ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[Br "Mebcubt."] AGAIN THE OLYMPIAD. Enthusiasm of the Muss. Olympic news from everywhere- but our own shoves shows tho interest that is being tukoii in tho games, Kvon Russia has risen nobly In tins occasion, ns tin, I following imvisiKjo hum HI, Petersburg, which appeared in tho "Wdon Sportsi man," shows:— "Tlio Ministry of Marino liimi placed tho cruiser Oleg at tlio disposal of (lie 1 litissinn Olympic Gaums (.'oniiiiitloc. |(ussian competitors will enter for tho aUiletio events, anil also for llin fencing, shooting, bicycling, ami lawn tenuis, l'r<-.-iiminary trials am now being arranged in various parts of tlio country, and tlio pick of tho local champions will afterwards como lo St. Petersburg for linal selection, There will bo a good Russian ontry fur the sailing races in tho (i, H, 10, and 12metro classes. St. Petersburg alone will bo represented by ten yachts. Holies «ro entertained hero that tlio ensuing Olympic Games may bo hold in St, Petursliurg. And wo hero are hard put to it to finance two men! . Mustering for tho Fray, The South African contingent io due to arrivo in London on April 27, tho Australasian (cam on May 25, aml tlio Canndiaus on Juno 2.1. While in J'higlawl tlio respective headquarter.-; of imr tcam'-i various sections will bo:—Unworn, Henley. oii-Thamcs; swimmers, llign'gul* Ponds, London; rillcuion, liisloy or Wrnyabury; athletes, Stamford Bridge- Grounds, Kulham, London. Tlio Old Country m tisiml is lagging behind in making its final arrangements. No news is yet to hand as to who will bo its roprcsonlati v«h in any branch, and probably nothing will Ixs done in tho matter of selecting the rowers and athletes till after tho Henley regatta, July 3-G, the British Olympic trials on May 18, and tho English A.A.A. championships on June 22. However, with this wealth of material to draw from, tho Old Country Is sure to ba strongly represented, no maltor how late the matter of selection is left. In connection with the managerial arrangements made for teams representing other parts of the Umpire, it is amusing to note that "Prodigal/ 1 of the "Referee," is again bemoaning Australia's neglect to appoint a secretary in addition to the manager, and also the fact that his pet schemo of an Empiro team for the games has seemingly como to nothing. The scant courtesy meted out to tho Festival of .Empire gathering by tho English A.A.A. authorities last year and a large section of tile English sporting press ought to have convinced him that England, at any rate, will have nothing to do with tho proposal, whatever its merits may bo.

'Varsity Sports: Oxford and Cambridge. The Oxford v. Cambridge meeting was held at Queen's Club on March 23, in a heavy downpour of rain, which cffectually kept (ho public from attending iu any considerable number. Notwithstanding the adverse conditions, there were some really wonderful performances. 1). Macmillan (Cambridge) won tho quarter-mile in 49 2-ssec.—a record for tho inter- ' Varsity sports. He also won the 100 yds. in lOsec. Macmillan may not bo the equal of the crack ■ Yankee and Canadian 100 and 200 metres men, but there seems a possibility of his developing into a second Halswell in the quarter, and his performance at this meeting gives him an excellent chance in the 400 metres, should h« compete. H. S. O. Ashlington, of Cambridge, cleared 23ft. lin. in tho broad jump—an excellent performance—and C. 11. A. Porter upheld Oxford's fame as tho better of tho 'varsities for producing distance champions, by winning the three miles in 14inin. 47sec.