Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-06-18
LOOKING
F 0 R OLYMPIC
ATHLETES
[By Latest Mail

LONDOsN-The search for talent to
represent Great Britain at the next
Olympic games has now Degun in dead
earnest. The success of the United
States at the great international meet
ing in 1912 stung British national pride
to the quick. and the position OF ar
fairs has not been improved by the
recent utterance OF Hugh Baxter, the
chairman Of the New York Athletic
Club. You have some splendid crude
material in England he said, but L
Is undeveloped. consider the British
sprinters are joke"
British athletes have now got to-
gether and are determined that the
laurels at the next Olympic games
must be wrested from the United
States, no matter what may prove the
cost, the training. or the organization.
Two. bodies have come into exist
ence for this purpose. One is the
Athletes Advisory Club and the other
the Field Events Athletic Association
or the former Lord DesboFough was
president, but he resigned at the same
time as he severed his connection
with the British Olympic Association.
feeling the Inconsistency of belonging
TO one organization and not the other
The Office Is at present vacant but eff
forts are being made to find suitable
successor. The vice presidents are
Percy Fisher of the Amateur Athletic
Association and ]. H. A. Reay, the ex-
champion hurdler. Sir A. Conan Doyle
is president of the Field Events. Ath-
letic Association.
Search for Athletes.
The object of both associations Is
to search the country for talent and
to make the best use Of 1t when found
Recognizing that good coaching is the
main want and that the athletic clubs
have not the means to pay highly tai
ented instructors, they conceived the
idea Of enlisting; the services OF old
amateur athletes all over the country
who would be willing TO give up a
certain amount of their time to train
promising recruits.
The Athletic Advisory Club is con-
cerned not so much with discovering
competitors for the next games, but
with fostering the athlete In his most
puerile stage so that continuous sup
ply may be maihtaine,r Thus per-
mission has been obtained to use two
Of the London parks, wpere any fine
evening boys may go and try their
faces before expert judges. The
youngsters are being specially encour-
aged to take up jayelin and discus
throwing. Efforts are being made to
secure similar concessions from the
parks authorities in provincial towns.
Among the men who are assisting
this movement are Flaxman, probably
the most scientific English hammer
thrower; Henderson of Oxford, who
instruets In discus throwing and the
standing high jump; S. S. Abrahams,
the old Cambridge blue, for standing
long jump; w. Trip, Private Banks
Athletic Association, pistol
practice; J. E. Fowler Dixon, holder
of the 50-miIe record, and T. Palmer,
the famous long distance runner of the
sos, marathon coaches; L. +. Ire
meer, l.. A. c., sprinting, ana Il. b.
George secretary mf1dle and long
distance running, for which he holds
championships. George spent five
years in America and two IN South
Africa and acquired a knowledge OF
the methods of the most formidable
competitors. Assistance is offered TO
any club or school and many inquiries
have already been received and an
swered.
To Recruit for 1916 Games.
The Field Events Athletic Associa-
ton differs from the advisory Club
inasmuch as it's principal function Is
to recruit competitors for the games
of 1916. Standard medals are being
offered at all athletic meetings. This,
means that certain standard is set
for different events and if a competi-
tor reaches it and wins a medal he IS
worthy of attention as a potential
Olympic candidate The club officials
will get in touch with him and en-
deavor to persuade him TO train seri-
ously. If willing, he will be placed UNI
der the tutelage of one Of the clubs
officers and will be given
every opportunity to develop his tall
ent on scientific lines.
In this way it is hoped to give every.