ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Br Mebouby.)] The appointment of the new council of the N.Z.A-A.A. is now un fait accompli. Tho Wellington body has resigned, and tho old time Christchurcb. council is lingering on awaiting its coup do grace at the hands of tho cuntrea, whom it has circularised respecting the much vexed question of headquarters, and tho appointment of direct nominoes in lieu of a representative council. The personnel of the new body is now Messrs Marryatt and W. H. Pollock (Otago), Dr. Newman, and W. F. Larkin (Wellington), Thompson and C. E. Bridge (Auckland), A.. Davjes and H., S. Robinson (Southland), and Davis and Chaffy (Canterbury). Of theso Dr. Newman and Messrs Marryatt, Pollock, liarkin, and Davics, are ex-members of the recently-dissolved Wellington council, Messrs. Robinson and. Bridgo aro members of the executive of the AVellington Centre, while tho other three aro new to tho government of athletics in Wellington. Mr. Thompson, tho Auokland delegate, has but recently arrived from' Auckland, whero ho has been closely identified with the sport, and if tho Mr. Davis appointed as ono of tho Canterbury delegates ie (as the writer surmises) Mr. J. W. Davis, a life member of the W.AJL.C, and a keen enthusiast in athletic matters in Wellington, ho will bring the fi nit of years of experience to tho aid of the now body. . . '' ■■_■■" The council will need to go warily, and on its best behaviour for a long while to come, for, if its deliberations aro not conducted with;the utmost circumspection, it must expect no mercy in the criticism which it will receive from all quarters. However, it. has tho faults and fate, of its predecessor, to guide it. and the fact that each centre can now make its desires known directly to the governing body through its representative thoreon, should make for that unity of aim that is so-indispensible to tho successful control of athlotios. The council has risen, Phoenix-like, from tho fire of dissension that threatened the'ljfe of the sport, and it is to be hoped that its government will be conducted wisely and well—if notj ■• its shrift will be.short indeed. ••/ : - Speaking of R. E.-. Walker, who has lately been accomplishing some phenomenal times on thetracks of Johannesburg,, a. South African writer says: "He has swung himself into; an upright position before tho others have properly sprung off their, marks. :Ho springs away with legs wide apart; and gets his tremendous impetus in a series of, short foot-to-foot jumps/the , knees thrown high and wide; and then glides gracefully into tho loping stride in which the one stop falls exactly 'behind the last. Then it seems merely a matter of flying—tho arms swing high. 'in. front and far behind, the hands aro hollowed like a cup. -If it: is a spurt in the last 30 yards, the-stride- is slightly higher and stronger. .Always when it is needed ho finishes strongly, the:mouth puckered in tho effort to avoid' the: gasping inhalation which'means.defeat." '.■ '•..,-!. . v ~/ ■

.Says an American file: He Records Committee of the Irish Amateur ..-'Athletic Association hare passed the following : 161b. hammer, 9ft. circle, 4ft; handle, both Win., aVQueenstown, August 13,- by John Flanagan; 561b. for height— •16ft. 2in., by ..Con Walsh,- August, 13, ; at Quoenstown. It was at; this meeting that .Ralph Kose was' reported to have put the 161b. short. 51ft/ liin., • although : .the shot was found subsequently to bo. 40z.!, short weight. .-'• , "'.',. , -'"' .!■'■■ •'•.■,• ■.'..:■< ..-. -•'•'-,■■.':'■,■"'•'■ The following should serve as a hint'ae to the conduct of- any proposed local Marathon events:'—A competitor ui tho recent "Mara-. thon" Rakaia to Ashburton race said to a southern press representative after the event: "t had to finish. ;lf I had given up on the road,' what ;was I toido? There was no'one in sight,' and'it was as far to Rakaia as to Ashburton. There was no conveyance for those who wished to withdraw* and the only oltornatiye was to keep on running." The,question of the, advisability and the ethical. aspect of the practice of "doping" runners. : by ;administeruig oxygen _ prior to. starting in races has been 'exercising the minds of thoathletio powers that be in Great; Britain lately, ■ and, according to|' the following paragraph/ from the'"Athletic'News,"': <fhe..matter, js' being thoroughly thrashed out by'the; authorities., latter part ■of .the ','par" is also of local interest, on account of its bearing on our recent bottting'-legisla-tion/ ■■■•■/■■■.' .; • ■ -' ; '.'' : '' i ,'" : ■■:': '■;'■ ?\J, ; ' ; .'■;'■";'■■ The report of the General Committee of the Scottish Amateur Athletic; Association to be', presented, to- the annual; meeting„on ; Wednesday'statoa that Van OKprcssion. of opinion has .boen'asked from .tjierA.A.A.,'and ;the Irish : A.'A.A. as, to ,the admiiiistratipn of; oxygen ,tp athletes, but those bodies have not,yet had anopportunity of considering the matter. It is, however, believed that they will , be , .adverse, as the Scottish • Committee are, to any such; "scientific"-innovation. , ■ •' ..' . ■'■' ';■'■ : ! r A ■ Marathon, race over a distance of 26 miles 385; yards 'was. ran by the" Sydney, recently. , The contest was admir-; ably organised'.;: There we're,3l.competitors, and 20 ran the fall distance. The result, was in" doubt. till within two miles • of .the finish,; whore A. R. Sime and Andrew Wood wore together, running solidly. At this point Wood began'to tire; whereas Sirae finished fullof running. So fresh .was'he that within fifteen minutes, of passing the running post he was dressed and/running about the.graund, apparently ~uot in'. least "affected by his severe exertions. .-.' Sime's time was 3hrs. smin. 30 l-ssec. "■',-.. ; '' '; ..