ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 716, 15 January 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

ißi Mr.ncDBT.X , . \

.//:-■', ■';■' ;• FIXTURES,}; ; ■;;/: January 19.—W.A:A.C. January .'■• ■ 20.—Wellington Provincial \ -' Championships (Basin; .Reserve),;.-. Intending:' competitors -.' are: reminded that entries close to-day for.the W;A.A.C. evening meeting, which is,to;bo'held at the Basin Reserve :: on Wednesday next. The events mil bo a half-mile run, 220 yards: run, and one-mile walk, all- three being handicaps. .' ; . ! : ■; A Napier paper, in remarking'.'■upon W. G. -Harding s .excellent,: performance at Wanganui on Boxing Day, when he broke the: New Zealar-d record for 1000' yards,' ;credits him wila beating- tho Australasian record for the distance'of :2min.. 19 4-ssec;, ■ set, up by J.' T. Balryraple, of New South Wales. v The statement that Harding's time of 2mih. 19Jsec.-constit\ites an ■ Australasian record; is borne but by Mr. E; Coombes in the latest "Referee,' but a search' in the handbook of the A.A.U., which is official (and presumably therefore, complete), reveals : that' no figures for the distance appear to have : been ' established as a record. l " " Whittake'rV. give's .the following- ns : ■ tho world's best for 1000 yards—amateur, L E. Myers, 2min. 135e0., in :1881;'professional, W. Cummin'gs/ 2min; 17sec., also in 1881. To put the matterto the test as it would be an undoubted hardship to Harding if tho contention'that he has created a now Australasian record is-cor-rect (and there -musi-be-grounds ;fo'r it if an authority like Mr, Coombes, 6aj3

so), the N.Z. Council should move in the matter when, the figures come up for'refistration as a New Zealand record.' 'lesumably the Wellington Centre is proouring, or has procured, the necessary certificates • from the Wanganui people, and mil make a claim on Harding's behalf. When this has been done; the counoil could forward the papers to the A.A;U., and apply in the usual course for the bigger honour. On New Year's Day, at the annual gathering, of the Highland Society, of New South Wales at. Sydnoy, two State Championships were run off, and resulted as under.' .Neither performance was more than mediocre, considering the importance of the contests, and the times go to show that a isuccessor to Nigel Barker is still to seek in the mother State. The distances and particulars of the' races were:—loo Yards.—First heat: J. T. Ogilvic (S.S.H.), 1; J. LI Birch (H.H.H(), 2: ■Q."l\; Parke (S.S.H.), 3. - Won by two yardn .'.Time, 10 «se'c'.'.': Second, heat: F.-E. Beaver (S.S.H.), 1; E. O'Farrell (S.S.H.), 2.: A close finish.- Time, 10 1-5 sec. ('Final: J. T. Ogilvie (S.S:H.), 1; E." O'Farrell (S.S.H.),' 2; J. Birch (H..H.IL), 3. !'Won by two yards, a yard, between second and third, with Beaver a foot, away.inext. Time, 10 4-s:sec. SSO-'Yards. -J. (Brndloy (South Sydney ' H.),'" Ij'.K: P. "O'Brien (5.5. H.),. 2j -F. Flovrers 01. H.), 3. . H.' V: Bissett (W.S.A.A-.C.), i. O'Brien, made.play, but 200 'yards frem home Bfadley'wont to the front and ivon by eight yards. Time, ; 2min. 5 4-ssec.:- ". A. .Ellis, of' Ballarat Vic., who '.ran second -toyW-! A.': Woodger in both' the sprint events, in the Australasian chtimpionships at Brisbane, ,'is. evidently'.',: in' lormythis "season.' ■ On -New Year's: Day,' .at Geelpng, (he(won, a, 220 (yards handicap. , from scratch in 23secs.. dead, aiid ran-second in. the 100 yards handicap'lin 10:2^sec : .;:y; ; - y .: !:■:,, ■ The;, team to defend the,, Canterbury' Centre's hold on; the championship shiiild at Auckland- on February 26 is, to (be chosen from the following :—Sprints: (R. Opie.R. Gallagher, F: Cook, W.L. Paterson. Distances : ;M. Dickson, Guy Ha6kiiis; E., Jy Steele..W. F/'CSimpson, L. ''A. Dougallyian^.E.Pugh.',' ''Walks': P.'H. Stubberfield. Hurdles: H. St. A: Murray. (H.. E.'' Hamilton, and'F., Cobk( "< Field Events: C. L„ Orbell, :F. Robinson,' and W.De.Thier.".:;..: -'- -,-.■■.".'", i:.:

■■" There is in the.above a very hot teaio. All lost 'year's champions are, mentioned; the sprint and:walking: departments beiiig tho only weak ones.; -Ofiitho short.distance is the only one with claims(to excellence,,and fie will need\to have, improved : a lot ;since \ntb season:to. have a chance-with. : Wobdgei'y! The distance contingent .is.-'a"very'.'strorig one, even without<Haskins, who is'a.verp unlilccly starter. Dickson, of 'Course; :ia .well known as the.; present; .'.three-mils champion;' Steele'.(holds;.; the: mile- title:; veteran Simpson needs: no comment, .and; Dongall is a very, nseful riiadija good showing, here;at ithe. inter-Uni-versity, sports .last season..' The; hurdling (and field game;exponents mentioned com-: prise"three present New Zealand ,'cham-( piohs, .Murray,, Orbell, (and. De!; Thier; and (.altogether ;the(. Wellington .selectpfs: will: have '■■ to,:sort: oiityii: strong ;tibnvto (wrest the.shield from the 'south-;; -'erners -if all tho; material' inentipned is! " available: for; Canterbury..: ;'-■'" ■ '". (>