ATHLETICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1917, Page 1

ATHLETICS.

TRIAL OVER HALF-MILE COURSE. How long does it take the trained athlete to walk, run, cycle, scull, paddle, and swim over a half-mile course? Lieut. J. P. Muller, a Danish physical culture expert, said lie could finish all the six events inside half an hour. So he went down to the Thames at Putney, with a referee and time-keeper and attempted the task. Rut though it seemed a fairly reasonable one, he failed, taking 2 min 29 2-s.see. over the half-hour.

Everything went well up to the sculling event. He did the walk in 4 min 30. sees, the run in 3min. 29 2-5 see, and the cycle in 2min. 17 3-ssec. He lost eighty seconds getting into the boat, and then after sculling a: short distance he began to feel an old strain in bis right shoulder. Unfortunately this got worse, and for the last two events his right arm was practically useless. The sculling took him (hum. 40sccs, and the paddling omin. 27secs. When he entered tlic water for the swim lie had over 7 and three-quarter minutes left, but his arm was paining him considerably, and the last half-mile occupied 10 min 17 2-5 secs. Lieut. Muller wps very disappointed with what he described as a poor display, and is more confident, than ever that he can boat “time” in the contest. In the circumstances it is not surprising that be intends to make another attempt.