ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

IBT "Mbeodbt."! THE W.A.A.C. & OTHER GALAS. February I.—Wellington Provinoial Championships (Basin Reserve). February 15.— N.Z. Championships (Basin Reserve). Tho Breaking of the Drought. The athletic drought has broken with a vengeance. All through tho i-pring and early summer the local athlete thirsting for opportunities to distinguish himself oi tho turf had perforce to content himself with a few evening meetings as a, sop to parched ambition. Now tho welcomo change has come. Last Saturday saw the W.A.A.C. meeting, Wednesday last the Seatoun Club's gala, on February Ist' follows the Wellington Provincial Championships, and a fortnight later the big New Zealand meeting. Last Saturday's "meet" was a good one, thanks mainly to tho excellence of the handicapping. The attendance of the publio was not what it might have been, but considering tho counter-attractions, it was satisfactory, and tlie proceeds should bring about a small balance on the right side.

The performances, with the notable exception of Mr. Holm's hefty liammerthrow Wero sound rather than brilliant, but this is quite accounted for by the wind. The two best in point of merit were Duncan's win in the "quarter" off syds. in 52bc0., and "Jack" Bradbury's second in the "half"—beaten by inches only in 2min. 8 4-ssec. from scratch. There were others too, that rose well above mediocrity. Both Caahman's times were oreditable. He won tho mile in Gmin. 465e0,, and got second place in the two mile 3, his actual timo boing llmin. 25sec., but in this connection it must be admitted that his gait, although satisfying the judges, appeared to lack the freeness that characterised his best efforts last season.

D. Binnio also comes into the honours list with his first and second, the former in the half-mile, covered from the 15yds. mark in 2min. 8 4-sseo„ after an exceptionally heady display of track tactics. "Jimmy" Wilton, also achieved merit with his "double" in the sprints. Ho won the hundred, run dead into a hard breeze, in 10 3-ssec., off syds., and the furlong ia 23 l-ssec., both heat and final, off 6yds. Another consistent but .unlucky performer was Roy Messenger, of Masterton, who'appeared to be qualifying in his heats all day, but could not manage to annex a final. That Good Tryer—M'Kay. ' In tho field events, in which, by the way, the competition was good, but tho entries decidedly poor, the hero of the day for all-ropnd work was undoubtedly that good trier L. M. M'Kay. He' captured the shot put at 85ft. 4in—the.missile, by the way, being 4oz. over-weight— cleared 10ft. with the pole, a performance he could havo bettered had not 6. Harvey's, of whom moro anon, excellent vaulting from a foot handicap, rendered further endeavour hopeless, covered 40ft. llin. in the hop, step, and jump, and by way of variety won tho 120 yds. hurdles handicap, owing syds. A Good Man Discovered. Apropos of Harvey and the pole vault. This athlete has all the appoaranco of a "find" for the local centre. A worthy successor for M'Kay in the vault has been long looked for, and just when the quest seemed hopeless there happens—G. Harvey, cf Masterton. On Saturday ho cleared 10ft., and was mod-" estly disappointed at not doing better. For a new performer, 10ft. is a good effort, and one that reasonably leads one to look for good work in the future, when a fuller, knowledge of tho finer points of tho gatno has been acquired. When Harvey lias learnt to run in harder at_ liis jump, and has acquired greater facility in the knack "of the jiush.off the polo, and tho turn in the 'air, he should find an extra six or moro inches como easily, and experience'should do the rest. M'Holm—Record-breaker, And now for the star performer of the day—A. M'Holm, hammer-thrower. The big constable is no stranger here —ho threw for New Zealand at the Australasian championships at th® Basin Keservo in , Christmas week, 1911, butsinco then lie had come along considerably. Last season ho was otationed in Canterbury, and in'Christchurch hoisted, new Australasian figures by throwing his implement 135 ft. 2in.' This mark he sot out to beat on Saturday, in fact he camo down from Napier for tho purpose, and as is known he succeeded by the margin of 2ft. 10in„ making a new Australasian reoord of 138 ft. This he subsequently eclipsed with ease. In an exhibition throw after the competition, he got 145 ft. 6in., which, however,, being tor exhibition only, cannot meet with official endorsement . Moreover, he is easily capable of better oven than this. In practice he has fiequently beaten 150 ft., and herein lies tho burly one's trouble. For, strange as it may seem, M'Holm suffers from nerves—he is subject to 6tage fright. ■For example, at tho New Zealand championships at Invercargill last year, "Mercury" saw him on the morning 'of the meeting put up a throw of 140 ft. on this ground, fust to get his hand in, but that same afternoon, at the sports, he could not do 125 ft. As ho himself says, it is in him to get 150 ft. if ho can only get it out. For the soke of Wellington at the forthcoming New Zealand meeting and of New Zealand at tho next Australasian championships, let us hope that his jiffe-, sent success will give him the necessary Confidence to do so, and meanwhilo congratulations to him in his very excellent performance. One Small FlyMn the Amber. The subject of the hammer-throwing gives an opening for a growl at the club executive, and as there were so few growls occasioned by tho management on Saturday, the writer is not going to miss this opportunity. This one is pointed at the Programme Committee, and has reference to the records published in the book at' the head of each event. Thus the hammer reoord for Australia was set down at F. J. Morgan's 132 ft. 2in—quite ignoring M'Holm's figures of last season already mentioned. In tho high jump, too, George Horine's record of Oft. 6 l-Bin. was overlooked; in tho 120 hurdles, ICeddell's Australasian and New Zealand record is ia 3-10 sec., not 15 3-16seo. as stated, and in the half-mile, Dormer of Auckland shares the New Zealand record of lmin. 58 l-ssec, with Hector Burk, and so on. Tho point is that if this information is supplied—and of course it should be supplied—for the sake of the public and the press it should bo supplied correctly. Verb sap. Keddoll's Recent Great Feats. Last week private information received bv "Mercury was published to the effect that at the ■ Otautau (Southland) A.A.C. ! meeting on Wednesday week, Gerald ICeddell had been doing things. The Southland exchanges sinco to hand confirm this, and the reports show thai our hurdle champion is getting into his best form for tho championships. His big. feat was tho equolling of Forrest Siiiithson's world's record of 15sec. for J2O hurdles. Keddell, starting from "scratch, and conceding 18 yards, tied with the limit man in his heat, at 15scc. Tho final was won by this same limit mail in 14 l-sscc., Keddell being three yards away third.

