The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 15, 1902, Page 4

THE SAN FR NCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 190 UNIVERSITY KENNEL CLUB OFFICERS LOOK Lady Patronesses Extend Helping Hand. Judges Are the Majority of Classes. A% % Will Named for i | ITH the co-operation of the ladies | | the directors of the San Francisco | | Kennel Club lock forward to the forthcoming show as an assured suceess. The list of patronesses Lhas been increased by the addition of the foliowing name: cess Poniatowski, Mrs. Wil lor, Mrs. Wiliam Alvord, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. A. N. Drown, Mr Smedberg, Mrs. Harry Babe Phebe A. Hearst and Mrs. Poole. The lady patroness: » last week of the month, when it purposed to invite a suffic.ent number c ladies to incres t to one hundred s d some unique the dc W. ck, posters. Thes duty of attracting and also swelling the be devoted to several deser Major J. L. Rathbone, who i 1 high ci ented to ju fieid tion between the varicus pac of fo: beunds, which will be onc of the featur of the show. It pos: e he will be a sisted by a jury made up of well-known sportsmen. The prize in this class w.il be the trophy offered ! sheimer of the Pa 1 Le: exhibition. affair when ious COgS. offered by seted for by p offered adia Kennel C ouhd in the show of the presi- judge fo terr.ers. is will be spectal judges of St. Bernards and of Monroe. will S, St tiff: and pro- | ‘selection of a judge for th of e grey- stil members will cn they have ; think will fill T} Ketcham, has been offered tion for the best four of d il be judged the exhibitor. This w st night of the show, all the judges of- fating as a jury. In acdition to the cup re will be second and third priz here will also be a sweepstake for the best brace of one breed will be divided 3, 30 and 20 per cent. i o S Sl YOUNG ATHLETES TO MEET ON BERKELEY OVAL Rcpresentatives of the Various High Schools Will Take Part in Annual Competition. y unties Athletic League, con school y sder path this aftei m_ the ocis will compete in the games; y High Schooi, California School of Me chanical Arts, Mission High School, Low- ell High School and Oakland High School. The following are the entries: 50-yard desh—First heat: Stanley, B. H. S.; yos Burgh, i. H. §.; Swartz, L. H. 8.; T: or, C. 8. M. A.. Second hea Hughes, 0. H. C. M. A 0. H. S.; Sulli- ; Loughborough, ; ‘Bertz, C. H beat: Wilcox, 0. H M. A.; Middleton, L 3 Second hezt: Stan B.: Dyer, O. H. §.; Pose beat: Melvin, O. H. S 440-yard dash—La M. H S M Kruee, B, H 3 H. S. 'Second rren, B. H. S. M, 3 heat: Dyer, O, H. 8.; Second - heat: ~‘Warren, B. S.; Haber, L. H. §. t Wileox, O. H. 8. 8. >, 8. M. A.; Euzrf H he: Baldwin, 0. H. E.. Cosgre . Beck, C. 8. M, A.; Abbott, L. H ; H ckmore, B. H. M. A Mile run—Champreux, C.. 5. Nichol, M 5.: 0. H.' 8. 8. Dyer, 0. H. Proad jump—Magerstadt, C. S. M Ward, C. 8. M. _A.; Middleton, L. H. Brock, B. H. n Nichol, C. S Marton, L. Wrampelmeier, B. H. §.; Cooper, O. H.'§.: Backus, 0. H. 8. - M. A H. S.; Di L. Mamiel, Lundy, 0. High jump—Magerstadt, C. § M. A.; L. H. 8.: Hickey, B. H. §.; )lo'nam; S.; Chaplin. B. H. S.; Meivin, 0. H, Hinds, 0. H Hatch, 0. H. 8. Hammer throw—Blakemore B. H. § ritt, B. H. §.; Kruse, B. H. §.; ] H. 5.; Wileox, 0. H —_———— Alameda Boat Club’s Opening Day. Ladies' day and opening day of t Alameda Boat Club will be held in Apr‘l’le The following have. been appointed g committee to make the necessary ar- 'gements: Captain Z. T. Thorning utenant Captain H. E. Neison, F. V¢ Avers, E. B. Thorning and Sydney Pol- ard. Two new members were electeq at the last meeting F. A. Nott and Fred rown, the lattes h Stockton Athletic Ch:-b.tarmerly il ——————— ‘Will Smash Bluerocks. The members of the Union Gun Club will hold their regular monthly blu shoot to-morrow at Ingleside gfiound’?om —_— F Civil Service Examinations. The United States Civil Service Cpm- muirsion announces that examinations will e held in San Francisco and ot 1or the following Dositions: - Mapch or s 12— Ingpector of hulls, Philippine service salary Der annum: age. limit 18 to 40 years. April 2, 1902—Medical clerk and translator, Bureau of Animal , Department of Agriculture; sanari"?,‘;é‘ l;:;- annum; age limit 2 years or over. Pomo- icgical clerk (male),” Bureau of Plant. In. dustry, Department of Agriculture; salary 51200 per annum. Inspector of boilers sieamboat inspection service; salary $1500 pef annum; age limit 25 to 5 years. Per- gone who desire to compete