ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1530, 28 August 1912, Page 4

ATHLETICS.

o • [By "jr\ iKCunt."] TINSEL DREAiM OF EMPIRE. Mr. Coombes Defends His Ewe Lamb. Jn (ho latest issue .of the "Referee,' Mr. Richard Coombes, ns tho originate: of the "British Empinv team scheme ioi future Olvinpiads, writ's <> lengthy arlich dealing with the prop psa.', in which In aims to clear up the miaumlerstandinij! that surround it, both i U Hngland and ii Australia. , He has been moved to do this by tin opinions of English athletic authorities ai cabled, and by various interviews on tin subject with Australian experts tha have appeared in tlw prcsV, tho raajoriti .of which condemn tho schamo as Jmprac ticablo on the ono ; hai.ul aa d undosirabh from the viewpoint of the oversea Do minions on tho other. Tho reason advanced for tV.e latter ob jeetion is that already touched upon ii this column by "Mercury"— VM dreadec loss of representation on the. luvornatinnn. Committee and tho sinking of tl»? identity of tho oversea Dominions .fls _ .itliletic en titics in that of Great Brit»iii\x The Objections re the Dream. Mr. Coombes deals first with t\s objec tions as cabled. He writes:— As was only to be expected, there aroso much discussion in England iOver the proposal, and opponents to ' tho scheme made their views known. U'lie cable quickly informed us that .V r * . li. C. Lehmann, a well-known auth yrity on rowing, opposed tho schen. IPMr. Lehmann, formerly a captain itf the Leander Club, gavo his reasons fo.f such opposition. He. pointed out thati rival countries treat sport as a profos-v sion, and specialise at an enormous cost, '. whereas tho Englishmen went to ' Stockholm as sportsmen. Mr. Lehmann considered it would be impossiblo to nrrnngo nn Empire rowing team, because of the costly preliminary trials at. remote places, and he stated ho did not believe it would be possible to form a. combined crew of Englishmen and Colonials. Further, ho disapproved of tho conditions governing tho Olympic contests, and suggests England's . retirement. So much for Mr. ' Lehmann's reasons. Next came Mr. P. A. Vaile, a wellknown writer on sporting matters, especially on cricket and lawn tennis. Tho cable said Mr. Vaile "does not believe the Canadians, South Africans, Australians, and New Zcalanders aro . prepared to sink their identity in order to have a joint Empire team." This apparently is the sum substance of the opposition in Englandall that we have heard of per medium of the cable, at any rate—and it does not appear very convincing. Mr. Lehmann's suggested retirement from the Games by tho United Kingdom heed not be discussed, so that, boiled down, his views are that "it is impossible to form a combined crew of Englishmen and colonials." As this was never at any time or in any circumstances proposed, his objection may be passed out also. Mr. Coombes then qnotes nn article appearing in the "Sydney Morning Herald" in opposition to the proposal which ran:— "The consensus of opinion amongst local sporting men is to the effect that the proposal to form an Empire Athletic Team from Great Britain and the States to represent tho British Empire at tho next Olympic Games is impracticable. It is doomed to failure from tho very outset, and would defeat tho object for which tho, Games were instituted. "All are agreed that the proposal could not be acceded to, as it would mean that the various countries of the Empire would lose their individuality as athletic nations. Furthermore, there would be insurmountable difficulties in selecting a representative team. Then again, tho proposal is certain to ho opposed by the other nations, as it would be giving the British Empire too great an advantage over them. Tho British Empire's team would practically be tho picked toatn'bf the' world." " Do They Hold Good? These statements come in for some trenchant analysis from Mr. Coombes, and truth to tell ho makes out a very good case. Regarding the "Herald's", assertion that the British Empire's team would bo "the picked team of tho world," he points out that, at Stockholm, the United