ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Bx MERCORI.)

To-day. — Provincial Championships (Basin Reserve). January 23.—Caledonian Meeting (Wanganui). March 4.—Now Zealand Championships (Auckland). Championships This Afternoon. This afternoon will, weather permitting, sco a good many changes in tho Wellington Provincial championship list. In the first place many of last season's champions are not defending their titles, notably Woodger, Heffer, and Cashman. The defection of tho first-named promises to lot R. Opio in for tho two sprints, while the 'Christ-church flyer must have an excellent chance in tho quarter-milo as well. According to report, Opio is running exceptionally well, and it is greatly to bo regretted that lie will not havo Woodger to give batt-lo to. A meeting between theso two would bo worth walking miles to see. On the occasion of their previous clashes, at Duncdin, Auckland, and Palmerston North, tho local man has had tho best of tho deal, but the southernor has been steadily improving as he grows older — ho is oven now only 20—and this time promised to give the champion all he could do with. Why Woodgor is Resting. However, tho meeting is not to be, and, truth to tell, no one, unless it is Opie, is sorrier than Woodger. In conversation with "Mercury," the latter explained his position thus: While doing a training spin last week ho felt a strain that ho sustained in Brisba.no at tho last Australasian meeting givo way again, and after running some moro it became so bad that he got medical advice about it. In consequence he was advised to take a complete rest until his arrival in-England. In fact, ho was told that if ho wanted to run in the 01(1 Country ho was not to run at all before ho left. Naturally, Woodger wants to mako the effort of his life when at Home, so has decided not to risk a permanent retirement from the track by starting this afternoon. Tlio strain that has occasioned tho troublo is to one of tho ligatures of the back, and was first.felt after Woodger's 220. yards win in Brisbane. This was on tbe_ "Wednesday, and,- as a result of tho injury, the sprinter was forced to stay in bed until the following Friday afternoon, and to undergo a continual courso of hoi> fomentations, etc., under medical supervision. This treatment enabled him to start in, and win, tho 100 yards championship on tho Saturday, but it will he understood that the second run did not assist in tho curativo part of the business. The position is nil unfortunate one all round—for Woodger, for Opie, for the public, and for the Wellington Centre —but it is better that ho should miss a run at a Wellington provincial championship than at an English championship mcoting, and that is how the matter sums up. Somo of To-day's Features. However, to return to to-day's meeting —owing to Woodger's absence from the New Zealand championships at Christchurch on March 4—he has booked his ■passaago for February 24—it will bo necessary to pick a sprint representative for Wellington. This must bo done on to-day's performances.. Tho most likely candidates are Hubbard, and tho Wairarapa sprinters Berry and M'Kenzic. None of this trio is likely to beat Opie, but tlio struggle for second placo will be ii bitter one, especially in tho 100 yards. In tlio 220 yards Hubbard should score, if ho can strike his furlong form of last season. ■ Tho,, quarter-mile should bo a- great race. Tho entrants are M'Kenzie (Masterton), Ma-rtis (Wanganui), Stolir (Now Plymouth), Opio (Christclmrch), and tho local quartet, J. F. Wilson, J. Wilton, Casey, and Coard—a lino representative lot. 1 The half-mile should sco a splendid race between J. F. Wilson and Baxter. Wilson is the holder- of tho title, and, in form, is better than 2 min. for the distance—ho won it last year in lmin. 5S 2 : sscc.—while Baxter lias done 2min. ■lsec. already this season, not extended, at Masterton oil.Boxing Day. Baxter, by tho way, .has not entered for the mile. This leaves this contest very open, and it was sportsmanlike of Baxter to give away a certain championship by standing down. Moreover, it will givo him a chance for a thorough "tryout" over tho three-milo journey, which ho has not had yet, so the public will not suffer at all through his absenco in the shorter run. Tlio fields for the field and handicap events are excellent. ■ In fact, in respect of the nominations all previous rccords for a provincial meeting are easily shattered. In short, tho . gathering gives overv promise of being tlio best held in tho Basin Reserve since tho last New Zealand championship in Wellington. Wilson Walking "Episode" Settled, At last a settlement of tho Wilson walking spisode has been arrived at, and tho denouemont is satisfactory to the New Zealand A.A.A., if not to tho protesting Auckland Centre. . In its report of tho last meeting of the Australasian Union, to which body tho affair had been sent for final adjudication, the "Refereo" says:— . "The 'D. Wilson appeal caso' was dealt with. This was an appeal by tho Auckland Cent-ro of the N.Z.A.A.A. against the decision of tho full council that D. Wilson's application for tho three miles walking rccord of New Zealand (and also of Australasia) was out of order, owing to tho said application having been lodged too late. This appeal to the union was lodged with tho consent of t-ho N.Z.A.A.A. After the papers, etc., in connection with tlio caso had been exhaustively examined, the executivo unanimously resolved that the ruling given by the president of tlio N.Z.A.A.A. was, in their opinion, unquestionably a correct ono. As a rosult the executive's finding was that the appeal had failed." A Letter from Keddoll. Recently "Mercury" gave an extract from a letter received from G. P. Keddoll, of Otago, the Australasian champion hurdler, saying that lio had changed his mind about retiring from track work, and that ho intended to get into form again for tho big New Zealand meeting in Christchuroh. Keddoil ii keeping his word. On New Year's Day he competed in a 100 yards handicap at Timnru. He was given 3J- yards, and won in 10 l-ssee., with Opie, scratch, second. His fencing always was sound, and apparently ho is as fast on tho flat as ever, so he looks like keeping Evensen very busy in .the 120 yards hurdles. Tho Dominion Milo Champion. Mr. W. G. Talbot, honorary secretary of the N.Z.A.A.A., has received a letter from G. Hill, of Auckland, tho Now Zealand milo champion, saying that ho is to bo a starter at tho championship meeting on March 4, and asking if thero is to bo a meeting hero on the previous Saturday, February 25, because, if so, ho would competo thereat on his way to Christchurch. "Mercury" understands that tho Port Nicholson Club is contemplating a meeting, and would suggest that "this date would bo very suitable, if cricket arrangements do not interfere. Hill's presence would bo a big attraction, and moro than likely other championship competitors would be available as well. Tlio Evening Meeting at tho Basin. The Athletic Football Club A.A.C. evening meeting on Wednesday was a bright little affair. Chief interest cen-

