ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By "Mercury.")

CHIEFLY CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Twenty-fourth Meeting. To-day's mooting at the 1 Basin Reserve will bo tho twenty-fourth Now Zealand championship gathering, and it will mark the'tilth occasion on which the mooting has lreen hero. Compared with previous occasions, the meeting promises well, though record breaking performances will probably bo few. However, if M'Holni has a day out the Australasian hammer record will probably go by tho board. Keddell, in his present form, is capable of knocking at least a fifth of a second off his 10 3-ssec. for tho 120 yards hurdles; and tho quarter, whoever wins it, will, if tho weather conditions are at all favourable, bo run in something under olsec. As indicated in reviews published during the past week, tho Wellington Centre, though fighting for the shield on its own ground (and thcreforo highly favoured by circumstances) will have a hard row to hoe. Taking tho championship events one by one, and discussing all the probabilities, this is made doubly clear.

The Hundred Yards. In the hundred yards—now that Woodgpr has definitely decided not to compete -rthero will bo no : New Zealand champions running, but the race will be none the less interesting for that. Duncan, Mark, and Saunders are all in tho first flight, while, if Pool can strike last year's form, ho will extend the lot.- On last year's form, Duncan, woujd appear to nave the best chance, and his running this season has been such as to cause many local judges to vote the race a certainty for him, but bitter experience has shown how unreliable local form is as a test for New Zealand championship' honours. Saunders's running last week at lnvereargill, and Mark's performances throughout the season, cannot bo overlooked, and if Duncan wins it will be by a baro margin. Still,' his extra experience should stand him in good stead, and "Mercury" ventures to assume the rolo of a prophet and pick him to come home in lront, with Saunders second. j • '

The Furlong. Tho same difficulty confronts ono in tho furlong, in which tho 6amo. thrco will probub'y fight out tho finish, though'at this distance Duncan will probably meet with inoro opposition froni ,Mark than from Saunders. Of'the other Wellington representatives, Hubbard -may cause a surprise, but Pool, though having trained hard, seems unnblo to 6trike form.

The, Star Race. 'y The star race of tho meeting will assuredly be the quarter, and local opinion is very evenly divided upon tho question who will bo tho winner. Those who 6aw Dormer defeat "Jimmy" Wilton so easily at luvercargill last year, will not hear'of his defeat. Wilton's supporters point to his vastly improved form this season (due in great measure to his bsing able to train during the day), and in particular to his great win a fortnight ago, and argue that his extra pace will carry him homo in front. Then, again, reports from, Auckland Indicate th«t Mark is ■ very "':nearly. Dormer's equal, and. Canterbury oritics credit Thoniah with being able to beat 51sec., with four men running who have all dono in, tho neighbourhood of this time, tho task of picking the winner is a difficult ono indeed.

Half-mllo and Mile. < ; Coming to the half and milo the way is made much clearer by Dormer's outstanding merit at these distances. In fivo years out of six Bradbury would bo eqnnl to winning,, but "Mercury" is sore afraid that this will bo tho sixth year so far as ho is concerned, but he will bo pood enough to push Dormer into breaking 2min., and possibly the present Now Zealand record. '. '■ • •■'"!' Tho same Canterbury critic that tips Thomas to beat 51sec. for tho auarter, considers him to be a bettor half-miler, and if.this opinion has a shade of truth in it, Thomas should bo there, or thereabouts, at the finish. But "Mercury" has doubts, and plurapg straight-out for Dormer. _.'■■.- If Dormer starts in the mile it is practically at his mercy, for Bradbury will be .his strongest opponent, and good as he is tho Wellington Provincial champion cannot do better than ,4min. 32sec., while Dormor seems,good,for 4min. SOsco., or loss. ' ''■"' ' : ■,'■'' ' On past form Bentron would seem to be the best'of-tho field in tho. three miles, but. he will be thoroughly extended by botb.Bvrne end Cook. Bvrne. in particular will bo dancorous, his fine dash of pace, his'strensith and courage lying considerably above tho nveraEco. Whatever tho pace lie will bo up with it. Tho Wclrdncssof the Walks. Over tho walks, kindly reader, "Mercury" hastens to draw a veil. Tt is .certain that unless her representatives fall foul of the judge, Wellington will score M points, for her men,are the only ones conwoting. Casbman, of course, is well in the champion .class; but the rest —P Oh, for the Kcrrs, the Posses, the Goodwills, Wellington's old champions, and ■ the Auckland Wilsons and Creamers and Brcidys, the Canterbury Rowlands and Piehs and Stiibberfields, and .the Otae;o M'TCelvics of yore. Truly tho art of walking has fallen on evil days; . .

