ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(BY JIEItCTOT.). COMING EVENTS. To-day—W.A.A.C. Autumn Carnival. March 20.— N.Z. Championships (Dnnedin). March 17.—Combined Banks' Sports. March 25.— Ashburton Marathon. March' 27.—Catholic Club and HiberniaD Societies' Sports, (Basin Eeserve). I Easter Monday.—lnter-University Tournament (Basin Eeserve). To-day's mooting at the Basin Reserve will 3 tho biggest event of the kind held in Wclngton sinje fhe last New Zealand championjips. This is accounted' for by the proximity : the championship meeting, nnd tho form lown by.thc athletes chosen by tho. selectors i defend Wellington's title of champion proincc. Woodger, Sharpe, M'Kay, and Burgo ho threa last being tho present champions) :e competing, and Fitzgerald,. Evenson, Wilm, Stnbbs (Palmorston North), E.- J. Wilnms (Wanganui) are buttling for the remainig places in tho team in their respective dclrtments. Upon Fitzgerald's performances in io walks depends his selection as Harrv Kcrr's iccessor, ami, consequently, "Paddy" is oiiiid up to do tho walk of his life. All tho iriiit events are of peculiar interest. Woodger, ie selected representative, has been set a hard isk by tho handicappers on the strength of is two reputed 10 seconds performances in io 100 yards. Ho lms been asked to give oodbohcre, Stubbs, and Williams a start of yards over this distance, but. he is at promt running in such good form that tho (ask lould not be beyond him. Woodger and Stubbs •o mooting on lovel terms in tho 220 yards ice, and, so that tho event will be a proper ;st, it has been arranged that the two men ill start in the same heat. Should Stubbs •at Woodger (and he has written down to say iat ho is-confident of holding his own), his iclusion in the team as the second sprinter list bo very seriously considered. Stubbs will also meet E. J. Williams, of 'nngnnui, and "Jimmy" Wilton, the local ■ovincial champion, in u test, quarter-mile, lie winne) , of this ovont is to pn to .Diinedin i the cjiiarlcr-inile representative, together itii W. 6. Harding, of Napier. Sttibbs will ! remembered as a Wellington- sprinter of me seasons back, who, lifter leaving this city, m with success in England. On one occasion lore be was credited with a-100 yards' run of

10 l-sscc. Williams, who has already represented Wellington, lias improved lately, and, on form, can do insido 53sec. for the quarter. Wilton is well known hero as a sterling quarter-miler, and on February 27 dead-hcnted over tho dis-

