ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

C. Griffin, the New Zealander, was de"feated in Melbourne by F. Tborne, the Westralian, after a 22-round contest, the referee ordering two extra rounds before giving a decision on points. F. B. Thompson, holder of the sevenmile walking championship, did a fine performance last month, when attempting the feat of walking seven miles and running 10 miles -without a break iv two hours. Thompson accomplished his task with 2min 58sec to spare, as he covered the seven-mile walk in 56min 26see and ran the allotted ten miles in Ihr 36sec.

Anthony Wilding brought off a treble event at Wiesbaden, for he not only won the open singles, and thus retained the Wiesbaden Cup, which he won last year, but he captured once more the Wiesbaden Championship Singles, and partnered by Simond won the doubles. In the'

first-mentioned event Wilding went through to the final round with only one 6et Scored against him, viz., by Simond, whom he had heat-' in the first round. Hammacher, who was to have met Wilding in the final of the cup, scratched and left the Antipodean to walk' over. In the I championship, Wilding waltzed right through the competition, never a set be-| ing scored against him. His opponent in the final was Simond, but this time the latter failed to play up to his proper form and was beaten by three sets* to love and 18 games to 5 (6 —1, 6— 2, 6—2). In the doubles, Wilding and Simond were "all over" their several adversaries in each round, including the final, in which they easily accounted for Eeuter and Kuetgem by three sets to love and 18 games to 8 (6—2, 6—2, 6—4).

This is the second time this year Wilding has secured the triple crown at a tournament. In the London Covered Courts Championships, it will be remembered, he wop the singles, and, with M. G. J. Ritchie and Miss Eastlake-Smith. as partners, won the Gentlemenjs Doubles and the Mixed Doubles.

After a splendid tussle, the billiard match of 14,000 points up for £35 a-side, between Fred. Weiss, the Australian exchampion, and Cecil Harverson, the South African ex-champion, at Thurston's Hall, ended in a victory for Weiss by the small margin of 224. During the first half of the game Weiss was at one period over 1000 behind, and later Harverson was nearly as far in arrears, but during the last few days the men played "neck and neck." When play was resumed on Saturday afternoon, Weiss held an advantage of 108, but soon after starting Harverson went in front. Then Weiss came out with a magnificently compiled 322, and was leading by 309 at the interval. At night the opening play promised a most exciting finish. Harverson went after Weiss, and actually got to within 46 of his man. But then Weiss got going and with 127, 99 and 119, unfinished, rushed to his points, the final scores being 14,000 to 13,776 in the Australian's favour. Taking into consideration that at one stage he was considerably over 1000 behind, Weiss's victory was a singularly good performance. He had to play particularly well to win, for Harverson was also in very good form. Indeed, it is open, to doubt whether either played better billiards in any previous match during the season. Altogether it was a very good match, and one contested on excellent sporting lines from start to finish.