ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1313, 16 December 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Br "Mbecdbt.") THE GREAT DAYS NOW AT HAND. ,To-day—W.A.A..C. Summer Carniro (Basin Reserve). December 20—Karori A.A.C. ' Evonin Meeting. [December 20—Miramar A.A.C. Evcnin _ Meeting (Seatouu Park). pecembor 2G and 27.—Australasian Am a teur Championships (Athletic Park) 1912. January I—Wairarapa Caledonian Sc ciety's Sports (llasterton); amatea: • events. January I.—Wellington Wheelers' Club Athletic Park, amateur events. January 17—Karori A.A.C. .Evenin, Meeting. January 22—Wanganui Caledonian So ciety, at Wanganni; all runninf events amateur. January 27—Civil Service A.A.C. Meeting Basin Reserve. , . . February Ift—Wellington Provincia Championships. February 21—New Zealand Championshii Meeting, Invercargill. February 28—Manawatu A.A.C. Meetinj (Palmerston North). 8«s the Basin To-day. What does tho W.A.A.C. Rathering al the Basin to-day mean? A lot, my masters. The nearness of the great Austral championships has drawn ontsiilo competitors of decided "class" and, by their efforts to-day, we shall be able to measure up their chances in tho tussle to come. We shall know to-night, with some degree of clearness, what hopo the Dominion has of keeping the Austral Shield. Wo shall know exactly what the present form of our New Zealand defenders is. Two of the visitors—Ronald Opio, of Canterbury, and G. N. Hill, of Auckland —are twin stars in the athletic firmament, and it is doubtful whether New Zealand has ever produced brighter ones. The performances of tho two youihs—for they are no' more—quite justifies that statement. Opio is a triplo short-dis-tanco champion. He-holds tho title at 100, 220, and WO yards, tho first sinco the days of the speedy J,. IS. Webster, and it is donbtfnl whether even the redoubtable 'Tat.," at his best, could have footed it with the Christehurch sprinter, who now holds the present New Zealand record of 22 seconds dead for 220 yards. '|Ie is on scratch to-day for his threo Bet distances, and, in the quarter-mile. Is being asked to givo our provincial champion and ex-New Zealand champion, "Jimmy" Wilton, five yards. Tn_ this Tare 'Hubbard, Coard, and M'Kenzie (Wairarapa A.A.C.) aro on tho ten yards jnark, and Messenger, of Masterton, on i 3 yards, with a big field further out (o stretch these cracks along. This should be a great race. For G. N. Hill it is claimed that he is at the top of .his form, and more than Capable of reproducing the form that won him his milo and three-milo championships in Christchurch last March. He then ran the shorter distance in -tain. B5 4-5 seconds, and the longer one in l'tmin. 53 1-5 seconds. Tho former is a 'performance that has been boaten once only in New Zealand by Alfred fihrubb, in Auckland. Tho latter is only four seconds outside W. P. Simpson's Australasian record. In each case Hill won with ease. .His more recent performances in Auckland are a half-miln in 2min. 2 3-j sec., a milo in imin. Msec., and 3 miles in llmin. 58sec. On each occasion he won so easily that he "was really not asked to gallop." A special thrcc-milo race has been put in for him to-day. to givo him tin opportunity of establishing record figures. .He, is also the backmarker in the half-mile and mile. In; thb'field events,-L. M. M'Kay is out i'V "quest'of a 3few ! ' Zealand record for' flic hop, step, and jump, and A. Bisfet 3)29 the same design with tho hammer. Both put up record performances last rear at the Now Zealand championships, nut had the misfortuno to' miss official TccogDition because of a slight error in the measuring tape. In the polo vault—M r Kav's pet event— r new performer will be "tried out" for tho New Zealand team. This is N. G. G. Winkolmann, of Napier, who has written to say that ho is getting over !) feet with ease. In the high jump, WinM in aim, N. Hodge, of Masterton, and M*Kay aro all jumping for places in the New Zealand ten in. Tho hurdle event is full of -interest. 