ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 942, 8 October 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(B+ Blebcubt.)

To-day.—All-sports Meeting, (in aid Boys' Institute, Athletic Park). October • 12—Karori Gymnastic Club's Meeting (Karori Recreation Ground).

This afternoon tho athletic season will receive a formal opening at the Athletic Park. . The . Exeoutivo Committee in charge of.the meeting have matters well forward, and given a fine day the fund should benefit handsomely, and spectators should 'witness a good day's sport. For track enthusiasts 'there, will be two events of special interest, the half : mile relay and the annual five-mile road race. The former event is' the usual thing—four men each running 220 yards, comprising a team. On this occasion it has additional interest from the fact that W. A. Woodger, our Australasian sprint champion, is running in the Civil Service team that was so successful last season. The other members thereof are Hubbard, Wilson, and Teutonberg-a( very... warm combination. ■ : ■ • ■ • .

For the road race seven teams. are engaged. Naturally, it will.only be visible from the Park in its first and last stages; but the last condition, should prove very, interesting indeed.' The .first half-mile is to be run-round the track, then tho.contestants leave by the. big gate en route for Island Bay, returning and finishing in front of the -stand, after finishing the last half-mile .on the Park; All. the oracks of tho. two harrier clubs are-en-' ga,ged, but they are distributed throughout the various teams--thus Rowberry, the cross-country champion, is represent-, ing the Zealandia Rifles, as also is Salek, Frank Wilton is in. the .W.A.A.C. team, and so on. Consequently the contest should be a keen one. -■-■ On paper the Wellington Harrier: A j.team (Lamberg, Press, Bennett, Currie, and Farrington) looks the most likely,. and it should be followed home very' closely ".by the ■ i.'A.A.C." combination (Wilton; Fitzgerald, Turner, Turton; and - Thompson)..' : - ■■■-. Tho place-kioking competition has taken, on nicely, there .being no fewer than 15 entrants, .including A. Ewnsen, H, Avery, "Algy". Thomas. ; Seven' combinations of sinew and brawn are oompeting in the ,tug-of-waf competition. "Mercury" has been informed thatone of these averages 16st. per man for its quota/of eight, which would appear to require a deal of shifting. \ . A report ' has been 'current m town of late that W: A. Woodger,- the Aust'ra-' lasian sprint champion, has definitely retired from the track. On this reaching the ears of "Mercury," he, in some consternation,' ;ot into communication with tho speedy jfetone-ite, and was very relieved to learn that there is absolutely no truth in the rumour.'' Very'much the contrary,; in fact; as Woodger has'started light training : already,. in prospect of a heavy season's work; y--, ■ ■■ ..:-. ' "Prodigal," in tile "Referee," publishes an interesting letter from : Mr. J..E. Sullivan, the "big. man", of American, or. .at ' least, United States amateur .-. athletics, ft throws some, light on a very interesting, performer, in tho person* of.L. Myers, of whom most' of us have only heard the name. Thus the.letter:—:'-' ; -Mr. Jas;- E. Sullivan, • secretary-trea-surer to the A;A. Union of the United States of. America; speaks of a very, active athletic season in full swing at the time of writing ,to . me-lOth . ultimo.; die "American track - championships - are . to ; take place' at New Orleans on.October 14 and 15. The all-round,championship, which was down for decision on August '13 at'Chicngoi had drawn a record entry— 18- men had■•:entered.', Perhaps the fact that' Martin. Sheridan was-not tp.be a competitor^may have accounted in some measure, for jthe remarkable entry. Mr. Sullivan (speaks: of Melvin Sheppard being in great,form, and^alludes to his world's record for 1000 yards,.so it is evident that •' he new figures are .ull in. order., On this subjeot.Mr.' Sullivan writes-very ..interestingly,' as follows:— .'... ■■•'; "Sheppard still continues on his.recordbreaking career; he is running very fast just now. ; Doubtless you hear of all-his doings. He established a .new (world s record for 1000-yards,- talcing'Eon'Myers s figures'-off. the "books. "In a: way lam sorry. J' was very fond of Myers—you probrfbly.'met. him in England with Harry •Fredericks, and'also in Australia., Sheppard is a great runner. I; think "he is what you might term a specialist; ha is a great half-miler, and if he trains .for a special -event.-will ".make" a grand, performance—but he' is not' a Myers, and 'no one can make, mo believe he is in. .Myers's class. Do you know;that Myers atone time'heldnearly all.of our Aineri-' can records—many of them' world's records, from 50 yards/to a'mile? Just think of ; :a,ma'u going out :onel.day!.at,:a ohampionship meeting, (with good performers,' and winning the 100yd6., 220yds.y quarter, and half-mile—and running heats in the. .100 and ,220. Sheppard ' couldn't do it, and no man living can do it. . Of course, you may: say, times aro, different, but we had' the same: class of men then as;now,"and, I think oh the whole .they wore a better class; that is, we had more men that were' good: performers.•;■' ..To-day: 'we have or two" men that; are top-notchers; in those days . • they were all closo. together... ~ "Well do 1 remember Myers's race in j'the Cross-country.Champiouship-r-in.' 1881, ■I think, it was; he.•really',:believed.. he could win ,the: Cross-country : Championship. -I know, it was in 1S81; because I 'myself .started, in : '82. 'He tried,' and when he canie to the, last fence ,he' was so tired' he stuck '■■between'' two,rails." -: ;.

