ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 63

ATHLETICS.

Easter Monday— New Zealand University Inter-collegiate Athletic Championship Meeting, at Oarisbrook. NOTES BY AMATEUR. Apiopos of the paragraph respecting the rumours as to W. F. Trembath Joining the professional ranks, I have received the following communication, from Mr Roy E. Bust, secretary of the Gore Harriers: — " Dear AmateuT, — There is positively no truth vhstever re our Australasian champion, \\ F. Trembath, joining the professional rank's. The rumour was put around by soiue persons with a view to damaging our brilliant runner's reputation. He told me prior to the New Zealand championship 3 tbat he would never leave the amateurs. — Roy E. Bust, secretary Gore Harriers.'* Admirers' of the young Australasian champion, of whom "Amateur"' claims to be one,- will be delighted to have this authority for the statement that Trembath purposes holding fast to amateurism. In last week's issue it • was stated that had New Zealand been represented only by the team originally selected by the council, and had not the benefit of the services of the Wellington contingent, whose expenses were not borne by the council, the Dominion would not be in the proud position of champion of Australasia. At first glance it so appeared, but, going more carefully into the subject, I find' that with the original team — Henderson (Wellington), Orbell, Stubberfield, Murray (Canterbury), and Trembath (Southland)— the Dominion would still have annexed the premiership, coming out with five wins, as against New South Wales 4£. This is how it works out: Orbail, High Jump; Murray, Quarter Hurdles- Trembath, Half-mile; and Stubberfield One-mile and Two-mile Walks. The only difference would have been M'Kay's Pole Vault and Sharpe's Three-mile. These events would have been divided between .Queensland and Tasmania. Mr Arthur Marryatt, one time president of the Otago Centre, and one of the most enthusiastic legislators for amateur athletics in Otago, has received notice of his transfer to the office of the Government I/ife Insurance in Wellington. Prior to packing up for the Empire Oity, Mr Marryatt will put in a few weeju at the office in Invercargill. The New Zealand University Athletio Journament, to be held at Easter, is the seventh annual tournament. Canterbury College .have been three times premiers, and .Otago the same number, beating Victoria College, Wellington, last year by a narrow margin. The list of championship 2? en l* if » large one, comprising:— loo Yardfl. 220 Yard*, Quarter-mile, Half-mile One-mile, Three-mile, Mile Walk, 120 Yards Hurdle., 440 Yard* Hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump, Weight and Hammer Throwing. Vtutix oentj-e is allowed two represenwrea in. each, first r*&n *jountiiyy 2 point*

and second 1 pomE The winning college holds the Challenge Shield for the ensuing jear. The other special trophies are aa follows: — Ladies' Cup, for competitor scoring most points; Trevor Hull Memorial Shield 1 , for the High Jump ; cup presented by Mr rie la Mare for the Mile Flat; Sandstein Chip, for the Inter-college Belay Race. This cup has been held three times by Canterbury, twice by Otago, and once by Wellington. Tha tcurnament is gradually growing in size, and this year the visiting athletes are expected to number between 50 and ,60. The tournament comprises athletics, tennis, and a debating contest, so that the total number of visiting students, with "barrackers," is expected to total nearly 150. The ohief visiting athletes will be Oliphant and Dunlop (of Auckland), Goodbehere (of Wellington), and Harley. Collins, and Opie (of Christchurch). Taylor, Canterbury College speedy five-eighth", who will be found in the 'VaTaitv rear division this season, represents Canterbury in the sprints. The chief members of the Otago team are M'Br-Vffc. Ta:iEey, Croker, M'Caw. Nuku, and I>x Rogers. The absence of Foote, Gilray, and Harrison will be acutely felt this year. Still, if keenness goes for anything, Oiago should win The members of ihe *'oeal team are training in view of the challenges which must , be run off before the team >p finally selected. Among others accompanying the visiting teaim will be Professor Hunter, of Wellington, and Profesors Blunt and Cook, of Chri«tchuich. Arrangements locally are in the hands of c strong committee, of which Mr E. K. Lonias, Selwyn College, is secretary. Tho entrance fee for the Quarter-mile Otago I Championship is 3s, and entries close on Saturdaj, the 11th of