ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mercury.); COMING EVENTS. To-day.—New Zealand Marathon (Auckland). March 13.—W.A.A.C. Autumn Meeting, Basin Reserve. March 17.—Combined flanks' Sports. March 20.—New Zealand Championships (Dunedin). Marcli 25. —Ashburton Marathon. Easter Monday.—University Tournament. To-day at Auckland, in conjunction with a sports mooting organised by tho resurrected Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, will bo held tho first so-called "Marathon raco in tho Dominion. Ono writes "so-called" becauso this event has no claim to tho title of "Marathon" except that it is a longer road race than usual. The distanco is not as long as tho classic fixture by half, and the raco will not call for tho e.xerciso of tlioso qualities of endurance that make tho ono good feature of this class of event. However, the venture has received tho approval and sanction of the powers tbat woro when tho project was first mooted, and has been stamped with tho hall mark of "N.Z." So it will go down to posterity as the first official "N.Z. Marathon." The various centres have taken the matter up with enthusiasm, and the different districts represented give tho raco almost an intcrprovincial importance Tho most prominent names amongst tho entrants are to be found in the Canterbury representatives—Guy Haskins and W. F. Simpson. Tho former has a reputation for middle-distance running that reaches wherever amateur athletics arc known. This is owing to his wonderful success in this department as a student at tho Pennsylvania University, U.S.A. Whether he will bo equally successful in distanco running remains to bo seen. I believo that this is hi 3 first serious endeavour in this direction.

Simpson is an old-tiinor, and, in his day, held the Australasian and "New Zealand championships for three miles. Ho was then brought prominently before tho public on account of his visit to England with Gcorgo Smith in quest of the English championships. It will be remembered that Smith was successful in his essays over the hurdles, but Simpson never becamo acclimatised, and, through ill-health, could not reproduce his Now Zealand form. He has been oif tho track so long now that it is unlikely that he will again strike form. The local centre will bo represented bv Mulcahoy and F. Wilton. Tho former hail been performing really well on tho road up to tho time of his rccCnt breakdown in health after his three-mile raco with Sharpo last month. Ho says that ho is in excellent form now. but tho indisposition must tell against his chances. That this is so, was shown by his performance in tho two-mile run at the Basin Reserve last Saturday. Wilton's chances cannot bo taken very seriously. Ho took tho matter up at very short notice, and consequently lacks the necessary road work that such an occasion requires. It will be surprising if ho sees tho distanco out.

Tho Port Nicholson meeting last Saturday must be written off as a vory successful function. Tho attendance, however, was only fair, and not at nil up to tho measure that the occasion deserved. Nevertheless, tho writer understands that tho hospital will benefit to tho extent of about £35. The racing was keen, and tho finishes, thanks to tho oxcellnt handicaps of Messrs. Hoenan and Pollock, were unusually close The excellence of the adjustments is testified to by the fact that three dead-heats cecurred during the day. This is a record of which any handicapper might well feel proud. Tho bright particular performance of tho day was Woodgcr's 100 yds. ran. He was clocked to have dono tho journoy in ten secondsdead. This feat has brought forth all the discussion usual to such occasions, and much scorn has been showered upon the. correctnosa of the timing. Looking at tho matter dispassionately, however, the even time is quite within tho bounds of probability. At the Athletic Park, at tho W.A.A.C. meetiing on December 12,- Woodger won his heat of tho 100 metres event in eleven seconds dead; 100 metres equals 100 yards 1 foot, and on this occasion, ho was on a level track, but had the advantago of a slight southerly breeze. Taking a line through this performance his run last Saturday looks likely enough, considering that the Basin Reserro track has a decided fall toward tho north. Further, tho runner had a vory fair breeze to help him on his journey, so that altogether tho writer considers the verdict of tho watches fairly reliable. Again, on Wednesday, at the Athletic F.C. Club's evening meeting, Woodgcr was timed to again do 10 1-Sspc. in his heat, and to run a closp second in the final to Duncan in 10 seconds dead. This is not of much value in itself as tho timing arrangements at theso evening meetings are generally rather haphazard, but, taken in conjunction with the foregoing, jt points to the conclusion that Woodger is running exceptionally fast, and will be a worthv successor to Henderson in championship fixtures. Tho next performance, on Saturday, in point of merit, was undoubtedly J. Wilton's dead-heat, from scratch, in tho 440 yds. in 52 4-ssec. Wilton made hie run from the jump, and was with the front men at half distance. Hero Ilex Bridge was lifting tho field along at a climdng rate, but could not hold tho paco, and subsided at the 300 yd. mark. Wilton was passed at this point by somo of the field, but came hard in the straight, and just managed to get tho tape with W. L. Dunn, who had run a heady raco off the 15yd. mark.