tance from scratch in 52 4-ssec. It Eeems, therefore, that this race alono will bo well worth going to see. Evenson, tho provincial champion 120 yards hurdler and high jumper, will also bo doing test performances in the high jump and polo vault. On- Wednesday night ho ran a trial over tho hurdles that satisfied the selectors, and, should his Jumps to-day bo considered up to standard, ho also will bo included. The Auckland representatives will also bo seen in action. Trials were to have been run during tho week for tho purposo of selecting tho men, and, though no news is to hand as to tho results, it is almost certain that Bass, tho sprinter, and Wallace, tlio hammerthrower, will be present. Bass ran second in tho New Zealand championship 100 yards Inst year, when representing Canterbury, and Wallace, who lias lately removed into tho Auckland district, is the present champion, having attained the honour as ii member of tho last two Wellington teams. G, N. Hill, the New Zealand Marathon winner, was selected to represent Auckland at Dunedin, and was entered for to-day's meeting at tho Basin Reserve, but unfortunately ho has been unable to obtain tho necessary leave, and so cannot make the trip. As already published, the selected members of tho Wellington team for tho 1909 New Zealand championships to date are W. Woodger, 100 and 220 yards; W. G. Harding, 440 and BSO yards; A. E. Burge, 880 yards and mile. Sharpe, ono and threo miles; and L. M'Kay, shot, long jump, and polo vault. Of these, M'Kay and , Sharpe are too well and honourably known locally as New- Zealand and AustraU asian champions to need introduction here, and, with Surge, make a formidable trio. Burgo is tho present New Zealand milo champion, is fit and well, and should be capable on the 20th of doing tain. 35sec, which should win again. Woodger is a new championship competitor, and, on his recent running, appears to be tho fastest sprinter in New Zealand today. His last performances of note this season are 100 metres (which is 103 yds. lft., and not 100 yds. lft., as a printer's error mado this writer say last week), in llsec, on December 12, 1908; 100 yds. in lOsec. dead, on February 27; 100 yds., in 10 l-ssec. in a heat, and tho final in lOsec. dead, on March 3. Over tho 220 yds. distance his powers are not so well known. On January 1 he won the provincial 220 yds. championship in 2-isec, not pushed* and no doubt on occasion can do better. He will have a chance of showing his best to-day in his race with Stubbs. Harding has been purposely left to the last, as he requires moro introduction on account of his recent advent into the amateur ranks, and as ho has never raced here. He was originally included in those selected to run in tho quarter-mile test to-day, but was unable to mako the trip.. The selectors had heard so much of his track performances th;t they were loth to dismiss his claims'on-this account, and so possessed themselves of his last two seasons' starts as a professional, and found them such as to render his non-selection impossible. Among other good performances are included a half-mile from tho 15yds. mark in lmin.,s7isec. and tho professional 440 yds. championship" of Now Zealand in 52 3-ssec. in February, 1908. It was this, and his other half-milo times, that clinched his inclusion, as, with Trembath out of the way, the middle distances are very open, and it was apparent that a half-miler who could run lmin. 57isec. off 15yds. (practically 2min. for the -wholo distance) and a quarter in 52 3-ssec, could_ not be overlooked. With Harding and the winner of to-day's test in tho quarter-mile, and Harding and Barge in tho half-mile, Wellington will be very strongly represented in these events. In the absence of Guy Haskins, they should score first and second in each, and, even if the redoubtable Haskins is starting, ho will need to put his best leg foremost. Of the other centres' teams, nothing definite can be said until tho final list' of entries is made public. Canterbury, of course, is Wellington's most formidable antagonist, and, if the .southern centre pets its best team away, there will be many anxious moments for the local men. Murray, the .hurdler of Olympic 'ame; Orbell. Australasian .high, jump recordholder; Haskins, tho great ex-Pennsylvania College crack (but a doubtful starter); Stubberfielcl,'the walker; Dicksbn, long distance runner; and Opie, sprinter, are the bright particular stars, and they form the nneleus- of a very hot. team indeed. Mitchell is tho runner who led for the first seven miles of the recent New Zealand Marathon in Auckland, when ho lay down and rested, and eventually finished ghth. Ho is reported recently to have run •three miles off 20yds. in Umin. SSsec, and, if this h .correct, ho .will keep Sharpn very busy in this event. Opie is a sprinter who has come on very rapidly, nnd the writer has heard that he has been crclited with 10 l-10sec. for 100 yds. this season. This may bo only rumour —it certainly looks like it—but he must be exceptionally fast even to be accused of doinj such good time.

. Hector Biirk is not rnnning this year, and, with him the Oiaqo Centre loses practically its only rhanre of scoring in the running events. The field department, hiwever, looks strongpr. Keddell. a New Zealand record long inmp holder, is in action attain after an enforced retirement on accopnt 'of a "sprung" knee, nnd is reported to ho jumping well. Other jumpers with nretensions are Mitchell, Dansey, and Hands, nil solid performers. Skinner, and perhnps O'Grady, an old-time chamninn, will be. the. weight and hammer representatives.. The former is throwing well, and in practice recently hurled his missile lMft. This, though below th" standard, is good enough to win should Wallace not make tho trip for Auckland.

Of Southlnnd the writer has heard nothine, but. with Trembafh. n deserter, the remote southern province hardlv has representatives who can affect the result. To sum nn. the hnrionr of winnin" thn Champion Shield for 190!) lies between Wel,lin<;ton nnd Canterbury, and ho would lio .1 bold man at the 1 present stage who would venture to make an out-and-out choice between the two.

