ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mercury.) WILLIAM UNMACK-HUSTLER. July 26—Provincial Cross Country Championships, llasterton. His American Energy. TUftre is no doubt that Mr. Wm. TJnruack is, as lib would say himself but for his native nioilesly, "some hustler," yes, Sir! Although there has been absolutely nothing settled as to vnethcr the projected American visit is to com© to'pass— we are still waiting word troin some of the Australian States—and in any ease it is not to leave San Francisco for another five months or bo, Mr. Unmack has so far got on with his portion of tho work of organising the raiding party that lie is already in a position to inform us of the projected personnel of liis team. And judging from the performances of sbme of tho men he mentions, it will bo a team," too. As, will be seen below, in one of his nominees, Hoy Mercer, of "l'enn," ho has an athlete who, on paper, could win the Australasian championship shield easily. Mis Letter from America. However, let Mr. tlnmack state the position of affairs himself, as at the time the last mail left San Francisco. Writing to the council of the N.Z.A.A.A., he says, after explaining that Mr. Jas. E. Sullivan, secretary of the American A.U., was undertaking the final selection:— "It may interest you to know just lioiv tiie make-up of tho team stands nt present. While no definito invitation!) have been extended to anyone yet, tentative invitations have been ■ issued to many, and I have received oitough acceptances to make the; trip an assured success. As a matter of • fact, I am in a position to bring you over a team aifywhere from four men right up to twcnty-l'our. Fellows are writing to me from all sections of the country wanting to go, and real highclass athletes at that." The letter then continues as follows:— Mr. Sullivan is ■ picking • tho team —or MjUmr making the final solection. I am

working on nil tho men 1 think should Ixi considered to find out wliotlOT- they could go if invited. Just as soon as 1 get replies I will finally submit the immcn to Sullivan. I will send him the list segregated in sprinters, hurdlers, all-round men, and field event men. Sullivan will then pick out tho men ho thinks will make tho Ijest team, and they will recoivo a formal invitation from you through tho Pacific Association of the A.A. Union, which is handling the tour. Somo of the Stalwarts in his Team. Mr. Sullivan is personally, in touch with Abel Kiviat and Piatt Adams, and I expect to hoar from him any minute as to whether they are available. Since griting you last (this letter appeared in tr.is column— I "Mercury") I find that I'latt Adams not only specialises im standing jumps, but can do any old thing in the calendar. Ho can pole vault belter than 11 feet, and from what I can gather will make a great man for tho team. Another all-round man I am anxious to take—if Adams is unable to go—is Roy Mercer, of tho University of Pennsylvania. Ho runs liis hundred in lOsec., 220 yards in 21 Msec., the quarter in under SOsec., holds the American interscholastic pole vault record at 12ft. lim. (tho Australasian record is lift. 13i». — "Mercury"), broad jump better than 23 feet (Australasian record 23ft. sin.— "Mercury"), can hurdle, high jump, and goodness knows what else. Jolm R. Cass, the boy who took fourth placo in the hurdles at Stockholm, is a possibility for my hurdler. I have received a very fine letter from him stating lte would be pleased to ms.ke the tour if invited. He is a University of Illinois lad, and a thorough amateur, which is a feature I ain insisting on throughout the team. Case has made several excursions to Europe on his vacations, and has competed with considerable success in Paris, Hamburg, Vienna, St. Petersburg, and other European cities (Mr. Case will appreciate Otautau, Hamilton, etc.—"Mercury"). His forte, of oourse, is hurdling, holding a record of 15 l-ssec. for 120 hurdles. He has jumped better than 6ft. in tho high, and is better than 22ft. in tho broad jump, and does 10 2-ssec. for 100 yards consistently. Moreover, he is used to touring, and would not be hard to keep in condition. Fred Kelly will not be able to make the tour. He is in hard study at his University, and is anxious to get through this year. Last Saturday lie ran the hurdles ill 15sec. flat, being the first man in this 1 country to set that mark, thus tying the world's record made by Smith son in tho London Olympic of 1908. This leads up to another of my men—Eddie Beeson, of California University, who was responsible for making Kelly establish his newrecord. Ho pushed him to a yai'd, and if invited would make 'another first-class hurdler who will b? able to go along. Beeson is a wonderful high jumper. On tho same day that he ran. Ivelly so close ho iumoed Oft. 5 3-Bin. (Australasian record 6ft. 1 3-lfiin.— I "Mercury"). He is also good for about 22ft. in the broad jump, and at one time used to put the shot. If wo take Kiviat and Adams from the East, we will then have to take two men from tints coast. ■ Beeson would .be my first choice nrovided ,11c makes pood in fit! inter-collegiate championships at Harvard next month. If he does not, I would want Case. Now for the other coast man. I would need a sprinter, and I have a high-class man n>ht here in San | Francisco willing to go. He is -Tack Nelson, of the Olympic Club.. Nelson won the notional American- 220-yard championship in 1911 at Pittsburg in 21 4-ssec. A family bereavement nut him out of competition after until this season, when hi has "como back"' with - a vengeance. He won one of his hundreds against Santa Clara University in 9 l-ssec., and at the same meet did 22 l-ssec. for tlie 220 yards. He has also run the hundred in lOssc. flat at another meet this season, and three times did 10 l-ssco.