ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(BY MerCdei.) TO-DAY-THOSE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Which Centre Will Capture the Shield?. To-day will, see another shuffle in tho amateur athletic championship titles of the Dominion. To-night will soo somo ■£ the honours cemented in the grasp of their present holders for another ,>ear, others being proudly borne, by the new batch of champions, and yet others being mourned tor by those deposed from t!:«ir high estate. Seme, of cour-:e, wiu go by default, notably the two sprint titles, but, in this, case, the default will bo an honourable one. as their holder. W -V. Woodger, is now upon, the high seas on his" way to do battle for tho Dominion in a larger sphere. .'Two' other important titles will -lie undefended—tho walking championships-■ as .l>. "Wilson, >f Auckland, whoso winning of the.se : events last vear caused such a flutter iu the athletic.dovo cote, has again retired into private life. From a public viewpoint the'personal aspect of tlie meeting is, to a large extent, subordinated to the provincial one. Tho man in the street is not-so much concerned as to which athlete'wins an individual, championship as he is -in the larger question as to whioh province, or centre (to be more academic) annexes tho championship shield. A little while ago this question was a moot one, indeed. Since then, various happenings—largely the outcome of the movement to sccure for the Dominion a proper share of-repre-sentation at the Coronation I'est.ival of Empire—have altered tho conditions considerably. A Glance at Canterbury. The alteration has been all in .'favour of Wellington, the present liolder.-..®f the shield, llntil Canterbury's rank/ had been depleted by the departure of, Ilaskins (and possibly Opie) her prospects wero more than good. Even now they uie far from hopeless, but the loss of'two certain wins—tho sprints—and possibly al«o the half and mile events; must militate seriously against' her chances. In addition, tho Home Centre is .sustaining a severe loss through the • absence • from the list- of-C.VL,■-Orbell)..tha-present New 'Zealand, -and. eM.us.l*al?siMf .Junk-jump champion, who has definitely announced that lie will not be competing. How Goes It With Otago? Otago, too, has a grievous loss to ■mourn, that of Hector Burk, who, according to Dunedin reports, is not, after all, to be seen in action again.-..This, also tells largely in Wellington's, favoyr, as it leaves the half-mile almost at tho mercy of her strong' brace of representatives, Harding and Wilson. It is noticeable, by tho way. (hat Reid, the Otago jumper, is not entered for this event today, the province being represented by Mitchell, the present, champion. Presumably, therefore, Mitchell can beat Ucid. If so ho is right up to form. Some of the Hefty Ones. ! Before tackling the venturesome proposition of endeavouring to prognosticate tho fato of the shield at tho end of the day's work, it will bo helpful to review some of tho most recent performances of : the men engaged. Of these pride of place must be given to tho doings of G. P. Kcddell, of Southland. At his Centre's recent championship meeting lie won tho 100 yds. in 10 l-.iscc., 120 yds. hurdles in lasec. (a world's record, of which more anon), 220 yds. in 23 l-s?ec., hop-step-and-jump with 30ft. Tin., and 44fl,vds. hurdles iu Gssec. In addition, Keildell has lately broad-jumped in the neighbourhood of 21ft,. Coming nearer home, Hubbard, last Saturday, won a 220 yds. event in 23sec., assisted by a "flyer" at the start, and two weeks ago Jnmnwl 22ft. J. F. .Wilson has a lmin.