This sounds too good to bo true—and for record purposes so it is. The explanation lies in tho fact that .the track is slightly down 'hill, and that tho runners were helped along by a following wind, but even with these allowances it is "going some" .with a vtmgeance. In the hundred, Keddell, off scratch, won his heat in 10 l-ssoc., and was third in tho final, won in lOsec. dead.; and in the broad jump he covered 21ft. Jin., which failed to get him a place. Good News from the Coast. From Wostport comes n chatty Jotter from Mr. J. IV Thompson, until recently a councillor of the N.Z.A.A.A., with an interesting review of the inaugural meeting of tho new club in that town. Unfortunately pressure of space precludes publication of Mr. Thompson's comment, but it is eminently satisfactory to note therefrom that amateurism has gripped the Coasters "good and hard." Tho meeting was a grout succcss; there was an nttemlnnce cf 15"0, no Ip«s, and good competition was (he order »f tho flu v. "Mercury V corrcfpomknt spwlis highly -.if tho atlilutio ability displayed, and prophesies

a big futuro for the mw olub—a conaummation, devoutly to be desired. Tho Beatoun A.A.C, Meeting. The Seatoun A.A.C. meeting on the suburban club's park on Wednesday was an extremely pleasant affair. Tho nomination list filled well, and event followed event with pleasing promptitude, such gaps as were inevitable being filled by raoes for the younger generation. Tho merit of tho various performances is in no way evidenced by tho times recorded, as the shape of the track, 290 yards to tho lap, ana tho roughness of the going militated against speedy clocking, though not at all against the interest of the competition.

Most of tho city oracks were performing, with more or less suocess. Ashley. Duncan added another bead to his rosary of quarter-mile viotorios, this being his third scratch win in succession, ono at Timaru in Christmas week, another at the W.A.A.C. meeting last Saturday, and the ono under discussion. In the sprint events he was not successful, an unfortunate bump on the home turn effeotuallv settling a. certain qualifying ohanca with his 220 heat, and the pace of tho handicap men leaving him "also started" in the hundred final, for which he qualified by a third in the heat.

• T. E. Johnson, off 140 yards, despite a penalty of ifl yards for his success of Saturday, proved too spoody for Cashman in tho mile walk, the champion walking into third place, and M. Traoy dividing tho two, Johnson, profiting by his recent disqualification, walked in good style, and no doubt will reoeivo his due reward by being pulled back another 20 yards or so. In the running events, details of whioh have been published, L. Murphy, with a dual win in the 100 and 220 yards handicaps, P. J. M'lnerney, C. T. Young, and F. Hubbard caught the eye for good work. M. Pool, our provincial sprint ohampion, who has been under a very thiok oloud so far this season, also showed a flash of his true form in the 100 yards, and by February 1, when ho will bo oalled upon to defend his titles, should be just about properly wound up. Tlie most pleasing feature of the day's work was the improvement in the standard of merit in the jumping events, particularly so in the broad jump and hop-step-and-jump. In the latter, throe novices, M'lnerney, Donaldson, and Heley registered leaps of over 89 feet, and Doyle got over the 40ft. mark, all distinctly promising performances... The broad jump, too, found some now talent. C. F. Young, the 'winner, twice got over 19ft., ono effort being 19ft. llin. Helev oovercd 19ft. 7in., and got into socond place. • Ex-champion Hubbard, oonoeding the winner Ift. Bin., and Heley Ift., filled third place, with a scratoh jump of 20ft. lin. . Messrs. P. Palmer, C. Webb, M. Tracy, and a happy band of trained auxiliaries were indefatigable in their work on tho executive, and by all appearances the destiny of the Seatoun Club is in good and capable hands. Where Johnson Erred, , T,. E. Johnson's disqualification in the milk walk on Saturday last gave rise to much speculation among the onlookers as to the exact nature of his contravention of the rules. A contemporary, in its report, set forth that it was on account of. his "allegedly locking his knees." This, makes it quite plain, of course, and looking back on the face, "Mercury" can distinctly recall that at times Johnson undoubtedly did look his knees. While on this 6ubjeot, the writer would also point out that there were other matters that wero apparently overlooked by the officials. Thus, in the final of the 100 yards handicap,,/. Wilton, tho winner, deliberately rot. Also, in the high jump several of the competitors frequently had both feet off the ground at the samo time. Again, In the pole vault, both Harvey and M'Kay released their grip on tho pole after clearing the cross-bar, and there wero others. ;