ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(BY Mercdkt.)

SOME) "OFF SEASON" JOTTINGS. FIXTURES. Ootober B.—Sports Carnival, in aid of Boys' Instituto Fund (Athletic Park). A Big Sprint Race. English files bring news of a big sprint race to be held shortly in Wales, or, more precisely, at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd. The event is officially known as the "Pontypridd JJI4O Handicap, 120 yards." Amongst the acceptors appear the names of perhaps the brightest galaxy of sprint "stars" that have ever appeared together —how.bright will be seen from the fact that A. B. Postle is "up" on ii yards. The names an-d handicaps of the backrankers are : J. Donaldson. (Victoria), scr.; C. E. Holway (America), scr.; A. B. Postle (Queensland), liyd; W. Growcott (England), 2jyds; Nat Cartmell (America), 2iyc[s.; B. ft. Day (Ireland), 2Jyds.; E. Eastman (Canada), 2iyds.; and "Major" A. A. Taylor (Tasmania), 3yds. : Truly a hot lot, these! . .. x A Good Gate. The "Sporting Life" is responsible for the statement that at the Celtic F.C. Sports, at Parkhead, Glasgow, on August 13, there was an attendant of 40,000 spectators. vVhat could not our centres' do towards improving the sport with goldmines likes that at their backs? N. V. M'Cabe, of Queensland, better known on this side as a footballer,' than as a track athlete and jumper, was responsible for a good performance on, September 2-1 at. Brisbane.. The occasion was the. annual "meet" between the East Sydney A.A.C. and the Western Suburbs A.A.C., which clubs conduct a "home-and-home" contest; at which M'Cabe secured three firsts and three seconds. He won he high jump, hop-step-and-jump, and 120 .yards hurdles, and .was-placed in the 100 yards flat, broad jump, and 440 yards flat. In addition, his hop-step-and-juinp was an extremely good effort;" He covered 45ft. 4jii(.; thus .establishing' a new Australasian record. The previous best ;was 45ft. 3in., to- the credit of . "Mat"' Roseingrave, which has stood ever:since. iVovember, 1896. By the way, our polevaultcr,. L. M. M'Kay, has had' an eye on these,figures for some time past, , and had intended making an onslaught on them during the coming season;... He 'will have a new mark to beat now, and on his efforts at last year's meetings should have no ■ great difficulty in setting a new "main." ■ ' E. J. Webb, tho English walking ctram-' pion, has emigrated to 'Canada. ; C : . Says'"Prodigal," ' in the ; : "Referee" "Writing me from New: York City,- Mr. Jas. E. Sullivan, .seoretarj-treasurer.v to the A,A. Union of the .United States of America, sends along much valuable information on athletiq matters, also some official badges, - press. cuttings, etc., for all of which, I am indeed obliged to him,' .Speaking' of'' the big school events, Mr; ■■iulliVan is of the.opinion,.and I: certainly endorse it, that' the , figures he sends are records. In a Flag Relay Race in ' v-ew 'York,-.'held on Fifth Avenue, there were three hundred boys competing. A speoial badge was presented to eaoh competitor, and Mr. Sullivan very courteously forwards one as a souvenir.No less: ■inn" 36,000 boys from 154 schools competed in the ''World" Field Day. games; conducted under the auspices of the New fork Publio Schools' Athletic League,, and 3460 medals were distributed, -' besides cups, banners,-and other special prizes. ' This indeed a field day. V ''' ■'. '':,' .' V '. / V'.'v : V A Talk With S. Bass. S. Bass, , who. ran second to Harry Henderson in the New Zealand 100 yds. championship in 1907, and' subsequently won the Wellington Provincial, Championship' over the' sprint distance, was in town recently.' ,In conversation with "Mercury" ,he said that he is going back to the track again' this coming > season—ho has . not run ' 'since: the. '-events'•'.'■'named' above—and from .trial gallops ,he is of opinion he 1 has gained pace during his, rest. 'Bass was a speedy' sprinter, 'and is still young, and if he is right ;in ;his surmise about his pace, tho Dominion will be well off this year. Woodger, Opie, and Bass look like a good start for a sprint team. ' ; "

.'Although cross-counfry' racing proper seemingly cannot- thrive in 'Cantarbury, there would seem, judging by the following paragraph from the; "Weekly .Press," to bo possibilities for road-racing. - Now interest is aroused, it, behoves . the centre .to sb; that it stays roused.' The/Tress" says: 'Great!'interest 1 is being shown in' Lyttelton in the forthcoming "go-as-you-please"- race from Lyttelton to Governor's Bay . and 'hack, which is' to bo held on Thursday afternoon, October, 8. Immediately after the'race,_ which was'held on September 8 and which ; was a successful and keenly-contested one, a sufficiently large sum of money was subscribed for a second race, for which- seven prizes are offered. The first, prize is a trophy, value <£7 75., ivad the second ,£3 35., and a trophy value JUL. 2s. is being . offered for tfio competitor making fastest time 'for the distance, 13 miles. . A meeting of the ■ Race : Committee' was . held last week, and it was reported that no fewer than'l2B entries had :been received. The handicapping of the competitors, of whom at least 50 are/expected to.- start, was a task of some magnitude. The fastest time in the previous race/iyas Ihr. 18min. 12sec., and as' the' intending starters in the forthcoming event are in active training, a good race is expected. Captain Gil], of the' Lyttelton Navals, has arranged' 1 for members 6f his company .to be - stationed at various points alone the road to signal progress reports of l the race to Walker and -His-Great.Rival. - When the English mail left, those two great sprint rivals, "Reg" Walker. (Natal) and P. L. Ramsdell (Pennsylvania University) were , still in great demand .by sports promoters. . They made ' two /appearances' in August. On the 2nd; at the Stoke Victoria Athletic Club's meeting they met on scratch over 100 yds. and 220 yds. The American won; both events, -the ;former by Byds., in 102-sseo.', . and tlhe furlong ny the- same margin in 22 l-ssec. On August G they clashed again, this time at Glasgow. 1 According to an account to, hand, the 100 yds. Invitation Handicap was run in two preliminary heats and a final,- the latter resulting'', in' B. C. Duncan' (West .of Scotland .'H.), Syds., winning .by . a foot from E. E. Walker (South Africa) -'scr., the American, P. L. ItamsdeU (scr.) being inches behind the last-named.. Time, lOsec. Walker _. did not turn; out in the ,220 yds.. in which Duncan (syds.) and Ramsdell (6cr.) won their heats in 22 Msec.'each, and'in the final the ScotchI man just defeated the American,, time again - being 22 4-ssec.