ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

——— 1 [Bt "Msuccat."J THE STRUGGLE AT OimEDlft. February ■ 28.—Americans, at the flasin Reserve. ■ March s.—Country Clubs Championships (at Masterton). March 7.—Provincial . Championships (at tho Citizens' Carnival). Looking Backwards, Five years is, after all, & brief space —hardly a tick in the timepiece of the ages—and with the vivid thoughts of it conjured, up by last Saturday's gathering, the New* Zealand championships held at Dunedin ia March, 1909, seem but to have taken place yesterday. But, in the athletic world, five years bring changes that twenty; years will hardly effect in the. affairs of every" day life, _ and the champions of then are the time-worn veterans who to-day take their sport in .the homeopathic doses that one gets from the bank. What a notable gathering was that last meeting in Dunedin, notable because in the first place it showed that where the good of the actual sport itself is concerned, administrative differI ences are sunk "deeper than did ever plummet sound." Anctent History. At that time there Was civil War in tho athletic world of this stray corner of the earth. The revolt against the administration at headquarters-"G)irist-church in those days—had ted to Wellington, Otago, and Southland seceding, or rather claiwing to take over control of the affairs of .the and fixing headquarters at Wellington, while Couterbury and. Auckland kept the .old allegiance. The present generation of athletes can have but little idea of tho bitterness ,of that struggle, which, after working uf> for almost two years on different grounds in the three revolting Centres, the thing earn© to a head in tho spring of i9QB, when tho Council at Christcuurch refused to accept the nominations of fivo Wellington nominees for seats on the governing body. The unpleasantness lasted almost throughout the season, until at last it became a question whether or not the Dominion championships were to fall through that year.' In a, spirit of compromise, t*r, better; genuine gard for the welfare of the sport, that did infinite credit to both of them, the rival bodies, confronted with this problem, buried their differences to 'the extent of combining to hold the gathering, and agreeing to submit the whole of the questions at issue to a conference of the centres to be held on tho same day as tho meeting. r Strenuous times have a kftaek of producing champions, and in this respect the 1909 meeting was again notable, for was it not hero that throe of the finest runners which wo havo ever pro> duced—Woodger, Opie, and Dickson— mado thoir bow 111 first-class company. And among the others Were those notables, W. G. Harding (then but recently admitted into tlie amateur ranks), and Guy Haskins, but a short time returned from his victorious career in America, and Gerald Keddell making his reappearance after his three years in retirement. It was a real Dunedin day—raining and gloomy, ancf tha track like a Woodger carved out the hundred in 10 1-Sscc,; the furlong in 22 4-5, and' Dickson walked away • with the three miles in 14min. 57sec.; and the fields were the largest that "Mercury" has ever seen at a championship gathering. And now where are they all? Only 0110 of the competitors at that meeting—our Jimmy Wiltoii-»-was iii the lists last Saturday. As an. instance of the brevity of an othlete's active career this fact is an eye-opener. Bat i\ show that there are glorious exceptions even to this rule it is worth while mentioning that one of the competitors— Dave Wilson, of Auckland., made his last- appearance 111 Dimedm not in 1909, but in 1899, and won liis first New Zealand championship as fai* back as tho season 1896-97, when Wi'itoii was an infant of some six summers. j Wellington's Only Shield. Undoubtedly the- feature of this year's gathering was tho surprisingly overwhelming success of the Wellington team —surprising not because of any particular individual win, but because all the members of the team accomplished what we had hoped they would. Our only regret is that Dave Cashman should have failed so signally. For its size, the team scored wonderfully well, every member but Cashraan securing at least one championship. Now that they have all proved their calibro among the cfacks sf the present timo, it is but natural to wonder how our Wellington chapipioiiß compare with those of other days. Not one of them put up anything startling in the way of times, but it is only fair to state that .the Caledonian Grmmd was in very bad condition last Saturday, far worso than in 1909, though overhead conditions wero bettef, -and goad times were practically out of the question. ; Martl3 of the Raking Stride, Martis, as the winner of both sprints, naturally merits first attention. The dusky Wanganui boy has developed somewhat late, in all probability owing to his having so few opportunities of competing in first-class • company. Some threo years ago h6 camo to Weblington, and competed against J. P. Wilson in tho half-mile provincial championship. For the first quarter lie strode along with Wilssm, his magnificent raking stride attracting general attontion, but