CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 63

CASH ATHLETICS.

February 12. — Caledonian Sports, Takapau. February 19. — Caledonian Sports, Napier. February 20. — Caledonian Sports, Waitara. February 26 — Running Championships, New Plymouth. February 28 — Athletic Sports. Cambrians. March 13.— Athletic Sports, Matakanui. March 17 — Atliletic Sports, Ophir. March 17.— Athletic Sports, St. Bathans. Maich 18 — Athletic Sports, Imercargill.

The second evening meeting under the auspices of the Otago Centre's New Zealand Athletic Union and League of New Zealand Wheelmen was held in the Caledonian Ground on the sth, and proved a very successful gathering. Despite manycounter attractions in the shape of picnics ■there was a good attendance of the public, the fair sex being especially prominent. A high wind from the Jlarbour end interfered ag-ainst any good times being recorded. Out of tlie 12 entrants for the Notice Handicap eight faced the starter. All the runners qualified for the final started. Turnbull got slightly the "best of an otherwise good start, but Forbes led for most of the distance and was only headed by Turnbull in the last few strides. Smith, after his win in the second heat, Tan disappointingly. Athfield finished some yards away. The preliminary heats in the Open Race provided some good running, 15 "starting out of a nomination of 20. Collie and Peters (Gore) qualified for the final, being second in the two fastest heats. Broad, the veteran, also ran •nell The final was a •well-contested race. To a good start Peters first got moving, but the limit men. Stinson a-nd Puddv, held their own and 10 yards from home appeared to be well out in front, but Collie, coming with a late run, just failed to get up. being inches behind Puddy, who just suffered defeat by the narrowest of margins. The other starters (Smith, Peters, and Henderson) were in a bunch, a few yards back. The management was all that could be desired, the officials, although few in number, getting all the events off with clocklike regularity, there being no delays. The starting was in capable hands, and all worked hard to make the evening's Aport the success it was. I^arge entries have been received for the running events at the N.Z.A. Union's championships on the 26fch. In the Half-mile Handicap there are 18; in the Mile, 17; and in the Grand Contest Handicap (over 120, 220, and 4-40 yards), 23. The prizes for this latter event total £50. The cycling entries average JZO entries, including Campion. Wyaitt, Birch, and Wells. The entries for Band Contest Handicap include G. M'Leod and J. Shivas. of Roxburgh and Gore respectively. All the leading competitors are entered in the championships over distances of 100, 440, and 880 yards-, and record fields ore expected in these scratch voces. A number of entries are to come 'n. their despatch being notified by wire. *"'-«» •gathering is certain to be a. great sucirogramme for the Oamaru Hiber-.-orts, as drawn up by the Programme Committee, has been adopted by the General Committee, and Easter Monday fixed as the day of sports. The proeramme includes good events well endowed, the running being the principal items, the Sheffield Handicap over 130 yds "•being 1 for' £25. There are fopr bicycle races, one being for a. £10 prize. The meeting, as of old, is certain to r meet with support from the sporting public. During the course of an address on "Clean Sport" recently in Christchurch, »lr J. E. Green, secretary of the N.Z.A.A., is reported to have said : — " ... In the recent Gaslight Sports in Auckland it was Raid that the fees which came in weekly from licensed bookmakers were put down at £30, and that although 25 per cent, of the Tunnere never won a prize they rarely let a week go by withou* makingr £3 in wagers. Thanks, Sowever,' to the Gaming Bill, these sports were now closed down, end it was to the credit of the New Zealand Athletic Union that they took an active part in securing the passage of salutary legislation. The Athletic Union, although a professional organisation, was doing its best to suppress all unclean practices so common to professional running, and for this it commanded the respect of all true sportsmen." *At the annual meeting of. the St. Patrick's Athletic Club, Ophir, the balance sheet showed a small credit balance, notwithstanding that the Teceipts were £10 less than the expenditure for the year's workings. Mr B. Flannery was elected president, and Mr N. Peat secretary. It was' decided to hold sports on March 17, as usual. Forty pounds was set aside for prize-money, and a committee was appointed to meet on the 15th inst. to draw a programme. A copy of the N.Z.A. Union's annual Teport and balance «heet is to hand, and shows a very satisfactory state of affairs. From the report we- glean that there are now " 10 centres nndei the control of the union ; four — Taranaki. Feilding, Wairarapa, a-nd H&wke's Bay — being in the North Island, and six — Maryborough. West Ooast, North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland — in the South Island." During the 1906-7 season 174 bodies held sports under union rules, while there were 1738 registered competitors. The numbers ol bodies and competitors registered by the different centres are : Southland, 22 and 226; Otago. 43 and 540; South Canterbury. 12 and 117; North Canterbury, 10 and 132; West Coast. 13 and 122: ManDorough, 6 and 84; Feilding, 21 and 161; Wairarapa. 15 and 134: Hawke's Bay, 12 and 120; Taranaki. 20 and 122. The total receipts since June, IQOS, up to 31st January last amounted to £349 3s_ lOd, and the expenditure. £279 12s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £69 lie 3d. The balance of assets over liabilities is £74 16s lid.

