ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1174, 8 July 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(E? Mebcubt.l 1 FESTIVAL—MORE TEARS. i Wc Are "Down and Out.' With results of last Saturday's section of the Festival of Empire sports came the unpleasant realisation that Australasia's only hope of retrieving the ground lost on tlie running path on tho week previous had gone. We have just learnt that Hardwicko won the boxing on Australasia's behalf, but this victory does not alter tho position in the final count as far as this side of the world is concerned. In the al> seueo of information as to tho nationality uf Bacon, tho winner of the wrestling, and tho placed men in both competitions, it is impossible to calculate tho effect of these results, but it must have been an exciting finish to those who were "wiso to" the exact position of affairs. In tho cables of last Saturday's doings appeared- the results of a 10-mile cycling race, but as this branch of athletics was not included in the original programme it is unlikely that tho placings in this event will affect the points total. This would also seem to be so from tho fact that the first and second men were representatives of Great Britain, whereas in the festival events only one contestant from each country was to lie allowed to compete. Presuming that this is so, the score on the known results now stands :— Canada, 12 points; Great Britain, 13; and Australasia, 17 points. It will be seen, therefore, that even if the Antipodean representatives arc credited with wins in the threo contests of which we have yet to learn results, Australasia must still win the "wooden spoon" in the aggregate, which is a sad state of affairs indeed, and, although wo have been informed that Haskins started lame in his race, and that Champion's lcjr gave out when he was leading in his mile swimming event, so that ho had to retire (which, coming on top of Woodger's non-starting through illness, must count as very bad luck), still, in a contest of this importance there must bo no discounting our defeat. It was hoped that the news of tho English A.A. championships on Saturday last may have brought some soothing balm, but even that is denied us. The only result advised us was Hint of the half-mile flat, which, according to the cubic, was won by Braun, of Germany, with Wheatley second, and Brock, the Canadian, third, in lmin; 59 4-ssec. Of the rest, nothing but silence, and herein tho cable man has treated us most cavalierly. • . It would have been some satisfaction to have learnt whether Woodger, Opic, ur Haskins started. Why the German victory should have been singled out for solitary mention is a mystery—it could not have been on account of the time, which was quite ordinary—slower, in fact, than the festival half-mile the week previous. To be beaten is bad enough, but to be absolutely ignored . Henco this ojmplaint. That "Cross Country" and Auckland. To come to a championship nearer home, it is extremely probable, after all, that the Auckland Centre will control the New Zealand cross-country event next month. As has been chronicled, the northern executive resigned tho manrjement of the event on account of advices received that tho necessary three centre teams would not bo starting. However, at the council meeting on Monday last a telegram from tho Auckland secretary was read withdrawing the resignation temporarily, as word had been received that the Otago Centro was endeavouring to raise the necessary funds to. send a team, and that there was every prospect of the movement proving successful. It has already been decided that Wellington is to be represented, f." f' ,n t if Otago can turn tho trick, Auckland's position is secured. It is to be devoutly hoped that things will turn out this way, ' as the holding of tho event in Auckland : must make for. tho good of the in ; that province, and it is only too plain ■ that some fillip is wanted there—wanted ! badly, and wanted at once. If evidence ; to this effect were needed, though unfpri tunately it is not, it is to be found # in . tho following comment on tho situation i in a recent Auckland "Star." If an 1 Auckland paper admits that any Aucki land institution is dead, then it is dead indeed.

Auckland having signified that they are unable to run tho gathering, it will now probably revert to Wellington, and it will bo interesting to note whether they will bo successful in bringing the'race off. Auckland, unfortunately,'cannot assist them, neither can any of the southern centres, if their letters to tho Auckland centro are any criterion. Amateur athletics in this part of tho world aro absolutely .dead, and there seem no hope of. a revival. Time after timo an effort has been made to rouse a somnambulistic committee, but without result, and after two or three enthusiasts have endeavoured to carry the burden on their shoulders, they have wearied of the struggle, and tho committee sleeps peacefully. I am confident that wero the officials of tho Auckland Amateur Athletic Club to shake oil their lethargy, matters athletic would boom again, and thevo would bo no talking of resigning _ a meeting. Even now concerted action would probably result in success, and for the sake of the athletic fame of Auckland, it is to be hoped that action will bo takeu. Our Own Harrier Men. Of local cross-country doings, The Dominion "special" writes:—Last Saturday's fine weather did not have a very startling effect on the muster-sheets of tho harrier clubs, the attendances being only about ' the average in each case. Both packs spent tho attcruoon cnjoyably and profitably, good courses being selected by the runners appointed to tho position of "hares." The two men, who trailed tho course