ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(BT aIERCUBI.)

: IS HASKINS GOOD ENOUGH? March 11—W.A.A.C. Carnival. March 15—Marton A.C. Meeting. March Woodvillo A.A.C. Meeting. March Horowhenua A.A.C. Meeting. March 18— N.Z. Championships (Christchurch). April I—Victoria College Sports and Open Events. Easter—Upper Hutt Axemen's Carnival I (amateur athletic events). '

Public Attitude to Sports. After its strenuous efforts to make tho sixth annual carnival a success, the Port Nicholson Club deserved better than it received from the weather on Saturday last. At tho. best of times, postponed sporting gatherings never seem to attract tho public attention greatly. Any excuse serves the public to stay away enthusiastically from- such fixtures, and Saturday's cold, biting southerly would have kept hundreds away from even a New Zealand championship meeting. The thousand or so spectators, whose enthusiasm .braved tho blast, were well rewarded, the racing being exciting, and the management of the meeting excellent. Still, one fact impresses itself on those who have followed the sport in Wellington sinco its resurrection some seven years ago, which is that tho public interest is not what it was. Neither is there tho samo enthusiasm among competitors. What has caused this? It is difficult to say definitely, but one thing is certain: That meetings arts not boomed to the same extent as a few years ago. Last Saturday's gathering is a case in point. Outside, the newspaper advertisements (and they even wore not so extensive as usual) and the painted signs on trams, there was little to remind people of the gathering. This lack of cnterpriso by a club which, four years ago, managed the biggest boomed meeting held hero for many a long daj, is hard to understand. Again, public interest may bo waning because of tho deartli of new talent. The cracks of last Saturday, with the.exception of Wilson and Baxter, have been regular competitors at all meetings for at least four years. With Woodger and Kerr away, there is left no one of outstanding excellence enough to draw the public to the Reserve, and no new attraction is in sight.

"Things are Stagnating." Turning from tho public to the competitors, it must at once be admitted that they are at present fewer than for some years past, and their interest stops short at competing. Principally, 110 doubt, owing to the fact that the majority belong to at least two clubs, there soems to be r.o inter-club rivalry, with tho natural consequence that things are stagnating. Mcanwhilo the sister sport of swimming flourishes, every carnival drawing enormous fields, simply because swimmers take a pride in their sport. Sufely in Wellington, which holds the N.Z.A.A.A. Championship Shield, athletes and club officials havo energy enough to rouse themselves, before public and other interest has evaporated altogether. Next year either tho New Zealand or Australasian championships will bo held here. The prospect of having either one may help to stir the fold up to action.

Two Good Men. However, to turn to last Saturday's racing. Two performances stand right out from the rest—Wilson's half-mile, in lmin. 59sec., and Hubbard's long jump of 22ft. "Mercury" has seen somo fine performances by Wilson, but he thinks that Saturday's was the best form which Wilson' has ever displayed. On such a track, with such a wind blowing, and with that hundred-yard finish up-hill against the wind, a time of lmin! 59sec. for half a mile makes one, ivhat .Wilson, is really capable of/' ! At.present' the'ris is no gainsaying tho fact that it is as a winner of handicaps that Wilson shines most. No handicap in reason seoms too great for him to concede. Yet ill championships and scratch races he fails to do nearly so well, but this is merely because of his . lack of experience in first-class company. His defeat by Harding last year at Auckland, and tho many lessons which he had from Hnskins on Wednesday night shojtld do him a world of good. Despite his indifferent showing against the latter, he is still a possibility, for tho New Zealand championships, if tho pace is made a cracker all tho way. Hubbard has at last found a remedy for his inability to "take the board." ft costs him at least six inches in every jump, but 011 his performance of Saturday 110 can allow that six inches, and then beat New Zealand's best. And tho remedy turns out to bo a very simple one. Instead of running up haphazard and jumping from nowhere in particular, he now places a handkerchief just at the back of tho board, taking oJT from that, and it is remarkablo how successful this simple expedient has proved. Still, until he can learn to talto off from tho board itself ho is not likely to get much above 22 feet.

Other Events Last Saturday. Though Wilson's and Hubbard's performances were above anything else accomplished at the meeting, all tho events were interesting, and somo of the performances were above tho avera"e. Among the sprinters, A. T. Duncan, of tho Victoria Collego Club, was undoubtedly tho best. In his heat of tho 100 yards ho won With the greatest of ease from lj yards, in timo given as lOsec. In tho final, after being penalised a yard, he again won easily in lOsec., which is probably within half a second of the real time. Duncan ran his usual brilliant first-of-the-season race, striding along with tho greatest freedom and case, but it remains to bo seen whether he will retain his form, or whether he will deteriorate steadily towards tho end of tho season as in past years. Though gifted with plenty of courage, Duncan is not strong, and "Mercury" offers the suggestion that his training should be of the lightest description.

