AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 February 1913, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

(By "Novice.") The Now Zealand Athletic Championship Mooting takes place on the Basin Reserve, Wellington, to-mor-row, when the Dominion's foremost athletes will ho out for championship honours. For some time tho infercsn in amateur sport has boon increasing, until to-day amateur athletic meetings attract wide attention. If tlio weather conditions are propitious tomorrow, a record crowd should be present- at tlio Basin Reserve.

During the past season or two Wairarapa amateurs have come much into prominence, and have shown on more than one occasion, that thov can hold their own against tho very best. Tho team which is to represent the Wellington province to-morrow includes several members of tho Wnirarann Amateur Athletic Club, and their supporters fully expect them to give a i'ood account of themselves. The local men aro all in Tine fettle, and a few notes mav ho of interest to our readers, ".Tack" llradbury. tho half-mile and mile provincial champion. seems to have c(tme hack to iiis very host form, and is, T think, running better than ever previously. His times for the half-mile certainly lead to this conclusion, and unless tho hall'-milc takes too much out of him to-morrow, T quite expect to see him extend his opponents in tho mile. With. Hill, last year's champion, out of it, the winner of tho mile seems hard to pick, and a very interesting race should result.

"Bob" .McTvonzio, Wairarapa's chamoion hurdler and representative in field events, is new as fit as ho has over boon. In Wellington ho is looked noon as likely to run third in the -1(0 hurdles, but- local enthusiasts expect "Bob" to do bettor than this, and will be disappointed if ho does rot win. with Keddell elc-;o up and C'nok further liaek, third. time in the -1-10 hurdles at- the recent "Wellington mooting is two seconds faster than champion TvedrleH's time for the same event at Tnvere-irgill last week. Keddell may not have been pushed, but McKcnzio eertainlv was never extended, and made "hacks" of tho opposition. T also expect to see MeKenzie -well up in tho hop. step, and jump, as he is quite capable of equalling tho standard — I 4-1 foot. Tn the 120 hurdles T don't fancv "Bob's" chance.

Harvey, who extended McKav in tho pole vault at the Wellington championships. should have improved, and will have to do better than he has in the past, if he is to win. I note that the Southland team includes two men, who can bo relied upon to clear 10 foot at any time of' asking. In the 440 yards flat Fisher should run well, and should also run well in tho 220 yds. He is reported to bo in good fettle. Messenger has not of late .shown his best form, but on the day may improve. He is up against some hob members, and will require to he at the very top of his form to finish with the leaders in thelOOvds find 220yd,s. When the results come to hand, T quite expect to see McTvenzio and Brandbury returned as tho winners of at least one event each. Tn any case, I feel sure that our representatives can ho relied upon to uphold the honour of Masterton.