ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Bt "MERcrniY.'U ENTENTE: HARRIERS & RUGBY. Harriers and Rugby Union Confer, Interesting word of the entente between Wellington harrierism and Kugby football is furnished this week by "Mercury's" harrier correspondent "Last week (ho soys) reference was nude to a proposition emanating from tho Wellington Rugby Union that the local harrier clubs should conduct some of their Saturday runs in conjunction with the matches on tho Athletic Park, In furtherance of the? idea, delegates ap* pointed by tho clubs met the union representatives in conference early in tho week, with tho result that a definite arrangement has been arrived at," Trial Event to be Put on at tho Park. Tho innovation is to be given a trial. And is to take the form of a teams' race, to bo run on May 21, each team to comprise fivo men. Tho whole distance will bo run on the Park during tlio football interval. As was pointed out last week till* should prove an excellent tiling for harrierism, and, for (he rako of tho well being of the sport, it behoves all club members to make a point of compnting, and so assist both their-clubs, themselves, and tho union by making this opening run as impressive ns possible from tho spectacular viewpoint. The union has very rightly stipulated that the continuance of the series will depend solely upon the support accorded by the. harriers, and the interest displayed by the public. " The benefits that will accrue to the cross-country clubs and tho quickening of public interest in their doings is too obvious to be detailed here. The issue is now in the hands of those most con<!ernod---lhe harriers. To make a success of tho proposition, the only thing needed i« the whole-hearted cooperation of club officials. A rumour is abroad that the Brooklyn Club is not in favour of the now departure, and probably will not be represented. This comes as a groat surprise, and it is sincerely to bo hoped that tlio outcome will show that Dame Rumour has again proved herself tlio "lying judo" of joro. So far, tho teams entered number five, >vhich is a start indeed, but not nem-ly as good as might reasonably be expected. The musters of tho two Saturday clubs has averaged M per week, so with the Central Clubmen, in addition, eight '.'f nino teanis should be raisml easily if members will give the race the support (t calls for. Tho combinations nominated to date are:—Brooklyn, two teams; Central, one;, mid Wellington, two. A "Sure Enough" American Visit. Newspaper advices show that the American Athletic Union has given its official sanction to tho projected tour of Australia and New Zealand by a team of American athletes next season. It is furl her stated that Mr. William - Unmaok has been appointed manager of the touring party. So far, however, no confirmation of the reports has been received from (ho American governing body by the N.U.A.A.A., which body lias" been conducting tho Australian end of the negotiations.

Last Week's Harrier Runs. Judging l.i.v the attendance nfc tho harrier runs last Saturday? it would appear as though the cold weather has a tendency to quench the arijotir of the younger mem bars. This is not as it should be. Saturday was not at nil n bad day for harrierisui, and, moreover, it has'been a. tradition in tho local clubs that (within reason, of course) weekly musters should ke;p tip despite the weather. It is to be hoped that this samo spirit will become imbued in the younger set of to-day. Health, Hardihood, and Harriors. The hardihood of the harrier has ever loan an attribato of which has justly been proud, but it has not been acquired in tho past, nor will it be retained in the future, by his absence from the field of action hecaus? the sun is not shining. Moreover, with reasonable care, no harm to health can come from a little exposure to bad weather, even in the paucity of clothing that the harrier disports himself in. li.v constant movement during the outing, > and quick changing; nt the end of the day's work, chill can easily be avitled, and for the rest the keen cut of the .'air and maybe the sting of tho rain only add to that enviable glow of well-being and that pleasing sense of difficulties nvercomb that makes the sport worth while. Possibly a New Club. It is gratifying to learn that there is a possibility of a new harrier club being formed in town. The now arrival is reported as emanattng from the Y.JLC.A., and it will be wcleome, as, of course, the more dubs the mora rivalry, and the greater tile rivalrj the greater the competition and Hie ensuing interest. It is a very moot, point, however, whether it would not bo better,' in its own interests, for the new club to wait until next season before actively launching itself into a cold and somewhat; unapprccinlivo world. The present season is pretlv far advanced, and it would bo rather difficult for a new club (o get, into step with those already in full going order. Wherefore it, might be advantageous for the nev body to refrain from ain active work as a separate club, and for the members to throw in their lot, with one of tho existing, clubs for tho remainder of the season. Then next year they could come together as a separata institution, and start the richer for the valuable oxtvjricucn acquired by field work with the old hands.

