ATHLETICS.
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NOTES AND ANTICIPATIONS. Exaggerations. * Local patriotism sometimes "leads enthusiasts to extremes. Witness this for. instance, from the Wniiganui oorres-'' pondent of tho New ■ Zealand "Illustrated Sporting..and Dramatic Review." Referring to the meeting of Keddell and Templeton,' he writes; — I have seen all tho finest hurdlers . tho Dominion lias produced, and I must say that ill my opinion Arthur Holder at his best was .the besfof tho lot over either tlfo 120 or the 440 yards. . Over the latter distance . Holder would at" Ms zenith have had ' no difficulty in beating anyone over seen in .these parts, though George Smith was a great performer over the quarter. Now, though probably faster on the flat than G.oofge Smith,, and certainly faster than Keddell,- Holder was far froni being a perfect fencer, and his best time over the 120 yds. course—l6sec.— was put up more through his pace between tho hurdles than anything else. "Mercury" has no hesitation in plumping for lieddell as tho best 120 yds. hurdler which we have ever produced in these parts, with Smith as second ' best. At tho quarter", of course, Holder was far better than. Keddell, hut surely our Wauganui friend must be asleep when ho declares Holder to be far and away better than anyone else we have seen in New Zealand. - Apart altogether from George Smith, there is a lengthy performer by name of H. St. A. Murray,, who was "some quarter hurdler," as our American friends would say. The best times of the three men are: Murray 38 2-Ssec. (at Hobart ill 1908), Smith 585 sec. (a.t Melbourne in 1904), and Holder 58 4-ssec. (at Auckland in 1398). On the time test, both Murray and Smith are superior to Holder, but, .treating this as -unsatisfactory, and oven admitting for the sake of argument that Holder was the best of the trio, it is rubbish to apeak of him as being overwhelmingly superior. Another Bit of Hyperbole. " • Another mstane© of local patriotism run amok is the confident assertion in Auckland that Dormer .defeated Power easily. Now, an easy victory implies that the winner Was running well within himself, and able to go faster. Tho facts of this race arc that coming into the straight Dormer was five yards-be-hind Power, who was going great guns. Dormer made up these five yards, and, at tho tape, was another five to the good. Ono enthusiast (not an Auckhuider) who saw the" race tells "Mereu'ry" that Dormer made a magnificent effort; and, on tho day, was clearly the better" man! but lie was right out at the finish, and this is tho opinion generally held here. 5 f, as our Auckland friends hayo it, he can go on tho track unwell and then win easily in 4hiin, 24 3-ssec., he is not merely a great runner—lie is a freak. To "Mercury's" way of thinking it is not at all clear after this raep that Dormer is tho superior <?f Hill, who, in taking the lead in the third lap and keeping.it till the field swung into the straight, put up a .magnificent performance, considering that lis had been but a.month in training. An Evening Meeting. On Wednesday next the Athletic Football Sports Club will hold an evening meeting at the Basin Reserve. The events which will come up for decision ure 100 yds., 600 yds., and a oiio and a half milo handicap. This being the last, opportunity that they will have of facing tho selectors, our sprinters, middle distance, and distance runners seeking places in the Wellington team for the New Zealand championships at Dimedin, will no doubt be out in force. Defeated Efforts, Blocked for February 14, tho Wellington Centre made valiant efforts to fix the Provincial Championships for the far more suitable date, January 31, but Fato (in tho usual shape of "the Wellington Cricket Association) blocked this, the Basin Reserve being already i booked for a representative cricket match. Talking of the Cricket Association, by tho way, reminds one that relations between it and the Centro are most cordial now that Mr. Wilson holds tho chairmanship. However, not y e t despairing, the Centre, is approaching the council of the N.Z.A.A.A., suggesting that the final American meeting be held in conjunction with the Provincial Championships ou February 28. Failing this, tho Centre considers it will have no option but to hold the gathering on tlie previous Saturday. Just Negligence, ''Where are the Snows of yester year ?" sang the poet some hundreds of years ago, but the burning question in "Mercury's" mind at present is: "What is the Centre going to do about the country clubs' championship meeting this yeari It is high time that the local governing body was up and doing, for the meeting is far too valuable a means of bringing out country talent to be abandoned even for one year. If tho Americans are