April. In addition to this event, a 220 Tards Sprint,, open to all amateurs, will also be placed on the programme. A track will be specially surveyed at Oarisbrook for this meetipg, and every effort will be made to make it as nearly perfect as possible. An effort i« being made to induce Keddel to become a competitor at this meeting, and should it be successful the presence of this athlete should prove an additional attraction. The well-known athletio authority, "Prodigal," did not give New Zealand a chance to win the premiership at the Australasian Championship Meeting at Hobart, placing tlie various States as follows: — New South Wales— loo Tards, 200 Yards, 400 Yards, 120 Yards Hurdles, Running Broad Jump, Shot. Hammer, and, possibly, the 880 Yards — say, 7 wins. New Zealand — Mile and Three-mile Walk, Pole Vault, and, possibly, the 380 Yards — say, 4- wins. Victoria—Mile, Three Miles, and 44-0 Yards Hurdles, 3 wins. Queensland — Running High Jump, 1 win. Tasmania — Perhaps several places, but no straight-out win, nil. The Tasmanian, Rhodes scholar for 1908 has now Jjeen selected, and the mantle has fallen upon Mr A. W. Clemes, the long distance champion. The choice -is a most popular one. If he can set the necessary training Mr Clemee will most likely start in the Marathon Race (25 miles) at the Olympic games, to be hejd in England in July next. Recent advices from America state that the growth of professionalism in amateur athletic circles has become so serious that Mr J. E. Sullivan, president of the Amateur Athletic Union, has issued a statement in which he calls attention lo the menace to amateur aport which now exists in the professional who poses as an amateur. Mr Sullivan says the efforts of the union's committee for clean spo-rt are not getting the support they should, and he asks athletes throughout the country to aid in the effort to purge the sport of these professionals. Ma'dame Tsa Bell, who recently issued a challenge to race any woman in Australia any stipulated distance for the gate money and a side stake, up to a reasonable i sum, has received five replies from female athletes, who are prepared to dispute the woman championship of Australia. Three of these reside in various part of the State, and the other two are city bred. A j match is being arranged between Madame ' Bell and Mies Violet Lei<?h, the woman champion of South Australia, to take place in Melbourne some time next, month. Madame Bell is 36 years of age, and has a daughter aged 14. Her running costume consists of loose trunks reaching below the i knee, loose jacket, running shoes, and stockS ings. The South African A.A.A. is endeavouring to arrange for a representative team to visit England this year for the. Olympian Games. At a meeting of the Olympian Games Committee of tho American Amateur Athletic Union, the raising of a sum of £10,060 by subscription, to defray the expenses of a team to visit London in July was recommended. "Try out" frames will Be held in the east and weak, and from the winners of these will be selected the members of the team. No professional trainers will accompany the American representatives, whioh is a distinct departure from that country's usual practice, and a "climb down" in obedience to the demands of the committee controlling the games. c F. A. Knott, who i« considered by no less an authority than Alfred Shrubb to be the most promising of tho younger bunch of English distance runners, recently signalised his reappearance on the track, after a spell of more than a year — due to a severe accident — by winning Three crossfountrv races in succession. The first — a five-mile race for a challene© cvp — he won with the arreate3t of eaee. When the South London Harriets met Oxford University over the seven-mile course at Oxford. Knott was again first man home, beating the Oxford freshman, J. F. Worsley, by 2sec, in 43min 32sec. A week later, in the contest for the Nioholls Cup. between Blackheath Harriers and South London Harriers, the former won the cup, but. Knott came home an easy winner of the individual race. New York City has -nrobablv more amateur athletes in her police force than any other city in the world. Almost every sport is represented. In the athletio line the best known members of the force are John J. Flanagan, Martin J. Sheridan, and Matthew M'Orath. A remarkably good running performance was done in London the other day by the seven-mile walking champion, F. B. Thompson. In a cross-country race over six and A-half miles of ground between his club (Ranelagh Harriers) and Blaekheath Harriers 25 men a-side started, and all of them coun,ted. Blaekheath had first inari home (E. Judson) in 39min 40 2-ssec, and also won by 623 points to 652. Thompson finished a good second out of the fifty, being beaten by only 4 l-sseo, ,