States team, although numerically smaller, beat the Empire's points total easily. Ho allows that possiblv the adoption of tho scheme might, result in Australasia and Canada ceasing to have direct representatives on the International Committee, but points out that there is no reason to exclaim that this would be so, as even if the number of representatives wero reduced'from tho six at present represent; ing the Empire to three, as now representing the United Kingdom, _ it is only fair to assumo that a proportion of tliis trio would represent the Dominions. Disposing of a Bogey. But it is in his playing of tho "loss of identity" objection that Mr. Coombes comes out strongest. Ho says:— "But let me just show what a fallacious thing this loss of identity' cry is. Let mo commence with England, whickproduced a number.of winners at tho Fiftil Olympiad. Let us tako one. The 1500 metres fiat race was won by A. N. S. Jackson, of Oxford University, but this win is credited to the United Kingdom. _ Is there any 'loss of identity' to England from such procedure? Now for South Africa. K. K. M'Arthur and C. W. Gitsham ran first and second in the llnrathon' race. I have seen cabled reports of the men's practice, tho race with its scenes and incidents, etc., and in every case- M'Arthur and Gitsham were described o.s South Africans. Furthermore, they wore tho South African colours, with the springbok on their breasts. And yot tho Swedish recorder of points scored entered up 5 points to tho credit of the United Kingdom, for the reason that South Africa had no representative on the International Olympic Committee. But would anyone affirm that South Africa suffered from any 'loss of identity' as a consequence? "Now for another case. I suppose the objectors have heard of Hannes Kolohmaiuen, the Finn, who won the triplo crown. Well, the doings of this renownod member'of the Helsingin Kisa-Vcikot have been heralded from one end of the world to the other. 'Kolehmainen, the marvellous Finn!' 'Kolehmainen, of Finland!' 'Kolehmainen, the great Finnish runner!' are lines I have seen in hundreds of papers. Well, the recorder at Stockholm simply entered up 9 points to Russia. Was there any 'loss of identity' by Finland? Yet another case. 'Hans Braun, of Munich!' 'Hans Braun, of Bavaria!' 'Braun, the famous Bavarian!' were lines in every paper. But the record of Brciun's points went down to tho German Empire. Was there any 'loss of .identity' to Bavaria?" But Is This All? This is sound, argument indeed, and wero the objections thus answered by Mr. Coombes the only ones that could 09 . raised tho opposition would' not be very serious. But in the opinion of tho writer there is a graver objection, and here "Mercury" desires to mako it plain that, in theory, ho is quite in accord with Mr. Coombcs's scheme of a British Empire Team, and that he sincerely wishes that ho could sharo that gentleman's belief that the proposal could bo brought to a successful issue. To "Mercury" Micro is much that is inspiriting in the picture Mr. Coombes conjures up of tho picked athletes from the outposts of the Empire hurrying to tho Old Country to complete their preparation in her athlotio camp, and when the time comes sallying forth to uphold Britain's athletic prestige, side by side with her representatives, as a team, one and indivisible—tho elect of the Mother Country and the colonics—taking, as Mr. Coombes puts it, their places shoulder to shoulder in the firing line. There is allurement in this side of tho proposition that must appeal to most, but as things are, unfortunately, it calls for some strain on the imagination. Ono has only to read the English press, and not only the sporting section thereof, to see what a divided athletic Camp is that of England. v A House Divided Against Itself. On one hand is the section that hurls recriminations at the more successful foreign athletes because of their so-called professional tendencies, their over-specialisa-tion, their alleged determination to win at any cost so long as thay win',.etc.,'etc. . k Qr the, ptfe-ei; fcand A ' there .Js. the,.sectional.

