ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 4 February 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By mekccht.) MOUKNFUL TALE FROM THE SOUTH. February 2S.—Port Nicholson A.A.C. meeting, Basin Reserve. March <1 N.Z. Championships (Christchurch). March B.—Manawntu A.A.C. Meeting (Palmerston North). Port Nicholson A.A.C.'Programme. The Port Nicholson A.A.C. has settled upon February 25 as the date of its meeting. For the information of competitors a list of the events is given:— 100 yds. Handicap, 220 yds. Handicap, W0 yds. Handicap, 880 yds. Handicap (Ladies' Bracelet), 1 Mile Handicap, 3 Mile Handicap, 1 Stile Walk Handicap, 3 Mile Walk Handicap, 220 yds. Hurdle Handicap, 120 yds. Hurdle Handicap, 300 yds. Club Members' Handicap, Half-Mile Boys' Walk, ■ltOyds. Boys' Handicap, Tug-of-War (S men aside),' 220 yds. Inter-College Championship, High Jump Handicap, Broad Jump Handicap, Pole Vault, Teams Belay (Ist man to rim 220 yds., 2nd 220 yds., 3rd JiOyds., 4th 880 yds). Dismal Christchurch Outlook. Athletic writers in Christchurch are much exercised over tho lock of interest taken in the sport in tho Cathedral City by the public, and, what is worse, by those in whose hands rests the welfare of amateur athleticism—the officials of the Canterbury Centre. This state of affairs is voiced in the "Weekly Press" as follows:— During the past week there has been some correspondence in the daily papers with regard to the present decadent state of amateur athletics in Christchurch, and it can safely be said that" the statements made by the writers of the letters are, in the main, well-founded. The sport seems to have utterly lost its hold on the public, and it would need a very vigorous campaign to once more re-establish amateur athletics. That public, support can be secured by well-orgauised plans has been proved in Wellington, and if some enthusiastic workers could be found here, there is. no reason why the same measure of success should not be achieved iii Christchurch. Meanwhile, here we are .with the Championship Meeting to be held -in a little over four weeks, and nothing yet done in the way of selecting men to train with a view to representing the Centre.

This lassitude is the more unaccountable because of the fact that the Christchurch body has- only to make an energetic movo to get its best team in action fit and well to hnve an excellent chance of wresting tho championship shield from Wollinglon. With Woodger absout, Opio must win tho two short sprints. C. L. Orbell has only to got into reasonable form to have tho high jump at his mercy, Miles Dickson has no very serious opposition in the three-mile run. The same can safely be said of De Thier in the shot-putting event, and St. Aubyn Murray, although at present resident in Gisborne, is still eligible to represent his old Centre in tho hurdles. This is a splendid nucleus to build up a team on, and, in addition, Opie must havo an excellent chance. in the quarter-mile flat, while Stubberfield is more than likely to score points in both walks. Similar Story from Otago. From Otago, too, comes a, somewhat, similar cry. Tho "Otago Witness" (speaking about the forthcoming athletic meeting to be hold shortly by the iinediii A.A.C.) states:— "It is a thousand pities that we cannot run a provincial championship meeting for various reasons, but amateur athletics are "at a low !ebb with us at prerent, and tub standard of our ■ * athletes r.o mediocre that such a .gathering, this year at.anyrate, would be championship in title only. As for performers, I regret to say, save, pos- > sibly, in the long-distance event, wo have ho one at the present time worthy of the distinction of champion." Dunedin is fortunate, however, in being in possession of an enthusiastic Centre, and, moreover, athletics -there can command at least a fair amount of support from the public. ' . W.A.A.C. Evening Sports, The Wellington A.A.C. evening meeting on Wednesday, at the Basin Reserve produced some keen racing, and some exceedingly close finishes, ' Three track events and two bicyclo races formed the programme. The former division comprised a 220 yds. handicap, won by a foot by Cunningham; a half-mile, won by inches'by Eliffe; and a mile walk, won by the narrowest possible margin by M. Tracy. Tho furlong event was run off in two well-filled heats, the first of which was won by J. Wilton, off two yards, with Hubbard (scratch) ami Cunningham, six yards, in close attendance, in 2-t 2-ssec. Tho second preliminary fell to Andrew, 14 yards, with Poole, 5 yards, and Kitto, 11 yards, in close'attendance. The final was a good race. All six got away together, and raced up the track in a bunch. Hubbard pulled out at the gate, after ho had his field apparently well caught, and left Andrew jn the lead. Ten yards from home, Cunningham came through with a big ruslr, and got the tape a foot ahead of Andrew, with Wilton and Poole almost a dead heat for third, two feet away.

The mile walk brought out six starters, and was responsible for a Rood exhibition of heel and too work by the limit man, Sievwright, who lind the hardest possiblo luck in riot" winning. Starting at 170 yards, he. led all the way, except for a little whilte at the beginning of the last lap, and walked absolutely correctly the whole way. Coming into the straight lie was tackled by M. Tracy (143 yards.), whose gait at certain stages had not been altogether above criticism (although near enough to pass Mr. Leslie, the judge), and, in tlio rattle home, lie was beaten by a touch Tight on the tape. Frank Turner, a younger brother of the scratch man, walked well, and looked dangerous at the bell, when lie took command for a distance, but could not hold to the pace. He was re-passed by Tracy and Sievwright, mid finished third. Geo. Turner, the scratch" man, mid "Paddy" Fitzgerald, off 15 yards, fought a duel throughout between themselves, and could not get up to the field, although both have bettered Gmin. 51sec., the time recorded for the distance.

