ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

IBv Merci.'uy.] OLD TROUBLE UNSETTLED, W anted—Sweet Reasonableness. Unfortunately the trouble with Victoria respecting the Australasian Championships nud tho guarantee for the American visit is not yet over, though now that tho Americans hnvo sailed for New Zealand tho matter will be settled for better or for worse at no distant date. To the proposal that the championship moating bo hold on two Saturdays towards tho end of February, New South Wales and Tasmania agreed, but Queensland strongly objected. This together frith' the difficulty of obtaining; grounds killed the proposal, Tho Victorian. Association then cabled to our council stating that tho original dates would have to stand, adding •that Victoria.Would require. Now Zealand to bo represented by a satisfactory team.

To this peculiarlv-worded roessago our oomici) replied that Now Zealand would, if possible, send a team, and, if a team wore dispatched, it' would certainly bo tho best that could 'bo sent. Tho Victorian body were- again reminded of their obligation r-ognrding tho American visit-. On this latter point, tho latest "Australasian" to hand, has tho following:— Meanwhile Victoria had cabled to Now Zealand:—"Cable dates Amofticiuvs reach Sydney and depart." Bvon yet Bo knowledge- of tho duration of the Australian part of the totir luia reached either Sydney or Melbourne, and the answer did not enlighten them much, for it was: —"Arrive Sydney January 24-. Stay throe weeks." As the boats often arrive late i.n the afternoon this would only leavo apparently January 31 and February 7 for Sydney and Melbourne to share between them I and as Victoria insisted on a minimum of two Saturdays, Now South Wales, taking the answer literally, would get nothing I The Victorian committee thou cabled :-—"Find cannot alter Australasian January. Require you represented. Cable exact dates Americans available Australia." That cable'was sent on October 29, and no answer of | any kind has been rec-oived. There this extraordinary matter ends, with trie Australian States still in tho dark as to everything except that £150 cach is wanted from them by Nmv Zealand. The. reason that the information was not furnished is that it was not available at the'time. Thcro is, however, no immediate hurry. Tho visitors will arrivo in Sydnoy on January 23, and, a,s the only stipulation that t-hoy make as to their return is that- tUoy desire to bo homo again b.V tho end of March, thero will bo ample time to arrange satisfactory dates for both Sydnoy and Melbourne. Our friend "Harrier" of tho "Australasian" jfi going somewhat beyond his province in voicing a complaint on behalf of Now South Wales.

Sniffling the Battle. _ Meanwhile preparations for the American visitors aro going ahead in Now Zealand. Tho programme has now been fixed up to some degree of certainty, and in Auckland tho koenost enthusiasm is being shown. This tour and tho big Exhibition programme Beam to have given tho sport a new lease of iifo in tho northern city, and it will not surprise "Mercury" if tho Now Zealand Championship Shield goes north in. a year or two at iatosfc.

In Wellington a start has been mads at last, tho Civil Service Club kicking off with an evening meeting on Wednesday last; In Christchurch—tho venue of tho^first mooting at which' tho visitors will appear—things are moving. As to Diuiedm, nothing dofmito is to hand beyondtho fact that a rather prp-mis-i'iig sprinter has been unearthed. From Southland 6. P. Ksdeil has written to "Mercury" st'ating that ho is training more stroauously than at any previous period iii his career, but is only just beginning to strike anything like his old form. At. the time of writing, Iveddell had not heard of.Tempteton's departure with tho team, and was soroly disappointed at tho prospect of- Ms Bottoming. Now that ho knows tho good news he should Lave a now zest for training.

Our First Evening Mooting. The athletic season in Wellington wits opened on Wednesday last in tlio shape ot an evening snorts meeting hold by the Wellington Civil Service Amateur Sports Club, at the Basin Reserve, three events being decided, viz., 100 yds. maiden, '220 yds. open, and half-mile open. Taking into consideration the fact that very ifow men have done any training as yet, and also circumstances. connected with the present industrial troubles, the entries received for the three events must be considered very satisfactory. , The ten ■'maiden runners oauscd some trouble to the starter and the race had practically to bo run twice. After tlie hrst start, Mr. Leslie immediately fired a second charge to bring the field back, 0110 or two of the competitors having apparently "beaten tho pistol," The runners, however, completed the full distance, and after a brief interval, had to again toe the mask. This time a good start tyas effected and a close finish tesultcd. N. G. Bennett, the winner, is a promising runner, and should be heard of again in handicap events. , Tho 220 yds. open produced two heats the first being; won by A. T. Duncan., from scratch, with G. Holey (9yds.), and R. Messenger (7yds.) closo up. Tho second heat was annexed by B. Waring (9,yd5.,, followed by M. Pool (4yds.), and A. Cunninghamo (Byds.). The Anal resulted in an excellent race. Waring led well into tho straight and seemed, : to have the race won, but was overhauled by Heley in tho last few yards and beaten by inches. Pool was a "good third, and the rest all closo up. Tho half-milo provided a good contest, though a number of tho starters would have been the better off for a little training. S. H. Scddon (15yds., virtual scratch), with Hall and Williams, ran disappointingly, being probably right out of form. The othor two scratch men both ran Wall, but. had no chanco of beating P. 32. Doyle (25 yards), who showed excellent from, and won comfortably by several yards. The second of tho series of evening meetings promoted by local clubs is dated for Wednesday next at Karori Park, when the suburban club is providing; tho evening's sport. Tho events sotv down arc: 100 yds., 440 yds., and ono mile, all of course being open handicaps. Entries closo on Monday,

Walking Rccord Hoisted. H. T. Dout, of the South Sydney Hairiers, and A. W. Kekard, of tho I'olico A.A.C., created a new hour walking record for Now South Wales at the Sydney Sports Ground oil Wednesday night Inst, covering 7 miles 704 yards i foot 6 inches, Tho previous best was by S. Sheaves, who, walking on the asphalt cycling track, covered 7 miles 165 yards in one hour. This was on November 20, 1010, but while Sheaves walked alone, there were six aspirants for record honours in tho event promoted by the Sydney Walkers' Club, and tho men competed, upon the grass track, which was 4 laps 128 yards to tho mile, Towards the concluding stages, Dent, I'ickard, and L. B. West, of the Rcdfern Club, wore tho only competitors remaining. Wost was a long way in the roar, while Dent, and I'ickard were together. At tho completion of the hour the. judges declared a dead i heat, and after measuring the ooiirse it J (van ascertained that they had walked j 639 yds. lft. Gin. further than Sheaves did' tliroo years Ago. West, although walking for the full time, did not beat the previous reoorcL i