NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 64

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

The first day of the Australasian Championship -meeting is set down for Saturday next at Hobart. New Zealand is represented by a strong; team, but I cannot bring myself to believe that Maoriland has anyone to beat Nigel Barker, of Sydney, in the sprints— that is, the 100 yds, 220 yds, and 440 yds — though Henderson may run well in the "100." Tne two walks look a good thing for Kerr, of Wellington, provided always that ho can pass the judges and,, gain their approval. The "Half should go to Trembath, of Southland, and he may possibly win the Mile, a trial for which he is alleged to have done at Gore in 4min 24sec. Cook, of Nelson, has a chance in the 120 Yards Hurdles, likewise Murray, of Canterbur, over the Quarter hurdles. . Davis, of Victoria, will be his chief opponent. Orbell will have to jump up to his record (sft 9iin) to have any chance with Frawleyand Maiher, of Queensland. M'Kay, of Wellington, has a chance in the Vault, but will be opposed by some good men. Victoria may furnish the winner of the Broad Jump, or, possibly, New South Wales. In the Shot and! Hammer New Zealand has no chance. Summed tip, ' New South Waxes .should furnish the winner of the 100, 220, and 440 Yards with Nigel Barker ; New Zealand j should annex the Half and Mile with Trembath; New Zealand should also furnish the winner of the One and -Two.-mile Walks i with Kerr and Stubberfield. The 440 Yards Hurdles may come to New Zealand with Murray j the 120 Yards Hurdles^ to Victoria with' Davis. The Shot and Hammer should come out of New South Wales with O'Reilly. New South Wales or * Victoria j should furnish the winner of the Broad Jump, but New Zealand has a chance in the High Jump with Orbell. Victoria should supply tne winner of the Three-mile with Blake, though Sharp, of New Zealand, has a chance. The following is the latesi information rethe teams i— Tasmania: Sprints— F. Fairthorne, A. C. Watkins. C. J. Searl; middle distance— C J. Searl: long distances — A. Clemes, A. and A. fiohofield, N. (Morgan ; walks— Rose (2) and Ford, wi"*b Barker and Conooher emergencies; 120 Yards Hurdles— T. Rockliffe, C. Searl, V. Colohester, F. Edwards; High Jump— J. S. Agnew, C. Elliott, R. Seager; Broad Jump — C. J. Searl, J. iS. Agnew, and 1 F. Fairthorne : Pole Vaule— J. S. Agnew. New South Wales: 100, 220, 445, 880 Yards, Broad Jump, 440 Yards HurdlesNigel Barker; Hammer and Shot— W. O'Reilly ; 120 and 440 Yards Hurdles, Broad , Jump— Colin Stewart. For middle and long distances the following will undergo a test: . R. G: Waddy, G. O. Retford, J. M. Lynch, Andrew Wood, C. Weyman, and 'G. P. Arnold; walks— H. Smith, C. "Weyman, and JP. A. Lewis; High Jump — H. Vincent, i Weloh, and A. H. Scott. • Victoria. — The Victorian selectors are busily at work, but nothing of a definite nature has been decided. Still, the team is expected to embrace: Sprints^ — R. Abercrombie and J. H. Prout ; middle distance— N. F. Burrows and O. A. Hardy; long distances—George Blake, J. A. Stillwell, and W. V. Aitken (Aitken won the last 10 Miles C.C.C. of Victoria); walteb— W. V. Aitken and AC. Ryan; Running High Jump— H. i S. Trangman; hurdles— J. L. .Davis; Broad Jump— J. L. Davis and J. H. Prout. Queensland. — This team has been.constituted thus: 100, 220, 440 Yards— H. J. Fay and M. B. Berry; 880 Yards, Mile, and Three Miles— A. j. Luton; High and Broad Jumps, Pole Vault, 120 and 440 Yards Hurdles, Hamme/ and Shot— T. Maher and T. Frawley. The Tuapeka Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club will bring the present season's meeting to a conclusion on Wednesday, March 4, when a short programme will be got off at Glasgow Park. The following is the list of events:— 22o Yards. Hop, Step, and Jump, One-mile Flat, and Teams Relay Race (three a team), each member to run » quarter. In addition there will be races of r boys, and an "odd event," in the shape of a Whistling Race, in which, I according to the conditions, not only must "the runner be a musician, for he has to whistle a tune, but so must his lady partner, who' has .to. recognise the air. Although the above meeting will terminate the highly successful series that have been carried -out this year at Lawrence ' by the club, amateurs in the district will have < another opportunity of contesting- on St. i Patrick'e Day, when the local Bibernian Society— a strong organisatiorjr-inte.nd holding their annual sports meeting. - The society, recognising that the amateur has come to stay, is providing thre^l events — viz., 75 Yards, 220 Yards, and a High Jump. A number of Dunedin runners are talking of making the trip should the necessary leave be obtained, and good fields may 1 be looked for.

