AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 17

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

EVENING SPORTS. CAPITAL RUN MADE BY HILL. OPIE BACK TO FORM. The first opportunity of seeing the visiting athletes to compete at the Australasian Championships in action was afforded tho Wellington public last night, when several of them ran at an evening sports meeting on the Basin Reserve conducted by the Port Nicholson Amateur Athletic Club. The sensation of the meeting was the run made by Hill, of Auckland, in the two mile event. Hill's expressed intention, before the race was not to try any record breaking, but merely to try out a pair, of now shoes. The other starters had. such long handicaps, however, and they ran so well for the first few laps, that ho allowed himself to be drnwn out, and ho actually- covered the two miles in Omin. 36 3-osec., which is 5 3-ssec. insido W. F. Simpson's New Zealand record for the distance of Omin. -12 l-ssec. TVo miles is not a championship distance, unfortunately, so that the very fine performance may probably not be given the prominent place it deserves in the amateur records. Hill ran his first mile in tain. 45sec, passed all his field at the end of a mile and a half, traversed in 7inin. 13sec, and then finished his journey alone. He finished running strongly on his toes as he always does, covering his last lap in 6< 3-ssec. Hill was heartily cheered as ho came down the straight, and when tho time- was declared the little crowd cheered him again. The Australian sprinters were not all out, and those who were did not show any remarkable form. Opie, on the other hand, surprised' everybody by coming out in the first heat of the 100 vards and winning it from scratch in '10 2-osec. against the breeze, beating Ellis (Victoria), to whom he had conceded lvd., by two yards. He did not start in "the final, preferring to rest, and allow a slight sprain, incurred the other day in ;£"£?£& , to ™x>™- P. T. Redmond (N.b.U.) looked to be in fine fettle, but he failed to run into a place in his heat. Renwick also, who is tipped by his friends to win the short sprint next week, wobbled when the pistol cracked, and showed no very great turn of speed when he got going. He finished last in his heat behind Brown 11yds., Southee (N.S.W.) 3yds., and Kaighin (Victoria) 9yds., the time being 10 2-ssec. A COO yards race was' won by L. H. Kelly (Victoria) in good form. He gave the impression that he is a man to be reckoned with over a quarter-mile.:, ■' There was- a walking event on the programme, .won. by Fitzgerald:in 6min. 37 sec.; from 60yds. Ellis (Tasmania) finished third in Gmin. 40 4-ssec, and Kerr was fourth in 6mia. 45 3-ssec. What may happen when tho men's gaits come to be more seriously scrutinised at the championship meeting can scarcely be foretold, but some of the men wore "mixing" badly last night. Following are detailed results:— 100 Yards Handicap—First heat: E. Opie (N.Z.), scr., 1; A. D. Ellis (Vic), lyd., 2 Won by two yards. Time, 10 2-5 sec. Second beat: W. F. Patterson (N.S.W), syds., '1; D. S. Carter (Vic), 9yds., 2. Won by a yard and a half. Time, .10 1-asec. Third heat: C. E. Brown, 11yds., 1; E. A. Sonthee (N.S.W.), 3yds., 2. Won by a foot. Time, 10 2-5 sec Fourth, heat; M, Pool, syds., 1; J. Brake (Vic), oyds., 2. ■ Time, 10 3-ssec. Final: ■ Patterson, 1; Brown, 2; Carter, 3. Inches separated the placed men. Time, 10 2-ssec. Opie did not start in the final. Ono Milo Walk Handicap.—P. Fitzgerald, 80yds., lj G. Turner, '35yds.. 2; W Ellis (Tasmania), 3. H. Kerr (N.Z.), scr., finished fourth, Murray (Vic.) fifth, and Harley (Queensland), sixth. The winner's time was 6min. 37sec.''" «£?? m]es Flat Handicap.-G. N. Hill CN.Z.), scr., 1; T. J. Byrne, 190 yds., 2. Time, 9mm. 30 3-ssec. Banford (N SW ) was entered, but he did not start ' SOO \ards Handicap.-L. H. 'Kollv .(Vic.), 15yds., 1; J. Gourlev (Tas.), 30yd« 2; L. A Dougall (N.Z.), 10yds., 3 T'me lnnn v ls 3-ssec ' CIVIC RECEPTION. TO OVERSEA COMPETITORS. Tho Ulimaroa, which arrived yesterday morning, brought the remaining members of the Victorian team and tho Tasmamans. All the party-were accorded a civic reception at the "Town Hall by tho Mayor last.evening. Most of the officials connected with --. local athletic boclies. were present, along.with a verv fair number 'of athletes, -and others merely spectators. ' . After the sports meeting in the evening the visitors were entertained by the inre Brigade for a few minutes, a play being given by the brigade for their especial benefit. Wellingtoh-Hawko's Bay cricket match, en Sunday they go the round trip, Lyall Bny to Island Bay, and back, taking dinner by the way, and on Monday thev will go to Day's Bay. . ATHLETICS. TREMBATH-TAYLOR RACE. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright m_ j-l ■, ; ,?y t ! ne y> December 22. frembath led all the way in yesterday's 550 yards' race, though Taylor challenged strongly o0 yards from the tape. In .he 500 yards Taylor shot out and led :or 400 yards, when Trembath passed him uid won by five yards. FATHER XMAS AT THE CENTRAL MISSION. » ■■ The Herbert Street Hall presented an sceedingly bright and lively appearance ast night, when considerably over a huntred children, gathered from north, south ast, and west, were recipients of gifts it the hands of Father Christmas. Mr. E. L. Garner, superintendent of he Sunday School, ''nformed the childen that the treat was the first of what pas hoped would be a long series of gatherings from year to year. . The Rev. H. L. Blaniires (Napier) reminded the boys and girls of God's great /hnstmas gift, and the way the wise Qe ~ K 6 ?* the ' first Christmas bv giving o Christ their gifts of gold . nd myrrh. Then appeared upon the cene, to the evident delight of the young- , ters. no other than Santa Claus. who, nth the assistance of Sister Mildred, cut a-ch child a toy from the Christmas Tree ■ 'inaly he showed his versatile powers iy playing them an organ solo, other ' terns being rendered in the programme iy Mr., W. E. Howe, Master Clement lowe, and Alice Anderson. After being regaled with fruit and 1 woets, the boys and girls showed their ppreciation by giving "Father Christ- i las and Sister Mildred each three hearty : heers. ■ The Mission gala day and picnic is to • e hold on Tuesday, January 2, at Day's ' lay, and it will bo followed by a moon- ] :ght harbour excursion and a concert in I he Day's Bay Pavilion tho same evening i |ho Silver Band will play Christmas arols m the streets this evening.