The entries for the championship meeting close finally to-day, and next wenk. ns bv then each centre's representatives will bo known, the writer will hav.i more detailed notes and anticipations to mnko in tMi column. I have to thnnk Mr. jr. M'Knowep. honorary secretary of tho W.C.Y.jr.A.A.C. f or a preliminary programme of the club's sport.s mg on March 27. I append a copy of th« list n( events nnd tronhies. Entries close March 20:—75 yards handicap. £1 10s., 155.; 100 vnrds handicap. £2 25., .£1 Is.; 22ft yards handicap, £2 25., £1 Is.; 440 yards -handicap, £2 25., .£1 Is.; 880 yards handicap, £2 25., £1 Is; one mile handicap, ,£2 25., 1 Is.; one and a half-mile walk handicap, .82 25., .£1 Is.; 220 yards hurdles handicap, £2 25., £1 Is.; threo 'ni ll!,n ' Uca P,-. f 2 Ms., .£1 Is. j long jump. .£1 Ms., 10s.; high jump. .£1 10s.. 10s.; Irish jig, £1 105.,, 10s.; throwing the hammer. .£1 Is., 10s.; putting the shot, .El Is., 10s.; blindfolded sack race'(7s yards), ,£l, 10s.; wrestling (Cumberland style), £1 10s., 155.; teams relay race, fonr men. 220 yards each. J8.j81,-half-mile walk, for youths under 18, £1, 10s.; tug-of-war (eight men n-side), £i; 100 yards handicap (Marist Bros.' School), 10s., 55.; 220 yards handicap (Marist Bros.' School). 12s. 6d., 7s. Gd.; 220 yards handicap (St. Patrick's Collose). 155., 10s.

The Wellington representative athletic team leaves for Dunedin on Wednesday night, and will be acoempanied by Dr. A. K. Newman ?5 /, * srs " st,mrt Kobinson, A. ,T. Pollock, W. Coffev J. W. Heenan, and C. E. Bridge. Messrs.- Pollock, Robinson, nnd Bridge will represent the local centre nt the conference of delegates to be held in conjunction with Iho meeting. At the conference the Otnm Centre will bo represented by Messrs. J. B. Calhn, R. G. Anderson, J. T. Eainann, nnd W. Mil--1? \ i y ° " cen instructed to move that the headquarters of the association be removed to Wellington, nnd also to have rules framed to alter Hie methods of appointing representatives tn tho Council. TV matter nf the NonZealand Cross-country Championship will be brought before the conference.

Apnendwl is a copy of entries for tho events which were .set down, to bo run nff on the . Caledonian Gronnd, Duned-'n, Inst Saturday by the Dnnedin Sports pl"J'. * professional body. It will he scon that U. F. lrembnth Ims now irretrievably rnmrmttod himself to <\ish renins:— Sheffield Ttandican. 13. r > yiirds.—P. jr. Writrlit (Ontrnml .Tno. Smith, W. V. North fPnrtoMlo) T. S n»WA Dnff -, w : P- TrrniliPth fGorc). J. Park (Flag Swnmp). A. L. AVnod (Knitnncnrn). I) Sanson (Hasting). ,T. Cunmnghnni (Clintonl, Ghns. Afoore, hon. Gimn. Jns. Cook A W Valentino. Jas WMto. .T Puddy, S. Major, It'. D. Chalmers, W. L. Jf'Fee.

220 Tards Cash-J. Cunningham. TJ. Sanson, .T. White. A. L. Wood, A. Love, .T. Park W V. Trembath. A Kay, A. A. Thomson, S Major, B. T). Clinlmerss, A. Valentine V Wn?!if. J• Smith. W. Norths J. Stinson] w! DnfT, W. M Fee. L. Broad.

Hnlf-mile Cosh.-J. Cunninshnm, D. Sanson, W. nrainwr. J. White, A. Wood, A. Love. W V. .Trembath A. Kay A. A. Thomson. S. Mnjor. R. Chalmers, A. Valentino, J. Matheson, F. Wright.