Tho performances of Coard, Cunningliamc and Casey in tho 220 vards, 300 yards, and quarter-mile prove that these consistent runners havo not deteriorated. Cunninghamo ran with more confidence and better judgment than nsnal in the 300 yards. In this event Casey had hard luck in losing a shoe when leading into tho straight. Otherwise ho may possibly havo beaten Cunninghame. N. 11, Johnston had an easy win in tho quarter from 25 yards. His showing was surprising, but full of promise.. Ho should be well back towards scratch in another season. J. SI. Scott, who for tho past fifteen months has been away in the country, showed good form in both the 100 yards and 220 yards.

The Surprise of the "Mile," The surprise of the. mile was tho showing of H. W. Thompson, who, though not at his best, finished very gamely, and made Baxter extend himself until the last twenty yards. Baxter, out for a place in the centre's championship team, put up a splendid double performance by winning both, milo and three miles from scratch. The times in neither caso wore good enough to' win championships, but are by no means the best that Baxter 1 is capable of. Though it is improbable that ho will bo returned a winner nt Ch'.istchurch, he is bound to perform with credit, and may secure second'placo in tho three miles championship, ■ Tho Walks and Hurdles,

The two walks were responsible for good performances all round. G. Turner and Cashinan had a great tussle in tho three miles, the former carrying just the slightest bit too much good condition for Cashman at tho business end, and thereby gaining his place as second string to Harry Kerr at Christchurch. Cashman. gtrnio as ever, was second in both walks, but his form was not altogether pleasing. There was a stiffness and jerkincss in his style, which made it somewhat suspicious at times, and a good judge (in convocation with the writer) allribuln! this to Cashman'.-; starting fast work too early in his training. Turner, nn the other hand, never walked better, striding nut with freedom, and never once looking likely to incur the judge's displeasure. Mr. Ross, who on several occasions this season has disqualified Turner, was emphatic in his opinion that Turner's exhibition of walking was extremely correct. The time for the three miles, 23min. fi l-.'<pe., was very good. Tho, winner of the mile (?! Turner! shoived marked im-

provemont on his previous performances. An extremely fair walker, he is likely to improve still further, though whether li. will ever equal his brother's best times remains to bo seen.

The l'JOjds. hurdle race was interesting, principally on account of the liiueting of Evcnson and Halligan. The New Zealand champion finished third, beating Halligan by a couplo of feet, but he eased up perceptibly in the last few strides. Nevertheless, Ilalligan fenced wonderfully well considering his long absence from the track, and with training would possibly turn llu> tables. ".Mercury" was somewhat disappointed with Evenson's showing, and he will need to improve if lie is to retain his title at Christehurch. A. C. Kilto's win was popular and well deserved. George Strack has improved wonderfully sinco last season, his win in the 2:!oyds. hurdles being an excellent performance. lie should be hard to beat in the University championships next month. M'Namara's aft. fiin. in the high iump is tho best effort which he has ever shown and ho thoroughly merited his win. Evenson did not jump with his usual freedom, albeit his oft. sJin. was no mean performance. The winner (Johnston) and also Pool, by clearing 19ft. lOin. and 19ft. respectively, showed promising form in the broad jump. Both are capable of considerable improvement With the weapon of warfare lib. overweight, Ciisserley, Bissett and M'Kay performed exceedingly well in tho shot event, the former's 35ft. Sin. being excellent under the circumstances. For one whose action, though fair, is by no means correct, in that he does not swing his hips, M'Kay continues to putt amazingly well.

In conclusion, the writer is constrained to congratulate the handicappers on their work, and once more to echo the now familiar cry: "Where were tho stewards:" Thero was .work for them in at least two events, but they were not there to attend to it.