should at once apply either to the United States Civil Beryice Commission, Washington, D, C.. or to the secretary of the local board of examiners, Postoffice, for necessary zpplication forms. which should be exe- cuted and filed with the commission. Ap- plicatien for inspector of boilers must he filed hy April 12 and for the other exam- Inations in time to ship the necessary xamination papers from Washington. sports of the the competi- v President Redel- , wall judge judging ring to pass upon Mrs. William H. Crocker, Prin- tam H. Tay- Robert R. Mrs. Lawrence | wiil meet during | T | LEASHMEN SEE SPORT EXPAND Meetings Are Being Held Throughout the Country. EVER in the history of coursing in America has that sport been so prominently before the public as it | | The prizes | | | | | reachea 1 in o-day. Throughout the East and Mid- dle West many meetings have been pro- jected and valuable prizes offered. in the matter of prizes the Interurban Coursing Club of Sherman, Tex., tak: the le: Its president, Cecil A. Lyon, has announced a sixteen dog stake for May 18, with $1100 to the winner and $500 for the runner-up. As the entry fee is $100 the coursing men are running for | their own money, the clgb adding noth- ng. On May 30 and June 1 the ciub will promote a special stake, in which the wiriner will receive $350; runner-up $15, and third $60. This spread of the sport of the leash throughout the country must redound to the benefit of the men interested in it here. Inclosed coursing has its highest development State. The greyhounds have ars been bred fashionable lin being fortified w best blood in England. It is to the Cali- fornia breeders the men of Texas and the Middle West must come when they wish to secure greyhoundas which can win in any company. They will be impressed with this idea after the showing tne Cali- fornia dogs wiil make in the fortncoming this for several y campaign. J. L. Ross will leave here for Texas on Tuesday with K and Game Boy, from his own ke , and several repre- sentativi from the kennel of J. H. Kos- seter. He may also take George Mal- com’'s Fine Fire Tommy” Murname, a clever little handler of greyhounds, will accompany Mr. Ro: 1t Beacon and Rector may T luma sold to Ralph McCaftrey will continue as head trainer. After a brief stop in St. Louis he will go to Texas for the im- portant meetings to be held there. Sisquoc is the star of the kennel and is expected to render a good account of himself. L. F. and T. W. Bartels of Denver will send six dogs to Texas from their Colo- puppy by For iled by a trai The dog wi at Baden some days sinci ten months old and we He was considered one of on the coast. P. J. Reilly has sold Royal Union to a Los Angeles coursing man. The black dog should win his share of the prizes now being offered in the south. James Dean's black dog, Cpnnemara, once the idol of the followers of coursing, has been lost. While being exercised some time since he mysteriously disap- peared and no trace of his whereabouts can be found. It is supposed he was picked up by some one and is kept under restraint. “Con” has seen his best days on_the field. Palo Alto has recovered from his recent injuries, but will not be seen in competi. tion for two months vet. George MacE. Malcom's fast young greyhound Aeolus is in the hospital un- dergoing treatment for an injured leg. If he recovers entirely he will_be sent East to try for the American Waterloo clg next fall. r. F. P. Clark, a coursing enthusiast of Stockton, was in the city on Wednes- day. Dr. Clark owns Phosphorous and a number of other young greyvhounds of promise. He also owns Royal Anne, once a well known performer here. ‘There will be coursing at Stockton every Sunday until May 1, when the field will ‘e’ given over to the baseball people. s%uersx;]g will be resumed again about Oc- ober PRISONERS TO STAND TRIAL IN UPPER COURT Ah Jyn Is Held for Murder and Al- fred Kenny and W. Connolly for Burglary. Ah Jim, who says his true name is Chuey Dip, was held to answer before the Superior Court yesterday by Judge Mo- gan on a charge of murder. In the after- noon of February 11 he shot and killed Chung How at Washington street and Ross alley and was pursued and captured by Sergeant Conboy. Alfred Kenny and Willlam _Connolly were held to answer by Judge Mogan on a charge of burglary. They a accused of breaking into a stable at 36 Lapidge street March 1 and stealing a_horse, wag- on and harness belonging to William Kil- patrick. They were in addition