ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Bt mercurt.)

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. GOSSIP AND CRITICISM. In describing an athletic gathering, the comments thereon naturally fall under two heads—the athletic section and that concerning the management. It is the intention to deal with the latter first. The management of last Saturday's meeting was satisfactory. The all-important advertising department was very well managed, and, as a result of this, good work on the part of tlio publicity department the gathering was kept well in the public eye. This is evidenced by the financial issue. The gate takings amounted to .£llO, in addition to which about 500 tickets were sold, 'l'ho gross income amounted to about .£l5O, which should leave a net profit of over .£SO to be divided between the council and the Home Centre. A splendid track was provided, and every effort ivas done that could bo done for the comfort of the visiting competitors.

The Management Not Al. So far so good. But there were matters that call for adverse criticism. First of these is tho fact that the sprint courses had not been surveyed before operations commenced. This may have led to much heart-burning on the part of thoso competitors who attained record and standard honours—in fact, at ono time it actually seemed as if this was to be the case. In the re-measurement of tho 120 yds. hurdle and 220 yds. tracks (after record times had been made over these distances) it was found that tho former was two' feet and the latter' two inches short of the proper distances, and it seemed that the records and standards could not stand. Fortunately, however, a re-survey disclosed that what error there was lay in the right direction. Tho hnrdlo course was three inches, and tho furlong fourteen inches over. This was discovered by Mr. Freeman, a local surveyor, who found on comparing the tape used by tho officials with his standard chain, that it had stretched with use. Still, tho moral is there just the same. Had the courses been properly surveyed in the first place, this contretemps would never have arisen. Again, there was a want of unity between the result board officials and the judges. This caused exasperating delay to the spectators in ascertaining the winners and times. In the field events there was practically no effort to keep the public posted as to what the men were doing—especially in the high and pole jumps. There was a megaphone on the ground, and it would have been- very little .trouble to have announced tho various heights, and thus to Have kept tho spectators in touch with the performers. As it was, it was all a mystery until such time as the results were posted on the board. Then, again, there were for too many people in the enclosure. A vigorous protest from the stand led to improvement as the day wore on, but, even at its best, this whs a marked blemish on tho afternoon's work.

Why Was This Thus? Again, and this is the last of this "growl," the working of the field ovents was far from being what it should have been. In the first place, the polo vault was started fifteen minutes late. In consequence of this, Evenson, the Wellington vaulter and hurdler, was made to suffer'a gross injustice, owing to the late start of the vault this event ran on until in clashed with the 120 yds. hurdles. Evenson qualified for the final,'but, at the time, was in the middle of his vaulting. He had, in fact, cleared oft., when ho had to leave to compete in the. hurdle final. On returning to the vaulting he found, that, ho had missed a jump, and was told that he must vault right awnj; or lie scratchcd. He naturally asked for a reasonable spell, but his ■ request was refused, 'and "lie Whsaincontin'ratljv,-rilled-out of further competition. His manager protested, but the judges were obdurato. and Evenson and his centre were deprived of a chance of scoring second place points. There was also a mistake in tlio measurement of M'Kay's winning hop, step, and jump that proved most annoying to the Wellingtoniau. His effort was officially announced at. 46ft. lin. —an Australasian and New Zealand record, and, on the Strength of these figures, JllCay let three more jumps, to which he was entitled, go by tlio board. To his disgust it was discovered, in remensuririg his jump, That it was only 15ft. 3Jin.—a distance tlmt was once more altered Muter on) to 4ofr. Tin.' It is believed that this equals lU'CabeVAitstralasian host endeavour. So the mistake means n lot toM'Kav, who was • confident: of his abilitv to hoist a now TOGOTd, and who certainly would have attempted to have done so had he not been misled into sacrificing his three moro chances. The "Stars" at the Meeting, Now (or the athletic side of the, meeting. Except for the field events, which were but of mediocre merit, this department calls 'for the highest "raise. It is not too much to say that the Standard attained surpasses that of any previous New Zealand meeting. One Australasian record was broken, and one equalled; one New Zealand record was broken 1 (two counting the hammer-throw from a ,it. circle), and ono- established, while the standard was beaten no fewer than twentytwo occasions. . , Four men were competing who, in one or another or all their events, would liayo performed with credit iu any company in the-' world—a big order, but not These were Opie, Hill, Keddell, and Kerr. Opie, of course, was the hero of the day, and the sturdv little mnner thoroughly deserved the whole-hearted demonstration accorded him on his achieving his third win.- His winning of the triple crown recalls the memorable "treble" of "Pat" Webster in the Carisbrook Ground in Dunedin in 1503, tvhen he won tlio 100 yds., in lOsec. dead, the 220 yds. in 22 3-ssec., and tho "quarter" in 50 2-ssec., tho last two being New Zealand records. On this occasion, however, the speedy 'Tat was running on cinders. The pity of it is that Woodger was not there, too, on Saturday. What a meeting this would havo been—especially in tho 220vds.! It is true that, Opie chopped 2-ssec. off Woodger's record, but it must be remembered that, at Auckland last year, the Wellington sprinter won in 21 4-sscC., and that, albeit on a straight-away course, and with a slight helping wind, on a wet track and in the rain. Opie's performances aro tho more remarkable from the fact that, in each case, lie got away badly. In the heat of the "hundred" he was actually "loft," and in tho 220 yds. final Hubbard headed him for nearly 100 yards. This is not a usual fault with Opie at all, from which ■ fact it seems that lie is capable of even better , than ho gave lis on Saturday: And this puts him, without a doubt, in a class with tho world's best.