for tho Wellington Harriers, continued the thoughtless and unsportsmanlike practice of littering tho Miramar golf links with their paper, despite my hint of a few weeks back. Harriers should learn to "play tho game in better fashion than they havo been doing in this respect. Tho Wellington pack mustered at tho Seatoun lea rooms, under Captain Press, who detailed T. Johnson and W. Smith to select a course, which was shortly afterwards covered by tho hounds under tho leadership of 11. Lamb, the pacer for tho diiy. No better course could have been sorted out than the one chosen, which led along the foreshore road to Karaka Bay, and then over (he saddle to the Miramar flats, whence, after skirting the football grounds, it crossed the golf links and rifle butts to the road nt tho tunnel, and thence back to Seatoun. A run-in (partly cross-country and partly road) of about three-quarters of _ a mile, resulted in a good finish, in which 0. Eowberry showed most "foot," while F. Wilton showed a moro or loss clean pair of heels to F. Hollo and the rest of the bunch. After the liberal use ot water had removed the sticky mud from their persons, the runners took refreshments, after which "happy inspiration, from one of their number to adjourn to' tho Kilbirnio Skating Kink, was noted upon, the result being an hours comedy for the onlookers. Brooklyn Harriers ran from Bona Bay as the guests of Mr. W. F. Skortt, who treated them very hospitably. J. Don and F. Hodson were started a few minutes in advance of the pack in order to select and mark off a course, and the result proved that the job had Ikch placed in good hands. It was no day for the fastidious runner, tho mud in Gollan's Valley being (in places) knee deep, but this variety" merely served as spice to tho solid fare provided during the rest of the journev. Near the southern end of the valley,' where an attempt to push on furtlicr would h?ve meant either "sink or nwim" to those following, the hares struck off to the right, and crossed the hills to the -'beach near Pencai-row, and then returned home along the coast. The run-in over the final quarter milo resulted in V. Byrne, M. Pointon, and E. A. Shaw gaining first three places. On Juno IS a benefit night is-being tendered the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. by the King's 'Theatre management in order to assist that body to finance a harrier team to the cross-coun-try championship meeting. The majority of members of tho two clubs are working hard to dispose of tickets, yet a good deal more hustling will be required if (ho necossarv sum is to be raised. As this is the first occasion that the public of Wellington have been given an opportunity of assisting the cross country sport.

a liberal responso is hoped for. After having consistently helped themselves in the paid, the harriers are now deserving of a little support from sportsmen and lovers of sport in (Jic city . A combined run oi the Wellington and Brooklyn Harriers from Lower Hull is the order for to-day. Social matters just at present are claiming the attention of the two harrier clubs, it being the intention of (he Wellington Harriers to hold their fifth annual dance at St. Peter's Hall on .tune 2S, while tho Brooklyn Harriers will hold a similar function during the first week in August. A new Harrier Club for Wellington has been formed with headquarters al Karori. This latest addition to the local forces has been named the "Jlymi" Harrier Club, and it is captained by Mr. P. N. Clark. A nearly welcome into a somewhat cold and heartless (for an amateur athletic club) world, is hereby extended to the new arrival, and with best wishes for a useful and prosperous career. An Athlete of World-wide Renown. Says "The Australasian," on an athlete of world-wide renown, whoso arrival iu Australia has already been noted in this column: E. R. Voight, of tho Manchester A.C., who arrived in Melbourne on, Juno 17, in tho Medic, is a distance" runner whose presence should assist in developing our distance runners. He is small and slight, being but sft. Bin. in height, and fJst. 41b. in weight, and though 27 years of ago, should have several good years ahead of him. His finest performances havo been a mile win in 4min. 19 4-ssec; the fourmile English championship of 11)03, in 19min. 47 l-ssec. (a champion record); and tho apex of his fame was tho winning of the five-mile Olympic Championship in 25min. 11 l-ssee. Under tho Australasian championship rules, he will be eligible to represent Victoria at Wellington next Christmas, and should he be able to do so, w;o should have a battle royal this year between New Zealand (Woodger, Opie, Haskins, Harding, Hill, Keddell, M'Kay, Kerr, and Orbcll), and Victoria (Burton, Harlkopf, Whcatley, Voight, Davis, Walker, Murray, Kelly, and Russell). Voight was accompanied by C. H. King, who is both runner and cyclist. A- Wonderful Mile. American files report the hoisting of new figures for the mile flat. The achievement is hailed as tho greatest performance of the athletic season in the States, nud is put to the credit of one John Paul Jones, a Cornell University student, and was made at the annual meet of the Inter-, collegiate A.A. in Philadelphia on Juno 3 last. He was clocked to do tho distance in imih. 15 2-ssec, a world's amateur record, running l-ssec better than the previous best—that of T. Conneff, which has stood since 18S5. This'is great running, and is even greater because of tho fact that Jones had previously, on the samo afternoon, run a half-mile in the sensational time of lmin. 54 l-ssec. The performance yet lacks confirmation and endorsement bv the American A.U., and, truth to tell," the two Tuns taken together make one suspect tho measuring of tho track.