he Cracked up sudden'y shortly l after entering on the second lap. From this on little was heard of him till ho surprised everyone by whining tho sprint at. tho Country Clubs' Championships last year. Still making no appearance at headquarters, ho was again forgotten till . tha manner in which lie ran clean away from L. -J. Mark at tlio Wanganui American meeting. Then, with Duncan far below his last year's form, Mnrtis's opportunity came, and being (licked 111 tho Wellington team, ho justified his selection last Saturday, and incidentally, litis set pcoplo wondering whether he has in him tho making'of a successor to Woodger and Opie. •' Just as iliey did with Woodger, Dunedin critics are hailing Martis as a real champion, and lhay tlieir optimism be well justified. In build, and in action, Martis is the living image of old New Zealand professional champion C. J. Morris. If lie ever "achieves the same results as Morris, 'he Wanganui runner w.ill wind up as at least the equal of Woodger and Opie. To get at his real merit he should make the trip to .Wellington at the end of month to compete against Parker. If, is manv a long year since a, Waiigailui runner has won a New Zealand chnmpionshiii. and, maybe,' tho victory of Martia will

be the means of increased athletic activity m the river town. A Moteor. Another member of our team who seems to have captured the affections of tlie Dmiedinitcs is Hudson. This is not altogether surprising when it is realised how easjly he defeated Beatson, fresh from his Australasian championship victory. That Beatson was not at his best is very eleai*, tho trip across having upset him and Cashmnii. A further proof is afforded by tha fact that Fryo dead-heated with him. Still, even at his best, it is doubtful whether ho eeuld have field if is own with the 'Victoria Collego boy. Hudson's career has been meteoric indeed. On Boxing Day, 1912, he competed itt the walk at tho Masterton meeting and, on the samo day with something in tho neighbourhood of" a 200 yards handicap, ho tan away with the two miles, in thoso days Hudson ran in bai'o feet, and it took somo considerable amount of persuasion to get bim to don shoes, and somo very pointed remarks in this column to convince him that his forte was i-uniiiitg, not walking. Onco lie recognised this Hudson went ahead rapidly and before the close of last season, he accomplished a very fine performance by winning the Mc-W Zealand University threo miles championship in lomin. 37sec., against a strong southerly wind. This season ho has, of course,, -gone o;i improving.,, but Saturday was his first performance of the season over the three wile journey, Owing to the limit of Power's distances being two miles ouf longest handicap race this" season lias been at that distance at which Hudson has performed brilliantly when running fresh. A Few Reservations, Being the fir# to voice publicly the possibilities of Hudson, "Mercury" pa-. ttirally takes a keen interest in tho new j champion, but Speaking impartially, it must b& admitted that ho Is not yet a Hill or a Simpson, for the simple' reason that he lacks tho paco thut wa.s so characteristic of these two cracks. Moreover ho is not quito tho runner that. Miles Dick-stjii was at Buncdin five years ago, but iii tho course of the next two years, when with plenty of walking and : track practice -under ft good coach who will not let him outrun himself, it is : quite possible that he will set up new. Australasian figures. Physical strength ; ■ and piico caii bo developed when the stamina is there. Meantime, hearty. . congratulations to Hudson on his first New Zealand championship, 1 FrornlM Fulfilled. Doylo was both lucky and unlucky jost Sakirdaj*. In winning the high i jump ho did no more than was expected ■of him, but in tho. 120 yds. hurdles lie . was of course lucky in not having Kcd< dell against him. His performance, hewever, bore out Terapleton's opinion of Km as next best to Keddell. He was . remarkably unlucky in the quarter. Turning 'lito the straight lie found the pace- slow, and let out on tho third Jnirdli from home, instead of waiting till ho was actually in tho straight. 'Misjudging his distance he came a, chopper and, ot course, settled his chances. After ihe very full,review of Doyle's career in ihis column last week there is little more to add at present. He may never bo a. Keddell at the shorter bur* dies because of his lack of pace, though ho may, in time, yet near to 16s-ec. But. at the high ;|ump and over the quarter hurdles he lias a future. A Yawns Old ona. It seems strange to those of us Who . remember him rifflning in a New Zealand cl',anipionsi}i£> at the age of 17, tfc cl'asfl 41 Jiuiiiiy'" 1 wilton as a veteran. When we recollect ho is now only 24j it sconia.iskanger still, but, truth to t-ell, "Jimmy" is a hardy veteran, albeit lie is probably good for another four or five years. Ho first competed in a New Zealand championship in 1907, when, after winning a liedt, ho in the final ; of the quarter, after going but a hundred yards or so. lii 190S ho did not run, taking a spell. In 1900 ho won lus first quarter championship of New Zealand. In 1910 he