Keddell's Sensational Showing. The other "treble" winner—G. P. Koddell, of Southland—must be classed with the best of his predecessors in New Zealand hurdling. Ilis recent Southland performances had keyed the spectators up to a high pitch of expectation. They were not disappointed. In the preliminary heat of the short hurdles, Iveddeil did not trouble much, but, in tho final, lie fairly cut loose. The further he went tho further he drew away, and, in the end, he finished before the second man was over his last fence. Ilis hurdling is strictly on the American plan—in fact, he has evolved his system from a study of Kranzlein and Smithson in photographs—and the style was quite new to those seeing him in action for the first time. Instead of fencing with tho bent knee of Tiatgcr, Holder. Smith, and Co.. ho comes over the hurdle with the front leg (his left) straight and rigid, with his spikes pointing straight at tho tape, and with the back leg trailing. His showing on Saturday was a great improvement on his Brisbane form, when he won the Australasian "double" over tho sticks, especially in the quarter-mile. Ilis win in this event was easily the most sensational of the day, and was one of the "headiest" efforts ono could wish to sec. Two-thirds of the way round he appeared hopelessly out of the hunt. In fact, no one was reckoning upon,him at all. M'Kenzie, tho Wellington man, was then lending by a clear ten yards from Hamilton, of Canterbury, with Cook (also a Cantab) lying third. Coming into (lie straight, M'Kenzie began to tire, and Hamilton moved up. At the last, hurdle these two rose together. Cook being then five yards away, and Keddell still apparently hoDelessly in the rear. The loaders

landed together, and it looked like a sensational finish home. It was. Tho whole stand was 011 its feet with excitement, but M'Kcnzie was done. It looked all over a win for Hamilton, when, suddenly, apparently from nowhere, camo Keddcll. Ho was fourth over tho Inst hurdle, hut lie camo with tremendous pace, and fairly snatched the victory from tho Canterbury man right 011 the tape. It was a groat race, and a great win.

Other Mighty Ones. Among tho runners, Ilill, of Auckland, was tho next in order of merit. lie shared W'ith Kerr and M'Kay the honour of scoring a "double" for his centre. -110 is the iorluuato possessor of a nice easy action, a good stride, tremendous finishing pace, and heaps of grit. 111 each of his races —the mile and three-mile-he moved to the front early in the game, and stayed there. In the mile, Baxter, . mail, swung in behind the Aucklander with the idea of Itaving tlio issue to the rattle home, and lay there awaiting the final challenge. Tho rest of tlw field were Soon out of it, Wilson (tho other Wellingtonian engaged) having dropped out in tho second lap owing to his over-exertion in the half-mile, lor the last two laps the two ran strido for stride, Baxter sticking to bis man doggedly, aiid tho Wellington party ing their man's great sprint at the' finish) were quite coiitent to see it so. At about two hundred yards from homo Baxter began his characteristicspriut. Ilill responded in kind, and—alas, for tho Wellington .party's hopes!—instead ofthegap closing up it actually widened, and, aftei' a struggle for about sixty yards or so, Baxter slackened up "all in." Then Hill opened out, and simply bore down ike straight as if he wcro finishing a hundred yards sprint. His milo was 4min. 25 4-ssec., and the final half was covcred in 2min. 11 l-ssec. So, if pushed along all the way, it is hard to say quite what he could have done. Baxter ran under ■lmin. 32sec., better than ho had run to date, and was beaten thirty yards or more.

