distance behind the second. The respective tynes of the three men were 4-smin 35eec, 45min 36see, and 45min 37 2-ssec. The luck was certainly all against "Oxford, as one of their men twisted his ankle some distance from home. He pluckily ran on, absolutely lame, for the last three miles — eventually falling after passing the post; but had it not been for the accident N h« would almost certainly have finished fourtb. or fifth, instead of last, thus giving th» Dark Blues the- victory.