ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

/ [BT "MEECI?Bt."J THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHANCES. Wellington's Walkers. The team selected by Messrs. Thompson, Kitto. and Burnett to defend Wellington's honour at the New Zealand Championships to-day is, without doubt, the best that could have been picked, and the selectors are to bo congratulated on their choice. Some little comment has been made locally on the selection of two w-.alkers, but a few minutes* reflection will show that there is a possibility of our securing fourteen points in these two events alone, for never were the other centres so badly off for podestrians as at present. In another manner altogether it is oiiitc likely that events at Dun'edin to-day will justify the selection' of Turner as well as Cashman. It may be truo that nothing succeeds like success ; there is even mora- truth in thatold adage anent tho dog and his bad.iia.me. Disqualified at Auckland, and the medicine repeated at Melbourne, our champion will appear at Dunedin worried with the prospect of trying' to pleaso judges on whom his aisqualificationa ivill have at least the effect of'making them pay over-scrupulous attention tohis .style. Ant!, when a walking hidgo is bent on 6ecing whether a particular "ped." transgresses the rules, wellthen' the wisdom of sending a second string becomes apparent. Markls of "Ours." Though of M'Holm only can it ho said that he is absolutely certain to win his event, the other members,of the team are a fine body, and, if they are defeated, it will not bo because ©i their own shortcomings, but because they have met men in tho front rank. A pleasing feature is the inclusion vi the young Wanganui crack, H. T. Markis, w-ho. gets his place admittedly in some measure through Ashley Duncan's inability to.strike form, but, more on aceoUnt of his splendid form against Mark at Wanganui last mouth. 'His running at that meeting makes him out to he easily the best sprinter that we have produced since Opie, and the hundred and furlong championships would seem .to be well within his grftsp to-day., if tlio fact that he is making his first appearance in big company ddes not weigh too much on his mind. At tlio quarter, too, bo is well above the average, but in this event he will be meeting the finest trio of quartcr-milers which w« have turned out for many a day, and ho cannot haw* much'chance of'securing a triple win. Outlook for Wilton. For once in a while Jimmy Wilten will contest two championships'—the furlong and the' <pisrte.r. In the former he will be a splendid second string in case Markis fails its. Our wish is probably father to ths thought'that' ho will retain his title to the quarter championship, for with Thomas-and Dormer in the field, it is a. toss up whether he survives or not. As the Only one in the Australasian colonies to de* feat Parker on level terms, ThomnG is entitled to the geeatest respect from •his opponents, and with Dorincr on tho sick list he shouldL on tiin.es alone, make a very bold bid for victory. Don't Over-run HudseiJ, _ For the first time in many yeairs Wellington will h<? without a representative in the half-mile, which'-vyiH probably .be a duel between Tlioinas and Dori'ner, Whether or not we are represented in the mile depends very, liifgelj' on . the policy pursued by Mi\ Buiijctt, tlio manager of tho. team. If the nieeting had been held here, A. L. TreSidder, of Mas-, tcrton, would prbbahlyhfifvcbeeh given' a run, but ho is hardly class chough to send away. To "Mercury's" way pi' thinking it will be bad tactics to rim Hudson ill the mile. Tho Victoria College,boy has no pretensions to anything better than 4min. 35sec. time to run him into second placo, biit this will ' surely kill any chance- which'ho niay have against Bcatsoil in the three miles, for Hudson is not by aiiy means of a robust build. He is not a Hill, for instance, and it is worthy of note that his only defeats at distaficM over a mile and a half this season have oe* curred when he lias attempted to win two races on tho one day. As game a3 the proverbial pebble, and a thorough stayer, he has not yet matured, but he is certainty tile most promising thred-miler wo have jtist ,now. His lomin. 37sec at the hist university tournament in a gqi.e of wind was a striking performance, and his flmin. oOscc. for two miles at Masterlon on New Year's Day gives h-iin a splendid chance against Beatson in tho three miles to-day, if only ha k allowed to run fresh. Faster than the Australasian champicn.) and probably just as good a stayer, ho has not 'Beatson's rugged,strength, and the lack "of this may tell against him in a punishing finish. Bo that as it may, with fav r ourablo weather conditions, BealSoii will have .to do in the neaj- neighbour* hood of 15 minutes to win. Two of Our "Hopes." Cur representatives in tho hurdles and jumps—Doyle, and Harvev—will probably capture fifteen points. " Dovle will contest the two hardies- arid tho high jump, while Harvey will only be seen in one event—the pole vault—but this ho should win, for hij' 10ft. Cfiii. at Masterton on Jf&w Year's Day was good enough to win every New £eafcmd- cham* pionship but two so far. "Doylo of Wellington." With ordinary luck, Doyle, who is good for anything up to sft. Biri,, should retain his hold on the high jump title, and if not quite equal to' the task of defeating lieddell at the quarter hurdles second place should be well within his gfasp. No hurdler in tho Dominion has made better progress over the shorter courso during the past twelve months. During tho winter he practised Keddeil's stv'te and earlv in this season showed that "he had made good progress in it, As was. only to be expected, this adoption cf anew stylo tells on hiro over the last ■ couplo of hurdles—it is hero, for instance, that Stagpoole taught him when they met at the Athletic Park and again at Masterton—hut, this js becauso ho is not yet letter perfect in the 4-rt. When Templefon arrived oh the Scone Doyle studied the American's perfect style, and picked up tlio principles of ,it in a remakably 6'hort' time, "Mercury," from his own knowledge, Can say that the • Americans were deeply ini* pressed with tho possibilities of Doyle,' and when on their. arrival in Sydney -Templeton was asked who wa?> the most promising hurdler in New Zealand (apart - from Keddell), he promptly replied,' "Doyle, of Wellington." Our visitors consider earnestness is the. greatest' athletic virtue, and Doylo is ihb soul of earnestness in whatever he- tackles. It is too much to expect that this year Doyle will be able even to make a race of it with Keddell, but he may secure second place, Doyle has also been, practising Templeton's style of high lumping, and liis quickness, ut grasping anything new is shown bv the fact that already he can dear sft." 4in. in the now manner. We hear, awl ourselves talk, a great deal abou; American methods, but if u few mere would only follow Doyle's example and actually copy these methods, we should very soon produce field men of real class. Oil the whole, *ur eluliiees of holding on to the shield for another year are at least fair, our probable, successes being the hammer, pols vault, both walks, and high -jump, with possible successes iu tho three- »prin.ta, tho thieo miles, *ad tho auirter hurdles.

A Happy Decision. Acting on tho hint_ thrown out in these columns, tho Wa-irarepa.Club has agreed to combine .the country clubs' championships with their annual meeting on March 5. Unfortunately it is more than probable that the Amcric-nns will not be a bio to compete at tho gathering—its closeness to the already fixed meeting at Hamilton being the cause of this—but if tho other country clubs support it, there should bo no lack of interest. The provincial championships will, take place two davs later at the carnival, ss that out country friends will be able to <>onio down this year at reduced fares. The M'Villy Shield competition is very open this year, as Victoria College, Wairafapa, Civil Service, and Athletic Football Sports Clubs alt appear to have excellent ebances. It was a good move on the part of the Carnival Executive to accept the offer made to t.henij and their action will have its reward if a. keen and close struggle for club premiership! can secure- it.