ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[Br "Mezctjit."] OLYMPIADS AND FINANCE. DID MURRAY WALK?

To-day-Donaldson t, Postle (AuokUnd). March 18—Levin A.A. Club's Sports. March 18—Marton Athletic Club's Sports (running events amateur). April 8 (Easter Monday)—Wairarapa A.A. Club's Annual Sports Meeting, Mastorton. April B—Univorsity Tournament (Dunedin). Owing to the difficulty in obtaining a ground, the Athletic Football Sports Club versus Victoria College A.A.C. fixture, which was scheduled lor to-day, has been reluctantly cancelled. Kerr Not Available. It may be remembered that last week ,i plea appeared in these notes for the inclusion of H. Kerr in tho Dominion's Olympic team on the strength of his assertion that ho was available for selection « wanted. Since this appeared in print the local Olympic Committee has received word from the champion walker that he has, after all, not been nble to make the necessary arrangements to get away for the Stockholm triyi. So now our representation stands finally at the original selection, G. N. Hill, of Auckland, for such of the running events as come in his department, and Anthony Wilding for tennis. Finance, The question of financing even this small representation is at present causing somo pertubation. It was confidently expected that tho onthusiasts of Auckland would raise sufficient funds to relieve the committee of most, if not all, of Hill's expenses, but it is now understood that this optimism will not be justified by results. Much indignation was expressed last voar in Auckland at the selection of Guy Haskins for the Festival of Empire Sports team over tho head of. Hill, and much gratification has since been expressed there on his selectiou in the present instance. It now appears, ,however,. that this gratification has but a small cash value, and that tho returns of the call on tho Auckland public will realise about one-third of what was expected. This naturally has rather embarrassed the executive",' but there still appears to be a way out of the difficulty in tho form of financial assistance from the Cabinet. During the week "Mercury" received private advico from Auckland that the Centre there had broken the ice, and that Sir Joseph Ward, on being approached, had promised to bring the matter before Cabinet at the earliest opportunity, and had held out hopes of substantial practical support. How it is Done Elsewhere. This is only following in the footsteps of tho Governments of tho Old WorW countries, and, to come nearer home, of the Xe.y South Wales Ministry, which has voted a sum of JISOO to.the Olympic Fund in that State. In Canada and the United States, Government grants are almost solely responsible for tho splendid representation sent to the Gamee each year by those countries. The same happy condition obtains in Europe, where each Governmnt contributes lavishly to assist its national team. It is only a week or sn ago that the cables stated that tho Hungarian Parliament had voter 4,800 kroner to the good cause, and since then news has been received that the Austrian Government has voted .£2OOO for tho same' I object. 3000 Germans—No Less! The enthusiasm aroused'in the European countries by the' Games is evidenced by the following extract from an article in tho London "Sunday Times" referring to the German representation:— • "There- is trouble in store for those authorities that propose sending teams to Stockholm next July and..lmvo not yet inade arrangements for the accommodation of their men. The German Athletic Union is as prompt in such managerial matters as most, but when tho agent of the German -Athletic Union wpiU lately to the Swedish capital he could find only sixty bedrooms available to accommodate _ his team of 100, with a charge of ten shillings a day for bed and breakfast, ten shilling!! for other meals, and the necessity, moreover, of sleeping two and three in a room. Under the circumstances the union hit upon the happy idea of chartering a steamer and converting it into a hotel, which can also bo used to lodge part of tho three thousand guests who, it is estimated, will attend the sports. The Germans are very confident of carrying off no Kinall share of the prizes, though they regret not having followed Norway's example, which has engaged an American trainer at a half-year's salary of .£IOOO.