that vents its chagrin at tlio English defeats upon those in charge of affairs, and tlio athletes themselves; on the former for lack of organisation, control, ami everything that makes for success, and on tlio latter for lack of enthusiasm and sufficient caro in their preparation. Some of this latter section nro particularly vitriolic in their denunciations of tlio alleged niittna.nagomo.it and muddlcmciit in high places, upon > whicli they throw tlio blame of Eng- , land's inglorious showings at tlio Games, . not only of to-day, but of past years. Sonio , of their indictments lravo appeared in , these columns from timo to time, and it , is in this unfortunate phase of the matter L that the obstacle to which "Mercury" lias alluded is to bo found. ! The Highest Hurdle of All. > Until England has put her own athletic : houso in order, and has proved her capability of .managing her own athletic af- • fairs, the Overseas Dominions will naturi ally bo doth to place their athletic destin- ■ les in her keeping, That is the obstacle Uiat will need to l>o overcome beforo tile ■ Empire nthetlic team can become au fait | accompli, for, a - though, no doubt, it will be. said that the Dominions will retain . their voice- on tlio Olympic management, thero can ho no question that' if the ■ scheme wove tried the direct control of the Empire team would lie in the hands of the English authorities—that is, i n the hands of thoso accused by au influential . section of tlio English press of an incapacity and of a slackness of purpose that would bo farcical were it not so humiliating to the prestige of English athletics. " . ■ Cross-country Racing. Last week, in his comments on tho recent flew Zealand cross-countrv championship race at Miraraar, "Mercury" expressed the opinion that the non-success of tho local centre's representatives was due to the adoption of wrong methods in ■ their preparatory work, particularly with regard to tho slow pace adopted in the haturday. runs arid the neglect of flat, v running during tho harrier season. I During the .week tho writer had .a con* v versahom with au ex-English harrier ou lUie subject, and both his contentions were ,Vupportc<l by the expatriated one, who U.IS, since his arrived in New Zoalond, k».Pt closely m touch with local harrier m litters, so knows whereof-he speaks. ' "FVstina Lente" Not the Motto. B *5 was particularly emphatic about tho use! vssncs3 of the ordinary club run as"a trail ti'ng medium for the fast men. His contention is that as the pace of the club run i I'ust necessarily bo that of the slowest m- 1 moor running, it is so much within the capacity of the crack division as to bo sini Vv al > agreeable and hcalth-giviu" diversity, ami as far removed from tho scope o I a training run as is the usual daily tr.»m ride to walk. We must ,go Faster and Harder. ■ Ho advocates a frequent run for the : back-markV l '*, with a fast pack—a run : that will stU'yo as a test of papo and stamina, and atV-ist in keying the men up to standing tlu\ strain of the hard test that a ci'oss-eouniV'y championship must necessarily be. h'v says, further, that if Wellington cross-country men are to do-any good in future'' racing, (lie amount of hill work indulged .in must bo curtailed, and moro attention •_ paid to flat running and fast work, whei'cin' cross-country racing differs from liari'ierism, true and simple. Tho local clubs jvill have to make their choice—if they clVct' to stick to harrierism, well and gooil', but in this case'it is useless for them to think of being worthily represented in cross-country racing, while if they desiiV to figure as crosscountry championsh\o aspirants, in addi,tion to carrying out- their functions as harriers, they will ha.vc to do the necessary extra training irreparatiou entailed. This is the gospel according to "Mercury's" English informtwit. General Notes. Mr. J. G. Gow, president of tho Southland Centre, is in town cfli a holiday visit, and looked "Mercury" typ duriag the week. ' He reports favouAably of future prospects in the south, and promises to send iip a hot team of-shield defenders • when the next Now Zealand championship comes round. • A strong amateur athletio ,clnb has been formed in Marlborough, with' headquarters in Blenheim. This is the .first occasion upon which amateurism has got a footing in this vicinity, but there every prospect, judging from tho numerical strength of the new club, that it has at last come to. stay. Tho allocation of the recruit to a centre has yet to be done by • the couu-. oil of tho N.Z.A.A.A., but presiKiiably fhe Canterbury Centre, which now' controls the Nelson district, will benefit. . KAPUNDA J.P. CURED, ""I havo great faith in Chamberlain's Pain Balm, says Mr. S. E. Biancock, J.P., Kapunda, S.A. "For years I suffered with rheumatism in ray arms and shoulders, brought on by a chill. • Now an application of Chamberlain's Pain Balm gives me instant relief, and soon remedies it. I recommend Chamberlain's Pain Balm- to all sufferers from rheuatism. . 1*