sen- tenced to sixty days’ imprisonment each for having burglars’ tools in their posses- sion and thirty days for cruelty to ani- mals. They are about 19 years of age, but have been in trouble before. B —_—— Pleads Guilty to Burglary. Thomas Coursey pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary in Judge Cook’s court yesterday and was ordered to appear for sentence March 22. He bgoke into W. H, 'l‘frkln‘ulsalo;)r‘l’ at 19 a\llguloma street on e morning of Januar; and was caugl in the place. t i ed si g 4 the best “‘pros- 0 the East on the field. is heard in these strenuous times. game. liskes a new one. rainy season. practice. sent the hammer the inches. | mark he will finally set. field. avoid being struck. ‘Wants Meetings Held Regularly. ‘William A. Cubery, a member of the Merchants’ Association, yesterday sent a communication to Frank J. Symmes, president of the grganization, asking that the regular qudrterly meetings be held as required by a section of the association’s constitution. Secretary King states that the meetings have been discontinued be- cause business requiring an expression of e e o e e THIS ROTUND YOUNG MAN IS NOT PRACTICING DELSARTE, NOR IS HE STUDYING THE ARTS OF ORATORY. THIS IS ALFRED W. PLAW, THE MOST WONDERFUL HAMMER-THROWER IN THE WORLD—AND THAT IS SAYING A GREAT DEAL. THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS HIM JUST AFTER HE HAS RELEASED THE PARTICULAR KIND OF “HAMMER"” HE WIELDS. by Judge Lorij ing the close, opinion oM the part of the members can | committed early in September of last be conducted with greater facility by |year, but a settlement of the matter has mcnas of a postal card vote. Cubery's been delayed until now through litigation stafflan proportions, is practicing daily against the time he will be called upon to meet the greatest athletes of His specialty is “hammer-throwing,” of which a great deal This student of the Uni- versity of California gives promise of beating the world at the He learned the artofrom *“Tom’* Carroll of Fruitvale, who holds all the world’s professional records. displaces a record credited to Carroll he goes out and estab- When any one Plaw in street attire or even in the abbreviated costume of the athlete’ would never be picked out for a strong man. His muscles of steel are concealed from view, but they are imme- diately below the surface, ready for action. is doing a lot of work to make up for time lost during the Just. now Plaw He considers one hundred trials with the hammer a day's He does not exert himself each time, but hurls the sixteen-pound affair an average distance of 125 feet. Some- times he sends it twenty-five feet farther, just to show that he can do it. Some weeks since he let out an extra link and extraordinary distance of 187 feet 4 John Flanagan's world's record 1s 171 feet 5 inches. The intercolleglate record of 154 feet 41 inches is heid by Plaw, This shows his remarkable improvement since last season, He is still on the up grade and it is futile to predict the He has remarkable control of the unwieldy implement, being able to place it on any part of the Trainer Christie has been coaching him at this. “Throw it here,’” he shouts, and a moment later the big ball comes hurtling toward him. He has to move quickly to Plaw retrieves the hammer, thus getting a fair amount of walking exercise during the time allotted for his practice. ———————— Game Law Violator Is Punished. Chief Deputy Vogelsang of the Fish Commission reports that Paul Haagen, a San Jose fish dealer, has been fined $200 n for selling salmon dur- eason. i31ue and Gold Team Meets Cardinal of Stanford and Then Goes East to Conquer. ' VER at Berkeley oval Alfred W. Plaw, a youth of Fal- At present he is using the baseball field, that being the only suitable piece of ground for the work. STANFORD UNIVERSITY, March 14.