Murray's Record Walks, As was only to bs expected, the strictures of "Prodigal," of the Sydney "Beferee" (Mr. R. Coorabos). on W. Murray's alleged walking records have given rise to a small storm of protest in Victorian athletic circles. "Prodigal's" comment has already appeared here in full, but tho following extract therefrom is repeated to give point to what follows:— ". . . After carefully studying Murray's style at Wellington, N.Z., in the Australasian championships Murray was second in tho mile, his time approximately being Gmin. 45sec., whilst in the three miles he was fourth—a good way back—in a raco won in 21min. 3G S-Sscc, I am perfectly satisfied tho Victorian . crack cannot approach tho figures recorded." Now for the protest. "Harrier," of tho '•Australasian, , ' takes up tho cudgels for tho Victorian, and certainly makes an excellent case. He writes: — a great respect for 'Prodigal's' opinion on walking matters, but somo timo ago he unfortunately gave out that in his view no walker could do better than Gmin. 45sec. for a mile and conform to tho Australasian rules. Now, that is not a sound method of criticism, and a natural desire to adhere to this arbitrary standard helps, perhaps, to affect his general judgment. It seems to be as reasonable to say no man could beat 21ft. in a fair long jump, seeing that from the dawn I of nthk'tic history until the advent of Pat O'Connor no one had achieved such a feat. O'Connor actually holds a record of 21ft. 11 Jin., yet onc.cdiiont say that even more isimpossible. If the argument wero sound, there would to no more world's records in any branch of athletics. Again, Murray's tim« in Xew Zealand was finiiu. Si'Jsec, according to lny note. Ellis (first past tho post) took Oiiiin. 32 -i-Ssec, with Kerr only n i'eiv yards behind—say Gmin. Siscc—yet Kerr was passed by the judge, although about llscc. under tho standard of fairness above stated. Onco again, in nil fast walks tho first qnarter-milc is done in lJmin.. or less. If a mau can walk at this pate 'fairly for a quarter of a mile, is it impossible for aiiy man to be produced who can approximate that rate for half a mile instead of a quarter? AVho can say precisely in figures what is I or what will bo tho limit of human ability? ' Now, in his thrce-milo walk Murray's miles wero Cmiii. 35ssc, 7min. 9sec, and 7min. 12?ec. Tho last two como within 'Prodigal's' fixed standard of fairness, and tho first within what was accepted in New Zealand. As to Murray's mile time, his first half-mile was Siniii. 3«ec, his second nearly 3min. lOscc. Had ho kept the latter pace all through, he would have done Gmin. 38sec. Finally, I have seen the ox-champion, Mr. A. O. Barrett, who judged Murray's performances, since the races, and shown him 'Prodigal's' remarks, and have his authorUr for saying Hint it is his clear opinion Hint Murray i" both races walked.fairly, and in striut accordance with Hie Australasian Miles." It is worthy of nole that tho Mr. A. O. Barrett referred to as (he walking jiidgo is Hie holder of the present Australasian record for three miles Cllmin. 30 l-ssec.), which is one of the records Murray was timed to linvp broken. The Victorian walker is evidently making thi> most of bis present wood form. \ccordiiiß to "Harrier" "on Friday last week, at the S(. Kilda ground, W. Murray made nn attempt- ti> put. up new lißiires for two miles, the previous best l.einu 13min. 59sco. Tho uttemut was un.Miccossful, as, through nn error, only seven lops were walked instead of eight. The timo of thn seven laps was 12min. dead, which is .well within the Australasian record. On Monday night Murray had ;i ro at G. K. Larner's 3500 metro (-1N27 ynrtUi figures. Unfortunately a long stretch of track was very wet. The time was lomin. .'iisec, compared with Larner's Umin. .Visecf put up nt the last Olympic games. The lime hont thnt of nil other competitors than Larner, the next bost beiug Webb, IStnin. 7Js?c, During next week Murray will hav»

