ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

A CAUSERIE, AND INTERESTING. (By "Mercurt.") September 23.—World's Sprint Championship (Sydney). December 2G ami 27.—Australasian Chami pioflships (Athletic Park). [ Last Week's Premierships. [ Both Harrier Clubs ran off their annual championships last Saturday. Of . what happened our correspondent writes as • follows:— Tho long succession of fine Saturdays 1 which have prevailed throughout the win- | tor camo\to an end last week in an unfortunate manner for tlio Harrier Clubs, • both of which had their championships down for decision. Tho first of the season's equinoctials struck the convincing ground at' Jliramar with a fury that threatened at times to pull the runners ' up to a standstill, and to make matters worse the final part of the course lay directly in tho tooth of the nor'-wester. Stamina, therefore, was a much moro val- ; uablo asset than pace to the would-bo champions. After all the speculation as ; to winners, it came as a. surprise to find 1 that the championships of both clubs were retained by tlio holders. In tho Brooklyn Harriers' event a com- ; plete reversal of form took place, as Cook 1 and V. Byrne, who were picked as Centre representatives last month for the New Zealand C.C. championships, were unablo to gain places, while the first three men to finish had been outclassed in earlier races. In the recent test race tho five Brooklyn men finished in exactly reverse order to that of last Saturday. In contrast to this the Wellington men. proved their consistency by finishing in precisely the same order as on the former occasion. It was pleasing to note the admirable care displayed by the officials in securing a full course, and its proper marking. Considering tho weather and the shortness of the time allowed them, the trailers are to bo commended on the result of their labours. r Brooklyn Club staged its event as a "curtain-raiser," getting under way without any flourish of trumpets and with commendable punctuality. After the fiftoen starters had 6trung out it was soon that Byrne was putting in an early claim for the honours, and so strongly was he running that when three miles had been covered ho had a substantial lead of over a hundred yards. But what a different story was to bo told when ho swung round with his noso to the wind. With his heavy action ho was quite unablo to pace it with C. Murray and Hodson, both of whom had reserved themselves for tho tussle with rude Boreas over tho final two miles. Entering the long straight Murray led tho field, and from tho manner in which ho was weathering tho gale the race appeared "all over bar the shouting." y But it was not to bt so. As the tape drew ■ near Hodson displayed some of the stuff ' of which champions are made, and with a well-timed burst that Murray could not contend with, strive as .he might, lie stumbled past the winning post, a winner for the second successive year. . It was a game finish, and one that nroved the winner to bo tuned up to his best. This showing of Hodson's was a long'way overdue, and his return to form is pleasing to mention. Murray undoubtedly lost the race through bad judgment, as lie finished much fresher than his opponent. F. Byrne finished third nearly a minute later, sorely distressed by his battling with tho gale. All the trophies for the sealed handicap were secured by the late finisliers, S. Murray, 11. Wilson,- and A. S. Oliver (each with 4min. oOsec. -allowance) gainiug tho places. Wellington Club Championship. Members of tho Wellington Harriers then lined out to decide, for tho ninth time, their club's championship. Not for half a dozen years has so small a field contested this honour—a fact which was commented upon later in tho day by tho club president. - For two miles the runners were fairly closely bunched, but, after that mark had. been loft behind, tho only question to be settled was how much Charles Rowberry would beat his brother by. The leader appeared to bo the least affected of all the runners by the head wind, which had, by this time, gained in intensity, and increased his advantage to such purpose that Jie reached the tape a winnor by fifty seconds. Felix ltowborry, gained second placo without being greatly bothered, but Wilton was hard put to it to shake o!f Press in tho rush for third placo. Press seemed to revel in the going against tho wind, putting his shoulder to tho task in a most business-like manner. The most disappointing runner was Bennett, who finished seventh. . He and Wilton now hold the record for the number of starts which they have made in their club's championship race, last Saturday being tho eighth occasion on which thoy havo fought it out. With Press, who has competed for seven years, thoy can fairly claim to have "got tho habit." Charles Rowborry has now emulated F. Ross in winning the championship twice in suc- ' cession. Ho also carried off the sealed handicap trophy, with L. Salek second and F. Kowberry third. A comparison of tho times Tecorded shows the Wellington Club to have had the quality in runners, while Brooklyn had the quantity, tho times avoraging over a minute better in each caso in tho older club's favour. 