'Among the competitors are B. M'Kenzie, of Masterton, tho present provincial , champioi:, and A. Halligan, the ex-New Zealand champion, who, during his sojourn at Home, won tho Scottish championship, and represented Scotland at tho Olympic Games. Both aro "probables" for tho Dominion team. Ons Race Fraught with Interest. A good deal moro than tho mere winning of the raco is depending on tho 220 yards handicap. It has now assumed the proportions of a test race. This has come about through tho desire of Messenger, of the Wairarapa A.A.C., and Coard, the local runner, to lie given a "try out" with Hubbard and Duncan, tho selected ■reserves for tho New Zealand team. To enable this to be done, the event, which was oriipnallv a club one, has been altered, with tho permission of the council's selectors, to an invitation race, open to visitors. The fouT'elaimants will he raced olr together in one heat, r.ml Opio and tho other starters will run separately in another heat. The same procedure will bo followed in tho "hundred"—tho four ■ aspirants to representative honoun'will havo a heat "on their own." "Eyes of the Empire on Wellington." , -The importanco of tho big gathering on Boxing 'Day, and on the day following, is emphasised by Mr. Kichanl Coombes, in tho. "Referee." Tho .president of the J A.A. l/iiion writes.— ! Given lino weather, the Australasian , track andfield championships at Wellington on December 2li and 27 instants, should prove a meeting of absorbing interest. There is really in this athletic reunion moro at stako than may 1* generally re-,ili?ed. looming large in the background i? tho I'itth Olympiad, and interwoven therein is the big scheme of the peaceful invasion of Sweden by a united Empire team. And so far as track •athletics are concerned, tho happenings in Wellington at Christmas time aro expected to show us what part wo are likely In bo able to play at Stockholm next July. Mr. Cooiubes then proceed* to point his moral by describing the rude shock sustained bv the Home authorities at the delmclo at the last English championships, when tho field was swvpt by tho American and Continental invaders, and the consequent decision that at the next Olympic Games tlio British representation is to bo an Umpire one. Ho then stresses the interest taken in the recent Canadian championships by- the English executive on tho look-out for suitable material for this Empire team, and goes on as under on the subject of the .Christmas "meet" r.t tho Athletic Park. Now come the Australasian championships, and the eyes of_the Empire will be turned on Wellington, although at our games thcro will be 710 "outside" competitors as in London and Montreal. Question 1 ? being asked are, "Boes J. 1.. Davis, the Melbourne 'Varsity world's-record holder, retain his form, pace, and hurdling ability?" "Is Gerald Keddell, the New Zealander, in tho world's champion class as a hurdler?" "Wlmt are the possibilities for G. N. Hill, the brilliant young Auckland distance runner?" ".Aro any of the yontig brigade (like E. K. Russell nml 1/. H. Kelly, of Victoria, and 'i'. Francis, of Queensland). Olympic winj'.cts in (he making?" and so on. Anyway, dc=nito that the latest news jjoi'/ils to'Davis Ijc-ing a non-starter at Wellington—f|Uite a calamity, this— everything indicates that the coming Australasian championships will lie a meeting of great moment. It is a long journev. and a fairly expensive one, to Wellington, but the State Associations should make immense efforts and overv sacrifice lo be represented by their'strongest combinations of athletic talent. That tho Stale associations have realised the importance of the event, and

bars done thofr ntmost to giro effect to their president's exhortation, is evidenced by tho handsome manner in which thoy havc risen to tho occasion in sending the teams as set forth hereunder. Our Friends, tho Enemy. Of the New South Wales team, Mr. Coombes says, and as ho is "tho man on 1 the spot" his dictum is authoritative. — The "selected six" (Pattinson, Sonthco, £ Fraser, Lane, I-larley, and R-edmond) are all able to make the trip, and are i steadily practising '.vith such club' competition as is available thrown . in. I - understand that Mr. W. 11. Savigny (of . tho Sydney Grammar School), pur hurdle export, Ims l>con ;uikcd to give Fraser the benefit of his knowledge and experi- " Mice in the tlm.MM'.tride Tho * others are being curbed in their various departments. I J . is to be hoped that ' some of our other 'first flighters can be induced to mate -lie trip. There are ' men