THOSE LOST HONOURS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1983, 13 February 1914, Page 5

THOSE LOST HONOURS.

OUR ATHLETES IN MELBOURNE. MANAGER INTERVIEWED. " 3 A passenger, to 'Wellington by the Maunganui from Sydney on Wednesday was Mr. C. E. Bridge, who managed the New Zealand athletes at the Australasian championships at Melbourne ' on' January 24 and 26. . ' Speaking to a reporter, Mr. Bridge discussed the visit shortly, and said that undoubtedly the New Zealand men's performances were disappointing. With' the exception of J. M'Bohn and J. Beatson, the winners of the hammerthrowing and threc-itvile events respectively, the men did eot by a long way reproduce their true form. Without wishing to make excuses, he would say that the heat undoubtedly had some effect on them. On the first day of the meeting. it was 98 in thy shade, and judging from what the local people said it must have been ISO ill the field, with a hot wind blowing. Dormer's failure was hard to .'account for, for ho was below form to a remarkable degree. This and the fact that Cashman failed to satisfy the judges with his method of walking, and was called off in both races; left New Zealand without a chance.

Mr. Bridge thought that tHe yictorians had a very strong combination, and deserved to..win. Although th«ir team was strong, they were without the services of A. D. Ellis, their moat remarkable sprinter, and J. L. Davis, who holds the world's record for the 440 yds. hurdles. Two of their men, Ilussell Watson, who won the half-mile in Irain. 56isee. and the- 440 hurdles., and t. H. Kelly, who cleared 6ft.. 0 3-Bin. in tlje high juni]3, deserved special mofltion. The Americans were very much impressed with Watson, and 'stated that h« should work into » half-miler worthy of representation in any company. An outstanding feature of the meeting was the sprinting of the American, G. L. Parker, who won the three sprints, 100 yds. in 10 1-Ssco., 220 yds. in ZZiscc,, ami 440 yds. in 51 2-ss<?c., whieh was very good time. Although South Australia were reprpsented for the first time', they weurod a win in the 120 yds. hurdles', with L. 11. Walman, whose time was 15 7-10scc. He defeated the New Zealand and Australasian champion, G. V. Keddcll, who was looked upon as a certainty itt this crent. Walman was a good man. and thoroughly up-to-date in his methods. His style was like that oi Kelly, thfi American Olympic winner, Mr. Bridge 'was also ia Atistralia a»

(h<3 New Zealand representative on the Olympic Council, and a delegate to the Board of Control. Regarding New Zealand's action in withdrawing from the meeting, which had for its object the formation of ;i combined body to arrange dot-nils for the 191G Olympic Games, Mr. Bridge said there seemed to ho sotwe misconception in New Zealand. New Zealand was willing and desirous of acting with Australia, but wanted to go in as an equal partner, certainly not as a sixth partner. They were simply withholding their support to the body which had now been formed, but there wore hopes that some compromise- would be effected, so that amicable arrangements could be made.