ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1716, 5 April 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

IBY "Merccbi."! WELLINGTONIANS AT. WESTPORT. THEY EFFECT A "SCOOP Last week "Mercury" recorded the, success in Wcstport on Easter Monday of the trio of local champions—Ashley Duncan, J. Wilton, and L. M. M'Kay. As stated then, the visitors started nine times in all, and ended tho day with a score of seven firsts and two seconds. Particulars of this most meritorious "scoop" came to hand too late for inclusion last week, so-a few-further remarks aro now appended. Tho tourists returned to town on Friday week and on that day "Mercury" received a visit from M'Kay, who acted as manager of tho party. The veteran, with the honours of his four wins fresh upon him, was very desirous of making, public tho appreciation of tho Wellingtoiiians of the splendid treatment meted out to them by the good folk of Westport.. M'Kay waxed very enthusiastic on this point—ho said that "he had been.on many trips in his time (and in truth he has) but this one —then words failed him. West Coast hospitality is no idle phraso with Duncan, Wilton, and M'Kay. Of the good offices of Mr. F. H'obbs, tho club's honorary secretary, they cannot say too mucn, while, all the other officials, particularly Messrs. Craig, Scanlon, and Jones, were untiring in their efforts to make remembrance of the visit a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. As for the snorts meeting—it was a huge success. The competition was keen and the pecuniary outcome of the young club'a venture was successful beyond the promoters' most optimistic expectations, so that the officials can look forward to a prosperous and useful career for a long time to come. ■ . As has been already indicated the visiting trio lived up to and beyond their reputations. New Zealand champio'ns all —they were naturally, looked to by the ."'Coasters" ' for performances of special merit, and they "delivered the goods." In the 100 yds. Duncan was asked to give Wilton syds.—a big task in the latter's present form. The race was run in three heats, the Wellingtonians being the backmarkers in the first two. In the first of these tho Now Zealand champion ran through,the opposition in good stylo anfl won in 101-ssec.. Wilton won the next in tho same time, and the third fell to Aitken,' a local man on the 10yds. mark, also in 10 l-ssec. This gave promise of a great race in the final, and a great race it appears to have been. Wilton, beat Duncan home by a foot, with Hansby, off Gyds., close up, third. Time, lOsec. dead— and a goGd start for Wellington. Exploits of M'Kay. M'Kay figured next on the programme. Ho turned out in the high jump .wnich he eventually won from scratch at sft. s|in". Then came the pole vault, and ones again M'Kay, in his capacity of New Zealand champion. This he also captured with the good jump of. 10ft. 4in. Later M'Kay did another excellent performance in the hop, step, and jump, his winning leap from scratch being d3ft, 3in. And again, as'if this wera not a sufficiently good figure of merit, he saddled up later in the 120 yds. hurdles, in which he was tho back-marker, owing Tyt'.s. This he won in allegedly 10 l-ssec., but even allowing for a strong following wind this sounds too good to bo true. Meanwhile Wilton had:been distinguishing himself in his pet: distance—the ''quarter"—which was run in the middle ot the afternoon,' and before the 220 yds. handioap. Despite a handicap of 35yds., ho proved too fast for the oppostiion, and ran out a nice winner in 52 2-ssec. Duncan .stood out of the "quarter" in favour of the furlong, for which Wilton scratched. This was run off in one heat and was won by French, off 18yds. Duncan macte a great bid for the tape, but was beaten by half a yard in 213-ssec., which, like M Kay's hurdle time, seeius ratner flattering. This - completed the sprint champions entry for the day, but lie was invited to compete in the half-mile, and accepted.' He was placed on scratch with a. limit of 45yds.—a strange position for a sprinter, but one which found him undismayed. He ran in tho ruck until the' entrance to the straight, when a long sprint saw him take the lead and wan in 2min. 7sec.—a good run and a fitting end to a good day's work. Doings in Christchurch. The Canterbury A.A.C. held its one and only meeting for this season last Saturday. Reports show that the support accorded by the public was very poor, but consolation is to bo found in tho fact that there was a good muster of competitors and a good' afternoon's sport was ailorded those who did attend. Fields, were good, and competition-keen, which goes to show that there is plenty of athletic material in Christchurch, despite tho.reported "deadness" of the sport in the Cathedral City, and that what is realljr wanted is good organising and enterprise of the hustling- order among those at the head of affairs to make the sport boom as it should. The performances were even all through, the only one calling for special mention being a good run in the half-milo championship of Canterbury by C. S. Thomas, whose good work at the recent university meeting was commented upon in this column last week. Thomas ran this distance in 2min." 3 l-ssec., and was not pushed at . all during the race. At his best this runner should -be able to break tiie two-minute mark without much difficulty, and it is a'pity that conditions in Christchurch' do not afford him more opportunities. Best Wishes, During the week, Mr. A. C. Ivitto, treasurer of the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A., manager of-various Wellington representative athletic teams, ex-pro-vincial champion 410 yds. hurdler, and amateur athletic enthusiast generally, managed somehow to find time and was married. The Wellington A.A.C., in which body Mr. Ivitto lias held .various offices for many-years, took advantage of the occasion to present him with an eightday clock, and tho felicitations of his fellow members. Mr. T. S. Eonaldson made tho presentation in his capacity of president of tho club, and his good' wishes were heartily endorsed by Mr. A. Marryatt, on behalf of the council of the. N.Z.A.A.A., and Mr. J. H. Pollock on behalf of the Wellington Centre. '-'Mercury" voices the, opinion of a large portion of tho athletic community of the Dominion—perhaps as many out of as in Wellington—iii wishing Mr. and Mrs. Ivitto all happiness and prosperity.