ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS

OVER THE WATER AND HERE. (By Merccri.) Those "Mcrrie Men," the Harriers. The position as regards the "Crosscountry" is unchanged at date of writing. The Otago Centre is apparently still endeavouring to raise the sinews of war wherewith to dispatch a team lo compete at. Auckland on August 12, and no word has been received by tho X.Z.A.A.A. Council as to whether the attempt is likely to be successful or not. Meanwhile matters are hung up awaiting a . report from Otago. No better course could be selected in the vicinity of Wellington than that over which tho combined packs of tho Wellington and Brooklyn Harrier Clubs held their run on Saturday last. Starting from Bellcvue Cfardens_at Lower Hutt, Bennett and Lamberg (Wellington) and P. Wilton and Oliver (Brooklyn) "well and truly laid" a trail acrcss country to tho beach at the hack of the. Hutt Park Racecourse, and, after skirting along the foot of the hills through innumerable paddocks and hedges, crossed a saddle at Waiwetu, and struck more good country in the direction of Alicetown, before shaping their way back to the Gardens.

A pack numbering forty-seven—twenty-live members of the older club and twenty-two "Brooklynites"—followed the hnres at a distance and pacc which precluded any possibility of their catching up on tho trail-layers. In fact, the pace was al times funeral, and went to demonstrate that two packs should be formed when so large a number of runners turn out.

It is hardly fair to those who depend on their Saturday runs for training that they should be deprived of that opportunity when the country is so suitable as was tho case in this instance, merely lo suit the convenience of those laggards who cither will not or cannot sec tho journey out without frequent breathing intervals.

The run-in was robbed of a. good deal of interest by the defection of four of the mainstays of Brooklyn—J. Don, Hodson, Murray, and F. Byrne—although in "Yin* Byrne, they probably had their strongest representative over the distance.

just over half a mile from home the combined packs were halted, and lined up acress the road for the final "flutter, and, after a fairly even start, the Rowberrys, Kollo, Byrne, and Pollock assumed the lead, which they maintained for about five hundred yards. Here Pollock fell back in the ruck, 'and F. Wilton headed the field and "settled" the opposition to such purpose that ho ran in with a good lead from Byrne, who beat C. Rowberry anil Rollo by ten yards. F. Rowberry, Pointon, Press, and Shaw followed ill that order, thus placing the Wellington Club in a good petition on points. Of the .fir.it eight pluces, Wellington securcd first, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh.

A feature of the run was the number of opportunities afforded for "fencing" practico by tho numerous objtacles which most of the runners took "on tho wing." It is practice of this nature that will stand when it does battle against Otago's elect next month at Auckland, always provided, of course, that tho clect of Otago go to tho post. The Harriers' benefit at tho King's Ihoatre on Tuesday next premises to be successful, although some of those who aro hoping to be picked in the touring team are not assisting tho project in the manner that was expected. An effort by the cracks would by a good lead foi their slower brethren to follow, besides being of some encouragement to tho ceatrc in its now-born zeal for harrierism. On Thursday evening of last week a successful attempt to bring followers of harriensm together in a social way was rnado tit M. Johns Schoolroom, when a number of local Savages fraternised with their comrades in the simple life at a musical evening. The "course," which was laid m fu 1 view of an appreciative audience, trailed by Messrs. It. A. Wright. M.P., and W. 11. Bennett, while Mr. l'icniing Koss (in an interesting lecturetfo on athletics) set a solid pace for the pack winch, ill turn, included such solid performers as Messrs. . i{. Robertson, J. J))kes, Carter, Rankin, Baker,, ami last but not least,, w. H.rhilp, On tho popu' ar vote, the last-mentioned would probably have been awarded the trophy for tho "run-in."

lliG Exhibition-authorities have decided at tlio request of the harrier clubs, to placo ft teams race (between Wellington and Brooklyn oyer a distance of three miles) on its programme for the athletic meeting; next Wednesday evening. Teams are to be limited to four men,' and (lie whole race will be rim on tho Stadium in iull view of the spectators. The officinls of Iho "Wellington Chib have suecested that the value of the trophies offered should be handed over to tho centre to assist in financing the cross-country team to Auckland, and, as Brooklyn have readily fallen in with tho idea, the race will be run for honour alone. From appearances an exciting race should lesult. St. Aubyn Murray Here. St. Aubyn Hurray (many times New Zealand 410 hurdle champion and exAustralasinn champion) is at present in town, having left Gisborne, where he has been quartered for some months past. Ho reports that, at present, his future movements aro uncertain, but that he hopes to permanently settle in-'Welling-ton, a desire that local enthusiasts would keenly like to see consummated. In any case, it is to be hoped that the hurdler will be posted somewhere where ho can give his "lopping" penchant full plav, as ho will be wanted for the big Australasian meeting here on New Year's Day next. That a race would result frcm the meeting of Victorian J. I. Davis, our G. I'. Keddell, and Murrav, over the quarter-mile hurdles! It would be a struggle to talk over for years afterwards, and let us devoutly hops 'that it will come to pass.

