ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 419, 30 January 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Br Meeouet.)

; , COMING EVENTS. ' | i February 27.—P.N.'A.A.C. Carnival. • I . March.—W.A.A.G. Autumn Meeting; New r i Zealand Championships (Dunedin). ! March 20.-C.Y.&1.A.A.0. Meeting (Basin I " Reservo) j Aucklaud Marathon Meeting. j : March 25.—Ashhurton Marathon Meeting. i ' ' '. i I / The athletic dispute has at last reached a \ , *tage fiom which something definite with \ regard to tho status of the two bodies claim- ! . ing to bo tho council of the N.Z.A.A.A. must ! eventuate. Briefly, tho present position is '. this: THo.executivo of tho Australasian Union f has decided that all dealings with New Zea- [ land matters must be temporarily suspended f ' pending the receipt of instructions from tho ' , affiliated State associations as to future pro- ' ' cedure. This practically means that the i settlement of tho. affair is placed in the- hands !' ■ of! the athletic associations of New South I "Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Aus- [ ' i tralia, and Tasmania. Tho matter was * 'brought to a head by a letter to the A.A. i ' , Union from the Chnstchuvch "council" ref ' igarding tho proposed alliance between the ! Australasian Union, the A.A. Union of tho I United States, and tho English A.A.A. Of f course, it <s recognised tbat this letter ( ■ was merely a "try on." on the part of. Mr. f 'Atack's adherents to obtain recognition by I %ho governing body, which, however, was i ."■ too wary to accopt the bait, and tho present ' ', dead-lock is the outcome. "-Prodigal' (Mr. . E. Coombes) states the position, very dearly, f> sw follows:— ' ' i I i -I A decision has been come to that the Ausl . ■ tralian State associations must be consulted j , and asked for instructions as to future prot tj ' l ceduro in tho Now Zealand crisis, i The quesV- ' tion of what is to bo dono is one that the I executive offieers affirm the State associations j must take tho responsibility of saying. .It is -' no matter of th* secession of *a portion of }, ■ the N.Z.A.A.A , ., or tho formation of a new '' body across tho Tssman Sea, which confronts j tho executive,' but a clcar-cnt ftatement from t , - a council m Wellington (with Dr. A. K. Newi - man as president and Mr.'W. G. Talbot as [ ' secretary-tre-surer) which in effect says that • at" a meeting of centres hold in Christchurch j: it was resolved that no valid electibn for the '' . year 1908-9 has taken place in New Zealand, I a.nd that the council in Christchnrch< (Mr. ', > - . -W. G. Ataok pre3Jdont, and Mr. J. H. Aitf k«n secretary-trtsaurer) is a council only 1 / in/namo. With each body'claiming to bo r ' the " Council of tho New Zealand A.A.A.," ' " the executive ;o£ the Tinion has determined (. ( to .temporarily suspend official relationship •' * with tho N.Z.A.A.A. pending instructions as i to how , to proceed—in. point of fact, no other r /course is open. The oxecutive officers - are, t , and havo_ been all along, closely in 'touch i. ' with what is going on in the athletic world in New Zealand, but deem that they have no J ' power to deal with a. case of the kind m ; ' evidence to-day-in the Dominion. It is iml possible for things to go on as they are, < - because, seemingly, quite outsido" the matter of control and procedure there will shortly ' f 'be two sets of New Zealand championships— '• and two New Zealand teams' for the next I . Australasian> championships 'in Brisbane, whereas only one team could be accepted. J It will be a matter of great regret to all ' athletic lovers in New Zealand to learn that ' Harry c Henderson, the Wellington ' sprinter, [ present 100 yards champion of tho^Dominion, and