to compete again 'at Masterton, it would not be a bad idea to • hold tho contests for supremacy among the country athletes on the same day.' The Champions. : ; To-day, at Melbourne, the Australasian commence, and, beforo the meeting ends on Monday, a goodly number of Australasian records should go by the board. We having no sprinter competing, naturally local interest in' the sprint events is somewhat lacking, but, with Bradley and Co. against Parker, there should be somo very keen competition. With the quarter New Zealand is very much concerned, for this is one of tho championships which we confidently look to tho lengthy Aucklander bringing back to these shores. True, that with Davis. Bradlqy, and Parker in the field, ho will he thoroughly extended—a state of affairs that will enable us to get some idea as to tho correctness of our summing up of his powers, via., that he is capable ot breaking oOsoc. Tho half-milo promises to be the best raco at the meeting, and with the 120 yards hurdles, . shares tho honour of attracting the ■ classiest .field. Never before at 1 any meeting in the Australasian colonies have there been among the competitors in any ono half-mile event four men who have broken the 2min. mark. The four on this occasion will be: It. H. Watson (Victoria), who holds tho present Australasian record of Imiit. 06 3-10 sec.; J. A. Power (U.S.A.), who at home has done linin. 07 2-ssec., and in New Zealand Imin. 58 ]-ssec.; - A. F. Thorpo (N.5.W.),. whose best performance is 1 mill, fill l-ssee.; and our own A. A. Dormer, joint holder with Hector Burk of the New Zealand rccord of Imin. 581-osec. On these times Watson should wjn comfortably, but his three prospective opponents arc better than anyone he has yet met, and it is ■ never safe to judge solely on times. Not ' having seen the Victorian and knowing what Dormer can do if pushed, "Mc£ cury" is inclined to favour the New Zealander, but it is merely guesswork. A Return Match. Tho mile bids fair to be a match between Dormer and Power, though there will be other starters, of course, and given fair weather conditions both men should go very near to 4min. ii'Osec. On this occasion one expects tlsem to finish close together, though Dormer may still bs tha winner. '■■■■■. • Now Zealand's latt hope—Beat£on—■
may." in. the, throe .miles,' in which tho o'niy . serious? opposition will come from tlie ..Victorians,,,ll..,W. Neave, in par-ticular,\beiiig.likely-.to defeat him. Still, .the New Zi.al.nnl -champion is a game thorough stayer,, so, that i> l'as.t"pacc .will l»; to'his liking. Prospects: in*tho Walks. .In ;.tbe. Victorian, Murray, and' Pickard,:;ofr New' .South Wales, Davo'' Cashman'will'be'against something classy in the two. walks; .indeed, on the present, season's form it is likely that both will beat him, but what'the'walking judgo has 'to say will -probably have most to do with deciding who is to .win, Murray, "-when over here; did not 1 strike one as being, capable. of ,-the " times ho has since been' credited ,with, and walking fairly, I'iekard has. passed tho critical eye of Mr. Coombes, and so has.Cashman, but our champion's disqualification at. ;Auckland may bring about his downfall on the other side,. Classic Hurdlers, In the Jiurdlcs, class will be represented by Keddell', 1.5 3-10 sec.; Templeton, IS2-ssec.-;-'Pcndfer (South ,'Australia), lo 7-10 sec.; and Davis (Victoria), 15 4-5 sec.; while J.. W, Fraser (New South <.Waies) lias done 16sec. As-between Keddell iuld Temple,ton the former is clearly tlie better at present. Davis is reported not to be at his best, but tho Victorian is a dangerous Opponent at a.uy time. It is l idle to'argue that Keddell is,,as well as he was two years ago and this may bring about his defeat ■at the hands of either Pender or Davis. The quarter hurdles is, of course, a gift for the Victorian, who is in a class by himself ait this event. With L. H. Kelly and Jack Smith against him Templeton will need to bo a't his best to' Win the high jump m which 6ft. will hardly, be enough; but iu the polo vault he will have against him probably the worst field that ever contested an Australasian championship, though, ho will have one individual of more than ordinary merit up against him—J. Brake, present holder of tho title. All interest in the hammer and shot centres in whether M'Holm and.Caughev will be equal to hoisting fresh records, but tho broad jump should bo an interesting event if Keddell, Smith, and Davis perform up to their best.
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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 14
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1,581ATHLETICS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 14
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