ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 407, 16 January 1909, Page 13

ATHLETICS.

(BT Mercuby.)

The voice of the running man is still heard in the land, asking when a meeting is coming along at which ho can display his prowess, A meeting of tho_ centro. was 60heduled for last night, at whicli some news' of .fixtures may. have been forthcoming but. at time of writing this; I have heard nothing of any such engagements. /

The namo of Reg. E. Walker, tho little South African sprinter, is very much to the foro in amateur athletic circles just now. Ho first leapt into famo by winning the 100 metro_ raco at \tho recent Olympic games, equalling tho record Olympic time of 10 4-5 sec. Since then wo' learn from a cablo from Johannesburg, dated January 3, : that he has eclipsed this by covering the distance (109 yards 1 foot) in the marvellous time of 10 2-osec. This cable, followed, on .the heels of another dated' December 29, stating that ho had 7 run 100 yards in 9 2-ssec., and 120.yards in 11 2-ssec. .The times, if accepted, will become, world's records. The previous best was 9 3-ssec. for 100, yards, this having beon achieved by D. J; Kelly, of the U.S.A. 1 , 1906. (Duffy held similar figures, but. the performance was expunged: from tho record book when he was "sent up" for professionalism.) The previous bests _wer&—l2o. yards, 11 4-5 sec., noisted by Philips, Downer, and Bradley, in England, and the great B. J. Wefers, in America.

:. Walker, is small and light for a sprinter, being 6ft. 7in. in height and Bst. 41b. in weight, but his performances place him with tho Queensland professional chanipion A. B. Postle as one of the greatest runners of the ;day. Postle and his manager, Mr. R. Naylor, acooinpanied Walker back from England to South Africa, and apparently no effort was spared to induce'tho amateur, to "go over" with the intention of niaking a match between the sprinters. Tho, attempt was, however, Walker, preferring not : to lose his status—a -state -of affairs'that is very gratifying 1 after tho defections of DoTando, Haves, and others of Olympic fame. "The Latest South African exchange— 'has the following on: the subjeet:—Apparently, ,Mr. Naylor has not given up hopes, thiit eventually a nlatch'can be made, though it. is certain the amateur .'authorities in this country will nevor permit a raco between a -professional and- an amateur for any con.sidoration.'. Mr. Naylor, however, • has now offered to provide a purse value £600 sterling for; such a racfe, the stakes 'to.be lodged with a. representative, newspaper, in Johannesburg, 'and the officials for the event to. bo appointed :bv such newspaper. _ Tho proposed distance of the t&co. to ne either ' 100 yards or .120 ' lyaTds, contingent , with a second.'race at Durban, distance 75 , yards, and a. final doI cider at Sydney, for a.purso of £SOO, together, with Walker's' expenses to, Australia, this latter race. to he run over .a distanco of 100. yards. These terms establish a '.record ; : in so far as the value.' of ..'the. event 'is ooncerncd) and the promoter, shows every desire to arrange a. record race, but; his hopes of making such a match aro. futile, as "The •Latest" is authorised to state that tile offer has been firmly, but politely, declined.

Two .New Zealand Marathon items from exchanges (IV The Ashburtcm Marathon, in ' which a deal ot interest-is being taken, .is .to be held at the end of March. Thocourso ,of. twenty miles is.from Rakaia to,Ashburton. A tjophy, valued ,at 25 guineas goes to the ..winner. • (2).1t has been; decided to hold ithe New : . Zealand Amateur Marathon Raco at Auckland ' oii Saturday, March fls. A 1 •sports meeting under. tho, auspices of the Auckland, Amateur Athletic. Association will be held ;in conjunction with the classic event. ' "Classic event" in, connection -with , a race that has, yet to come off for. time is , enterprising, if not good.' .Moreover, by what, ; authority is , the: event, entitled the I "Ne\v Zealand Amateur Marathon','?:■,

Tho Wellington Centre will dear about £35 on the Provincial Championship Mooting on ,' January 1, so a strong representation at tho ;Now Zealand.Championship• .gathering is as-, 5ura1,;...... : C.: Dorando.- is.defying alike the, extreme anti-. aloollolio-' school and tho okh-fashiOned'. training by'.his.',preparation for the-Marathon race :with '.•HhyesvOjaj's,the,:'.'Pall;' Gazette''). .'From>the-,'.!J).aily -Mail" wo learnthat 'he 'Washes .down'.his coffee -in'trie morning- with a .draught of Chianti, which.,.wakes, :him up; takes mbro:'of, : the same, wine '.before,, ho goes' to -the'training ground; calls- for; v and gets more'-as soon. as ho-(eels tiredand, disposes•' i' of three': quarts ..of, it altogether,-.during the' day. ' ; His /-brother- says that'ft: drink of Chianti :'at ~tho :right. moment would ■ have 1 picked him ,tip in, the■ Stadium and .won tho race. >Jhjs: exporiencd' of Dorando's.'i is sig.nificant.' .-It confirms tho general ; broad loc? i trine .that, .in > matters of training-, and of the regimen ;of 'ordinary life, it iS;impossiblo to lay dpwn . strict rules. -. ,One..man?s meat. ,is another-nian's poison,. and.wine,that would "out'.' one, man's legs, as Alpine guides say, strengthens another's. . 'i Says ,a. Dunedin writer to : tho holiday,.season there is nothing stirring in athletic circles hero. Hector Burk is not

seriously, and I _ rather fancy we haver seen the last of his high-class performances on the track. Young Burk, .'a.-l brother of Hector, is shaping well, and fans | the makings of a high-grado distance-run-ner." , .