This, of couth 1 , is meant merely as a suggestion, and by 110 manner of means in tln> sense of discouraging the new club. Tf it fonns it tan lie assurral of the hourly co-operation and assistance (if its older brethren. Wellington H.C. Novice Race. Th(> Wellington Club is staging flit afl'air of so 1111: important to-day—its an-nua]-Novice Handicap. The arena chosen is Hi" Ilutf I'ark, and tli.o pack will leavt) Lainbton Station by. the 2.10 train. As ivas surmised in last week's nolw, \Y. Donaldson holds the honour ot' str.ptiiiff from scratch, despite which fact he should be very near the front al the finish, judgiiw from his performance last Saturday. His field is strung out in front of him as under:—!?. Fagle, Msec. ; Thompson, Gftsec.; 1). M'llonald. I!. Hatch, S. Hevnns, ami A. Pleiisanl. 10. Cameron, Msee.i sml A. A. H.v<lo, S. Wi'sl'jn. K. Holland, (i, W. Thomson, and Hyde, ihnin. These secin generous allotments, but the back men arc 111 sufliciently good condition to warrant the sbrts' conceded, bast vear the event was won by T. .f. Kerr ofT I he Klsec. niarlc in l'-'miii." ;10.-ee, The Stalwart M'Holme. All official of the Wellington Centre who has recently returned from a visit '.o Napier reports that Champion 'Holme i-: trninim; assiduously with his hammer villi most gratifying' results. Tn his practice he has hurled his implement for 'i distance of ISO feet, which figures make his own record seem very small polnloes, Al the present rate of progress JPirolmc will be hoisting performances next season lhat will make the record clerk a very busy man—a cmiMiimniilien which, in view el' lln> ,\nslralasian Championships. is devoutly In be desired, A Bill Inlorivitionol. Jinphsh files brinf particular? of the 1013 International Cross-Country Ence.

Tt ims held recantly at the Aerodrome at Jurisy, just outsido Paris. The discanes was about 10 miles, and, iu addition (o tho individual result, a teams 1 vace was included, scoring points to b" reckoned by the luliils of tbo plncing of the lust six moil representing each nation. The competing countries were:—Eng. and, Scotland, Wales, and France. Ireland was unable to get a tenm away, which was bad luclc for Tearful Isle, as this fact prevented her from being represented by her great cross-country runner, Sergeant O'Ml. This athlete, a (-onnnught Hanger, is the l>sst • point-to-point runner in- tlio United. Kingdom, and was considered to have an excellent chanco of boating that great-little French runner, Jean ljonin, of Olympic fame, who had won the race in 1911 and 1012. lno_ only other two men with two successive wins were Alfred Shrubb and A. J'j. Hood. 'tho Frenchman signalised the race under review by hoisting his third consecutive victory, boating 13. Glover,- of t? ' ' lomo 'v three hundred yards. x ranee, as usual, did very well with net team, too. She actually placed three men m the first live, but the "tail" let her down, as despite this excellent start, IjUglaml won the teams' championship, wilh men in the second, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth placesa total of H3 points. Franco was second, with first, third, fifth, twelfth, nineteenth, and twenty-first places-equalling CI points. Then came Scotland and AVales, with 96 and 150 points respectively. Tho winner's time for tho journey was 51min, 52soc. . English Season Opens Well, The mail also brings news of the opening meetings of the English track racing season. Chief amon» the events was a gathering at Stamford Bridge ground, at which two good performances were registered. The sprinter, W. E. Applegarth, won the 220 yards' race from scratch in 22} sec.—a great run for so eariy. in the season. B. Owen, the English mile champion, hoisted the sterling tima of 22min. 42 l-ssec. over a fourmils steeplechase.