a no at the full Olympic distance of 10,000 metres. Tho Melbourne Harriors are holding a special meeting next week, with a view of devising means for obtaining funds to send Hurray to the next games. As Lamer will not be competing (having, it is stated, lost his status through accepting expenses), Murray has a good chance of scoring in tho walk, and has notified tho.Olympic committee that ho is available. Unfortunately tho Victorian Government has declined any financial assistance, although the New South Wales Government made a grant of .£SOO. It therefore depends upon the immediate respoiisa made by the public whether this lino walker and fine fellow- shall have the opportunity of representing Australasia." At Karori Last Saturday. Thoso who attended the Karori Club's first annual meeting on Saturday last were well repaid for their little country excursion. The Kocreation Ground was looking at its bost, which is saying a good deal, and the sporting side of the function proved to bo of a high order. In all the events the fields were lnrgo and the racing gocd, and tho suburbnn executive has every reason to bo pleased with the otitcume of its venture. Tho "star" performers of the day were J. W. Wilton and A. T. Duncan. The former's "quarter," the last race of the day, was a sterling run— the best, perhaps, that he has ever made over his pet distance. Starting from scratch, with his nearest man on the '2'iyard mark, and with a big liekl to run round, and, moreover, with a long finishing straight right into the teetu of tho strong northerly breeze, Wilton was just beaten by a short foot in 51 3-asec., a sterling performance without doubt. Duncan ran in two events—the hundred and three hundred handicaps, both from scratch/ In the former ho won his heat in 10 1-lOsec, aided, of course, by the wind, ami was beaten out of a place in the final by 1J yards in 9 4-ssec. . In the longer sprint he performed equally well. In his heat ho ran into a comfortable second, finishing 'with the brako on," and in the final caught his field in the home stretch and ran out a winner in 33 2-ssec, By tho time the University tournament comes round on Easter Monday, Duncan, who is representing Victoria College in tho sprints, will be very formidable indeed, especially as his trainer states that ho is not yet properly "wound up." M. P. Pool, Wellington's sprint representative at the recent championships, did not. start owing to a bad foot, and Byrne, the representative half-miler, was "laid off" for tho same reason. I\ W. B. Goodbehere made a welcome reappearance, and his running wns watched with much interest. Considering his long rest and the shortness of his training, his performances, especially in the 300 yards, gavo promise of bettor things. In the "hundred" he was handicapped at 2 yards, and started virtually scratch in his heat, in which, although he got tin among his field, ho was unplaced, in 10 f-osee. In the 300 yards, he was on the 8-yard mark, and again started virtually scratch in his heat, which he won handsomely in 33 4-ssee. Tn the final, however, lack of condition told. He ran Well until 20 yards from home, when, holding n winning position, he succumbed to an attack of suspended animation and retired. With the three weeks' extra trainins, he, too, should ho running well by Easter time. With Duncan, he is competing at the 'Varsity tournament in tho interest of Victoria College. There was only one open walk on the programme, over a distance of one milo and a half, in which D. Cashman, the New Zealand three-milo champion, was billed' to attempt to lower the world's amateur record of Bmin. lOsec. Tho strong wind, however, precluded any possibility of record figures .being hoisted, and Cashman had to content himself with a good win in lOmin. 3G 3-s.?ec. He walked in very good style, which more than satisfiod Mr. J. Ellis, the judrje, and went to tho front at the mile. Thereafter he was never troubled, and won by 30 yards or so from Sievwright. This young Walter is improving fast, and as his style is quite according tn Iloyje, ho only needs tho strength and stamina that will como with age to make a really good pedestrian. C. I'iigh ran in the "half" and mile, hut did not reproduce his championship form. In the shorter distance he ran with bad judgment, and made the first lap much too fast, consequently the business end found him fading away, and . although within striking distance, had he not lacked a finish, he failed to get a place. In the mi!e. he misjudged his pace in the opposite direction, and although full of runniniT at the finish, could only get second to Gore, off C 5 yards, in 4min. 47500. Doverting to the half-mile, this was won by A. Kennedj", of the Karori Club, in 2min. 3soc, off 45 yards, after a meritorious display. In conclusion, one word about tho handicapping. "Mr.rjury" has so often had occasion to make caustic comment on this very important department, especially with regard to the drastic treatment usually meted out to the back-markers, teat on the present occasion, he is extremely pleased to bo nble to compliment Messrs. Pollock and Kitto on the success of their labours. The usual, but sincere, word of praise, is also extended to Mr. D. Leslie on his good work with tho gun. gun.