BANGIWAHIA NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8747, 22 February 1907, Page 3

BANGIWAHIA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A meeting of the Committee was held in the Rangiwahia Hotel on Saturday, I3th inst. There was a good deal of business done iu connection with the forthcoming meeting. It was decided to engage Mr Sam Haw $ band for the day. The various committees reported satisfactory progress. Mrs G. S. Brown gave a gold medal as second prize jin the 220yds Bracelet Handicap, and the prize for the men s relay race was increased from 60s to 80s. The conditions of the Half-mile Handicap were altered to read open to all who have not won a mile or halfmile race at a sports gathering, and reside in the prescribed area. The action of the Kangiwahia Club in confining their running events to district runners has met with considerable adverse comment, Tor my own part, I think they are taking a step in the right direction, and trust that the young men of the district will outer freely, and so aid the committee in making a successful gathering. I think that of late years we have departed altogether from the original intentions of sports gatherings, which was, I take it, to encourage friendly competition among the youths and young men in physical exercises, and 1 by so doing stimulate them to clean and healthy living. The big prizes now given, and the introduction ot betting at meetings, has developed a class of professional runners pure and simple, who do practically nothing out go from one meeting to another, and so make running a means of livelihood. Against such it is impossible to equitably handicap.the man who has his day’s work to attend to, and to whom the sports are but a pastime. Granted that the professional runner to keep fit must get through a good deal of work and exercise considerable self-denial, still there is no doubt that his time could be much better employed. The Eangiwahia club will therefore, I believe, have the best wishes of all true lovers of sport in their endeavour to make their sports meeting worthy of the name.