—Continued rainy weather for the past month has so hampered work on both the diamond and track that the Stanford athletes are far be- hind the form they should be in at this season of the year. ‘With the first intercollegiate baseball game but three weeks off, the varsity team has shown itself an easy mark for the Santa Clara College players on three different occasions, and anything but varsity ball is being played. At present the nine men playing on the team are not showing the form at the bat they were earlier in the season. What promised to be a heavy hitting aggregation is retrograding into a mediocre bunch. The personnel of the Infleld is far from being settled. Mec- Gilyray seems to have won the position behind the bat. He has a good arm for base-throwing, but is not a sure catcher. In the box McFarland, Parker, Fritch and Rowland have been given a chance to show their ability and there seems little choice among them. All of them pitch a fair game, *but Mec- Farland and Parker seem. in the lead. Brown on third and Captain Cowden at second are the only old varsity men on the infield, excepting Parker, who was varsity pitcher last season. Crawford at shortstop plays his position well, although it is a new one to him. The principal difficulty which Coach Swin- dells has met with Is the securing of a good first-base man. At present Blake is showing the best form of any of the can- didates, but he is new at the position and his work is uncer- tain, the field position: Lowenthal, Capp and Knight apparently have cinched Trainer “Dad" Moulton held a preliminary try-out of the track athletes ¥ displayed by the men. esterday and was well satisfled with the form The first track meet on the campus oval will be held on March 22 between the sophomore team and the Ukiah High School athletes. The '04 team is consid- ered the strongest team in college and should win the contest. On Junior Class day, March 28, the annual interclass field day will be held, at which-a chance will be given to get a line on varsity possibilities. of tne The offense was L i e B Y ) suggestion, however, will be given due consideration at the first meetin; board of directors of the association. Must Relinquish Title to Land. The Supreme Court decided yesterday that Nora O'Laverty of Los Angeles was not entitled to the land deeded to her by Mrs. Julia Collins a few days previous to the latter’'s death. Thomas J. Collins, ad- ministrator of the deceased's brought suit against Mrs. O'Laverty recover the propesty, practically alleging in the complaint that the deed had been secured fraudulently. The upheld his claim und the Supreme Court ' now affirms that decision. estate, to lower court | MacGavin STILL AFTER DAVIS' CUPS Tennis Players ' Unable to Dispose of Trophies. tennis tournament on the California Club courts to-morrow for the Davis Cups. These trophies have been up for two years and a half, and it begins to look as if they might finally be disposed of. That they wiil go to either the Smith brothers or Collier and Crowell is almost a certainty. These two teams have each won the cups three times, and as there is no team with its name on the cups once now in existence one of the two former teams is almost sure to win them perma- nently. The club members are all desirous of having the cups disposed of, but do not seem to favor the plan of letting the THEKE will be a handicap doubles two leading teams play a series of matches for them. Should Collier and Crowell and the Smith brothers come together to-morrow the latter will again receive odds of “half- fifteen.” With these odds they won the last tournament but by a small margin. The brothers are entitled to a small handicap, as Chet Smith is a class below the other three men. There will probably be eight or ten teams take part to-morrow, and unless Handicapped out of it one of the two leading teams should win the tournament. The University of California will hold its doubles tryout on the college courts to-day. It was set for last Saturday, but had to be postponed on account of rain. | The opposing, teams will be Drummond MacGavin and Fred Brown, Reuben Hunt and George Baker. The latter have won several practice matchgs from their op- ponents recently and are therefore strong favorites. MacGavin is easily the best doubles player in coliege. Brown, al- though a good man in singles, does not play at all well in doubles. would probably make the strongest combination. The latter, on ac- | count of his superiority in this form of play, should be conceded a place on the doubles team. Stanford has at last hit upon a good plan of choosing her men for the intercol- legiate matches. A round-robin tourna- ment will be held, from which all team players of previous years will be excused. The three men winning the greatest number of points in these preliminary matches will be pitied against the team men of the previous year. Harry Wiehe is the only man at Stanford who has played in an intercollegiate match, and he is sure of getting a place. The men who will tr¥ for the other two places are Hooper, Moore, Baker and the Lieb broth- ers. Wiehe has a chance of