was third to Harding and Opie. lie did not compote at Christcmireh in 1911, tat in 1912 bo finished second to Dormer. Last year and this year ho won. Truly it is a splendid record, but oae that is surpassed by his own t performance in the Wellington jiroViueial quarter chain-, puonship, which ho has won five years in succession, and' t!i& sixth is pretty sure to bo added next month. In defeating Thomas, Wilton proved himself to be' quite in' tho first class, for Thomas defeated Parker, who, in tupii, Was equal to the task of beating all the Australian cracks. Contrary to his usual policy, Wilton was behind in the early stages of this race; Thomas setting a terrifie pace, and having a lead of three yards coming into-the straight. After allowing 1 that a long strider like Thomas must have hec-n at some little disadvantage in the heavy going, tlie. fact that Wilton gave him three, and beat him another three in the run up the straight, seems to indicate .that- the result Would have been the same whatever the conditions. On this fcim, Wilton would appear to have an excellent ■chance against Parker. Our Doubic-strinsed Bow. The Wellington Centre's Selection Committee may well be forgiven if they feel a little proud of their foresight in sonriing two walkers to the meeting. Casliav.a.n's disqualifications in Melbourne made it essential that iio risks should be taken at Dmiedin, and G. Turner io-so to tho occasion in great style. At the beginning of the season Turner had no intention of making any serious attempt to coiiie baek, in fact his first appearances were in running events to make ur> fields. Finding himself iii bottef condition than he expected, he turned cut.at the bin- meeting at Christmas, and won both .walks. Settling down then to steady tkining, lie is iiow better than ever be was in the past. Essentially a fair walker. Turner can iinister u : p ft good pace, albeit his staying power is his greatest asset. Not by any means a Kerr, or eaual to Cashman at his Vst, Tiirner is above the average, and the same remark must be applied to the Ota go walker, Bitch-m, who might bate given our man a big fight in the three miles, but for his attack <rf the stitch, ail athletic- complaint that,' carioHsl.y enough, wag far more oomtnoi-i some vears ago than it is now. 1 One wonders if the deep breathJug practiced nowadays has any connectien with this. Cash-man's performance iii Ivis solitary anpearaneo was, of course, _ a bitter disappointment to his admirers, , but quite' in keeping with the run <if ill-hifck which lift has experienced. Speaking to Mr, Bridge. "Mercury" learned.that the manager pi the New Zealand team had nothing to snv mient "DnveV disqualification on the first day at Melbourne, lint he considers, at the same time, that all the leaders at the time, with the exception of Pickard. who he stakes is abeautifully fair walker, were equal!v doubtful.' He was. however, astonished at the decision on tlie seeowl day. Cashi man went mit with instruction.', to walk with one nbje.;t alone—to keen <mi tho track. So careful was he that, with ■ but half a mile gone, he was fuliy fiftv yards behind tlie leaders, and walking | at no j«or» than an ehzht-miiuite bat, ' aflsl iii Mr. Bridge's opinion quite fairly. At T)\m«Tin "Dave was suffering I Wliv from the effects, of the trip from ' Melbourne, and w*s qi'ite vmnble lo do himself hut it is satisfactory to Kfi*" that hie style nasced mwstpi*. I Though had to di';ide the 'hoiKHirs with Whitaker ni role ; vnult. 119 gave n splMidirl s.xhihition. I rnttsideriiig the state of tho sjroiifid. mid, ' the same remark applies to M'Holm,

v.'lio had an easy task in the hammer- ' throwing. tion-Wollington V; Inner. Of tho championship winners from other centres, Dormer ' and Thomas were of course the starts. Still tinwell, Dormer confined his attention to the mile, in which the opposition was of the weakest. It is a thousand pities that the Auclclandflr is not in form for a final meeting between him and Power would draw a hugo crowd. Thomas had an easy task in the half, his solitary opponent bokg, quite unali.lo to extend hira. In selecting tho mile, instead at the half, in which to make his solitary appearance, Dormer showed that ho has .a hitch opinion of Thomas, who, it- is hoped, is anxious enough to turn this tables on "Jimmy" Wilton in the quarter to make the trip to Wellington fotlia big meeting on February 28. Buchftn is evidently a iilie walker; his mile being a splendid effort. It is some time since Otago last produced such a good pedestrian. The most unsatisfactory feature if the gathering was the p<ior fields, arid to ono wfto remembers the. big fields of a few years tack—-especially at the 1909 meeting—it is a matter for deep reflection. Nest year may. see a big difference, however, since tho Amerioan visit lias revived interest throughout the Dominion. Answer to Correspondent. E. H. Smith, Haveloek. BBks:'-'"po you consider five minutes good time for tfie mile run at the average athletic sports in New. Zealand P" A mile run in five minutes v oiild not bo considered a good performance for an averago Now Zealand sport's meet-nig.--"Mercury."