The half-mile witnessed n pleasing return to form on the part of ,T. F. Wilson, the scratch man. In tho first lap lie came through his field of 13 starters in 56sec., and tab up to a yard from the tape, where Elilfe, coming apparently from nowhere, fairly sprang at the line, and wrested tho victory from the surprised Wilson in 2min. 3 2-ssec. Wilson's run was a (rood one. There was a searching southerly breeze to contend with, and he had to make his own running, over the lost lap. His action, too, was the same free, easy swing that, characterised his running last year. It has hitherto, been missing this senson. Ho is apparently coming along at the right time for tho big New Zealand meeting. F. Strickland, tho Petone sprinter, and a consistent prize-winner (it local sports gatherings, is now in Sydney, and has joined the South Sydney Harriers. How to Get a Team for tho "Festival." Mr. R. Coombes ("Prodigal" 'of the Sydney "Referee") has propounded a scheme to secure . Australasian representation at tho I'ostival of Umpire, which is to bo held in London ill conjunction with tho Coronation festivities in June next. Mr. Coombes has evidently given tho matter a deal of consideration, and his suggestions are extremely valuable, and so are appended in full. lie writes: We liavo to malco up a team of not less than seven men, and to my way of thinking it could bo done somewhat as follows:--100 Yards nnd 220 Yards Running.— For these events W. A. Woodger (X.Z.) could be asked to represent us straight away. Woodger is going to England in a few weeks' time, and thus wo would secure ono man without'cost. Lawn Tennis.—By the same reasoning, I would select A. I'. Wilding (N.Z.) for the tennis. It is now understood that Norman Brookes (Vic.) will not be available, whilst Wilding is in England. The .Lawn Tennis Council of Australasia

could doubtless secure the support of Mr. Wilding;'in point of fact, tney offer to put a moil in the court at 110 expense to what I may call Mr. Mark's committee. This would make two members of the team without cost.

880 Yards and Mile Running.—ln England, and presumably available, are S. A. Marden (N.S.W.), A. W. Clemes (Tas.), and ii. G. Waddy (N.S.W.). On the way to England is J. 11. Lynch (N.S.W.). Get the' quartet together and run the best amongst them in the "half" and mile. This would mean three men without cost. Admitted that the middle and long distance men named inay not bo quite as representative ns men of the class of Woodger and "Wilding yet they aro all good runners, notably so J. A. Marden. Hurdles.—l would suggest at once notifying Victoria that J. L. Davis has been selected for the hurdles, and asking if he could make the trip. If he could go it would be an obligation on Victorians to finance their representative. Swimming and boxing.—ln like measure I would pick Harold Hardwick for the swimming events. Beaurepaire is for the time being on tho retired list, but, of course, Cecil Ilealy has claims. However, Hardwick is a splendid boxer, and would worthily represent Australia and New Zealand in both departments. It would be an obligation on New South Wales to finance Hardwick. Wrestling.—l believe the best wrestler in Australasia is to be found in Sydney to-day, but probably New South Wales could not finance two men; so we could leave New Zealand to find and equip the wrestler of tho party. I might mention that E. W. Schneider, the ex-clmmpion amateur middleweight wrestler of New South Wales, and present champion cyclist, will be in England at the time of the Festival, and his services could perhaps be utilised. A team got together on these lines would cost Victoria, New Zealand, and New South Wales the expenses of one man each, with a trifle over for general expenses in England. Summed up, the team would comprise:— W. A. Woodger (New Zealand). A. F. Wilding (New Zealand). J. L. Davis (Victoria). 11. Hardwick (New South Wales). E. W. Schneider (N.S. Wales) or a New, Zealand wrestler. . And the chosen of S. A. Marden, A. W. Clemes, K. G. Waddy, and J. M. Lynch. Would it bs our Bust Team? Tho weakness of this [selection is undoubtedly in tho BSovds. and one mile division. Nono of the men mentioned are class enough for tho English runners who are particularly strong over . theso' distances. Tho two names that immediately suggest themselves as the Australasian best are thoso of G. Wheatley, of Victoria and Guy Harding, of Napier, New Zealand. It would be extremely difficult to choose between these two in a straightout selection, but, to follow' Mr. Coombes s lino of , argument, the'choice appears to fall on Harding. already has its representative allotted in Hardwick. while New Zealand is left to finance a problematical wrestler. Now, for tho purposes of practical politics we have not got this wrestler. Therefore, let us choose Harding who is, as "Mercury" has reason to know, available for tho trip, provided the matter of leave can be_ arranged, and this should present no difficulty. A match for .£SO aside over 3110 yds. is to be run to-day at the Caledonian Grounds, Dunedin, between W. I'. Trembath and C. E. Holway, the American sprinter.