Hill's Masterly Tactics. In tho three miles, Hill pursued tlio Mimo tactics, and, except for spasmodic displacements, led at most stages of (he race. Tho Australasian champion, Jliies Dickson, fell in behind him, evidently in the hopo of pushing him to breaking point. But he did not know his Hill. The first mile wont by in 4min. 55sec., tho second in 9min. 55sec., and still the Aucklander was pegging away merrily, with the lengthy Cantabrian hanging on step for step. And so it went until half-way round the last lap. Then Hill lengthened_ out; so did Dickson. Hill put 011 more pace; so did Dickson. Hill put 011 even more pace, and—Dicksou did not. And that elided it except for another sensational sprint down the straight from the Aucklander. The time, Hmin. 53 1-5 sec., was only 4 2-ssec. outside Simpson's Australasian record, and, judging from Hill's freshness at the finish, there can bo littlo doubt that theso figures are quite within his reach. Dickson is a great threo-miler, but Hill is, in tho writer's opinion, much greater, becauso of his wonderful sprinting ability. In short, it is the present seribe's holiest opinion that ho is the best we have ever hail, and if lie sets his mind seriously on the threemile record, and tackles it fresh, it is his to have and hold.

Harding and tho Half-Mile. This, so far, disposes of all the running event winners except Harding, in the halfmile. And here again one has to express tho highest admiration, both for tho winner and for Wilson, the other Wellington representative, who stuck bravely to a bitter task. The latter know, from previous experience of the champion, that his only hope of a win lay in establishing a substantial lead early in the race, and, at tho gun, he sot himself out to do this. Dougall, of Canterbury, picked up the pace, and soon Harding was lying third, ton yards behind. So hot did Wilson make tho going that the first quarter-mile was actually covered in stsec. At tho bell Harding was still third—some fifteen yards behind—his first-lap taking SGsec. AtJ.thoiback of the.pscond lap, Dougall kept going well, Harding 1 still imperturbably swinging along with that beautiful oasystrido of his. At tho second turn from homo Dougall was settled, and Harding moved up a trifle on his fellow-representative, who was now showing signs of tho great strain. Still, lie led by some seven yards info the straight, but, when fairly round tho turn, Harding came at liini hard. Wilson made a game effort, but could not hold to it, and the champion spurted past him, and finished well, after running a brilliantly-judged race. The time, 58 4-5 tee., is the fastest in which a New Zealand championship half-mile' lias been won. Wilson finished just under the 2min., and so worthily upheld his reputation. A Word, on tho Walks. As for the walks—the two races really call for no description. • It was simply a case of Kerr first and tho rest nowhere. In tho first event, the three mile, the champion set himself to beat the record, and, at one time, looked very like succeeding. He put the first mile away in Cinin. 4feec. (over a second faster than ho won the mile event in later on), and the two miles in 13min. 58sec. This brought the record within reach, but want of pacinghe was by this time half a lap ahead of his nearest attendant—told its tale. In the tenth and eleventh laps Kerr slackened off too much, and could not make up his deficiency iu tho last round. The record time was reached as ho entered the straight, and he missed it by 10 l-ssec. Cashman walked gamely and well in this event, and finished in a very frayed-out condition. Ho made a desperate attempt to foot it with Kerr over Hie first mile, and the struggle told later in the race. In fact, he only just reachcd the tape in time, and then collapsed temporarily. Tho mile was a repetition of tho longer race,.except that Fitzgerald went after second honours for Wellington instead of Cashman, and managed to settle his old friend and opponent, Stubberheld, once again. As in the previous race, Kerr showed exceptional form, but in this case lie did not trouble about time. It is worthy of note that throughout Kerr's long and honourable career this is tho first occasion upon which he has won the double at a New Zealand championship meeting. In fact, last Saturday's two wins brings his total nn to exactly threo New Zealand championships. Mr. J. Ellis, tho walking judge, who officiated in a similar capacity at tho last Olympic Games in Loudon, and saw Kerr in action then, was very pleased with, his display. lie told "Mcrcury" that Kerr's gait was as fair a performance as ono could wish to see anywhere, and that ho was more than satisfied.

