ATHLETIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 8

ATHLETIC.

BRITISH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February M. The British Olympic committee has decided to appeal for £40,000 to ensure the United kingdom being properly represented in the Olympic Games of 1916.

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE OTAUTAU MEETING. fJbKOU OOK LUKKKSr-UNDilNi.l INVEB.CARGILL, February 25. The first annual South Island athletio championship meeting was held at Olautau to-day in conjunction with the Southland championships. The weather was fine but a coid breeze blow across the ground and made things very unpleasant for competitors and spectators alike. Owing to the absence of rain during the past fortnight the traoks wero exceedingly hard. This with the strong wind prevented fast times being recorded. The meeting was admirably conducted and in every way successful. It was unfortunate that Canterbury did not figure prominently; the competitions were left to Otago and Southland. A strong contingent came down from the former province, but Southland easily held her own and secured most points, thus winning the title of Champion Province of the South Island. The points were—Southland 60, Otago 46. The Cup given for the athlete scoring most points was won by G. P. Keddell, who carried off the 120yds Hurdles, Broad Jump and 440yds Hurdles, and was second in the High Jump and 100yds. After being presented- with the cup Keddell announced that he had retired from the track. Keddell received three hearty cheers from the spectators and was similarly complimented by the Otago team at the instanco of Mr Sanderson, vice-president of the Otago Centre. ( The Half-Mile was an interesting race. Robertson (Southland) went away with the pistol, followed "by Hanan (Southland) and Swinney (Otago). . After half the distance had been covered Swinney forged his way ahead and Hannan replaced Robertson. The Otago man put on pace and won by several yards from Hanan, Forrester (Southland) fifteen yards away third. Time—lmin lOsec. The High Jump Championship furnished keen competition, only on inch and a half separating the first three men. T. G. Anderson, the ex-Canterbury performer, won with a jump of sft 4Jin, Keddell second and Hazlett third.

M. Kean, the ex-New Zealand champion, htd an easy win in putting the 161 b shot, his put being 34ft 3in.

The chief feature of the Hundred Yards was the defeat of Keddell by Perkins, the Otago champion. A good start was effected and- at fifty yards Keddell had a slight advantage. Perkins was with him at eighty yards, and got homo a winner by half a yard -in 10 3-ssec

Whitaker (Southland) put up a meritorious performance in the Pole Vault. His first jump was Oft 3in, which was high enough to give him a win, but he was out for a record, and managed to clear 10ft lOJin, beating the New Zealand standard by four inches. Keddell had little trouble in upholding his reputation in the 120yds Hurdles, which ho won comfortably by ten yards from Hazlett in 16 2-ssec.

The Mile Cycle Championship was a walkover for Whitaker, who was the only man to finish.

Keddell had an intention of attempting to put up new figures in the Broad Jump, but did not carry it out, owing to lack of practice Ho won easily with 19ft lljin, Hazlett second 19ft 4in.

The Mile was a good race. Forrester set the pace, closely followed by Crimp and Frye (Otago). They remained in this order till Forrester retired. Frye and Crimp raced together for a lap. When 220yds from home Crimp, running beautifully, raced home a winner by 25yds .from Frye, with M'Queen (Invercargill) thirty yards away third. Time—smin.

Only two competitors took part in the Hammer-Throw, which resulted in an easy win for Kean (Southland), ex-New Zealand champion. His first throw was 124 ft Sin and Whitaker's 105 ft. Kean then put up a splendid performance of 136 ft 7in, beating the New Zealand standard by 6ft 7in. The 440 Hurdles was a close contest. Robertson was the first over tho first hurdle but was ovortakon by Keddell at the second. The champion established a lead of six yards which he maintained until a hundred yards from home, where Hazlett strongly, challenged him. Keddell managed to keep him off. and. won by five yards in C 7 4-ssec.

Frye (Otago) had a handsome win in the Throe Mile Flat, Forrester mado the pace for the first lap, Frye second and Henderson'third. In the third lap Frye went to the front and increased his lead to five yards. In the fifth lap Frye was thirty yards ahead of Honderson, all other competitors having retired. He put on a magnificent sprint and covered the final hundred . yards in thirteen seconds! He won byv'fifty yards in 16min Jsec. Considering the nature of the gTound the performances in the Hop, Step ard Jump were highly creditable. Hazlett, the New Zealand champion, got home narrowly by two inches from Robertson. The was 42ft 2in. The 410 Yards was one of the best ra«s of the day and ended in three Otapo men taking honours. Caddie was the first to show up and got a three-yards lead coming up the straight. A preat tussle ensued, and Swinnev went to the front, clopoly followed by Caddie and Perldns. This order was unchanged, the first-named winning by four yards in 55 2-ssec. Caddie (Otasro). created a great surprise in the 220 Yards bv defeating Perkins, who was expected bv all to win. The former went away with the pistol and soon estabh?h°d a lead of a coiinle of vnrds from Rey Keddell- and Perkins. At loOvds Caddie hod increased his lead to four yards. Coming up the straight Keddell fpiled to last and was riase-od by 'Perkins who failed to overtake Caddlp. The time was 21 l-swc. Perkins would have been closer up but for his taking the turns badlv.

Stewart. (Ota<ro) had mi easv win in the Three Mi'e Walk. H-'s onlv comnetitor was M'Tntosl). who rffired enrlv ,V the rnre. Th- >nie resulted similarly. M'ltito«h w»« no m«ttch for Stewarf and retired. Stewart's time was 7min 26Jsec.