AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2407, 12 March 1915, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS

A REVIEW & SOME PROSPECTS

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There should be little necessity to remind tho public of the big athletic event at the Basin Reserve to-morrow afternoon, nor of the worthy cause ill aid of which it has been organised by the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. Since the fateful day -upon whioh it was decided that the Dominion should send its men to play their part in the great war, it has been apparent that a duty lay with those who from necessity must stay at home. This is to see that the lot of those dependent npon such of our soldiers who ao not return or return incapacitated is made as easy as is possible in the future. To secure this end, branches of the "Wounded New Zealand Soldiers' and Dependents' Fund" have been established in other parts of the Dominion. Up till now nothing has been done in Wellington in .this most deserving of good causes, but to-morrow's meeting will serve to remove this reproach from the Empire City. The whole net proceeds of the big athletic carnival are to be devoted to forming a nucleus for a local branch of the fund, and this faot in itself should ensure a bumper attendance at the Basin Reserve.

Particulars of the meeting will be found in our advertising columns, and a review of the prospects of the championship competitions may be found of interest.

In the 100 yards there are eight entries, all the centres being represented but Southland. Of these the most prominent seem to be Martis, of Wangamii, the present champion; • Perkins, of Otago, last year's runner-up; and Heley, the Wellington provincial champion. Canterbury has two entrants', Batstone and De Rago, and Auckland one, .lidwards, the balance being local runners, and it is probable that the places will be filled by the three first-named, with the!holder of the title as winner.

For the 220 yards ten have entered — th 6 100 yards field with the addition of Wilton and. Hubbard. Martis, the title holder, again looks a winner, but the inclusion of Wilton may complicate the place filling. He ran second, with Perkins third, last season, but was beaten by. Hcley in the local championships this year, so these three should fight out a strenuous finish for the place points. Five figure on the entry sheet for the quarter-mile, a nice field for this event. On this season's running Wilton, the holder, looks a likely winner, but the presence of Batstone (Canterbury)"' and Edwards (Auckland), unknown quantities both, may upset things. ■ The other entrants are Martis and. Adams, both in the Wellington interest, The half-mile shows a field of seven. The visitors are Ford and Bigham, of Canterbury; Crimp, of Otago; and Robertson (Southland). Of these Crimp ran second to Dormer in the mile last year, and is said to run a good "half," so will probably give Byrne, the local "fancy," a stiff run. Supporting Byrne are Bilderbeck and Kilnnnster, of Masterton, both more than average half: milers, so this should be a good race." Robertson is a good "all-rounder," but has hardly "foot" enough for the distance, so the outcome should lie between Byrne and Crimp, with a slight margin in the former's favour.

i Ten have nominated for the mile run. Hereiagain we have Crimp, last year's runner-up, assisted this time by his fellow Otago-ite, "Jimmy" Beatson, tlie Australasian champion 'three-miler. Auckland lias Francis, of whom report speaks well; Southland has Robertson and Brown; and Canterbury has Ford and Bigliani. The same trio as in the "half", carry Wellington 1 colours, and again it looks like a . battle between Bryne and Crimp, with" Beatson in for good measure.

For the three-mile, there are nine engaged. The appearance of Australasian Champion J. Beatson.will be a popular one, and he should win. . The opposition as regards the other visitors consists of C. F. Williams and Turner (Canterbury), Francis (Auckland), and Brown (Southland), with Byrne,. H. Williams,' Ballantyne, and Drummond out for AVellington. _ .Of the local quartet the most promising is Williams, the provincial champion, and he should battle out the places with his namesake of Canterbury and Francis. In the two walks there is only one outside competitor—D. Wilson, of Canterbury. In the default of information as to the visitor's prowess Sievwright is selected for the mile, and Johnson, also of Wellington, for the thre'e-miie.

In' the field -of eight for the 120 yards hurdles the winner is well hidden, but here again Wellington, with its strong trio of Doyle (present champion), Halligan (provincial champion), and Stagpoole, of Manawatu, is very well served. Wilson also represents Wellington, but is likely to run better in the quarter hurdles. Southland isstrong with Hazlett and Robertson, while Burrow, of Otago, has also decided claims. This should be one of the best races of the day, but an out and out selection for first place finds Halligan. Cook, of Canterbury; the present champion and champion in 1909 when ho beaflhe redoubtable G. P. Keddell, should win the 440 yards hurdles from a field of seven. A new performer in this event to local athletes is Fordham, of Auckland, of whom the writer knows nothing, but Hazlett and Robertson, of Southland, are both hurdlers of experience in championship racing, as also is Burrow, the Otago entrant. H. E. Wilson, the provincial champion, and Doyle, the local man, may get among the points for places, but should be outpaced for first place by Cook. This should also be a fine spectacular race. Now we come to the field events. Space prohibits an exhaustive analysis, but it is here that the outside opposition is most.likely to be felt. Wellington's liopos are centred on M'Holm, the present Australasian champion, who should win the hammer event from Kean, of Southland, an ex-New Zealand champion, and George Harvey, of Masterton, who dead-heated for the New Zealand title last year in the pole vault. Hazlett, of Southland, 1 looks a good winner in the hop, stop, and jump. Reid, of Southland, should win the shot-putting, with Jarrold, of Wellington, second. The broad jump is very open. Austin (Otago),. Rands (Canterbury), Hazlett (Southland), and Hubbard and Millard (Wellington) _ all have even chances, with perhaps just a shado in favour of the last-named. On practice form Doyle, the_ holder, should retain the high jump title, but Laurie, of Auckland, and Robertson, of Southland, who appear to be the pick of the opposition, should keep him busy in the process.