CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIPS.

(By "Mercury.")

DAY OF SLEET AND SURPRISES,

- A day of sleet, wind, rain, and surprise —such'was the New Zealand Champ'oiiship meeting. Like many others, I gathered round it. and shivered. What manner of climate has this South Inland got? One of the surprises was the attendance, which, despite piercing cold and blinding showers of rain, numbered just on a thousand—a good indication of the interest occasioned by the gathering. The track was wet, but not heavy, and was improved bv the application of sawdust on tho worst places. Tho wind and cold, however, prohibited fast times or good performances in the field events. The first shock of the meeting came early. Opie being beaten by Kgglestono, of Orngo. in the hundred. In his heat, Opio beat tho Otago man by half a yard, but was obviously running badly. The final saw Egglosto'ne slightly beat the pistol,- and, at fifty yards, he had a two yards lead. He won by the narrowest margins, despite a characteristic rush at the finish by Opie. The next surprise came in the threemile walk. Casliman, walking brilliantly, made the pice for mast of the journey, and outpaced the champion in the homo stretch. Kerr showed bad tactics in nut forcing the pacing earlier. The hammer-throwing was also a ".boil over." M'Holmo (Cnnterburyi, who was looked upon as a cerlainty, succumbed to ICcan (Southland), who is practically n tyro, and light for this class of event. Tie is, however, eudowed with an exceptionally good style. Ilis>ett, of Wellingtonlast year's champion—was affected by the cold, and was not in it. In the vault, and hop, step, and jump M'Kay appeared ivilh. a badly-bruised hoe!, and war; really not fit to compete. Alter clearing the first height he stood cut nf the pole-vault. Then Ciillcr (Southlaud), after charing flit, flin., tailed at tlll't. M'Kay, who was limping, then failed to clear this, and so lost his chance in points. 11l tho hop, step, and jump M'Kay jumped once (lilt, lin.l, and hurt lii's injured loot, and retired incapacitated. An almost certain' win was thus lost. The 410 yds hurdles caused another thrill, Keddell—the Australasian champion—being beaten by <'ook, of Canterbury. K>ddell was not himself, and was only out of bed a week before the meeting, after an attack of quinscy. Of the new crop of champions. Dormer is n fall, dark youth of'nineteen, lie runs wearing spectacle*, but has.a big stride anil a good action.- He is full of promisa in the middle distances. ('ashman never walked better, and his action all through was finite correct. Southland's victory in tho Shield confast was naturally very popular down here. It was i|uite unexpected locally, and iva« received with great enthusiasm. Wellington's chance departed with M'Kav's break-down, but, as a slight consolation, Wellington wins tho Queensland Memorial Medal for best standards.