Winter Athletics Again

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 11

Winter Athletics Again

SEASON OPENING TO-MORROW

Auckland Club’s Meeting

THE 1928 amateur athletic winter season in Auckland will be officially ushered in to-morrow at Carlaw Park when the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club is staging a three-event programme in connection with the Rugby League Stack benefit.

TT has been the policy of the Auckland Club for the past two seasons to hold weekly meetings throughout the winter months to keep its members, and Auckland athletes in general, together during the “off season.” Last year over a dozen meetings were held, and in spite of the abnormally atrocious state of the weather proved most successful. The programme generally consisted of a 75yds sprint, a steeplechase of from a half to three miles, and putting-the-shot and throwing the discus events, and although the contestants in the early art of the season were few, the popularity of the meetings increased as the winter advanced, so that in the spring it was common to see from 20 to 30 entries for each of these four handicap events. Visits were paid to such outside districts as Otahuhu, Henderson, and Onehunga, and the remainder of the meetings 'were staged at the Outer Domain. The authorities intend following out a similar policy this winter. CHAMPIONS ALL Such well-known distant runners as J, W. Savidan, New Zealand crosscountry champion. Cordon Kells, onetime New Zealand cross-country champion, and N. F. Cooper, will be seen in action again this winter, and in themselves are sure to prove a big attraction. Many and close were the tussles they staged between themselves last winter, and such others as W. Watt, A. Barker, B. F. White and E. P. Henshall were never far behind. Then there is th© jovial Alf. Clarke, who has been running for many years, and is still as enthusiastic as ever over the sport. Competitors are hoping to see him also turn out once again on Saturday afternoons. Con. Scown, F. Adams, and the varsity athlete, Gilchrist, will probably be competitors also. A. J. Elliott was in such fine form

the enthusiastic band of steeplechase men coming close behind them, and also seeking representative honours. To-morrow’s events are: Metropolitan Steeplechase, li miles. 75yds handicap sprint. Putting the 161 b shot. Entries close with the handicapper. Mr. Wm. Morton, at five o’clock this evening. To-morrow’s meeting begins at 2 p.m.