AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

(Bv Mercuby.)

• COMIN'G EVENTS. Dec. 21.—Wellington Centre Carnival. Feb. 1. —N.Z. Championships at Basin Reserve. Feb. 29 and March 2—Australasian Championships (Hobart).

1 have to thank Mr. C S. Fraser (secretary)' for a copy of the programme of the sports meeting of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society, to tako place at Timani. The programme is most comprehensive, and the events which are spread over two days, January 1 and 2, comprise dancing, wrestling, running, and cycling, nnd include four open amateur events on each day.

The W.A.A.C.'s evening meeting on Wednesday attracted tho usual crowd, and provided some excellent sport. All tho events except the mile walk were open to members of the club only, which rather detracted from the general interest, as the public like to see all the "guns" out, irrespective of the clubs they represent.

The half-mile was an oxcollent race, and provided another win for, "Scotty" Lambert, who appears.to.have got the habit.. Among the starters was Dr. Patrick, late of Otago University, where he made a reputation as a quarter and half-miler. His stylo is very attractive, and he has an easy strido that' covers a lot of ground, and only want of condition lost him a place at 'the finish. Peter M'Coll has him in hand, so' we shall hear more of .him. Thoso old opponents, Wilton and W. Gosling, battled out . the second and third places respectively about a yard apart, with Lambert a yard in advance, by which it will be seen that tho handicappers had judged tho starts to a nicety.

The junior 100 yds. was won by R. M. Brewer, a brother of Tim of tha't ilk, of jumping note. Brewer has a strong, if somewhat ungainly, action, and also ran prominently in the 120 yds. open, but was apparently beaten by the distance.

Another old friend showed up in Maurice Burnett, one-time captain of the' Harriers and a very usoful half-milor, who had to give up running on account of an injured knee. Apparently, this member is on good behaviour again, as Burnett got over the halfmile without feeling it at all, and intends to be amongst the starters on December 21. ; W. H. Pollock is in training again, and is doing steady work on tho Collego ground, with a view to having a try at tho 4-lOyds. ohampioiisbip.

This had a curious effect on the. field that" turned nut for the mile walk. Determined not to be beaten for their weekly appearance, sprinters, long-distance runners, middle-distance runners, and some, who in the course of the race appeared to be iii all these classes at once, entered and, like good sports, turned out to make a good .field. Two of the sprinters who were full of promise, were Golds and Woodgcr, their progress being a continual promise to comply with the walking regulations. This promise was never fulfilled. However, their efforts were awarded an ovation, and their battle up the straight.for last place created great" excitement. Both wore disqualified a yard from the tape, so unless they can he.persuaded to walk again is the point as to which the slowest runner must ever remain in doubt. The serious business of the race was conducted by M. Tracy, who started virvual scratch off 110 yds., bis younger brother, and Chappie, each off 200 yds. Chappie and the younger Tracy passed and repassed each other continuously up to the entrance totho straight, who.n the former spoilt an excellent finish by.lifting, and was.passed out by Mr. Leslie. M. Tracy, who-showed his best form to date, was about ton. yards away, .-and,> though'finishing third, was awarded second place. Thei winner walks well and-strides .longer than his brother, and .(with attention to an action that looks 'rather doubtful, at times) will make a good hecl-aiid-toe man.; Chappie. has' my sympathy, as he walked very gamely, but his break was a bad one, and could only be treated summarily.

I was glad to see Wilton turning out again, as I had heard that he. had decided to stand down thisseason, and hope that his win will have the effect of rekindling his enthusiasm. .

Mr. "Billy" Low, ox-champion half-milef, and one of the;founders of the local Centre, is in town. looking after the interests of Pollard's Opera.;.Go'mpany.--.,,- ."'.'-',. ' ..-,-

~F. B. Thqm'.s6iv, : the famous'.walker, recently,; at Stamford Bridge, beat the X'ondon Athletic- Club'Ghallongo Cup record for.scveu flrilos, which had stood for 31 years.. His time was:!s'lmiii.-.l7scc., -the previous .'best having been osec. ..longer.' ' 8. L. Safe! (57min.'30'2-sscc.) was second.

"Dan" O'Lcary, a 63-year-old pedestrian of Boston, recently announced that he would attempt to walk 1000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours on a local track for the benefit of science. Local physicians declare the feat to be an impossibility, but O'Lcary is confident that he will disabuse their minds. Physical tests will bo made each day, and elaborate records kept.

At tho last meeting of the English Amateur Athletic Association some of. the competition rules were revised. Most important of these. ...wore -as follow:—As regards . the hammer,- the head and handle may in'- future be of any '.size,-.shape, or material, provided that the whole length of tho implement does not exceed 4ft., and .the weight be not-less than 161b. In shot putting the put must- bo from a 7ffc. circle in diameter instead of a 7ft. square; and in tho; high jump a com-' petitor may commence jumping at any height he desires, but having commenced must continue attempting at each height as the bar is raised, until he either fail three times or retire. The following records, were passed;—3oo yards hurdles, 38 l-ssee., by O. Grocnings, at the Essex County .Sports, Chelmsford, on July 25, 1907. Quarter-mile hurdles, 57 4-ssec., by J. B. Densham, at the S.L.H. meeting, Kcnnington Oval, September 7, 1907 (ticing Dr. f. M. Donovan's long-standing record), and.London to Brighton and back, 101} miles (walking), in 181ir. 13min. 37scc, on Juno 21 and 22, 1907, by T. E. Hammond.

In order to stimulate interest in the sport, the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association has been holding a' series of handicap events since the opening of the- season. Commenting'on the results "attained,- "Harrier" writes in the "Australasian":—ln the steady increase of entries and the quality of the racing, and the bringing out of a newlot of sprinters, these summer races have fulfilled the best' expectations of the promoters, and there is only one fly in the ointment. Good as somo of these young sprinters are now—and that they will be •bettor by and by is certain—they are not yet in champion class. ..In twelve weeks . our team for the Australasian championships will have to leave for Hobiirt, and we must send sprinters fit to battle with such quality as N. C. Barker (New South Wales), H. Henderson and Goodbehere (Now Zealand), and the cracks of the other States. I suppose F. C. Mueller is not now availablo, and unless Bendigo has some one "in pickle" we must look to Ralph Abercrombie and J. H. Prout. But where are they? Why are they not taking part in these contests ? Abercrombie, for a runner of such undoubted merit, has made singularly few public,appearances, and, it would seem, takes only slight? interest in tho sport; but may wo ask him to let the interests of Victoria at the forthcoming meeting overpass any such personal disinclination, and allow us once for all that he is the even-timer-we believe him to be. . Prout's services are doubly necessary, as, besides his sprinting poxrs, iio is undoubtedly our best longvjur. : . r. One would also like to see G. AT V i it ley competing in the longer sprints; ni ; . ,n fact, it is not too early for the select!;-:, committeo to be getting all the possible members into work.