'Had it not been for the lukc-warmness of ltollo and Co., the disparity in numbers would not have been so pronounced. General News. Once again Brooklyn members are requested to note a departure from tho printed schedule of runs as to-day's outing commences from Wadostown instead of Island Bay. Wellington Harriers will bo tho guests of Mr. F. J. Ellison at an invitation run from his residence at Johilsonville. Harriers should note that it is necessary to catch the 1.20 train at Thorndon Station, for what bids fair to bo the run of tho season. Entries for tho Brooklyn Harriers' open ten-ipile handicap at Jliramar next Saturday closo to-day. This event will be the last cross-country race of the -year. On Tuesday next a benefit night is 'to be tendered the cliib at His Majesty's Theatre, when a special programmo of athletic pictures will bo screened. Retirement of Mr. Harry Frost. The Auckland Centre, and, indeed, amateur athletics as a wholo in the Dominion is sustaining a severe loss through the retirement of Mr. Harry Frost from the office of secretary of the northern centre. As a New Zealand representative frontranker on tho football field, as a Canterbury regatta oarsman on the water,' and as a keen enthusiast and hard worker generally for amateurism in: Auckland, Mr. Frost has dono yeoman service in .the good cause, and he can bo ill-spared from the active ranks. His last effort was the carrying out to a successful issue of the New Zealand cross-country championship in Auckland, and he retires from his atliletiq labours ■ leaving a gap that will be hard to fill. St. Aubyn Murray. A "Referee" note of local intorest runs: —Mr. H. St. Aubyn Murray, the crack New Zealand hurdler, is at present in Sydney, and intends settling down'here if ho can be suited in business. He has thrown in his lot with the East.Sydney , A.A.C., and will, probably, be seen in 1 action in the 120 yds. liurdlo champion- : ship on Eight-hour Day. | When Donaldson Meets Holway. I To,day, iu Sydnoy, thoso two ] great sprinters, Jack Donaldson, of Vic- . toria, tho present champion, and C. E. ] Holway, of America, aro to meet again . for the sprint championship of tho world | over 130 yards in Sydney. Both men are showing exceptional sprinting form, and ; Donaldson has apparently quite recover- i cd from tho injury to his leg that pre- ! vented him from starting in the recant , "four-cornered" contest with Holway, j Postlo, and Taylor. Of Donaldson tlio "Daily Telegraph's" athletic expert says: j AVorld's champion Jack Donaldson i is running in tip-top form, and pro- c miscs followers of the' sport some- j .thing out of the ordinary when he meets Holway. The. "Blue Streak" visited Newcastle last week, arad gavo 1 aa exhibition run ovef 220 yards. ! That he is running well he proved be- ' yond all doubt. He gavo a local run- ' nor 30 yards start, and won easily, 1 which, to say nothing of the time re-

corded, shows that tho champion was moving some. The run was put up at the hospital charity meeting, and the timo was announced at 21 4-ssec. Of Holway, "Argus," of the "Referee," says:—The splendid form of 0. E. Holway just now is shown by his having given L. C. M'laelilan, the New Zealauder, 7 yards in ]M, and beaten him in ? i" a ' " ,e day by a yard and a half. The time was remarkably fait,.and M'Laclilan was given a bigger start than is usually allotted him by tho handicappors. It is becomiug more and moro certain every day that the Australian champion will meet in tho American runner a worthy competitor for tho world' championship at tlio Sydney Sports Ground. I would not caro to miss seeing this great race. How To Start Sprint Races. An Americaa paper has been going into tho matter of starting for sprinters, and 'has come to the conclusion that the Australian style is the "0110 and only." The paper in question, tho "Denver Post," says that Arthur Duffey was tho first man to perfect tho "crouch" now used by all the best sprinters in America, and we all know what tho nimblo Duffey was like ' out of the hole." The article goes on to say: Duffey brought his right leg up in back nt almost right angle, so that practically the full weight of his body rested upon his left leg. When lio leans forward awaiting the crack of the pistol his weight is entirely supported by the left leg. The driving power with which he leaves tho mark ne gets from his right leg only. Charles Holway straightened out his legs until high' above the ground. hen he leaves tho mark he shoves off with the full power of the right, and also considerable shoving power is contributed by the left leg. That's the secret Holway learned from runners in both England and Australia—to keep the legs as straight as possible, rest and Balance the weight evenly on the two legs, and bring both into full play at the very start. To-day Holway, who has always been an American professional runner, is going faster than he ever ran in his life. Some time ago an Australian trainer sent to Lawson Robertson, coach of the Irish-American A.C., pictures oHlie professionals starting in a race. 'When I-studied tho pictures I was convinced that men who ran for a 1 living certainly would use only the very best form of starting, and I decided to give their style a try-out with my sprinters," said Robertson recently. . "At first the style seemed so revolutionary, and 1 might say awkward, that I was in doubt about experimenting with it. Now that I havo given it a thorough try-out I kuow it is tho right way for sprinters to leave their marks."