Feilding Athletics.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 159, 8 January 1896, Page 2

Feilding Athletics.

" Victor," in the Wanganni Herald of the 6th instant, says : — At Feilding Leslie was timed to walk a mile from scratch in 6min 23sec, but this marvellous (if correct) performance has been eclipsed by young Crichton, who at Dunedin last week is said to have the distance in the phenomenal time of 6 ruin 19sec. A match between these two over a mile ought to be arranged, as it would not only create interest but would give the men a chance to prove how correct their reputed times are, besides giving them an opportunity of establishing a world's record under proper judging and timekeeping, which would be accepted, as it is not likely that either of the above-mentioned performances will be. It is quite evident that the back-mark men in the long distance professional | races have no possible chance of winning with the starts they are at present asked to concede. A glance at the times recorded at Feilding in the mile the last two years (4min 27Asec each time), and at Hawera on New Year's Day (4min 34 sec), will show that those any way near scratch had no hope of getting very close to the winners. It is not the limit men who have too much bat, as a role, those who get about three-quarter limit. At all events, it is quite apparent that some of those unfortunates who have been battling off scratch, or a back mark, for the last two or three years without much luck deserve a lift, or else it is to be feared many good men will have perforce to turn the game up. / It is a pleasure to hear that the Feilding Athletic Club made a profit of something like £40 over their last meeting, as there is no gainsaying the fact that the Club deserve success. I heard some talk while in Feilding of increasing the prize-money a good deal, at least in the Mile, and while of course, I should like to see this done I think that the. Club might first of all arrange to provide increased and more suitable dressing accommodation for competitors. With such a large number of athletes , who now patronise this gathering, the present dressing accommodation is altogether inadequate, and I am confident that the majority of peds. would prefer to see the prize money kept as it is for a while and more suitable dressing rooms provided. Another thing, too, which runners would be thankful for is . a proper luncheon booth, where they could get a good dinner. The refresh* ments at present supplied are right enough in their way, but competitors want something more substantial to eat than do the general ran of spectators, and there is no doubt but that it would pay the Club to attend to this matter.