Should the evening meeting this week at Balolutha prove a success — and there is little doubt it will — the Balcutha Harriers talc of holding an afternoon meeting at Easter. The idea is to hold a meeting oh Easter Monday, and should the club carry - out the meeting, there is no doubt it would prove highly successful. There is no other fixture in Otago or Southland at which amateurs could" "compete, and Balclutha is within easy distance of both Invercargill and Dunedin. "Amateur" strongly advises the Balclutha Club to carry out the meeting, being certain ihat it will be warmly supported and prove a thorough success.

I Included in the illustrations in this week's issue of the Otajjo Witness ie a reproduction of Mr W. Donovan, a champion long-distance runner, who was born in Dunedin. In a recent run in. Cornwall -(Eng.) Mr Donovan gave an exhibition run of 10 miles-, doing the distance in 52£min. On another occasion he covered 10 miles in 48min. Again, in a 10£-rgile. race Donovan covered the distance in ■ time registered .as SDmin. .. These, performances are excellent, and .stamp .Donovan, as a. particularly fine long-distance, runner. . It will he .good - news for local athletes to learn that Hector Burk does not altogether intend to give up the running track, and more unlikely things may happen than that he will be seen out again next year. Mr W. H. Pollock, father of the Wellington quarter-miler, - left for his home inWellington on Saturday morning. He had a good time in Dunedin. Was present at the D.A.A.C. athletic meeting on Satur-

day, Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting ofl Wednesday and Thursday, trots on Friday, and D.A.A.G. evening; athletic meeting on Friday night. Acknowledged- with thanks from the hon. secretary of the Otago Centre copy of the revised rules of th© New Zealand Amateur . Athletic Association, 1908. In a "test mile" in Melbourne the other day to sort out a representative for the Australasian championships, N. Burrows ran the distance on a slow track in 4mia 42sec. Commenting on the N.Z. representative team, "Harrier," of the Australasian, says: If S. W. Moore is also sent it will be a thoroughly representative allround team." Surely "Harrier" does not seriously mean our friend S. W. Moore, of Canterbury? Fine runner as he undoubtedly is, Moore is not a champion, and would be the first to admit it. The feature of the last of the series o£ evening athletic meetings promoted by the Dunedin Amateur Athletio Club held on Friday evening last -was the astonishing number of competitors who took part in the various events. For instance, the Hundred attracted so many that the race had to be decided in five heats and « ' final. The 350 yds Brought out a field of 13, hile the mile attracted a large field. When, we have such entries at these evening meetings there' need be no alarm for the future of amateur -athletics -in.' Dunedin. The broad jump at the D.A.A.C. sports oil Friday night wae won by E. A. Shand, a promising athlete of the kangaroo game who cleared . 20ft llin, including a. 2ftj handicap. The best actual jump was M'Farlane's 19ft. The majority failed at the take off, and it were well if eomo attention was given' to the importance of taking off accurately. Congratulation* to L. M. Tansey, that University footballer, on winning the "100," and the 350vds at the D.A.A.C. sports meet on Friday. Tansey was on 6£yds in his' heat — th© first in the " 100," — and won in. 10 2-ssoo. Th« final ix« romped out amongst fairly good company, in 10 2-sseo. , Apropos of the " 100," the finish was one of the closest I have seen for some time, and daylight did not separate Tansey from Mitchell, who ran into second plaoev In the 350 yds Tansey was standing up on the 17yds mark. Prioe, off 20yds, led the big field well into the straight, where he shot his bolt. Out of the bunched field came Tansey, and close on his heels Hoars and Burk. Tansey breasted the tape first, with Hoare making; a good late run second, and Burk third. Hoare ran really well to get up into second place off 4yds in the 350 yd«. He is a greatly improved runner on this season's form. Had Burk not received a bad passage, going down the back 'stretch in the 350 yds, I quite expected him to get well up to the winner^ at the finish. As it was. he ran into third place. The pace In the Mile was rather faster 1 than usual for a local handicap, and the scratch man would have had to beat the! record to get to the winner, Thompwm, who did 4min 28seo off 105 yds. The besti run was