oOssc. half-niilo performance to his crcdit. Guy Harding, of Napier, another local representative, litis a quarter-mile of 51 2-asec. Of tho Aucklaiulers, Simpson, the sprinter, won a lOO.yils. last Saturday in II) 11-Ssee. Ashley Duncan, tho local sprinter, also has a good 100 yds. of 10 1-5 sec. to go on with. In the field events, M'Holine, of Canterbury, has been credited with 137 ft. with tho hammer in practice. Reid, the Otago high jumper, cleared aft. Tijiu. at the Southland championships. Leit. M'Kay got over 10ft. with the pole at the I'ort Nicholson meeting comfortably. A Guess at the Winners. Now, to sum up. Tho following competitors seem most, likely to secure the different events (Opic and Burk arc not considered) :— 100yds.—Kcddell (Southland), or Dnncan (Wellington). 220yds.—Hubbard (Wellington). ■110yds.—IIa rd ing (Well i ngton). 880yds.—Harding or Wilson (Wellington). . Mile.—Hill (Auckland). • Three miles.—Dickson (Canterbury). 120 yds Hurdles—lveddell (Southland). ■ 410 yds Hurdles.—Kcddell (Southland). Hammer.—M'Holme (Canterbury). Shot.—Dc Thier (Canterbury). Broad .Tump.—Hubbard (Wellington), or Kcddell (Southland). High Jump.—Mitchell (Otago). Hop-Stcp-and-Juinp.—M'Kay (Wellington). Pole Vault.—M'Kay (Weilingfon). Milo Walk.—Kerr (Wellington). Three-mile Walk.—Kerr (Wellington). This gives a handsome win to Wellington, with 9 straight-out wins and two probables, ns against two wins and two probables to Southland, three wins to Canterbury, and one each to Otago and Auckland. All of which may seem unduly optimistic—but to-day will show. One factor, however, must not be overlooked, which is that all the nominees in each event will not start. In tho above prognosis each event lias been considered on the merits of the. entrants, a system which is likely to be upset by sera tellings or management tactics. Thus Iveddell is entered for the sprints, hurdles, and jumps, and it is quite likely that tho order of events may necessitate his withdrawal from one or another event. So, in a lesser degree, with Hubbard, and so on.

Tlio Full Championship Entries. The full list of entries runs:— 100 Yards Flat.-J. R. Simpson, J. J. Mulvihill, J. 11. Edwards, and C. Ryland, Auckland; F. C. Hubbard, A. V. Stohr, and A. T. Duncan, Wellington; Eggleston, Otago; R. Opic, W. L. Paterson, and F. Cook, Canterbury; G. 1. Kcddell, Southland. 220 Yards Flat.—J. R. Simpson, J. J. Mulvihill. and J. 11. Edwards, Auckland; F. C. Hubbard. A. V. Stohr. A. T. Duncan, and K. M'Kenzie, Wellington; Eggleston, Otago; R. Opie, W. L. Paterson, and A. M'Master, Canterbury; G. I'. Kcddell, Southland. 4-10 Yards Flat—J. K. Simpson, Auckland; F. C. Hubbard, A. V*. Stohr, W. G. Harding, and J. Wilton, Wellington; R. Opie, E. Wright, and' W. L. Paterson, Canterbury. 880 'Yards Flat.-G. N. Hill,' Auckland; W. G. Hording, and J. F. Wilson, Wellington; IT. Burk, Otago; G. Haskius, L. A. Dougall, and E. Wright, Canterbury. One Mile Flat.-G. N. Hill, Auckland; J. F. Wilson, and L. E. Baxter, Wellington; 11. Burk, Otago; G. I-laskins, L. A. Dougall, M. Dickson, E. J. Steele, C. M. Pugh, and W. J. L. Smith, Canterbury. Three Mile Flat.-G. N. Hill, Auckland; L. E. Baxter, Wellington; J. Beaton, Otago; L. A. Dougall, M. Dickson, E. J. Steele, W. J. L. Smith, and W. O'Grady, Canterbury. One Milo Walk—J. W. G. Bennett and A. Rogers, Auckland; 11. E. Kerr, D. Cashman, P. J. Fitzgerald, and G. Turner, Wellington; D. Carline, .Otago; 1. 11. Stubbertield, A. P. Stubberfield, and E. TVyncham, Canterbury. Thrco Milo Walk.-J. W. G. Bennett and A. Rogers, Auckland; H. E. Kerr, D. Cashnian, I'. J. Fitzgerald and &. Turner, AVellingtpn; r \P..; Carhile,; Otago;. P. H. Stubberfield, A. P. Stubborheld, and R. Twvncham, Canterbury.

