ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mercury.) EFFORT TO AWAKE ENCLAND. A Serious Campaign. The English cablegrams aro showing that at last some organised attempt is being made to copo with tho deplorable standing of English athletics in Olympia matters. It is lack of organisation that has been tho root of the evil in tho past. Onco got this firmly established, and tho development of tho individual athloto ihust come in time. This fact as evidently become recognised at last by the powers that be — or perhaps it is that tho matter has been taken out of their hands by powers more enthusiastic* and moro capable —and as a result we now learn that a definite scheme has been set on foot.' Obstacles to Reform. The reformers 'are not having matters all their own way, however. The Sydnoy "Sun" recently published tho following cable message, which did not reach us, and which shows that things aro not as bright as they might bo as regards the monetary side, but the great fact remains that tho thing is being seriously taken up. The cablegram referred to runs:— London, August 26. The great Olympic fund, for which £100,000 is wanted, is not being subscribed as fast as the promoters expected. At the end of tho first week only £5000 had been sent in, including £2000 from Lord Northcliffe, £1000 from tho Duko of Westminster, and £100 each from Sir Thomas Lipton and Mr. Selfridge. Tho project is meeting with a good deal of opposition, despite the fact that it has Lord Roberts's approval. Most of tho criticism against it is based on tho ground that the subsidising of athletics would foster professionalism, and is contrary to the wholesome traditions of British sport. Somo of the sharpest thrusts have reference to tho attempted Americanisatioti of sport in this country. Stealing Another Man's Thunder. Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh, ever an opportunist, lias seized tho chance afforded by the Olympic Fund of getting into the public eye with Wis scheme for the co-operation of the overseas Dominions in the formation, of a British Olympic team. Of course, this is no now project at all. Mr. M'lntosh is simply stealing Mr. Richard Coombes's thunder. The worthy president of tho Australasian A.A.U., as everyone who has followed Australasian athletics must know, has long since gone very elaborately into this Imperial aspect of tho matter, and has brtfught his ideas on tho subject under the notice of the English authorities. So Mr. M'lntosh will find that he has not turned virgin soil by any means when his project is brought before tho English Olmpic Committee. Ilarrlor-Rugby Alliance. The harrier budget for tho week ruiiß as undorNext Saturday harriers will again grace tho field at Atljetio Park. This will be the fourth event under the,patronage of tho W.R.F.U., and the last for this season. It is hoped that harrier executives next season will again prevail upon the ! good graces of the Rugby officials and secure a repetition of this desirable class of event. The projected race will take tho form of a teams contest, lnit, at the time of writing, the distance and conditions had not been definitely fixed. Tho Brooklyn Chub's executive again states that it will not be officially represented. For this course the committee advaJico two reasons —or at least one split into ; two component parts: (1) Their syllabus schedules a teams race from the General Post Office for September 13. It might be noted . that in the early part _of tho season the committee of this club emphatically stated that their members would not run in public. A race starting from, and finishing at, the General Post Office, is (according to their ideas) evidently not in public. (2) Tho club officials aver that tho date which is now so inconvenient in thoir case was not notified. In fact, they claim to have received no notice of to-day's event or tho previous one. This appears strange as the club was represented on the committee which has arranged .these Park races by two delegates' in exactly tho same manner as the other clubs wore. However, let us liopo that on reconsideration the Brooklyn men will sco the unwisdom, of the projected boycott) ana send at least one team to _defend their laurels, even though it be (impossible to postpone their other fixture. Wellington Harriers. The Wellington Club's ten-mile handicap at Miramar last Saturday drew a fair field of starters, but tho strenuous going caused nearly half of theso to pull out on completing fivo miles. T. J. Keri secured first place. A liberal handicap of Gmin., of which he made tho most in the early stages of the race, secured him tho lead in the fourth mile, and on completing tho.first lap (5 miles) he still had'a'lead of 3min. 20sec. from the scratch men. This he maintained throughout the second lap, and, at •though tho scratch men got fairly dose to him at one point, he eventually increased his lead over tho last 600 yards : and won out with comparative ease. W. Bcmiott filled second placo, anc secured fastest time, wliich was record cd at 70min. 15sec. The timekeeper! scorn the imputation that tho watel stopped for the tea adjournment. Th< slowness of tho clocking is explainable The course was extremely neavy ir places owing to the recent rains, alsc the alteration of tho courso, which cul out considerably over 1000 yards of road did not over-compensate runners for th< loss of the hard going, as it gave then about ten additional fences, and tw< extra ditches to negotiate. In- short tho going was heavy, tne fences wer< many and high, tho ditches were many broad and deep ; and the sun was blaz ing hot, for which reasons soventy minutcs for ten miles was not s<j bad ii: renlity as it appears in print. W. Donaldson filled the third placo losec. behind Bennett. This is Donaldson's first attempt at tho full distanco, and the experienco gained will no doubt enablo him to make a substantial reduction in his time over a similar course. Central Club. Wednesday, September 10, is the date sot down for the Central Club's annua, championship, and a keen and exciting contest is expected. Last year's champion, E. Vango, will not defend tho title on account of his absenco from the Dominion. It has been decided to hold tlu event ovor a 25-mile course (two laps) at Miramar, which decision should make the rnco mors interesting from the spectators' viewpoint. The favourite is F, Hodson, and D. W. Ilutledge, last year's mnnqr-up, is expected to put up a fine performance. Tho presence of E. B, Smith, too, will add interest to tho raco, though it is stated by the knowing ones that ho has left his preparation for this event rather late. C. Duck, who so consistently. wins tho "run in," will alsc be among tho starters, and his- supporters expect to see him .holding a good position at tho death. Tho Central men aro confident that they will bo able tc enter a strong team for the teams' racc nt tho Park on September .13. Brooklyn Club. Last Saturday the Brooklyn Club made a survey of their sevon-inilo courso for to-day's raco at Miramar, and for which they expect a substantial field of starters. Given fino weather, the racc should prove as successful as. last season, when R. J. Ballantyno ran so prominently and mado quite a name for hinisol£.