tred in tho milo open handicap, which fell to tho omnivoroue Baxter, from scratch, in 4min. 3S 4-sscc. Seven started, and tl. W. Thompson, running from the limit (125 yards), mado tho pace hot from the jump. Baxter got going quickly, and mado up ground lrom the gun, covering tho lirst lap in 62sec. Still steadily gaininir, ho registered i'liiin. SOsec. tor tne halfmile. Shortly after this Thompson dropped out, leaving Finn in the lead, with Binnie and Baxter lying handy. At 200 yards from home Finn was still leading,, and running strongly, but hero Baxter started ono of his characteristic sprints, and headed tho leader about 80 yards from tho tape, and thereafter was not bustled, and finished comfortably. Finn was second, and Binnie, off 25 yards; third. 'lon started ill tho 4'lOyds. open, J. Wilton being on scratch, "and tho field stringing out to a 26-yard limit. M. I'. Pool, on the 22-yard mark, was soon and eventually won easily in 51 4-ssec. from Coard, who beat Casey for second place apparently on sufferance. Neither J. 1?. Wiltim nor F. Hubbard, on tlio 2 and 5-vard marks respectively, finished, while Wilton ran fifth, ten yards away. This run of Fool's adds in no small degree to tho very good impression ho made at tho recent W.A.A.C. meeting, when ho won the two sprint ovents. He is (juito a youth, and with care has a, future on the track. His 9 O-lOsec. from 8 yards for a hundred and 51 4-osec. from 22 yards for a quarter, aro decidedly "hot" runs for a novice.

llio club'Tii yards fell to Donaldson, off 3i yards, from Jones, Knight being close up second, in 8 3-ssec. Very promising material turned out for this event, and somo of the starters would snow to advantage in bigger company. There is room for them all. - L. H. Kelly's high: jump of 6ft. has been passed by the Victorian Council tf ictorian record, and sent on to the Australasian Union for confirmationas an Australasian record. The Crowth or the "Record" Mania. The following extract from tho "Now lork Press" will be of interest as shownig tho extent to which the "record" mania has developed in tho United States of America, and incidentally the merit of some of tho performances, and -the familiar terms upon which the sporting scribe must bo with somo of the performers. Importing tho proceedings of, tho Record Committee of tho A.A.U. of tho U.S.A., tho paper under notice says; Melvin . Sheppard was credited with tho world's figures for 500,550.600, 660, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 yards, iu addition to tho two-thirds of a milo figures. Noue'of Martin Sheridan's claiils for new discus records were allowed, for some reason best known to tho Hecord Committee, but Marvollous Martin was credited with a new record of 27 feet Ot inch for putting the 42-pound stone. The hurdling records of Jack Eller, Bob Eller, Roger Bacon, Charley Bacon, and T. N. Richards wero accepted, as was Leland Scott's pole-vaulting ■ record of 12ft. lOgin. _ Con Walsh was credited with tlio 56-pound woight-for-height figures, and Matt M'Grath for throwing the sfl-pound weight from a stand. Bacon's one-fifth of a milo hurdling figures' wero accepted, but his quarter-, milo hurdlo record was left for further consideration.

Among tho indoor records accepted wero 60 yards in _6 • 2-ssec., by Billio Keating and Bobbie Cloughen, 70 yards in 7 l-ssec.' by James-Archer, 1J miles in Bmin. 10 3-ssec., 2 miles iu 9min. 14 l-ssec., 2J- miles in 12min. 8 l-ssee., 3 miles 'iii 14min. 29 2-ssec., and 4 miles in 20min. Usee., all by George Bonbag, of tho Irish-American A.C. It. C. .Craig's intercollegiate'22o-yard record of 21' l-oseo., and T. S. Gcrna's 2-mile inter-collegiate figures of Bniin. 26 3-ssec., wero passed as outdoor American records. Dan Ahearno's run-' liing hop, step, and jump record of 49ft. 7i!in. was passed, but his two hops and a jump retard wa's discarded. Bruno Brodd's javelin record of 163 ft. lin. was accepted. Among tho claims for records which were put on tlio tablo for further consideration were: 90 yards indoors,, by E. A. Froy, in 9 2-ssec.; 125, yards outdoors in 12 2-ssec., by Ter Raiusdcll; indoor standing hop, step, and jump record of 32ft. Bin., by l'latt Adams; Charley Bacon's hurdling figures of lmin., and G. H. Goulding's one milo walk indoor' record of 6min. 29 1-oscc.