! Confirmation! of- the report, already: pub-, lished in these 'columns •that: "Reggie" .Walker,-. the great-little- South :'African'sprinter had; "gone' over" to the professional, .ranksj: came, .through', the cables during the week. According to, the latest message' he .has already left England for South Africa, where he has been matched to meet "Jack" Donaldson, the "blue' streak." .This is a matter for ; extreme regret as. Walker, although apparently' not up' to form this season, is undoubtedly one of the speediest amateurs of the ,age. At.the .same, time his defection is hot altogether a matter for surprise. (The surprise is that,he has-,withstood the very, 'tempting. offers made, him' for 'so! long.. After, winning the .Olympic 100 yards iiilondon, and on his return'to .Natal, Mr. 1 "Bufe'.'Naylor offered him,- big sums' to' "go over" to race A. B. Postlo, butWal-, ker, albeit his billet had departed during his ■. absence, declined.. to forfeit'- his status. Last,season we'wero told that he had gone to England to a position there, and perhaps it has turned out that tho: work did not materialise, and that, of , necessity, he has ...been .;forced into ;the, cash ranks. Whatever the reason; he, has' finally crossed the'Eubicon and, if'the cable is to ..be believed; he-is to,''visit Australia this■ year.. It was 5 stated "that he is coming out to ,meet;"Holl6way,": but evidently this, means ,-Holway,-. the American ex-amateur,-and the'- matching rather looks like a.piece, of Mr. H..D. M'lntosh's ..works.'.. One of Walker's last performances in England is reported thus in an paper: ."At,the' Ecdhill -and' Eeigate Harriers, meeting,'-,. on . the Eedhill (Eng.) Sports Ground on August 20, Eeg. E.. Walker won the.22oyds.. invitation scratch race by a yard in 22 4-ssec. E..W. Haley, of. the Heme 'Hill Harriers,, was second,' and. E. C. Craig,"of Michigan University-; (U.S.A.), third/',.'.

■The Karori Gymnastic Club is bringing off its inaugural sports ■ meeting. on Labour Day, 'October'-12. - This is tb'be more 'or'less of a "close" meeting—all, events being confined'to: residents in, the borough—but the. underlying-idea is-a good one. It is intended, if sufficient, talent is forthcoming,,to form 'ah amateur athletic club in .the district.. There' should be no difficulty-in this respect especially now that the recreation/ground-, is available for training purposes, and '"Mercury'-' wishes' the -club every success ,0n,.-Wed-.nesday, and hopes' to. see. a flourishing amateur athletic club spring, up as a re.-, suit of the'day's work.. : / -'