That Trial of Haskins. Faced with the necessity of doing many things in a hurry, tho Festival of Empire Committee have had a strenuous time of late. What with tho uncertainty as to Champion's intentions, and tho difficulty of . selecting tho Dominion's best middle-distance runner, with little er no form to guide them, and with the claims of so many men being advocated, their position has been anything but a bed of roses. Harding's inability to make the trip seemed to leave the field clear for Haskins until the claims of Hector Burk and G. N. Hill were pushed forward. However, the committee, in the hope of getting a man away quickly, tool; tho bull by the horns and called Ilaskins to Wellington to prove his worth in a trial against that doughty opponent—the watch—and. Ji F. Wilson. The presence of tho ex-champion of the American Universities proved a draw and a very fair crowd attended tho Karori Club's evening meeting on the Basin Reserve on Wednesday evening. The half-mile trial, which was decided first, naturally created most interest. At the start Haskins chose tho inside and at tho sound of the pistol, hopped off with the lead. Wilson followed, and at forty yards, attempted to tako tho lead from him. But naskins was too old a bird to be caught napping and bored Out on the bend keeping up the paco in tho meantime. Wilson still kept the idea of passing him on tho outside, but got no chance, and round the back of the conrso dropped back on to his opponent's heels. Meanwhile Haskins—his action ' perfect and pretty as ever—was striding out with great freedom. The pace at this stage was a cracker, and the first quarter being left behind in sSsec., it looked as if the 2min. mark would be broken. But round tlio back Haskins, devoting his attention to preventing Wilson from getting post him, seemed to slacken up. .Two hundred yards from homo Wilson again sprinted, but being forced to keep on the outside, was at k great disadvantage—tho more so since the track is on tho bend all the way round. Once more Haskins responded ti tho call, and with eighty yards to go, Wilson gave up a hopeless task, leaving Ilaskins to finish alone'in 2min. 2 3-ssec. Wjlsoii (and small wonder) was completely outgenoralled and a&ainst a man with Haskins's experience of match running, ho is always likely to bo in a twohanded battle, but that ho showed his true form (apart from this) is very improbable. In the big field which is likely to'contest tho half-mile at Christchiirch he should have more opportunities of showing his worth. As to Haskins it must bo said that he came out of his trial with flying colours. He showed beautiful form, great pace, and finished like a sprinter. It is tho height of absurdity to judge tho performance by the time test. In tho fijst place the conditions were against time. A fresh cold "southerly" was a great hindrance, the time of the dnv was unfavourable to record-breaking, the fact of his having to make his own pace anil tho fact of . his having only one opponent all told against him in this respect. In the second place, having to finish by himself settled his chances of getting down to even time. As it was he was doing excellent time until tlie last two hundred yards when' he took a slight puil preparatory to making his final run. His judgment and his generalship were of a rare order. Oil this trial he is worthy of being sent Home as Now Zealand's best in the half mile. But after that—well, despite his prowess, "Mercury" still fancies that he is inferior to Wheatley. Should he and the lengthy Victorian meet in a trial prior to the Festival, he will be up against a faster man (ono who is capable of doing 51sec. for the. quarter), as good a stayer, and one whose experience is wide and whose generalship is of the highest order. There is. this much further in Wheatley's favour—he is in his best form, whereas it is evident to all that Haskins is not. If anything were needed to prove' this it was supplied by his run in the milo on Wednesday evening.

Shades of Hector Burk! Let it bo admitted first that Haskins had, half an hour previously, run a very solid half. But set off against, this is the fact that he had the opportunity of having his two*trials on.separate nights, but was confident of his ability to run a satisfactory mile within half an hour of the first trial. Then let it be admitted that, on the rough track, in the dusk, when tho figures speeding along tho back could hardly be distingushed, he was at a very great disadvantage. Then, having admitted all this, ono must still come to tho conclusion that Haskius's mile trial was a farce. The winner of the race had 135 yds. handicap, and he .won with the greatest ease in 4min. 2750 c., which works out roughly at about 4min._4s.lsec.—this, bv a man who was making his debut as_a runner, his previous activities being in another sphere—that of walking. Haskins did the mile in 4min. 4G Msec, —at the best a performance equal only to the winner's time for the full distance. Shades of Hcctor Burk! What a performance on which to send a man Homo to run in what will virtually be the mile championship of tho British Empire. _ In tho facc of this, Haskins should certainly be required to give another mile trial. "Mercury" learn 3 that r>ovr Zealand s chosen cannot possibly leave before the Now Zealand championships are decided, and the New Zealand half and mile championships would certainly be the most satisfactory tests to which the candidates for the honour of being the Dominion's representative could be put. By then, Haskins will have had time to get into «omc sort of condition, and lie, too—good and willing sport that he is-will probably welcome tho opportunity of proving his"worth against all-comers. Certainly; under the present circumstances, 110 definite Selection should be made before March. 13.