ox-sprint champion of New South Wales and Australia, has definitely decided to leave I l tbe;tracks','for good. Henderson has made 1 ; himself extremely popular, both witU hie run- ■ • ning confreres and the publio/not only T)j Iris athletic capabilities, but also'by his Etei- . l 'ling qualities and his modest, unassuming '[ demeanour, both on and off the track. In I Bhortj'"Harry" has always been one of the l_, ' "Ancient and Honourable Order of White I Hen," and is one of'those'thorough-going j ' > eports whose retirement is always a serious f - loss to any branch of athletics. That Mb career ", ' has been a long and honourable ono ie eviI denoed by tho following list of his perform- |, anees in big events' since his boyhood. The i record is ono of which any, runner may 'noil 1 ■ feel proud,'and is well worth production in ; , full , :— ■ First, 100 yds. championship of New South" Wales Schools and Colleges,'under 9 years; . i Ist, 100 yds.. ohampioMhip of, New .South I 'Wales Schools and Colleges, under 12-years; f Ist. 100 yds. championship of Now • South i , 'Wale 3 Schools and Colleges, under 15 years; "■ Ist, 100 yds. championship of "New South .Wales Metropolitan (Sydney) Colleges, all agcej 220yd4. championship of Now South t ' Wales Metropolitan (Sydney) Colleges, all i ages; Ist,, 100 yds. championship of New ' , South Wales Colleges, all'ages; 220 yds ' ' championship of New South Wales Colleges, all ages; .Ist,. lOOydff., 220yda., 440yde., : ' Cadet Forces of New South Wales. ; Queen's Diamond Jubilee.—let, 150 yds. r championship; all schools and colleges; Ist, . ' 440 yds. championship all schools and colleges. ' Sydnoy - Harriers ' (Athletic Clnb).—lst, IOQydB. and 220 yds. championship of olub: ' • ' • Ist, Eight Hour Day Handicap: let, Prospect ' and Sherwood Handicap, 2nd, Cardinal's Cup-rthree' beet handicaps of yearj Ist, 100 yds. handicap, Sydney .University' Sports; ' Ist, 220vds. handicap, Sydney 'University Sports—both scratch; Ist, 100 yds. handicap, South Sydney Club's Sports (scratch); 2nd, '220 yds. handicap, .South Sydney .Club's Sports (scratch); Ist, 160 yds. handicap. Enst Sydney Club's Handicap; Ist, 100 yds. handicap, Highland Gathering; Ist, 220 yds. han- ; dicap, Highland Gathering; member South ' Sydney relay champion team; Ist, 120 yds. handicap' Bathurst Club; Ist, 100 yds. handicap. Goulburn Club: 2nd, 220 yds. championship of New, Soutn Wales, defeated by f 6m. by Stan. Rowley; Ist, 100 yds. champion- ; Bhip of New'South'Wales (open); 2nd, 440 [ yds. championship of New South Wales j (opon) (Oxlade Ist). 1 Commonwealth. Government Celebration Eports.—lst, 100 yds. championship of Ausr - tralia (H. Hunter, Victoria, 2nd); Ist, 100 yds. championship of West Districts, at . • Bathunt (New Sou,th Wales). Test races'for , New South Wales team for New Zealand— Ist, 100yds'. (Barker, '2nd): Ist, 220 yds. (Barker, 2nd). ' ' j Australasian Championship, Auckland.— ' 100 yds. championship, Moir (Vio.) 1, Goo. 1 Smith (N.Z.), and Henderson (dead heat) 2, ■ Henderson's 'timo 10 1-lOsco (standard cap and badge); 220 yd?. championship, Moir (Vic} 1, Henderson 2; represented New. South Wales at Melbourne, but indisposed, and oould not compete in 100 yds. championthin. Wellington (New Zealand) Provincial I Championship.