Lack of space prevents a detailed criticism of the other events, but reference must be made to tho walking of G. Turner. Sta-t----ing off the 150 yd. mark, this walkor—a new man to the local public—immediately attracted attention by the freedom and correctness of his style. The carriago of his body and his arm work are faultless, and, excopt for a slight defect in his left leg at times, when quickening up, his gait was quite according to Coombes. Ho appropriated the mile without difficulty, and, but for the intervention of the handicappers, who were so pleased with his display that they gave him a further impost of 100 yds. in tho 2-mile event, he would also havo gathered in this race as well. As it was, his retirement from tho 300 yd. to tho 200 yd. mark told its tale, and he had to bo content with a second place to Cashman. Cashman shaped well, but will never do anything startling as long as he persists in walking in baro feet.

Tho team to defend the champion shield for tho Wellington centro is in course of selection, and the names of tho certainties have already been made public. These comprise tho present champions—Kerr, Sharpo Wallace, M'Kay, and liurgo—with AVoodgcr added for tho sprint events. Tho quartcrmiler of the team has yet to ho chosen, and four of tho candidates possess qualifications so equal in merit that' the committeo has decided that a trial is necessary. The quartet under discussion are: J. Wilton, already referred to 'above,, K J. of Wanganui, who has represented the centro previously, and who now is reported to bo running exceptionally well, a now man in amateur running in the person of TV. G. Harding, of tho newly-formed Napier Club, and Tom Stubbs, en ex-Wellington representative Harding has run as a professional and a year ago, won th'o 440 professional championship in 52 3-sseo. He is also credited with good performances over 220 yds. and half-mile. A3 is usual when a new club is formed in a district whoro thoro has been no amateur body, tho members of the now Napier Club were "whitewashed" by tho old council (tho Christchuroh body), and Harding was included in tho general amnesty. Stubbs is the sprinter, who ran so well hero some seasons back, and who is reported as running up to his old form at present in -Falmorston, where ho is now located. Ho has nominated for tho sprint events on March 13 and, should ho show that ho can reproduce his one-time turn of speed, his claims must be seriously considered. It is proposed that the trial shall tako tlio form of an invitation scratch quarter-mile, to bo run at tbo Wellington Club's meeting next Saturday. If the mon can bo brought together, a clinking raco should result. Kvonson is also to bo asked to givo a trial over tho 120 hurdles, the pole vault, and high jumps, and, if satisfactory, will bo •chosen to understudy M'Kay in the jump-.

ing department, and for tlio short hurdlo oyont. Tlio team is not so strong as in previous years, lacking Henderson, Fisher, Thomasson, and Cook among tho champions, and being very short of second strings of tlio Goodbchero calil>re, but it is a very sojiil one, and should, with luck, prove equal to its onerous task of defending the. championship title for Wellington. Entries for tlio championship meeting close to-day, and as by next week tlio full team will bo finally chosen, "Mercury" will liavo moro to say on this head in next Saturday's issue

Tlio secretary of the. University tournament on Easter Monday has asked the writer to state that threo open ovents will bo included in tho programme for that day, viz., a 75 yards handicap, 600 yards handicap, and. a half-milo relay race- for football clubs. Competitors in tlio last must bo bona-fide members of a football club, must run in football costumo and boots, and must carry a ball. Since tho foregoing was written, tho selectors of tho Wellington championship team have received bad news regarding two of the men choson, Wallace and Kerr. It appears that tho former, tho present champion, has not been resident in the Wellington district for the period before tho meeting laid down by rule, and is therefore ineligible. Kerr has wired down to tho effect that he has just come out of hospital, and has been forbidden by his doctor to compete. This is unfortunato indeed for the local centro, as these men represent threo certain championships, and much sympathy will be folt for our popular walker in his hard luck. At timo of writing nothing definite has been decided upon, but it is likely that Fitzgerald will bo asked to walk a trial in viow of his taking Kerr's place. It is also Tumouxed that Trombath, the Southland middle distance crack, has gone, or is going, over to the professionals, and if this is so, steps will probably bo taken to stiffen up this division in tho Wellington team by the inclusion of an oxtra quarter and half miler.