120 Yards Hurdles.—J. C. Whitney, Auckland; A. Evenson and R. M'Kenzie, Wellington; F. Cook, F. V. Robinson, and W. Page, Canterbury; &. P.,lveddell, Southland. / 410 Yards Hurdles.—J. C. Whitney, Auckland; E. M'Kenzic mid A. C. Kitto, Wellington; R. F. Mitchell, Otago; I'. Cook, W. L. Paterson, W. Page, and H. E. Hamilton, Canterbury; G. P. Iveddell, Southland. High JmnD.-C. Ryland and C. C. Laurie, Auckb.nd; L. M. M Kay, A. Evenson. and P. M'Namara, Wellington; R. F. Mitchell, Otago; C. L. Orbell and F. V.. Robinson, Canterbury. Long Jump.—C. ■ Ryland and C. C. Laurie, Auckland; F. C. Hubbard, Welin»ton; F. M. Reid and R. I'. Mitchell, Otago; C. L. Orbell, F.'V. Robinson, and A. Deanc, Canterbury; G. P. Iveddell and F. Ilazlctt, Southland. Pole Jump—C. >C. Laurie, Auckland; L. M. Jl'lvay and A. Evenson, Wellington; G. Batstone, Canterbury; F. Hazlett, Southland." Hop, Step, and Jump.-C. Ryland and C C. Lanrie, Auckland; L. M. M'Kay, I'. C. Hubbard, and R. M'Kcuzie, Wellington; F. M. Reid, E. F. Mitchell, and A. M'Donald, Otago; C. L. Orbell, Canterbury; F. Hazlett, Southland. Throwing the Hammer.—J. Wallace and R. Wilson, Auckland; A. Bissett, Wellington; W. Do Thier and J. M'Holme, Canterbury; M. Crow, Southland.

Putting the Shot—J. Wallace and R. Wilson, Auckland; L. M. M'Kay, A. Bissett, and T. Casserley, Wellington; A. S. Reid and D. A. Macfarlane, Otago; W. Dc Thier and J. M'Holme, Canterbury; M. Crow, Southland. Astonishing Feat by Kcddoll. Now for lveddell's alleged world'.? record 120 yards hurdle performance. The previous best stands to the credit of l'. C. Smithson, the American, winner of tho 120 metres hurdles at the last Olympic Games, llis best, according to Whittaker, is 15sec. dead, a ncriormance tnat Kcddell is reported to have equalled. Of tho Southlander's run a local paper says: "The track is a quarter of a mile in circumference, with two long straights and sharp ends, and was very fast yesterday for "the most part by reason of a dry grass covering of a springy nature set on a solid clay foundation. Thus it can be understood that tho homo stretch, on which the sprint events wero decided, was conducive to speedy running, and it is not, therefore, surprising to liavo .to chroniclo tho fact that several performances of an unusual character were recorded, including a sensational run over a hurdle course which is claimed as a world's record. In thc_l2o yards hurdles championship, G. P. Iveddell (Australasian and New Zealand hurdles champion), J. P. Moore, and 1\ Hazlett faced the starter (Mr. J. Bell), aud were sent on their journey on even terms. From tho outset G. I'. Kcddell drew away, and was well clear on landing over tho first obstacle. Judging- tho distances between liis jumps perfectly, and leaping faultlessly, Kcddell strode clean away from his opnonents, and raced to the judges with a" fino burst of speed on tho flat at the end.

"As showing the pace at which tho champion travelled, it has to bo mentioned that, as he breasted tho tano tho second man, who also appeared to run well, was only, racing at tho last hurdle, twelve yards away. Three watches mado tho timo loscc. dead—a world's record— whilo a fourth timepiece recorded 15 l-ssoc. The track was immediately re-measured by the officials and found to be a shado over the stipulated distance, whilo tho height and placing of tho ten fences was also certified to. A breezo was blowing at tho time, from a side direction, and cannot be said to have assisted tho runners to an apprcciablo extent. Tho timekeepers had an uninterrupted view of the start, and any doubt which may attach to tho correctness of Keddell's feat will probably rest with tlife evenness or otherwise of tho track." Thus it would appear that tho conditions wero in order, always presuming that the track was lovel, and it is to be sincorely hoped that circumstnncos to-day will give tho popular "Jerry" an opportunity of repeating his great performance. Two ferrets which were nut into an earth at Horbling Fen, Lincolnshire, dislodged three rabbits, two rats, and a fox, which killed ono of tho ferrets. For Chronia Chest Complaints, Woods' Great Cure, Is, 6d„ is, 6d— Adrfc.