ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Bi Mercucx.) NOTES FROM NEAR AND FAR, Those indefatigable Harriers, Things in the athletic world are quiet indeed. Locally tho ball is kept rolling by the two harrier clubs, of whose doings on Saturday last out- contributor writes-. Cliff House, Island Hay, has many a tiito been the rallying place for tho local harrier clubs, but never in its history has it given shelter to anything approaching tho muster of Saturday last. This was the combined run' by tho Wellington and Brooklyn Harriers. A special eii'ort was made by each club to turn out as many men as possible, tne result being a total pack of ulty-two runners, of wlncn Brooklyn claimed twenty-seven—a record lor tue club. After being "shot at" by tho camera person, the pack headed a direct course lor Lyall Bay, baulking at nothing in the way of hills and ieuces, and, alter a gallop along tho sand, returned to Island Bay via the Queen's Drive. The pacemauing was in the hand (or legs) oi the Brooklyn skipper, while the Wellington captain, as "whipper-in," kept his eye on tho rear division. A Right Good Run-in. The run-in was a veritable trial of strength between the two pacts, althougn tho wisdom of setting the number ol novices present so severe a task at this stage of the season is open to question. With a mile and a halt still to bo covered, the brake was taken on the leaders and, when all the runners had bunched, tho whistlo lor the run home sounded. Kollo (Wellington) and Hodson (Brooklyn) immediately made a bid lor fame by rushing oil' at a "quarter" pace, and "paid' the usual penalty by coming back last before reaching the business end, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Byrne (Brooklyn) deposed them at about half-way and, with his club mate Murray, kept a hot pace until about four hundred yards from the finish. Here C. Rowberry, tho Wellington crack, moved up to second place, and it seemed all Lombard Street to the proverbial orange that he would wear down tho Brooklyn novice. A surprise was in store, however, for Byrne upset all calculations by keeping Ihe" local champion behind right up to the tape, finishiug a couple of yaids to the good, although greatly distressed. It was condition that decided the coiitc.4, and Rowberry discovered that hi was lacking in this essential. Nevertheless, Byrne's pcrfornianco was very creditable and, with a little seasoning, ho will be a highly useful man to his club. Meanwhile the other Brooklyn ' hopes were lagging. Hurray being beaten for third place by F. Wilton, whilo Hodson, as previously mentioned,' faded away and "radunlly died. F. Rowberry again proved his mettle by finishing fifth, beating Mich stayers as Press, Bennett, and "Bert" Curry turned out with Die Wellington pack, but his surplus weight put him out of the race early. Should business airang.'nients permit him to stay in Wellington this winter, Curry ought to train seriously as there is no doubt (hat lie has never yet shown what he really is capablo of since he arrived from t)io Old Country. And Why Not More Harriers? The honours of the day were fairly evenly divided, Brooklyn having the bigger muster besides' gaining tho unexpected hen-, our of getting first man home. Against this Wellington secured four of the first six places, thus easily beating brooklyn on points. The sight, of so ninny runners taking part in a harrier run was highly inspirating to thoso members who, but' a few years ago, were struggling bard to keep life in Wellington's only club. Even now, no harrier clubs exist in the North Island outsido of this city, despite tho fact that, attempts to form them have been made during recent, years at, Auckland, Ifasterton, and oilier .centres. ~ v . : To-day will bo Novice Day for eac club, handicap races for the younger runners being set down for decision as follow.—Wellington Harriers, two miles and a quarter, on the Hult Park Racecourse; Brooklyn Harriers, two miles, at Miramar. Other members will hold their ordinary club runs as usual. Wheatley—A Study in Training. An Australian paper publishes the following account of the training operations o a runner well known both personally and by reputation throughout the Dominion, and, as the subject of tho article will bo representing us in England next month, and will also be sesn over here next January at the Australasian championships, the account should ho of interest. Moreover, it should bo valuable to our local middle-distance men, the younger ones especially. "Greg." Wheatley, of Victorias the ' crack middle-distance runner, who is one of tho team selected to represent Australasia at tho Coronation sports, gives his ago ns 27 years; birthplace, St. Kilda, Melbourne; weight, trained, . in runuing costume, list, lllb., untrained, about Wst., but no more. The training methods of Wheatley, who holds tho Australasian amateur records for SSO yards (lniin. sGJsec.), 1000 yards (2min. 19 2-osec), and one niilo "(limn. 23Jscc), ore very thorough. When training for half-milo and mile championships Wheatley takes three months' steady preparation to get himself fit. For the first three weeks ho puts in three or four ntehts a week, his work consisting of ■ three laps (Wlieatloy trains, ns a rule, on the A'orth Melbourne Recreation Ground, the grass running track of which measures three laps to t hemile), of steady work, in order to cultivate a comfortable and easy stride, which the Victorian champion says is a moit important consideration. He does the same distances, but at a somewhat increased pace, commencing the fourth week. By this ho is fairly fit, and his trainer gives him "breathing" work, with occasional "runs through." Runs from a quarter of a mile up to 600 yards are also undertaken. It. is said that Wbeatley is handicapped in not being able to race in company with runners who can stay more thai) a good quarter of a mile with him, so arranges to bave a relay of men to take him round the full distance, whatever it may be. In order to brighten up his sprinting work, the Es-sendon runner frequently makes use of a whippet. The runner is conceded a start of 30 yards in 130 yards, and, as a rule, the dog just "pips" him on the post. Wheatley does not believe in making the pace in a race. He sizes his field up, and just keeps in a handy position till the boll. If he has a formidable opponent, he makes liis run about a furlong ffom home; but if tho competitors are what they frequently are, he makes his effort about fifty yards from tho cad. He does not believe in "grandstand" finishes, as they b;littlo the "also rans." A Little Local Stadium. Local athlete, particularly the longdistance variety, are apparently to have no close season this year. Their services will be required scon At the Coronation Industrial Exhibition, on the top floor of which a very useful little stadium is being prepared. The flooring is Neuchitel asphalt, on which a running track of about fifteen laps to tho mile is being laid out. A straight fifty yards for sprint purposes is alro available, n.nd an extensive scheme of general athletics to Inst over tho ten woeks during which the Exhibition is opened is beine prepared by (he committee in charee, Messrs. Marryntt, Churchward, .t. K. Pollock, J. S. Roiialdron,' C. E. Bridge, with Messrs. Blick and Pollock, jnnr., as honorary secretaries. Rochdale Guardians havo held an inquiry into betting by paupers at the workhous.se. One of the inmates, it was stated, on being searched, was found to have n considerable sum of money and a number of betting slips in his possession. Two other paupers assisted him as clerks, and all his "clients/' were pnunerS. Ho admitted having been bookmaker lo the workhouse for eighteen months, and said he intended to "place (he bets with •! t publican. The Guardians imposed vari- a ous punishments on tho men "implicated, r and decided that the betting and racing .news in the daily papers placed in the h wards should be blacked out. o