ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

Shrubb and Duffey make their first Australasian appearance on Saturday ■nest at Melbourne. Shrubb will compete in the first event {half-mile) in the match between Sutton or Wheat-lev aad an a two miles handicap, while Duffey will race in the 75 and 100 yards handicaps. At Bendigo on February 22 the 220 yds. and three-mile championships mil be* decided, and the mile match (Shrubb v. Wheatley or Sutton). At Melbourne on February 25 the programme includes the mile walk, hammerthrowing. 440 yds.. pole jump, mile fiat. 440 yds-"hurdles, long jump (championships),' first-class handicap of 100 yds.. 120 yds. handicap, and a long distance relay race (Shrubb v. local runners). It was slated at the meeting of the X.Z. Council that the cost per man for the visit of two Australian athletes to compete at The meetings in Xe%v Zealand at which Shrubb and Dnffey will be the principal attractions will be about £50. Naturally the impending visit of Shrubb and Duffey is causing a keen training enthusiasm among local athletes, both distance runners and sprinters alike. Some of the "retired" brigade are considering the question of "just once more.' , and of this number I am, told that the Canterbury College crack, W. H. Moves, has definitely decided to compete at the next championship meeting, which this year takes place at Lan-, caster Park on the occasion of the visit of Shrubb and Duffey (says "Sprinter" in the "Canterbury Times , '). At a boxing match in Paris between seven English and as many French amateurs, the Englishmen won by five to two. An applicant for reinstatement as an amateur at the last meeting of the ~S-Z. Council stated n.e one of his reasons for applying that he was now able to do without cash! Prior to his departure for Australia and .Sew Zealand. Alfred Shrubb. competicg in the Five-mile Handicap for the Croydon Harriers' Challenge Cup. finish- 1 ed second from scratch and accomplished the fa-stest time. Shrubb retains the cup another year. Hector Bnrk is anxious to meet the redoubtable Alfred Shrubb on even terms over the mile course (says "Ama- ! teur v in the '"Otago Witness"). All I can say in connection therewith is that, fit and well, there will be a great race ' over 1760 yards on the eventful March 11. and the Horsham wonder will have ' to tuck his toes pretty rapidly under- ' neath himself to shake the Otago man ■' off at the business end of the trip. J. J. Daly, the Irish athlete, returned from America, last, month, after a most ( successful athletic tour of the United , States and Canada. Interviewed on hip arrival by '"Freeman's Journal." he stated his principal object in going to Ame- ' Jeff Ireland on July 3]— was to • compete in the Marathon race of twenty- i five miles at St. Louis. This event was ■ held on the Athletic Grounds of the ' Exhibition on August 28. but unfortunately he was unable to compete owing : to temporary illness. "I,* , said he. "'was j so disappointed at the result of my . journey that 1 determined to stay in the > Slates during the athletic season and t compete in any other long distance , events that offered." - ' "You have been . pre.tty successful?'' remarked' the interviewer. "Oil. yes.'" said Daly. "I have , boon both successful nnd lucky. Going out 1 did not expect to win more than two firsts; but nf the nine races in ', which I ran. four of which were championships. I won seven, including the four championships. At New York on Sepi-embcr 5. after returning from St." J Louis. I captured the two miles steeplccha.se championship of America, and in ' this event I came inside the standing ] American record. On September 24. at - Montreal, I won the one and two miles llat championships of Canada, and at ' Travers Island. New York, on November ! 27. secured the Xew York Metropolitan 1 Crcss-C'cuntry Championship rather ' casilv." <