—lst, 100 yds.; Ist, 220 yds.;' Ist, 100 yds. championship of Now Zealand (Christchurch), 1907; 2nd, 220 yds. championship of New Zealand (Christehurch), 1907;! Ist, 100 yds. championship of New Zealand' - (Wellington), 1908; 2nd, 220 yds. champion-' ehip of New Zealand (Wellington), 1908. Represented New Zealand at Hobart, 1908,. - unplaced 100 yds.; Ist, 75yds. Invitation Scratch Race (Basin Reserve); W.A.A.C. relay team, let; Ist, 100 yds. Butement Cup (Masterton), lOseo.: 2nd, 100 yds. handicap Hutt; Ist, 200 yds, Invitation Scratch Race; Ist, 100 yds, handicap, evening meeting, at ' Bas'n Reserve. Represented New South Wales twice, Auckland and Molbournej represented' New Zealand once, Hobart; represented Wellington Provinee twice, Christchurch and Wellington. It is interesting te note that during his New Zonland career Henderson has only annexed two handicap evonts. * Nothing could " testify more strongly than this to the respect in which he was hold by the various handicappers and to the fact that ho was always a " trier," and' that he never tried to " run off " the big starts ho was always asked to give away. The muoli-talkcd of meeting bctwebn'MulCdhy (the Wellington provincial three-milo champion) and Sharpe (Australasian nnd New Zealand champion over the same distance) duly took place at tho W.A.A.C. evening meeting on Wednesday, and, as was generally oxpertod, rpsnlt-ed in Sharpe beating his ODDonent. Tho raco took tnq form of a

three-mile hu which nine started, with" the two champions,. of: course, on the ibaok.mark: When; a mile had been traversed apparent that the , scratch men' were confining their attentions solely- to one :anothori and .taking, no notice of tho handicap; :mon. At', the'- mile the leaders were -Harvey/-Thompson) and-M'Grath in.that or-' ,der,,'and ;in the sixth-lap Thompson moved up into'the lead, and from then on was never troubled: ■.■ The.,interest-'thenceforth was. con T : .fined,, to...the scratch ,, men, ..who, with Mulcahy in the lead by a yard; had covered the first-mile-in vSznin. "lOsec.':'; In .the seventh lap .Shai-po.mado'a determined effort to pass his m ? an,;b'ut;.'the.)qh'allonge: was .stalled.off; ■ and'the positions were unchanged at'tho two ■mile,-- .Time,: lOmin., ; B6sec'.'•. Sharps, was by tho* Mngiug" mit signals /of .distress, while Mulcahy lopkcd:.full of running; '.Thompson •at this', stage l was pegging along nearly half a;)ap;to the.igopd.yand the'rest of the field had "retired.; ;,In. the eleventh lap Sharpe .created a ; ' sensation* by. ; passing Mulcahy af~ : ter. a, sprints and counter sprint, and at .thebell iwas* leading- by a "couple'- of. .yards; but looking very .done up. : In/fact, it appeared :,as ..though,,eyery,step would bo ■iis.,lost,vand.■even.,those iwhoV;were!■ accustomed to his :deceptive .'■" used-up" appear..aiice felt their confidence'shaken, more, .es- ■ pecially as' Mnlcahy. was '": striding; but' apparently full of.. vigour.' 1 .•;.Bilt: they..reckoned: 'without; thteir' -Sharps.;-, ;Whon about 100. yaT.ds;,,of,\tho;::last,i,lap ;had :been covered; Sharpe.. crowded ,pn all 'sail, ;and .put in a :MV- : tto';:'^mingly'.'- ; |)'rolto;-hi8.';'opponent's-' heart;:and-whenlhalf:.way round had/a lead , ' of twonty.-yards:.. If .anything,- he'increased this: v:to-thel'straight, I .;:when. Mulcahy. showed that he could have accepted Sharpe's :earlier. cha'lenge ; ,by putting in a-fast finish-' that reduced;,tß©;ga_p.;to':about fifteen yards.' Sharpe'-; lan;: ■'&'■ hard,';determined r'racej and ; did but ■Mnlcahy , 8 i '-;^Sormence' v :iiv-;tl}eVlaßt:-lttp...was. :disappointing to' his .'supporters. Meanwhile Thompson hadj won the. raceby.,loo yards in 15min. :46sec ; |.; but'tho.exceUeiice of his 'run-passed'practically-.uniioticMdivl''' . ; ,-. ■■-.' .-••I 'hear thatvW> : iH;i; Pollook has. sustained ft ; ; 6train;:b'f ;■-'»' tendon; in J the 1 thigh- that.will, keep, him'off;the'track fertile future.' This; is an unfortuhate.finish :to'ia brilliant career, , •but -W.H.l?.' doubtlessV;wjli--find plenty to fill. ■ his: spare;'moments' in ■ continuing; the; the' executive '/department of '. tho" sport. '-"- ■■'• ..:;