—his worst time. Ho lias also done good , times all the season, for the 220 yds. Up to two years ago ho used to run the quarter, but has not done this recently. At present he holds the cc-ast record jointly with another lad at 49 3-ssec., and if selected will train for this event, and expects to be. able to notch 50sec. /without trouble. The?® men -named at the present time look as though they will form the team. I am sorry that financial circumstances will not wermit liie taking five men instead of four. For tho additional man I would like to bring such a lad as Carl Sbattnck, of the University of California, who three weeks ago established a new world's inter-collegiate hammer throw record of 175 feet 8 inches (Australasian record, 143 feet odd—"Mercury"). Ho is a. marvellous hammer thrower for his six?. Ho is about 5 feet 8 inches in height, but weighs 1901b. (13st. 8lb.), stockilv built and with legs the development of which I have never seen ecinnlkd. He can put ths shot a little hotter than 40 I feet—a broken arm when a child being I against his ever being a champion shot I putter. He, however, throws tho discus | well, and can throw the javelin, Some Comment on Mr. Unmack's Letter. There is more of Mr. Unmack's letter, but enough has been extracted to show what great service he is doing, and what great material he has tp select his team from. There is just one point in liis proposed selections that calls for attention. With the exception of Abel Kiviat, he docs not mention any middle-distance runner. Now, with Dormer in notion, and possibly Neville Hill, it is imperative that the team should include a runner who can take in at least two miles. Dormer at present is beyond doii.bt the big card anion'' our flat runners, and any team that did not include a crack opponent for him over tho mile and half-mile would not suit either Australian or New Zenland requirements. No doubt the council will bear this fact in mind, and advise Mr. Unuiack accordingly. \ Victoria Falls in Line. Before leaving itlie subject of the American tour, "JlcTcury" has to chronicle with much satisfaction that tho Victorian Association has notified that with certain reservations, which should easily be overcome, it will accept the local executive's conditions regarding the guarantee, etc. If New South Wales will only do likewiso the tour may be looked upon as practically a certainty. The Palmer Cup. From "Mercury's" harrier correspondent cotacs the usual budget of interesting matter, which, through-pressure on space, has unfortunately to be "cut" somewhat. Of local club doings, he writes:— "As has been reported in tlie daily columns, His AV.H.C. annual competition for this trophy was decided at Miramar last •Saturday. The event was well carried out by the club officials, and proved quite as successful as iu previous years. Seventeen competitors started, and" ail finished tho full course—about'three miles. The winner' of the. miiich-covctcd piece of plate turned up in F. Farrington, who finished fourth in the race, his time being lSinin. 53sec., which, less his handicap of SOsec., gives him a winning time of 18min. Ssee. It was a popular win among the ciub numbers, as i'arn'ngton has ever been a "trycr," and has never shirked his share of. the rougher part of the harrier work. "A very creditable performance was that of W. Dedialdson. He took the lead from thei start, and lie held it throughout, finishing up in IBmin. 35sec. This would seem to give lionaldsoil an excellent chance in the club championship, as the present champion, W. Bennett, finished third. Last season Donaldson was in the novice class, being kept back in his wbrk through ill-health. llis. improvement this year is very pronouii'ced, as clu.b members are pleased to note. lie is far from tho novice class on this season's performances. "Another competitor worthy of comment is li. Kagle, who finished second; tiltio, ISmin. 38?ee. He ran solidly throughout, b:-ing in the first six all the way. After allowing the moro experienced runners to make the pace inost of the way, ho asserted himself in the last fiOfl v'ards, and in the face of the stiff northerly, worked up to second placo—a good performance. "The lucky man of the day ivas3l. Harrison. He was very doubifu'l about .'starting, and was handicapped more or less 'on spec.' However, he Van a good face and finished in the seventh piace, in l!)min. 21sec„ a performanco which, when his time handicap was deducted, put him into second place in the sealed handicap, which is combined with the cup event:. On (lie form he disclosed, (he. execniive wpu.ld bo glad to see more of Harrison at' the club runs. Central Harriers Club. "It is rumoured that the Central Club is experiencing some difficulty iu building up its best team for the provincial championship at Jlastertoh on July 20. This club's representation at full sirenglh is easily the best ill the city, and it is to bo hoped that the timo elapsing before tho iate of the fixture will hriim about a

cli/ingo for the better as regards tho getting away of tho men concerned. The fitriuiKtli of tho Wairarapa Club calls for itlm possible representation from the city, if the Wliyto and M'Kay Shield in to be brought back." Letter from Masterton Apropos of Masterton, "Mercury" has io acknowlcdgo with (hanks an interesting Ictlcr from Mr. C. 13. ltrown, honorary secretary of the Fcilding Harriers, which he regrets that he is unable to find space (o publish. Mr. Drown writes optimistically of his club's chanccs at MasKrton, and of its prospects generally, and "Mercury" is glad to noto that the winter sport lias taken hold So well in the country district.