The 1908 sports gathering held by the South Canterbury Caledonian Society resulted in. a profit of £250. compared with £210 in 1906, and £290 (the record) in 1905. After several minor matters had been arranged, the l*st meeting of the Otaeo Ceatre. N.Z.A. Union, wts adjourned till the 11th in order to instruct the delegates re the coming conference, to be held in New Plymouth on the 26th. The balance eheet and renort will also b# discuseed. J&? Scott, "whoso death from cancer in the throat was chronicled a few days ago, was 1 a great walker in his d*v, and even now many remember his brilliant career, which commenced at the Caledonian sports on January 1, 1875, when -only 16 years old. Thirteen years later, having during that period had the benefit of Alfred Anstin'a tutorship "*2«e" visitedi England,

] and while there walked at the Islington Agricultural Hall 363 miles 1510 yard 6 in 72 hours — 12 hours a day. Prior to leaving ior England Scott unsuccessfully attempted to lower W. Howe's still unbeaten record of 127 miles 1210 yards in 24 hours, doing 125 miles in the time mentioned. He, however, made a name for himself by covering 100 miles in 18 hours. Scott's last appear1 ance in public was some eight or nine years ago, when he met Tom Scott and Winthrop. He leaves a widow and six children in \ery poor circumstances, and it is hoped that "the subscription list now being circulated will appeal to the generosity of all cf Scott"s admirers, so that those left after him may be provided for. The final meeting of the Rae's Junction Sports Club has been held, and the balance sheet for the rec-ent 6ports pioduced. The receipts amounted to £32 16s 3d, and the expenditure to £29 14s. leaving a small credit balance of £3 2s 3d. A commendable feature about the recent evening mecring held on the Caledonian Ground was the fact that, before the winners left the ground they had received their prize-money. Such prompitudc in this direction senes to popularise similar gatherings. The Hibernian Athletic Club sports will be held at Blenheim on 18th March. The chief running events are: 220 Yards. £5, x,/.. £1: 150 Yards, £5, £2, £1; St. Patrick's C4rand Handicap, £20, £7, £3 (nomination 4s. acceptance 6s) • 100 Yards. £3. £2; Half-mile, £10, £3, £2; 75 Yards, £7, £2. £1; 440 Yards. £8. £2 : £1. Nominations close on- February 22 at 9 p.m. At the annual meeting of the Matakanui Athletic Cluib on the let inst. the credit "balance was shown to be £10 19s— a very creditable figure. Mr Laidlaw was elected president, and Mr R. J. Mitchell secretary. It was decided to hold sports on March 13, and to give away £40 in prizemoney. Mr M. Kean, the heavjr field event exponent, will compete at the Hawke's Bay Highland 6ports on the 19th inst. new Zealand athletic union, championship sports. NEW PLYMOUTH. February 6. Exceptionally large entries have been receivd for the principal events at the New Zealand Athletic Union's championship sports, which are to be held here on the 26th inst.. during the band contest week. The fields in the long distance and cycle events are the largest for years.