ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By "Mercury.")

<h. —— ON LONG DISTANCE WALKING., A LETTER FHOM PONGAEOA.

A. Wulkor, of Pongaroa, whose letter, by tlu> way,'cams to hand just too lato for attention last week, asks "if there are any official New Zealand records for a 100-mile walk, or of the greatest distance covered on foot in 21 hours." Tho only official records that "Mercury" knows of aro thbso of- tho N.Z;A.A r .A., and theso do not includo a performance over 100 miles, or for a 21 hours' "continuous." During tho week ■Hie writer has ondeavoured to obtain information on tho question, as he recollects hearing that contests of this nature were carried out in "ye olden times" of tho athletic history of New Zealand—ia Dunedin, if memory serves him aright. Unfortunately, however, so far nothing .has come to light. Further search, however, will be made. Meanwhile, perhaps, somo of "Mercury's" readers could throw some light on the subjectl. If may, however, interest Mr. Walker to know that the world's best 100-milo walk (amateur) is T. K. Hammond's perfonnonco of lbhr. 4min. 10 l-ssec., put up in 1908, which beats the best. professional time (W. Howes, 18S0), by Imm. i 4-ssec. In 18S2 C. Kowell (professional) ran 150 miles 395 yds. in 23 hours, which is the nearest that "Mercury" can get to the latter query. A Tasmanlan Communique. Thn following is to hand from Mr. A. E. Brooke, hon. secretary of the Tasmanian A.A.C.:—"The 10 miles Australasian Cross Country Championship will bo held at Elwick Show Ground, Glenoreh, on September 3, and entries close a fortnight previously. The conditions provide for teams of nine, six to count, Australasian medals for first three placed men, and honour caps for winning team. In conjunction with this event wo intend holding a club championship, and will be very pl-'jnsed to receive 'entries from any club-affiliated with your, association. I should be glad if you would let your clulm know this. The clubs championship w:JI be for teams of not more than nine, six to count, and diver badges will be presented to tho -winning team. I shall be glad of on early advice from you as to the probability of your State beins represented." Brooklyn Club's Sealed Handicap. My trusty harrier correspondent writes:-A very successful uvent was that decided by the Brooklyn Harriers last Saturday at Miramar over a. course approximately three miles. Ten starters lined out at the post, and wero dispatched on their journey by Mr. E. A. Wright, M.P., tho club's president. The course selected by the committee was similar to that which the Wellington Harriers had run over in their annual Palmer Cup race,' but unfortunately tho "trailer wont round' the foot of the second hillock instead of over it, thereby making tte journey much easier for the competitors. F. Hodsoli, who was most fancied for the "fastest-time" trophy, set out to make the pace with C. Murray hard on his heels. At tho end of it mile the gap between the 'first and last l men was only some hundred yards or so, but hero the pace began to tell, and the two leadera drew steadily away. When the long straight, leading to tho .finishing-post, was reached Hodson had still a slight lead, but four hundred yards from homo Murray put ill his challenge, and ran in full of going, an easy winner: Hodson had evidently had more than enough, and -at present is obviously not tho runner that ho was twelve months ago, when lie was putting up some excellent performance.? a. , * a member of tho Wellington Club. His action appears cramped in comparison with his former free styjo, and this, taken in conjunction with his drawn appearance, points to tho necessity of a spell from training before he can regain his true form. Ho is sonn:thiflg like Bill Squires after porr "Bill , "had lost his punch." F. Delaney was third man home, hut finished to Ktiously that h<! had evidently not judged his paco earlier in Hie race as correctly as, a more experienced man would have done Ho should be- dangerous when tho lon'or distance events c-omo along for settlement. Closely following Delaney was P. A. AVilfon, who was within fifty yards of tho former when he breasted tho tape. After deducting Hie timo allowances from the actual finishing times, tho officials arrived at the following results:— C Murray, lOsec., 1; P. A. Wilton, 55 e ..v, 2; F. Deltiuty, lOsoc., 3-; F. TCod«m, siii-.i -1. J- P ml - I , '- Coventry, and V,. j'earce all finished close up. Murray's; time of limiii. Oiaec. compares favourably wil.h tho best time recorded by the Welliuslon Harriers, after making allow-

auco for the slight difference in tho course. Besides winning the sealed handicap, ho also takes a special trophy for making fastest time. Club trophies won are to bo presented at a social gathering, to be held on Wednesday, Juno 29, at tho Masonic Hall. Wellington Harriers. ]n view of to-day's race for tho Palmer Cup, tho members of the Wellington Harrier Club mustered strongly last Saturday for training purposes at Lyall Bay. W. Bennett and C. Lambert; laid a trail along the full length of tho bench, and then along the main ridge to Miramar North, across the flat beyond Wonderland, and back throuKh lulbirnie to Lyall Bay. The pack under vice-captain Press put in some fast ivoik along tho beach as a "pipe-opener," after which a steadier paco was set until Wonderland was reached, just in timo for the runners to witness the finish of tho Brooklyn Club's race. Continuing on their way, members somehow got confused between the trail laid by, their own hares and that marking off the racing course for I the younger club, but eventually, tho stragglers were roped in, and a course shaped for home. A three hundred vards "run in" was won by W. White, L. Salek being • second, and C. Eowberry third. Every active member, who has qualified by putting in tho necessary four runs, has entered for to-day's race, which will bo controlled by. the'following officials:Starter, Mrs. W. H. Bennett; judges, Messrs. Bennett, Palmer, and Morpeth; timekeepers, Messrs. W. H. Pollock, and M'Nie; course stewards, Messrs. C. Johnson, H. J. Pollock, and A. P. White; hnndicappers, Messrs. W. H. Pollock, and W. F. Watt. H. A. Lamb, the present holder of the cup, who requires one more win to mako it his own property, will be a competitor, and will take some beating, judging by his running lately. The club committee has decided to make its ten-mile handicap open to members of the Brooklyn and other harrier clubs, who may wish to compete. League Footballers' Status. It was the writer's intention, as stated last week, to go more fully into tho attitude of tho New Zealand Council on the Eugby League footballers' status; and the question of centre territory, but unfortunately, owing to space limits, these matters must be shelved for a while, so they are regretfully held over for later consideration.