—a performance which places him well in the first flight of tho world's three miles champions. The meeting, it is interesting to note, ended in a- drair, each 'varsity securing five events—Cambridge, tho 100, 440, and 880 yds. flat, the 120 yds. hurdles, and the broad jump; and Oxford tho mile and throe miles flat, tho hammer and shot, and the high jump. A Double Blue. Among the colonials in England who aro available for selection is D. C. Collins, of this city, who by securing a place in the Cambridge crew in tho recent Varsity boat race, won the distinction of being the only, double cricket and rowing Blue at Cambridge for over forty years. On the promise of his form out here, one was prepared to see Collins blossom forth as a cricketer in England, but his success as a rower could not have been foreseen' by many hereabouts. "Mercury" remembers him while at Wellington College as a tall, slim lad, an exceedingly good cricketer and a fair foot bailer, but too delicate-looking to show promise in such a strenuous sport as rowing. But champions were ever disguised in all shapes and sizes. Probably tho keen athletic life ho has been living at Cambridge has developed him physically. His achievements certainly suggest it, anyway. Olympic Day by Day, Por the information of readers Df this column the complete daily programme of the Games is appended:— July 6.—Throwing the javelin, beet hand, final; 10,000 metres flat, heat* (eventual); 100 metres flat, final (eventual); 100 metres Hat, heats (eventual). Julv 7.—Kunning high jump, heats; 10,000 'metres Hal, final (eventual); 800 metres flat, (eventual). Pentathlon: Running broad jump, throwing tho javelin (best hand), 200 metres flat, throwing the discus (best hand), 1500 metres flat. Julv S—Running 1 high* jump final; standing broad jump, final; relay race, 100 metres, heats; walking race, 10,000 metres, heats, July 9.—Throwing the javelin, right and left hand, final; 1509 metres fiat, heats; 5000 metres flat, heats; relay race, 400 metres, final. July 10.—Pole vault, final; putting the weight, best hand, final; 200 metres flat, heats; 1500 metres flat, final; 5090 metres flat, final. t July 11—Putting tho weight, right and 'left hand, final; 200 metres flat, final; hurdle race, 100 metres, heats; walking race, 10,000 metres, final. July 12.—Kunning broad jump, final; throwing discus, best band, final; 400 metres flat, heats; team race, 3000 metres, heats. July 13— Standing high jump, final; 'throwing the discus, right and loft hand, final; 400 metres flat, final; team race, 3000 metres, final. Julv 14.—Throwing the hammer, final; '"Marathon race, 40,200 metres, final; relav race, 1600 metres, heats. Decathlon: 100 metres flat, running broad jump, putting tho weight (best hand), running high jump, 400 metres flat (final). . - , July 15.—Relay race, 1000 metres, final; cross-country race, 8000 metres, finai. Decathlon: Hurdle race (110 metres), throwing the discus (best hand), pole vault, throwing tho javelin (best hand), 1500 metres flat, hop-step-and jump, final. If Hill intends to- compete- in the 10,000 meta ho will make his first appearance on July 7, but if, as is expefctod, he will confine his attention to tho 1500 and 5000 metres, he will not compete till July 9, tho fourth day of tho gathering. An All-round Youngstor, • S. Poran, of tho East Sydney A.A.C., is evidently a young man possessed of soiuo measure of. all-round athlelic talent, which should bear encouraging- At a sm:<ll meeting held by his club recently he distinguished himself by winning all four events on the programme—tho lOOvds. flat, throwing the discus, 121 miles road race, and 150 yds. swim, and though none of his performances in the separate event* were of anv great merit, still, the fact that he secured all four so widely different in their nature argues well for his 'all-round prowess. Once upon a time, in 1908 to bo exact, there was an nll-ronnd championship held in connection with the New Zealand championship meeting, and our old friend I.en. M'Kay had aii easv victory. The contest caused no end of trouble, however, as special ollleinls, including some two or three accountants, who had a busy day working mil the iiereonlage of points scared by each competitor in each event, had to bo detailed to look after it, and as tho programme had to be so arranged as lo give the men a good rest between events, the result was that it has never been repeated, it is a pity that it has fallen into abeyance, but possibly if Hie centres moved in tho matter ihc New Zealand Conn, cil wifht we fit (o resurrect it in it slightIf diilereafc form*