Anticipations on tho Hurdles. In considering the ■ hurdles ono does not need to wnsto ranch timo over the shorter distance, not so much time, indeed as it will take Keddoll to cover it in, for a bigger certainty there , never was. He'should bo followed homo by Cook. ' ■ . |. ■ . ■ ■

In the quarter, however, one must, admit that Keddel! is, for, example; not a Paris or a Smith, or even a Murray. In this event nnco and stamina tell far more than hurdling ability, and Kcddell, though twice an' Australasian champion, has never yet. broken the minnte.'■: Last, year, nt Invcrcargill,,Cook beat Keddcll, and "Mercury" fully expects him to do the same again. Further, our own champion. Mackenzie, should. give a good account of himself.' \ I

Jottings on tho Jumps. ■ For once'in a while the jumps threaten to attract great interest. In tho high jump there is not a single jumper of outstanding merit engaged, but this will be counterbalanced by the keen competition that is' suro to result, at least four of .the entrants having almost equal performances. The local crack, Doyle, appears to have a really Rood chance, but Robinson (Canterbury), Rcid (Otaco), and Hnzlett (Southland) appear to have chances equally as good. In his old form Ko'ddell would hnvo littlo difficulty in annexing' tho broad jump, but: hi 3 present form is not his form of seven years ago, and Reid (Otago), and Hubbard, of ours, will surely extend him. Hubbard, in particular, will bo dangerous, his winning effort of 20ft. 9in. uphill and against tho wind at. tho provincial championship meeting being equal to something in the neighbourhood, of 21ft. fun. on level ground. Mr. Kitto should certainly seo to it Ihnt the Civil Service crack is nursed for this event.

Present New Zealand chaninion—Southlander T. Hnzlett-wjll have his work cut out to defend his Win the hop, step, mid jump against M'Kny and Mackenzie, whoso best performnnces are better than his. Still, he boat them both at Invorcnrgill last year, and their performances since havo not been anything out of the ordinary

After feeing him clear 10ft. Gin. with ease a fortnight ago, one is tempted to plump for "Lon",M'Kay in the pole vault, but the old champion's weak nnklo is always liable to go tack on him. Both Giller and Whitakcr, of Southland, hnvo beaten 1 Oft. on more than one ocension when really extended, and mav blossom forth much ns Victorian John Brake did et the. lnst_ Australasian championships. Then, too, if ho tins nrofitod bv wafehinn M'JCny in action, Tlnrvey (Wellington) may spring a surprise. Tlio event is very open.

Hammer and Shot Men, Even the hammer and shot will probnbly produce sonlo keen competition, In the former event champion A. S. Rcid should uphold his title, but his best efforts this year'havo only,, been a few inchos better than M'Kay's, and as weightputters are uotoriously*inconsistent, thero Is tho likelihood of his belriß beaten, Tho hammer promises to bo a duel bo-

tivecn M'llolm (Wellington} and Kean ((Southland), and M'Holiu's nervousness may lead to Lis undoing. My Tips on the Place*. To sum up, "Mercury" for onco in a while relegates his habitual caution lo tho background, and makes tho following fort-casts irhioh. Mr., Bales permitting, Should not bo far from tho mark.— 100 yds.-(l) Duncan ! (W.), (2) Saundors (S.), (3) Mark (A.). 22Dyds.-(l) Duncan (W.), (2) Mark (A.), (3) Hubbard (W.). Mojds.-(1) Dormer (A.), (2) Wilton (W.), (3) Thomas (C). 880 yds.-(l) Dormor (A.), (2) Thomas (C), (3) Bradbury (W.). . One mile—(l) Dormor (A.), (2) Bradbury (W.), (3) Byrno (W.). Three miles.—(l) Bcatson (0.), (2) Byrno (W.), (3) Cook (\V.).*--One-Milo Walk.-m Cashmtm (W.), (2) Fitzgerald (W.), (3) Johnson (W.). Thrce-Milo Walk.-(1) Casbiiian (W.),. (2) Johnson (XV.), (3) Fitzgerald (W,). 120 yds. Hurdies.-d) Keddtlll (S.), (2) Cook (C), (3) Stagpoole (W.).li 440 yds. nurdles.-(l) Cook (<}.), (2) Kcddell(S.),(3) Mackenzie (W.). j : High Jump.-{1) Robinson (Cl.), (2) Doyle <W.), (S)Reid(O.). . ■ ,;l •' Broad Jump.-{l) Keddell ($!.), (2) Hubbard (W.), (3) ■Held (0.). ,f Hop, Step, and Jump.—(l) M'Krjt <W.), (2) Hnzlett (S.), (3) Mackenzie (W.). . Pole VaultHl) M'Kay (W.), (2) Whttaker (S.), (3) GilW (S.). ' Hammer.-(i) M'Holm. (W.)'l (2) Kean. (S.), (3) Bissott (W.). ! Shot.-(1) Rcid (S.), (2) M'Kiiy (W.), (3) Bifsctt <W.). , ■ .; With points goinp 5 for flriit and 2 for Eecond, this gives tho following totals:— .Wellington, 51 j Southland, 25; Auckland, 17 j Catcrburv, 9; Otago, 5. ■: With trembling fear of tho sarcastic remarks this will evoke from ottr southern friendß, "Mercury" lets it .|jo at that, feeling!at heart Hint unconscious bias may have led him into extravagant hopes of Wellington's quality. ■'■■■'■} ..'.