ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1150, 10 June 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Bt MEnconT.) POOR HARRIERS-SOLD AGAIN. June 24.—Festival of Empire Sports (London).. What Was Dono to Them. Tlio most important event in Dominion athletic circles during the week was tho allotment of the .New Zealand cross-coun-try championship to I he Auckland Centre. Naturally this has caused deep disappointment to the local harrier men, who had confidently looked forward to having the control of this—tho biggest event in their calendar—given into tueir hands, both as a right and as a compeKsation ior expenditure of linio and money 011 two previous occasions. This piiaso of the business is fully gone into by my harrier correspondent in his remarks that follow, and it must be said that the local men "da well to bo angry." It is to be remembered, however, that tho council has another viewpoint. It lias to consider the good of tlio sport as a whole throughout the Dominion, and it was just this consideration that iniluenced the councillors—rightly or wrongly—in deciding as they did. How Their Fate Was Decidcd. Moreover, it is worthy of note that, keen as the local harrier clubs were to secure the big event, llie.v were evidently not supported in this altitude by tho Wellington Centre. The local application was just: an application, anil not lung more, and at the council meeting it was not brought down (nor was it even supported) by either of the Wellington delegates. 11l fact, 0110 of (lies? gentlemen spoke strongly in favour of Auckland's claim. And, further, tlio desire of 'lie council to further the sport 111 Auckland, was a widespread one. The motion was moved by Jlr. Davis (Southland), seconded by Mr. Thompson (Auckland), and supporter by Mr. lioss (Wellington) and Mr. Citsacl; (Otago). Each of these paid a well-deserved tribute to the Wellington crn«s-coiintry men, but each expressed the belief that "the greatest good to tho greatest number" would bo achieved by deciding upon Auckland as the venue. The one great difficult ill tho successful earrving out of the championship up nortli lies in the council's rule tint three centres must bo represented or the event lapses. It is now the duty of the Auckland Centre to justify the council's confidence by doing its utmost to eeenre tho necessary representation, or at least lo ascertain in good time exactly what the intentions of the various centres are so that, in the event of a failure in this respect, some different arrangement can )>e made before it is too late. The matter is now left in (ho hands of my harrier friend, who writes:— A Harrier With Battle in His Eye. "Tho Auckland Centre's application for the New Zealand cross-counlry championship was granted. Ibis extract from tho report of the last, meeting of the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. came as a "bolt from tlio blue" to our harriers, who aro still wondwins claims Auckland was able to put forward to justify (he council's action in overlooking Wellington when allocating tho event. That the mat-

ter was given calm and careful consideration seems hard to believe by anyone .who studied the reasons advanced in Wellington's favour in my notes last week. Nothing fresh, apparently, was received from the northern centre, yet advocates of the local centre's application were conspicuous only by their silence. It seems as if the council, after resuscitating tho event, has suddenly tired of it, and has adopted the expedient of allotting it to a centre as far removed as possible from the harrier strongholds, as tho quickest and surest means of strangling it in its infancy. What tho South Island centres will do in the matter of being represented is at present unknown, but Wellington cannot liopo to bo represented by a team on the snmo conditions as in past years. Hitherto tho local men, after being selected, have travelled to tho championship meeting at their own expense, which habit their centre has done its best to encourage by withholding its financial support, in strango contrast to its treatment of the summer brigade when tho possession of tho championship shield is in dispute. Now it appears that the council is equally keen on fostering this commendable virtue of the 'Wellington crosscountry men, nnd has decided to givo them still another opportunity of paying for tho honour of representing their centre, _ Having now done their part in assist, ing the council to establish tho chainpionship as an annual event, tho local runners, judging from opinions expressed of late, will not travel outsido of Weilington unless financed by their centre. Whether or not tho centre is in a position to stand tho expense of sending a team of five men to Auckland is tha question which must bo answered beforo anything can be decided in the matter of ■Wellington's representation. Tho position created by the action of the council is a regrettable one, and that body can blamo only itself should tho event lapso this season, through lock of support. In view of the paucity of funds in tho coffers of tho centres most likely to bo represented, it seems at the moment highly improbable that tho rcquisito three team's can bo raised. Wellington Harriers—Going to tho Wall? Last Saturday, being an "all-day holiday," tho Wellington Harriers abandoned their scheduled run from Sentoun ill favour of a tramping tour. The experiment was hardly a success, as tho attendance of members did not reach doublo figures, which was a pity, considering the enjoy, able nature of tho outing to tlioso who took part. To-day's run from Thorndon baths will 1)0 tho final gallop beforo the Palmer Cup race, which takes place at Miramar next Saturday. Those "Bustling Brooklyns," Brooklyn Harriers woro disinclined to lose their run on account of the holiday, and mustered twenty strong at tho residence of Mr. Baker, at Uona Bay, for a picnic-run. "The !