The' Field Events. Now we E o ' to the field events, and here, as previously hinted, the paeon of praiso calls for some pianissimo, effects—in fact, at times it dies down altogether. Tlio broad jumping was not good, but this can be accounted for. Kcddell, the winner, did not uso all his jumps, preferring to rest on his 21ft. 3Un., while Hubbard, who had foolishly run in the 220 yards final within five minutes of starting his ■jumping, was for this reason absolutely incapable of doing himself justice. To show how tired he was, his first attempt only realised 16ft. Cin. His second was 19ft. 53in„ and his third 20ft. llin. Keddcll's first jump was his best. Robinson, of Canterbury, got 20ft. din. on his second attempt, but like Hubbard, did not improve in tho three final jumps. The high jump was also below championship form, so is hereby summarily dismissed as calling for no further, attention, except that it was chiclly remarkable for an error in 'ruling, on the part of _the judge, which deprived Kobinson, the Canterbury.competitor, of three extra jumps to which he. was entitled under the rules. The hammer throwing was productive of a surprise—and a pleu«ant one—to the Wellington team. Stories of the prowess of IPHolinc, the home representative, had been freely circulated, and Hissct, the Wellington "strong man," was given but an outside chalice. In the competition, however, the Wellingloniau surpassed all his previous efforts with a throw of 122 ft. :tin., which M'llolme, who had been practising from a Moot circle (hence the stories above-mentioned!, could do no better than ItM't. liiu. The throw must stand as a new wcenl, Tips is the --econd occasion upon which the 7-foot circle lias been in use, and the previous ftismvs put up at Auckland by ,1. Wallace (!a*t year in tho rain), arc only Hill. Tluis we have tho peculiar position el' having a rceord that Joes not equal, the standard—lSOtt, Considering the fact that Uissct throws with only one

turn, his effort is a good one indeed. lit has been throwing only a few months, and at the beginning ol (he season could not turn at all. So he is to bo congratulated on his initial try for big honours. lie is keenness itself, and intends to set himself down seriously to acquire tho three-turn "reel," and it lie docs, as he should easily enough, ho will bo a formidable thrower indeed. Tho shot-nutting varied from fair to poor. The outstanding feature of this competition was the disqualification of <• s 'nf! n . ' wo occ 'I s '°us for unfair putting. lhis was a staggerer for M'Kay, who has always been held up as a particularly fair "putter"—in fact, 110 lias been twice especially singled out for special mention for his corrcctitudo by Mr. B. Goombes. The blow was all tho moro severe irom the fact that one of the attempts ruled out was the furthest in the competition, and would have won handsomely if allowed to stand. Bisset and Casserly, our oilier representatives, scarcoly did themselves jufctiec, nervousness being the detracting factor. De liner, tho winner, has done better than his winning nut of 26ft. lOSiu., but seemed to lack confidence on Saturday. 11 Kay s big hop, stop and jump has already been remarked upon, so this somewhat cursory commentary must be brought to a close. Much more could be said of a very successful gathering, and it -V" r , lter w0ll ' ( ' liko to have given a detailed account of each event, but want forbids. One thing must bo6aid, which is that the Wellington selectors are to bo complimented oil their choice of a team. In every case every man performed up to expectations. Where the men were beaten it was becauso their conquerors (as in tho 410 hurdles) were befc. ter than was expected. In short, everv man did Ins part to tho best of -his abil. Uy, and 111 110 case did the ability fall short of previous form. Of the new men 111 the team, Stohr and M'Kcnzie, and especially the former, nroiuise well. Tho larinaki man has the making of a great 220 yards runner, and will bo heard of again. Wellington is losing the services of one of her shot-putting representatives in the person of "Tom" Casserley, who is undor sailing orders for Nupier.

Tho Empire Festival. For some time "Mcrcury" has been scanning South African files for Empir« Festival news, and has at last happened upon tho fallowing "par" in tho "South African Observer," of February 18: "Fesi ? l i °! Emnire sports programme has ai last taken definite shape. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand liavo already signified their intention of sending teams, Africa is.still making up its mind, although its field for selection is a small one. Patching for tho 100, 220, and HO, Capel and Gitsham for middle distances, and If. K. Jl'Arthur for tho long journeys, aro at present tho only men whom it would 1m worth while to send to Eng. land. Of tho bunch, Patching stands out as having the, best chance of success, and an effort must bo made by local snorts to send him. It would bo a great "day for tho youth of South Africa wero Patching to pull off. tho triple event—and that isn't impossible." This looks like business, and it now. remains to hear oi Canada's intentions.