winning his match in singles. It is doubtful if he and any partner he can get can win the doubles. The other singles match is sure to go to California. On the whole, Stan- ford’s chances this year are not good, but tennis is an uncertain game, in which the unexpected often happens. The handicap singles tournament for juveniles, held on the Golden Gate Park courts, are proving popular among the boys. In the last event of this kind there were sixteen entries, and some good matches resulted. A large tournament of this kind is being planned for week after next. The schools will be closed and a great number of boys will undoubtedly take part. An enthusiast has offered a racket as first ;)'rha Dr. Sumner Hardy is out practicing al- most every evening now and is fast re- ga(nini his old form. His brother Sam made his reappearance on the courts on Tuesday, but was out of practice and groved easy prey for Sumner. It is doubt- ul if either will take part in any cham- plonship events. Judge Lambkin, a crack player from ‘Woodland, visited the courts during the week. The Judge is of the opinion that the Sacramento. tournament this year will be the largest and most important | ever held in that part of the State. ——— Handball Matches. The handball matches in San Francisco Court to-morrow will be betwes - lowing players: . et W. Williams and D. Connell: and M. Joyce: E. Maloney and P, Hurihionn vs. W. Kelly and P. Kelly; ¥. Fatrbanks va. ‘W. Johnson ‘and G trend 3 T, Giynn aod 'A. Whiteman. . . Hutckincon vs. M. Dillon and T. McManus: R. Murphy and E. Curley vs. J. Riordan aoi T Harlow: J. White ang W. Mesgraes, end vs. J. Pennoyer and G. lire v, I Collins and T. Leach: J. C. N Linehan vs. J. Fitzgerald and X.mu;(n‘:.dnet —_—— Rod-Wielders in Competition. The members of the San Francisco Fly- casting Club will meet at Stow Lake this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock to take part in their regular competition. They will :‘neel at the same place to-morrow morn- ng. Hunt and | | select the erew and control their practic TIWILL UNFURL SAILS OF THE CHALLENGER The San Francisco Yacht Club Boat Ready for Trial. Members Will See Her in Action To- Morrow. URING the past week Boatkeeper Lang of the San Francisco Yacht Club has been busy rigsing the challenger which was successfully launched last Saturday afternoen in the presence of a large number of the I known yachtsmen of the bay. The work is not yet complete, but the oiling and varnishing of the spars and other mat#¥ ters will be done next week. To-morro the sails ..l be bent on and the membe of the San Francisco Yacht Club w muster in force at the clubhouse to the challenger under way for the f time. The committee which was appoint ed by ex-Commodore W. McCarthy to ccllect subseriptions for the building of a challenger has now accomplished its work, having not only collected the nece sary amount of mon on and built the boat. committee have been 1 and it POWers c acht owner will be held to-morrow at the ¢! at Sausalito, when it will be de whose hands the management of challenger shall pa A be appointed to take ch cruises. . Among th ered on the to yachtsmen who were ga whart la ard overhang will pound in a heavy short sea often encountered in the bay prevalence of the strong summer Among the spectators were many inthians, including (,'()j'nmuflcr; E. I[-l : during wind Cor ger, ex-Commodore: ew, Hawks and T. F. Tra E. B. Leaming E. Howard, Jack Short, W. Fisher, Or twood and J. V. O'Brien, who ful pect the challenger will win the petual cup. There was a large att ance of membe of the San Franc Yacht Club, among them being ex-Commo- dcres C. H. Harrisom. Isidor Gutte, W. E yd Morrel, corge . H. H. Jenness, G G. A. Mueller, W. A Morrcw, W. M. Edgell, A. F. Broad,"Cap- tain Matthew Turner, W. Mersfelder and Commodore R. 8. Bridgman. Commodors S. S. Marshall of the California Yac! Club was also on hand. of the California Yacht n their vessels, mak- for opening day, April 5. At ing ready the last meeting of the directors commit tees were appointed to take charge of the entertainment to be given on openi night in the clubhouse. The jinkg com- mittee consists of W. M. Ramsay, G. L. Wakeman and W. McBain. The recep- tion committee is made up of ex-Commo- dore A. Clay, L. I. Gale, August R ¥. Brand, ing and A. G. Byx- I bee. E. Iter and G. M. Shaw 3 the co: on catering, and J. J. Sherry is charged with the duty of look- ing after the transportation of visitors and members across the