ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

AUCKLAND ON THE MOVE.

(Br "XfotcuiiT.")

December 2G and 27.—Australasian Ama* teur, Championships (Athletic Park). What the "Queen City" Has Done. The seed sown by (ho visiting competitors at tho recent cross-country chain, pionship at Auckland has appareullj taken root. Word lias been received that a harrier club is at last in course of formation in the Ijuocn City of the North, and Mr. _ Frank Wilton, late manager of the Wellington championship (cam, sends along n letter received from an Auckland onthusi.ist, Iho following extract from which will show what has been done so far. ilr. Wilton's correspondent writes! "Wo had an unofficial run from tho Domain.yesterday (Saturday )when wo covered some excellent harrier country. Paper was dispensed with, and I was m charge ot a pack of eight runners There wore six others protent -/.-ho did not biing their "togs," so 1 expect to have a good muster next w«k. There is to bo a meeting mi lkursday next when officers will bo elected, etc., so I think we have made a fair start. Everyone expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with the alternoon's outiiig." This is indeed a step in tho right direetion, and it is to bo hoped that crossS, .V l ? nin & J"', "take on" in its new habitat. This should foreshadow a general revival of athletics in Auckland bK'iiusß, if onco the winter department ol tho sport gets afoot properly, it is only a matter of timo for the leaven to spiead throughout the wholo loaf. There isiar 100 much "loaf" among the should, he amateur athletes in Auckland. Some Breezy and Familiar Friends. hmLl 00 ? 1 barricr " ffa , irs ih<? following budget ins conic to hand from th« Usual reliable source:— l..r l rh,i^i?" h } Bt<m Users' (cn-mile in-ui-club handicap drew a field of twenty Ml.Vr luS , UUm i CT . luc ''»l«i C. Fryo, of the Caversham Harriers, Duncdm, who was a n ember of the (Jingo team which competed at Auckland a" week earlier! Iho race was run ov.t a course cf two taps, each of which was practically a complete circuit of tho .Miramar flat. Ihe evor-consisfent Felix Kowberrv passed the judge's Imx first, three yards ahead of his brother Charles, from whom tie had received Co seconds' start, while ™,i '•YV. J V (;c , 0 , mis > «?s another three raids behind. .Messrs. Watt and Pollock, the en.!, handicappcrs, must bo complimented on their adjustments, which proevent E ° & fi '" Sh ' n tUell a dislauce The limit man, Power, was rather harshly treated, yet tool; hj s prue | uu . complanmigly, and saw the journey out to its bitter end. He was in the lead for seven miles, but thereafter was unable to loot it with the back-markers. Folix Howberry ran a game .race, and further demonstrated his possession of paco and stJimna. Charles Itowberry made fastest time, covering the distance in Glmin. 36 «•<*■ C. Pryo, although still feeling the cllects of his trip down the Main Trunk on the day before, worked close up to tho loaders, but the unfamiliar swamp at the southern end of tho courso caused him ;?> i°, u > lo J of S>'ound. P- Hodson (Brooklyn), last .year's winner, finished fourth, forty seconds behind the winner. Ho seems to liavo struck tome of his old form.

Others to finish were W. Press, Bennett, Lamberg, Hollo, Salck, Power (Wellington), while Murray, Byrne, Shaw, Mansfield, Vango, Pointon (Brooklyn), and Pinckncy, Farrington, Johnson, 'ana Reid (Wellington) either retired or finished after tho officials had rolled up (ho tape. Brooklyn Club will decide on event over the same distance and course on September .10, when it is to be hoped that its members will run more prominently. Today's runs will take place from Lyall Bay and Kclburnc, for the Wellington and Brooklyn Clubs respectively, World's Quarter Championship. Somo surprise, and no little disappoint* ment, was expressed locally when news was received that W. P. Trembath ha 4 so soon been deprived of his recently-won championship title by C. E. Hoi way'. Tho surprise was mostly because Holway was an unknown quantity entirely as a qu.ir-ter-imler—this, in fact, being his first performance in public over the distance— and also because tho lime (50. 4-ssec.) is well within the New Zealander's powers. In a foreword about tho match a. Sydney writer says: The match between W. F. Trembath (New _ Zealand! and C. E. Holway (America) for the world's quarter-mile, championship will take place on Tuesday next, at the Agricultural Ground, during the interval of the Rugby Loaguo football match. Trembath is the holder of the world's championship over this particular distance, having won the title from A. 13. Posllo on June 3 last at Rockhampton, Postlo having previously defeated B. It. Day in South Africa, Trembath, who is only 22 years of age, has somo very fine middle-distance, performances to his credit, among them being tho 4JO and SSO yards New Zealand amateur championships, and the 830 yds. Australasian amateur championship, these victories being gained when ho was 18 years of age. Subsequently he turned professional, and for two years in succession won tho professional championship of Now Zealand over 220, 410, and BSO yards, his best times being 22 S-Ssee., 49 l-ss.ee, and lmin. Msec, respectively. These times indicate, that Trembath has, with increasing age, improved greatly on his amateur performances. So far as Holway is concerned, ho has no performances to his credit for distances over 300 yds., but there is no reason why such a sturdily-built man and naturally 6troug ninnev should not bo able to run a first-class 440. Anvway, ho fancies his chanco of succeeding against the youthful New Zcalander.

Woodgcr at Last, Tho "Sporting Life" of July 10 has a note on Woodger's running that makes good reading after the melancholy news of the breakdowns and defeats that befell our men at tho Festival of Empire Sports. It will, of course, bo remembered that the Potone sprinter was unable, through indisposition, to win either nt tho Festival Sports or tho English championships, and tho following is an account of his first run on English soil. It occurred at tho llcckenham .Sports—an important fixture at which a formidahlo array uf talent, both English and foreign, was competing— and was the last section of a mile relay race won by the Australasian team. Tho report runs:. The relay was the raco of tho day. Herein Australasia put: n fine team in the field, while Blaekheath had tho assistance of ,1. T. Soutter, Scottish half-mile champion. And a lovely runner the Aberdeen man is. lie ran his half in lmin. 57sec, without turning a hair; while Whoatloy beat limn. 58SM. It. A. Lindsay rathor added to tho Dlackheath lead,; and they looked like winning till W. A. Woodger-an-nther beautiful mover-took (ho fla? for the final furlonc, nnd won handsomclv. This was Woodger's first raco in this country, he having been in . hospital, and unable to run in tho Australasian team. Ho had not put a shoe on until Saturday,- and ran in the rough, but he is clearly a tlior of the first water, and as he will he hero all the season we should see somo grrei performances from the New Zealander, (If Woodcer's part in the same race tho "Sportsman" savs: As Wr.odecr had bout an inmate of TTamst.oad TTnsptt.il tor oyer a fortnight, laid un with pneumonia, (no tasl; seemed hopeless. Running with great pluck, and taking all risks of a breakdown, however, \\o"dgor did his work well, and slayinT the d,slanc« spoildidlv. breasted the topo first Tic was naturally a bit 'Mono" nt 1,0 but delighted Mr. Complies/ the Australian team's president, by contributing so d». cisitoly to tho colonial success. Mother (in tho railway c.arriage)-"No~, sil still, .lohn, or you 11 have to be punNhed when wo get home.; Wing Hopeful-" Mamma, if you punish me I shall tell tho guard my real age, tlieu you will have to pay full fare." Mr T. C. Edwards, n magistrate of \g-a lias died nt Simla. India, as tho result of a fall while pigsticking.