CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 63

CASH ATHLETICS.

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, Matakanux. March 17 — Athletic Sports, Ophir. March 17.— Athletic Sports, St. Bathans March 18 —Athletic Sports, Inveicargill.

Since New Year there has not been much in the wind for cash athletes, but with the exit of the present month matters will brighten up somewhat. First of all, from all reports, there will be a fairly good meeting 1 at Cambrians on the 28th. to be followed on the 13th March with an equaJly good gathering at Matakanui for which the prize money will be over £40. On the 17th of the same month there are two sports meetings, one at Ophir and the other at St. Bathane. It will be seen, therefore, that runners, etc., up the Cential have a good circuit before them, which would have been improved greatly if the two latter mentioned clubs held on different dajh — that is, to fit in with the encuit. Probably next year this matter will be remedied.

The first big meeting will be held at In-verca-rgill on the 18th March, and already the wnner of the Sheffield of £50 has been "sorted out'" by those who know more than the ordnary individual. Quite a 6tring of peds. from Dunedin intend visiting this important fixture, including Henderson (second in last year's event). Collie (winner in 1905). Duff, Thomson, Blagdon (winner Caledonian Sheffield), Puddy (winner Labour Day Sheffield), while T. Sime ie also expected to do the journey. With the cream of Southland's sprinters, including Curry (last year's winner), Dodds, Baird, Peters, Hatton, Laurenti, Shivas, Hannah, Couhng, etc., a race in keeping with the prize money may confidently be expected. With the Invercargill fixture out of the way. the way will be paved clear for the Easter gatherings, which include several of the best-moneyed programmes of the year. A very popular double is that of Cromwell on Easter Saturday, and Clyde on Easter Monday. Milton ie also a very good programme on Easter Monday, as is also Oamaru and Waitati. But of these, more anon.

The Takapau Caledonian sports were held in fine weather and before a large attendance of the public, who enjoyed a capital day"s sport. The principal results were: — 100 Yards Handicap : A. C. De Lacy. 12yds. 1 : J. Ferguson, 11yds, 2. Time, lOsec. 220 Yards Handicap : E. Odium. 13yds, 1 ; T. W. Wdls, 20yds, 2. Time. 23sec. 440 Yards Handicap : S. H. Major, 35yde, 1 ; W. G. Handing. syds, and T. M'lntjre, 10yds, dead heat, 2. Time 49 l-ssec. Halfmile Handicap : A. Campbell, scr. 1 ; W. G. Harding. 15yde, 2; A. Lowe. 20jds. 3. Time, lmin 58 l-ssec. One-mile Handicap : A. Campbell, scr. 1; M. Griffin. 75yds. 2; A. Parkinson. 65yds. 3. Time. 4min 29sec.

Entries for the 440. 880. and 120 Yards Sheffield Handeaps in connection with th* Napier carnival next month elo^^e on the 20th February. The entry fee for the Sheffield i 6 only 2s 6d and the acceptance 2s 6d, the prize money being £20, £7, and £3.

The Southland axemen's carnival, which once held a high position in the woodcraft and athletic world, has fallen on evil times. A meeting was called at Invercargill on the Bth inst. to revive interest in this fixture but it lapsed for paucity of attendance, the gathering consequently being abandoned. A well-known performer, who saw the Auckland gaslight fixtures to a finish and consequently earned disqualification by the N.Z.A.U., lias been competing at a couple of North Island gatherings recently under assumed names. He returned to a sports meeting not far from one of the aforementioned under another alias, but the authorities were on the lookout and cut his career short.

The veteran W. M'Manu? still keeps on winning, for at a recent Victorian gathering he v,on the piogramme of four eients — viz . Sheffield. Hurdles, Quarter, and 220 Yard-.