like A. IT. Scott (running' high jump), Temple Wood (mile and tlireo miles ' flat), R. .1. Fitzsimmons (three miles ' flat), C. T. Ferguson (hammer), S. it. Richardson or R. A. Adams (pole-vault), ' and J. C. Xamrock (hurdles), ono would like to see added to tho team. Again, I feel sure that W. IT. O'Reilly can "rcmie back" a lons way Further than 1 he did at tho Dnnn Challenge Shield , meeting'. Tho Versatile "Vies." Latest «dric*3 from Melbourns show that tho selectors of the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association have,, owing to ] several athletes having volunteered to boar the whole or a great portion of their expenses, Ixsen able to choose a stroijg team to represent Victoria. The team will be-.—.T. Burton. J. A. Troup, A. I). Ellis (sprints). L. 11. Kelly (quar-ter-mile. running high nn( l broad jumps), '11. IC. Russell (running high jump and hurdles), W. Murray (walks), W. H. Kaigin (sprint hurdles), A'. D. Eobertson (shot and hammer), and either L. I!. Walker or J. Brake (pole vault). It is . still hoped that J. L. Davis and G. A. Wlieatloy may yet bo induced to make the trip. . , , Tho Victorian contingent is to rcach Tin in sections. Ono comes via Hobart and the Bluff. It 'eft Melbourne on Wednesday last, and comprises the main body of tiie invacers, under Mr. Basfl ,1. Parkinson, tho manager. The supports sail from Svdney to-day, and consist of E. K. Russell and the three collegians— W. 11. Kaigin, L. H. Kelly, and I). C. Carter. ' This section is in (lie charge of Mr. L. A. Adamsou, the headmaster of Wesley College, at which institution tho three last-named are students. Small But Select. AH the Queensland representatives have obtained the necessary leave for the trip, j and come over in the Warriinoo, sailing | to-dav, with the Now South Welshmen, j Tho team is: W. T. Itanick (100, 2:10, and j 4-10 yards), T. Francis (220, 410, 8-SP yards j and mile), D. M. M r Grath, (shot and ham- i mer), and possibly O. Smith (one atnl j 1 three miles). This is a formidable little party. The "Tassies" Team. Mr. E. A. Brooke, honorary secretary of the Tasmanian A.A.A., hns written Air. <J. I'l. Bridge, manager of the New Zealand team, to tho effect that his contingent numbers six. It comprises W. Ellis (ono and three mile walks), J. Gourlay ('HO and 880 yards), and K. Hart (100 and 220 yards). These are tlje activo contestants. Mr. A. F. Rcisz will act with Mr. Brooko on the Boai;d of Control. Tho other member of the party is Ellis's father—a great athletic .enthusiast. Hart, the sprinter of tlio team, is a Slate school boy. Championship Programme Arranged. Messrs. B. A. Guise and C. Bridge, j the council's Prolamine Committee, have j allotted the events on the 20th and 27th as follows:— First Day. Second Day. 220 yds. hdp. 3-miio champ. 100 yds. champ. 220 yds. cham. (heats) BSoyds. help. 2-milo bicycle hdp. High jump champ. (heats). Milo bicycle hdp. Throwing hammer Mile walk champ. champ. 100 yds. final. 73yds. hdp. (heats). 3-mile steeplechase. :i-milo walk champ. ]2l)yds. h'dlechamp. 220 yds. champ, final. Miio bicyclo hdp. Putting shot hdp. final. . KlOyds. champ. Putting shot (ch'm.) 2-mi!o bicycle hdp. ; 220 yds. hdp. linal linal. Miio run champ. 4-iOyds. hurdles • Hop, step, and jump champ. i hdp. _ • Pole-vault champ, i-mile bicvclo Pro- 75yds; hdp. final. vincial champ. 5-milo walk hdp. i 120 yds. hurdle cham. Bong jump champ, final. 2-miic hdp. i 1-niilo walk (boys). Milo relay race. i 2-milo walk hdp. Ono milo bicycle ' ■140 yds. flat champ. provincial champ. 1 i Some General Gossip. ; It is announced that 10 nations will be • represented at the Olympic (lames next ■' year, including Egypt, Japan, Turkey, and ' possibly China. j At the athletic games of the Irish- ' American A.C., at Celtic Park, New York, ! on October 22, I'at M'Dona Id, of tho Irish-American A.(I, put tho '.211b. shot 3Sft. 8 11-lfiin., which beat the previous ! record of :_Wft. 2Jin. put up bv Ralph W. J Rose, at New York, on December 31. 1901. At the recent carnival the Auckland A.A.C. mado a profit of ovc-r .£SO, and it is reported that tile athletic success of tho gathering was as emphatic as the financial one which is good hearing indeed. The Natal championships were down for decision at Durban last Saturday.