* Hackensmidt, who is now showing at a Bolton music-hall, has a standing offer of £10 to anyone who can for ten minutes resist being thrown by him, and a few days ago Tom M'lnerney, of Liverpool, won the "tenner" amidst great excitement. Meanwhile Hackensmidt's rival, Zbysco, has been in strict training at Epsom for his match with Suliman, the Turk, who suddenly jumped into fame a few weeks ago. The latter, it will be remembered, met Zbysco recently at the Pavilion music-hall, and at the end of twenty minutes — the time limit fixed for the mateh — had none the worse of the contest. A disgraceful riot took place on that occasion amongst the audience, and j another music-hall has been decided upon as a venue for the second meeting between the two men. — Later news states the match took place, and attracted a great gathering. The first fall was splendidly contested, and I .nft&r a strenuous struggle Zbysco gained j tho advantage, and won in 34min 40eec. The second fai' was a very different affair, Zbysco winning in 33sec. AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. The Otago Centre N.Z. A. A. A. met on Monday evening. Mr W. Lang occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. Apologies for absence were received from 'Mr Wilson and Mr N-khol. The Secretary N.Z.A.A.A. wrote in answer to the centre's letter of 15th ult. re the centre's opinion of the interpretation of I clause O, rale 3, tha-t the Rules Revision I Committee had been requested to examine the- iule with the idea of submitting an amendment which, would make it more explicit. — Received; the matter to be brought up at next meeting of the centre. The Secretary of N.Z.A.A.A. wrote asking if there was any reason why the University A.A.. Club should not be suspended, the club not having paid its subscription for 1907. — I Received. ' The Secretary Oamaru A.A. Club wrote informing the centre that the club's first annual sports would be held on the 26th i March. — Received. The Secretary N.Z.A.A.A. also wrote informing the centre that the application for the reinstatement of A. B. M'Leod had been [ granted. — Received. Permission was granted the St. Patrick's Society, Lawrence, to run three amateur evemffc at their annual sports, to be held on St. Patrick's Bay. In accordance with nis notice of motion, Mr A. Mtaryatt moved: — "That a sub-com-mittee be set up to read all incoming a-nd outgoing correspondence prior to each meeting of the centre, such sub-committee to decide what letters are to be read at the meeting; that all correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, be laid upon the table at eaoh meeting of the centre, and any letter or letters may at the request of any delegates be read and discussed at 3uch meeting." Mr R. Sanderson seconded the motion. The Mover said he moved the motion purely with the idea of expediting business at the centre's meetingß. Important mutters were apt to be slurred over without being properly understood by the delegates. Mr HJamann said that, as pa-st secretary of the centre, he could see no advantages in the proposed system. A former president also objected to the motion, but unfortunately was unable to be present. The Chairman said that personally he thought the motion a good! one. A great number of very trivial matters were included in the centre's correspondence, and these could be weeded out with advantage. The motion was carried by seven votes to four. j WEIGHT-PUTTING. I . LONDON. March 3. ] R. L. Robinson, »f Adelaide, won the weight-putting at the Oxford University sports, his record being 43ft 7in. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. SYDNEY, March 6. The manager of the New South Wales j team of athletes who competed at Hobart said that the New Zealanders came prepared for business. They had a wonderfully up*to:date manager (Mr Green, of Christchurch), who handled them splendidly. In reference to the meeting arranged between the New Zealand and the Sydney Univrsity teams, a number of the Queensland representatives would also participate. The events include 100 , Yards, 300 Yards, 880 Yards, probably a J>lile Flat, 120 Yards Hurdle Race, and Broad Jump. Much interest attaches to the contests between Barker and Trembath and M'Kay and Framley.