The following from Sydney Referee has a certain amount of local interest: — "Johanson. the crack Westralian walker, is still without an opponent, though he has any amount of money to give the best in Australia a match at any distance above 10 miles. Johansen is now turning his attention to A. E. Biisbano, the Victorian champion. He declares that Brisbane has no chance of securing a macth again6t Wintrop. the New Zealander, unless he crosses the Tasman. It would never pay Wintrop to come to Australia, and Joha-neen thinks he is not likely to attempt the trip _ unless he receives his expense*. Joha>o6en ie here or the spot ready to take on Brisbane at a month's notice. He has £10 still deposited with Mr George Cook, as stakeholder. \ She annual conference f>* to &"<*

N.Z. Athletio Union, to be held at Xetf} Plymouth on the 26th inst , promises, s. the secretary informs me, to bo the most) representative vet held. Of the 10 centre* affiliated to the union, nine will be represented by their own members as follows: — Southland, Messrs Woods and Mii'sen; Otago, Messrs Corcoran and Keast : South Canterbury, Mr J. Kennedy ; North Canterbury, Mr Good ; West Coast, Mr G. P* Perkins; Hswke's Bay, Mr J. N. Barrie;' Wairarapa, Mr J. C M'Kenzie ; Feildmg, Messrs Walker and Bertram ; Taranaki, Messrs Clarke and Thompson. The conference opens on the night of the 26th, and! as there is a good deal of business, it is not expected to finish before the night o£ the 27th.

Capital entries have been received for, the running and c> clinjf events at the Caledonian eports at. Napier on the 19th. la the 120 Yards Handicap, there are 25. W. G. Harding bemj? on 6yds (virtual! scratch), with a limit of 12vJs. The 220 has 18. and the 440 15. In tho Half-milo there are 21, A. Campbell, R. D. Chalmers, and E. France beinjz all on scratch, with a limit of 55yds. In the Mile there are 22, A. Campbell and E. France being ori scratch. R. D. Chalmers 30. and Luko Ward ♦0. Who France is I do not know, but to be put on the same maik as Campbell h e must be out of the common, for at Tdkapau (as mentioned above) on the 9thl Campbell cut out the mile in 4min 29seo from scratch. Chalmers, too, must have improved 6ince he was hero at New Year time, \vh?n he won the Mile off 65yds in 4min 28 l-ssec, and the Half off 25yds in 2min 2 2-ssec. Now he is asked to start off the same mark as Campbell, undoubtedly a champion, over half a mile on 55vds worse terms. That is drawing a line between Campbell's lmin 58 l-ssec at Takapau on the 9th. and Chalmprs 2min 2 2-ssec. off 25vds, on Januarj I—an1 — an almost impossible task To those de=irous of seeing the Seullinsj Championship between Wohb and Trcssider prior to at^endinjr tho N.Z.A.U. conference and sports, perhaps a little information re the arrangements train and otherwise, that have been made may not be out' of place. Special trains arrive from New\ Plymouth. Hawera, Taihape. and Palmerston North on the day of the race, while special mail trains from New Plymouth and Palmerston North tun on the 24th to lessen the traffic expected on the 25th. Excursion fares will be available on the Wellington, New Plymouth Napier sections on tho 22m1. 23rJ. and 2Uh, available for return up till the 7th Mirch. Boats will leave Hatrick's wharf at 7 a.-n. for the scene ofl batlie, the return far,? beinc 3s: an hour latei other boats will leave, the fare beingj 4s; from 9 a.m. to noon the fare will bo : ss. and from then till 2 p.m. 6s. Tha rElurn faros on Hatrick and Co.'s steameraf will admit the holder to private grounds from which the bes*^ part of the race can be witnessed, and including the finish. The train to New Plymouth from Wanjranuß after th^ racs leaves at 3.25 p.m.. arriving about 1.30 a.m. on the morning of the 26th.

At the Limehills sporte on the 12th. T., Kirk won the 120 and 220 Yards Handicaps-, while M. Small appropriated both the 440 and Half.