"Donaldson Did Not Start!" A distinct senso of disappointment was felt hero when the result of last Saturday's world's sprint championship in Sydney arrived with the news that "Jack" Donaldson, tile present champion, had not started. This decidedly robbed tho race of interest, as the speedy Victorian was looked upon as the star performer, and, also, as (despite the reports of Arthur I'ostle's return to form), it was generally considered that tho issuo lay between Donaldson and Holway. According to the Australian files this feeling was not shared by the cognoscenti on the other side. Apparently Donaldson had not been showing his- best form in his training work, and his stock, as ,t likely winner, had declined somewhat in the market, while the American's had advanced correspondingly. Holway, too, was reported to have run two excellent trials, in which "a well-known amateur champion" (to quote a Sydney paper) "was placed on a ridiculous mark, but the American was first past the post, running tho distance many yards under 'evens.'" It is not surprising, considering these reports, as to llolway's fitness and Donaldson's shortcomings, that it should be freely hinted in tho papers that it was not so much the latter's leg that went wrong as his heart. That was as inevitable as it is uncharitable. TWaldson lost the championship in the first place to l-lolway at Pontyprydd, Wales, through turning out to meet him with a strained tendon, and, in consequence, had to take a prolonged rest from the track. It cannot bo held against him that he desires to avoid a recurrence of this disablement. Moreover, his recent victories over the American in Melbourne were so easily gained that, even if he woro not running lit his best, he would not be in such dread as to willingly place himself in his present invidious position. Moreover, again, lie loses his title just as completely )>v not starting as he would liavo done by being beaten. So thero is nothing saved there, except, perhaps, some small amount of self-esteem by avoiding a public defeat. This deponent holds no brief for Donaldson, hut ho does object lo the cry of "funk" that is only 100 readily raised on these occasions. We had a small, but distinctly dislastoful, outbreak of the same thing here last season, when Woodger broke down and could not meet Opie. Donalson, Postlc, Holway, Taylor. . . . A few words on the previous doing of the four men engaged may be of interest. They were J. Donaldson, of Victoria (world's champion), Arthur t'ostle, of Queensland (ex-champion), C. 10. Holway, of the 'United Slates (also ex-champioii),

.Tin! A. A. (Major) Taylor, of Tasmania. It is also worthy of note that this is the first occasion upon which four runners have been matched for the championship. In South Africa the three first-named ran a match for the title, which was won by Donaldson, with l'ostlo second.

The holder of the title has by his performance- proved himself worthy of being ranked with tile fastest men wo have yd known, and so also has Arthur I'ostle. In South Africa, Donaldson ran 0' f yards "inside" for the HI!) yards—a brilliant performance. The time has more than once been questioned, but: the easy manner in which (he "lihie Streak" accounted J'or l'ostlo and Holwav is positive proof that lie was in exceptionally fine form al the time. In l'oslle was credited with 10 yards "inside" for MO yards, and a year later ho was clocked 1H "inside" for 140 yards. Both stands as world's records. Ilolway is not the holder ol' any world's records, but his performances are all of the right sort. He has beaten evens for the 1(1(1 yards, anil was several yards "inside" in the bis Welsh Handicap just before leaving for Australia. Taylor is known principally to the men on the training tracks," although he lias some fine handicap performances to his credit. Luck seems to be against him, however, for he lias never before been able to get a "cut" at the world's championship, and now that the chance has come along lie has been kept back in liis work by an at-' tack of influence. He is pretty right now, but, of course, would have been in better condition had his training been uninterrupted. He met Arthur Postle in South Africa, ami was beaten by inches only in the 100 yards. He won the 130 yards event. As we know, the race ivas won by Holway by a yard from Postle, in the excellent time of 12 7-10sec.—3 yards inside evens. At half-way Postle had a twoyard lead, having, as was expected, got away tho fastest, but the American, camo with a tremendous rush in the last twenty yards, and passed liim. Taylor was three yards away. Postle blames an old "sprung" sinew for not being able to hold to his lead. So, what with Donaldson's absence, Postle's sinew, and Taylor's indisposition, the chances are that the event will come up again before long. They generally do.