Laurensone, second to Thompson, off the 65yds mark. At one' time i« appeared as if La.urenson was going to pass the winner in the straight, but he dropped away and finished second. Cor^>erning Orbell's New Zealand record] for the high jump, oreated at the D.A.A.C sports a couple of weeks ago, Mr A. G-. Melville, one of th« judges of the field* events, advises that the tape used to measure the jump' has been tested by a licensed surveyor and proved to be correct. The oertifjoate will be forwarded to the council" along with the judge's certificate. At the recent meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletio Association the secretary mentioned that he bad received a eommun-ication from the Dunedin Centre inquiring if, provided' the centre found the amount of the expenses, the council would consent to Hector Burk being included with thg New Zealand team competing in the Australasian Championships. The speaker had replied stating that thi# would be done gladly, but he had received a further communication from Dunedin, stating that, although an ample amount for Burk' s. expenses was available, Burk had been unable to secure anyone to look alter his business during his absence. From the honorary secretary of the Riverton Harrier Club (Mr C. B. Robertson) comes to hand the following: — Dear Amateur,— Enclosed please find the reports, eic., of the Riverton Harrier Club's Evening Sports'.' The" sports were very successful, and Nit; is the intention of the club to run one every fortnight as long- as too light lasts* ' The .races were only open to - olub* mem.b,erß» ajjd .this induced a large .number of young iellows to join. T. Haslett, a Dunedin University man, has joined the olub, and competed 'very successfully at the meeting, being second- in the halffrom scratch, and first in th© 220 yds. off . 3yds. I believe it is the intention of this runner to compete at the University championships. Several runners here purpose competing at the Dunedin sports next year, and they will probably compete at lh« Tapanui -sports on Labour Day. The townspeople here are beginning to take an interest in amateurs, and a number have stated their intention of donating trophies to the olub for the forthcoming season. The following are the results of the finals at the Riverton Club's evening^meeting:--75 Yards— Cbas. Robertson (sydsX 1, J. M'Donoujrh (2yds) 2. The winner was first away. All breasted the tape in A bunch, only" inohes separating the placed men. 220 Yards.— Final : T. Haslet.t (3yds) 1, 43am. Robertson (3yds) 2, R. Robertson (2vds» 3. The winner came away early, and lea by syds half way up the straight, but C. Robertson came on the tape, and was beaten only by inches. t Half-mile.— R. Roberteon (20yds) 1, T. HasletMscr) 2, J. Johnston* (25yda) 3. Johnstone sprinted and caught the limit men, and drew away with L. Bailey from the pack. The rest of the back- > markers did not come up till the last round, R. Robertson came away early, and John- . stone looked a good thing for second place, but Haslett came fast in the straight, and • beat him* on the tape. E. Fallow ran well, securing fourth place. -Thirteen starters. The Board of Control of the A^A.. Union of Australasia will meet at Hobart at the end of the month. The representatives of _ the various States and the Dominion of New " Zealand already ohosen are as follow: New ' Zealand, Mr J. E. Green (Ohristchuroh) • Queensland, Mr -Crawford (Brisbane) : New South Wales, Messrs Tf. Coombes and E. 8. Markee (Sydney) ; Tasmania, Mr E. A. Brooke (Hobart). The Victorian and South . Australian delegates have not jet been selected. New Zealand,

Queensland, and Tasmania have each to select a second delegate. The Eighth Australasian Amateur Athletic Championships, to take place at Hobart (Tasmania} on the 28th instant and March 2, are arousing very considerable interest throughout the Commonwealth and in the Dominion of New Zealand. The holders o* the title are the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association. The last meeting 1 took place on the Sydney Cricket Ground en November 11 and 13, 1905, when out of the 15 events decided, New South Wales won 10 outright and divided (with Queensland) in another. , IThs is not the greatest win secured since the championships commenced in 1893 in Melbourne, 'for, on January 2 and 4, 1886, at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand won 11 eventß, and also secured 11 second places. Since the inauguration of the mreetings New South Wales has won three times (1893, 1397, and 1 1905), New Zealand three times (1896, 1899, and 19^31). whilst Victoria, has secured one victory — in 1904. New South Wales has been second on three occasions (1896, 1E99, and 1904 L and third once (19011. New Zealand has, been second once (1897), and third twice (1893 and 1904). "Victoria has been, second three times (1893, 1901, and 1905) and third twice (1896 and. 1897). Queensland's record is twice third (1899 and l£)05). Subject J» alteration, the following- will he the time-table, of events at tihe Australasian, championships: — First day, February 29: 2.15 p.m., 120 Yards Handicap (heats) ; 2.25 p.m., 100 Yards ChampionBhip ; 2.35 p.m., One Mile Walk Championship ;, 2.50 p.m., Running High Jump ChamRionship ; 3 p.m., 100 Y^ro^a Championship Final; 3.10 p.m.. One Mile Handicap Associated Schools; 3.20 p.m.. 120 Yards Handicap Final { 3.30 p.m.. Three Miles Championship; 3.50 p.m., Half-mile State Schools Handicap; V 4 p.m., 120 Yards Hurdles Championship (heats); 4.10 p.m., Putting the- Shot Championshio; 4.20 p.m., Sailora Event; 4.40 p.m.. 120 Yards Hurdles Final; 4.50 p.m.. One Mile Handicap; 5 "p.nf, 4 Laps Cycle Handicap ; 5.10 p-«r., 440 Yards Charapionshu>: 5.20 p-tn., One Mile Walk Handicap. Second Day, March 2: 2.15 p.m., 300 Yards Handicap (heats); 2.25 p.m., Three Mile^Walk Championship; 2.45 p.m.. Pole Vault Championship ■; S p.m., 220 Yards Chamnioachip (heats) ; 3.10 p.m., One Mile Championship; 3.2!> p.m., 'Throwing the Hammer Championship : 3.40 p-nr., 220 Yard* Championship Final; 3.50 p.m., 440 Herds Associated Schools; 4 p.m., Running Broad Jump Championshioj 4.10 0.m., Sailors' Events 4.30 p.m., Half-mi'e Championshio; 4.40" p.m.. 300 Yards Associated Schools; 4.50 p.m., 8 Laps Cycle Event; 5 p.m.. 300 Yards Handicap Final ;. 5.10 p.m.. 440 Yards Hurdles Championship; 5.20 p.m.. Two Miles -Handicap. The New Zealand amateur champion walker, A. E. M. Bowland, was a partieioant in fbeaurrey Walking Club's 18 Mile Road Walking Race, held between Croydon and Godstone late in December, and. waiting in excellent -form, accomolighed the diff'tanc« in- ->2- hoirra SS^nain. His l«vndi_eß.ii_ allowance was 7iaih. which reduced his time to 2 hours 48^mxn, And /gave him sixth place to the, winner, who had l9min start, apd ecmpflSßect the distance- fn the handiest) time of 1 2 hours 36min losec. Two d*vs 4«.ter K6wl»nd turned out to assist the Herne Hilt Harriers in a triangular contest, 'decided over seven miles of country, _ between that club, the Thraoson Harriers. % and the Thomson-Houston Club. Rowland gave a. very good display as a cross-country runner, and won the prize offered to the first walking man to finish. In the actual race, which was won -by the Thrapson. Harriers, the New Zealander finished nineteenth in 47inm 50sec, and an the sealed handioan a 4min allowance enabled htm^ to secure seventh place, the handicap being won by J. Butler, the ex-amateur walkini? fihaimjion and' London to Brighton recordholder > It is said that the nuethon whether a. New South Wales Rur>>y FoofcbalT League player (professional) is eligible to coronete as an amateur runner Will be "submitted at the next meeting of the N.S.W.A.A.A. The ■constitution laws of the foody Mmsd ajte very clear on the Subject. ■ x A preliminary meeting of the OtatfO Centre Amateur' Athletic AsstTciation.v the School Committees' Association,. and teachers as held on Monday for the purpose- of making arrangements for holding the annual schools' championship meeting. Mr W. Lang (president of the centre) occupied the chair. The members present were: — Messrs^ A. Marryatt and J. B. Callari, jun. (representing the centre), Rev. Bro. Brady and Messrs Davidson, Murray, Lomas, Melville, Matthews, and Jeffrey (representing the schools). Apologies were received from Mes&re'Nicholson and- Chapman. The Chairman explained that -three- successful _ meetings ha dalready been held., and it was Sloped that this year's championship would be equally "successful with past gatherings. On tha motion of Mr Davidson, seconded 4>y the Rev.' Bro. Brady, it was resolved — "That the schools' championship meeting fee held otf April 4." The following committees were appointed:— Programme Committee (with power to fix the programme)— Messrs W. Lang, Davidson, Lomas, Marryatt, Callan, and Rev. Bro. Brady :vGroands Committee— Messrs Sanderson, Melville, and the secretary. The Programme Committee met after the general meeting, and will report its recommendations to the dext meeting of the General Committee.