Roseingrave and Smith at Auckland. SPECIAL TO THE LANCE.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 22, 1 December 1900, Page 13

Roseingrave and Smith at Auckland. SPECIAL TO THE LANCE.

THE Auckland Amateur Athletic Club had ideal weather for its Carnival on Saturday, and the attendance was the largest it has had for some years. Of course the great attraction was the meeting of Irish champion Roseingrave and George Smith, the Australian champion, in the 120 yds Invitation Hurdle Race. Both competitors, to use a sporting phrase, were trained to the hour, and the track was in perfect order. A ding-dong " go " was looked forward to. After a short preliminary both men got away from their mark together, and flew over the first hurdle. On landing the Irishman had a slight advantage, and for half the distance he kept about a yard in the lead. Smith then made an effort, and, closing on his opponent, he was leading two hurdles from home, and gradually forged ahead. Roseingrave was fencing in beautiful style till now, but the pace was telling on him, and he stumbled as he landed from the last hurdle but one. Smith kept on at a great bat, and, clearing the last hurdle in great style, he finished like a shot out of a gun. The time was put up as 15 3-oth sees, and tremendous excitement followed, the public rushing the ground and taking charge of both competitors and officials. Unfortunately, in the bustle the spectators interfered with one of the official timekeepers, and he was not able to register the time. The other two official watches clocked 15 3-sth sees, and another outside timekeeper (an official of the Club) made it out 15 3-sth sees. Undoubtedly the better man won, and the performance was little short of marvellous. The time is one-fifth outside the world's record, made by the great American hurdler Kranzleirn, and it is to be hoped the record will be passed. To prove the time is pretty correct Smith came out later on in the afternoon, and, owing 7£yds, won the 120 yds Hurdle Handicap, carving out the distance in 16 2-sth sees. Both men are good fencers, Roseingrave being perhaps slightly the prettier jumper, but Smith is faster on the flat. The win was a popular one, and the excitement at the finish will long be remembered by those present. To show what a great athlete Smith is he also came out in his heat for the 220 yds handicap, and, running with great determination, he just won on the tape, but did not start in the final. Roseingrave, with his knee bound up, competed in the long jump, and put up a New Zealand record. He takes a very long run, and jumps high in the air.