ATHLELICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 318, 21 November 1888, Page 4

ATHLELICS.

Lt may not bo generally known Hiat piofesfcional runnois endeavouring to win prizes at amateur sports by representing themselves as amateurs i*ender themselves liable to prosecution for obtaining, or endeavouring to obtain, go ds under false pretences. The penalty for this oflence 15 pietty heavy and would make any athletes renderine: themsehes liable sit up with a vengeance. The following is published for the benefit of athletes in general : A champion is someone who excels in one of (.lie many branches of athletic sport, and who us ready to meet all comers, aoroiding to the jecognised rules governing the same. He mu&t accept all bona fide challenges, when t-aid challenges are properly constructed ac cording to the rules framed or adopted to go\ern any guen contest. If he refuses to defend his title or fails to accept) any challenge issued, he forfeits all claim to the championship title. The said challenge must, however, bo accomplished by a forfeit and be minus of any conditions whereby it conflict& with the lules and conditions upon which the challenge party holds the same. A champion has a perfect light to ignore any challenge that contains conditions not set forth in the rules, unless ho mutually agrees to make concessions or the challenger tails to put up a forfeit. At an "at home " held in September last by Sir Peicy Urace, High SheriH of Ihe County Dublin, ab Boley, Monkstown, some novel athletic spoits were organised by Captain Swiney, of the Black Watch. After a huvdto race for ladies, a driving competition caused a great deal of fun, as the four " gee-gees " in each team were gentlemen, and they were driven by ladies, who found it difficult to carry along whip and manage fcheir skivfcs trnd four Bkittish steeds round a long course. Mies Fitzgerald's team got oft with an excellent lead, bufc got up so much steam that their diiver was thrown, and Miss Blunfc's team cantered in at their ease. A sack race tor men had a novel element in it, inasmuch as the : competitors wore spread out on fcheir backs I before getting Ihe order to go, and excited ; much laughter by thoir contoi tions in trying to rise. One of the most amusing races was one called a blind donkey race, the donkeys being gentlemen, their heads enveloped in | coloured bag 1 , ladies choosing their own donkeys. The donkeys were placed at their starting line and their fair drivers twenty yards in the rear, and at the signal the ladies raced off, and, each taking hor donkey in tow, made '"racks at top speed for the winning post. Misß Langrishe and Mr Fitzgerald" won by two lengths, Miss Blunt and Mr Brazier Craig being second. There was also a real donkey race ridden by gentlemen in costume, and one for boys in which Lord Castlereagh took part.

It is more respectable to black boots than to black characters — to sew shirts than to cow sfcriiea. " Sir, have you read the ode I composed to Sleep?" — " Oh, yes, and it composed me to sleep !" There is a man in New York so fat that a child was recently killed by his shadow falling on it. "My character, sir," said an alderman who had cleared himself from a. charge of bribery, "is like my boots— all the brighter for blacking. "