>ost run tho club has yet held" was the captain's summing-up of the outing on tho return of the pack to the Bay. Tho flat going at Goltim's Valley was taken full advantage of beforo a spur leading in tho direction of Mt. Cameron was climbed. Altogether, tho run occupied two and a lialf hours, so that tho wliolo scoro of runners wero fully prepared to do their best at tho feast provided by Mr. nnd Mrs, Baker at its conclusion. Tho club will hold a threc-milo sealed handicap at Miramar this- afternoon. Competition for fastest tiuio in this raco should bo very keen, ns, at tho present time, it is impossible li) prcdict witli any certainty the likely place-getters. "The Honour Belongs to Trembath," For tho first timo in its athletic history New Zealand can claim a pedestrian world's champion, The honour bolongs to W. F, Trembath, of Gore, Southland, by virtue, of his defeat, at Kockliunipton last Saturday, of A. B. Postle—tho niuchtravelled Queensland runner, and exholder of tho titlo of world's quarter-mile champion, won in his succcsslul match some years ago from B. 1(. Day, tho Irishman. True, thero has been but littie competition for tho big chninpioi)ship 'hontnirs at this distance.' All interest of late has been centred on the two extremes— tho sprint and Marathon titleshut, nevertheless, the New Zealander's right to tho premiership is as sound as a title can be in professional running. Short History of Trembath. Trembath has been running prominently since 1907. As an amateur ho first competed away from his nalivo town of Gore at the Exhibition championship meeting in Christclmrch. On the following King's Birthday ho came right to tho front, cutting, a wide swatho through tho progranlmo at tho Tapamti A.A.C. meeting by winning the 100 yds. Handicap in 10 4-5 see., 440 yds. Handicap in 55 7-ssec., 350 yds. Bracelet in 42sec., Halfmile Handicap, 2mm. 20scc., and getting second in the Milo Hailicap, in 4min, 53scc. —all from scratch. Since then lie lias hardly looked back. His first appearance in Wellington was at the New Zealand Championships on the Basin Reserve, on February 1, 1008, when he won that memorable quartcr-milo by sheer "headincss" from the only other starters, tho Wellington trio—W. 11. Pollock, E. E. Fisher, and A. Cunningham. Later in that season ho was a member of tlio team that won tho Australasian shield for New Zealand nt Hobart, and it was this that closed his amateur career. . Shortly after his return lie "went over" to the cash ranks, and, until the recent arrival of Holway, met with much success in the limited opportunities at the disposal of a professional in New Zealand. The American sprinter was too fast for liim over sprint distances, but it is as a lialf-niiler that ho is considered to bo at his best. Ho recently left the Dominion, accompanied by thn't old warhorso "Lochio" Jl'Lachlan, as manager and trainer, en route for England, in hopes of big matches and money there. The Trombath Australia Sees. Tho "boom" in Australia through tho prcsenco of Donaldson, Postle, Hohvay, and Co. caused a change of plan, and tho match under discussion is tho outcome of his first clash with these giants of tho running path. Writing to a friend in Dunedin just beforo tho meeting, M'Lachlan said:— "We have been 'hanging fire' in hopes of something definite coining through Holway from ICanaly, and up to the timo wo left Melbourne lie could not say for suro whether Kanaly was crossing over to England or not. Outside Kanaly there appears no one on the half-mile horizon for Trembath to engago with. Davios is out, and can't get back to form. Vaguo reports aro.in circulation from those who correspond in professional i"alters I'nt Emilo Lunghi, the crack Italian amateur half-iniler, is coining to England and joining tho professional rank.-. If ho did come over, providing somcono good was put up against him, tho race would draw tho biggest gate seen at a footraco in England for years. "We attended the Staivell athletes' meeting at Easter, and witnessed somo fine running and a splendidly-conducted meeting, everything going off with ma-chine-like precision and no appearance of bustle and not a minute behind_ time. Trembath finished close up in Ill's heat of the Half-mile Handicap oIT syds.. run in lmin. 55scc., but having put on 71b. on the trip across, he did not produce his best form. Tho final was run in lmin. 52 2-ssec. "Posllo and Trembath arc (o meet over 410 in Boekhainpt"'' on the morning of .Tune 3 (Carnival Week), nnd the opening dav of the carnival. Postle holds the title of quarter-mile champion by Virtue of his defeat of B. K. Pay m South Africa; so if Tremba h succeeds in I dofoalinc whiHi I tluiiK ho uill do, the title coos with it. as it has not been competed for sinco 1 ostle seemed it. "Trembath has backini over here to race Donaldson SSO yards, and Terry 13 sure of two matches liciv for Donaldson, one with Postle for .€IOO. and one with Trembath for .£IOO and purse, or all the gate The fact, of the matter is Donaldson does not want to run a half-mile with Trembath. , "Trembath is getting into lair form, and should be able, to show that he can run a little. Be is still ,Ib, over his weight but is filling out and strong with it and good hard condition and strength are wanted to run a quarter right out, as iic will iiave to do with Postle. If wo come out on tho right side of I his match, Trembath may Mill go to England if Ilulway cables a guarantee for a match."