creek. William Humphreys of the Corinthian Yacht Club, who last season chartered the sloop Mischief in conjunction with T. 8. White, Waiter Burnett, A. F. Cham- bers and J. M. Punnett of the San Fran- cisco Yacht Club, will make up a party to charter the same craft this year. The yacht will, however, make her headquar- ters at Tiburon, and it is probabie the party will be composed of Corinthi Waller Burnett expects to leave Califor- nia for the Orient this year, and G. T. S. White is likely to be one of the crew of the San Francisco chalienger. Cemmodore R. S. Bridgman of the San Francisco Yacht Club has appointed all members of the board of directors on tLe house committee for the coming sea- he regatta committee consists of ex-Commodore T. L. Hill, W. G. Morrow and J. R. Savory, who held the same of- fice ar. The delegates to the Pa- st y cific Interclub Yacht Association are ex- Commodore W. N. McCarthy, J. 8. Cock- erill and G. T. S. White. The committee on the jinks to take place on opening night at_the clubhouse consists of A. F Broad, Willlam Mersfelder and C Gunn. A new yacht, built during the winter by M Stevens, on the lines of the fin keel sloop Discovery, hi recently been launched and s under sail last Sunday. She is twenty-eight feet over all, and safls un- der Corinthian colors. ———— CARSMEN ARE PRACTICING IN SKIFF AND BARGE Members of the Various Clubs Are Already Showing Activity on the Bay. The members of the South End Rowing Club are displaying a good deal of i terest all this time; many going to the clubhouse every Sunday and all the boats being in demand on fine Sundays. Dr. C. C. Dennis takes a spin along the water front in an outrigged skiff two or three times a week. + Despite the discouraging fact that they have had no club quarters for some time, the members of the Ariel Rowing Club nave kept together and, as soon as the consent of Chief Wharfinger Percy Hen- derson is obtained, are ready to remew work on their clubhouse. E. J. Lynen, as a representative of the club, reeently appeared before the Board of Harbor Commissioners, who confirmed the gra:t of a site for a culbhouse and assured the club it might commence the work of con- struction at_once. The members are much pleased with the new location znd are already displaying considerable ac- tivity. A junlor and an intermediate barge crew have been made up and will begin practice at an early day. The junior barge crew consists of Willi McKee, bow; E. Bryant, No. 2; Brady, No. H. Luhrsen, stroke, and Roy est, cockswain. The intermediate barge crew is made up of Charles Wil- son, bow; E. J. Lynch, No. 2; Ed Smith, No. 3; William Keegan, stroke, and«Eddie Hanlon, cockswain. The plans for the new boathouse have been prepared b; Architect R. D. Collins, who is a membe of the Ariel Club. The house will cos about $3000 and will be- quite the hand somest boathouse on the Pacific Coas’ During the past year that the club has had no quarters several of the members have devoted much attention to boxing, among them being Harry Foley, Eddie Hanlon and Teddy Wolfe, who are weil known all over the Pacific Coast. The club has decided to hold an amateur box- ing tournament at Woodward's Pavilion, the profits to be added to the fund for building the new house. At the last meeting of the Ariels James Wilson was appointed matchmaker. Harr; Foley referee and James Wilson, Ed Smith, and Henry Wilson, with E. J. Lynch as chairman, were appointed a committee to take charge of the tournament. The meeting of the Alameda Boat Club on Tuesday night was a record one, forty-six members bcing present. Eight applications for membership were re- ceived. It was decided to limit the num- ber of members to 100. President Charles H. Smith, Secretary ‘W. B. Hinchman and Treasurer A. G. Bell were appointed a committee to at- tend the next mceting of the board of Trade of Oakland, with the view of ascertaining whether or not a public celebration will be held in the city on Independence day and whether a re- gatta will form part of it. If the city will provide funds for a rowing regatta it is intended to set to work upon it in good time and cndcavor to excite as great an interest in it as possible. The annual meeting and eiection of offi- cers of the Olympic Boat Club was held on Monday, March 3, the regular ticket being elected without change. fol, lowing are the directors—C. Brandenstein, A. Bruman, ._Stare, C. W. J. Pembroke and J. H. Dawson. ATHLETES ARE PREPARING FOR SEVERE COMPETITION