Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 196, 2 April 1904, Page 19

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

THE amateur athletic sports, on the Basin Reserve last Saturday, w ere a. great success, both in the mattei of interesting racing and a generous attendance of the public. ° Spoits in Wellington needed some luemng up and the way m the lecent championship meeting was > worke 1 up by those responsible for its success provided what was really necessary, end the inteiest in the amateur branch of athle cs has accordingly revived. The fields in every race on Saturday were large, and many of the events provided splendid contests lhe 290 yds race was a particularly keen struggle, 'Tom" Seddon, second son ot our worthy Premier, beine just beaten by Stubbs after a ding-dong struggle ovei the last fifty yaids. « ♦ • In Len Blundell, a son of one of the Piopiietors of the "Evening Post Wellington possesses the makings of a probable distance champion lam doubtful whether he is yet out of his teens, vet with only 100 yds start off the Austi alas an and New Zealand champion, Simpson, that runner could not get nearer than 6 2-5-th secs-a matter of about 50yds— of Bhnvdell at the finish of the mile race, although Simpson cut out the distance in 4sec under standard time— 4mm 41sec bein? h s clocking for the mile, Blundell's being 4mm 3-i d-dth sec. Another lad of whom ,g»»at things ma^ be anticipated in, the future is Gioodbehere, the Wellington College boy whose home is in Feildi"". me two' College events on the programme on Saturday were contested by the acknowledged best runners m the bt. Patrick's and Wellington Colleges, but Goodbehere was in a class bv himseli in both the 100 yds and 440 yds. In the latter distance, he put up the fine time of SCsec, equalling the best senior record of the Wellington College. When I mention that the Ladies Bracelet over the same distance later in the afternoon, was won by "Mona ' Thompson off 25yds m o2sec, the sterling nature of Goodbehere's performance will be easily perceived. • • • Of the New Zealand champ ons competing at the meeting, W. F. Simpson, the Canterbury runner, ran well. In the two-mile event he made "hacks or h - opponents but his effort to break his own leoord for the distance did 1 notmeet with success. In the mile run he could get no nearer than third, although he broke standard time for the distance Ross won both walks very easily, and a medley race was early christened the "Ross Stakes," the conditions of which made it absolutely a gift to him. There were two different judges of the walk ng from those who officiated 1 at the championship meeting and, as they passed Ross's gait as a fair one, I suppose I must acknowledge therefore that I am not a judge of walking according to the amateur standard. Stubbs was the best performer among the older hands at the meeting. His win from soratch in the 220 yds was a meritorious performance. He broke standard time for the distance, and also secured Mr. P. Nathan's challenge cup which he holds for the season. Stubbs also secured possession for next twelve months of Mr. J. Duthie's cup for most points in distances up to 440 yds. W. H. Pollock did not run up to the form displayed b^ him at the chammonship meeting. • • • Of the new runners, Seddon gives every promise of developing into a good sprinter, his movements being very clean. He is developing into a sturdy youth, and methmks in a year or two he will be one of the best at the middle distances. Dan Ehas and Calcinai did not catch tht eye. The latter has a terrible roll which must hamper him considerably in his journeys to the tape. » # * The management of the meeting was excellent, all the events being got off well to time. The old complaint about too many people being on the ground was in evidence as per usual. The starting of Mr. Low was very good, his efforts to get his fields away well together being successful. But he allowed too much breaking, and did not exercise his power of putting the men back as he should have done. Granted that many of them were new men and over anxious, still I think the

best cure of over anxiety is to penalise. Mr Low evidently thought otherwise, and by Ins own cool demeanour tried to put. the competitors on their best behaviour. ♦ • • Mr. Stuait Robinson, the honorary secietary, was here, there, and everywhere, and it was pleasant to see the smiles lengthening on his face as the cxowd increased at the Reserve. As the result of the meeting, the Amateur Ath-lc-tio Club is in a strong financial position, being to credit something like £75. Besides this, the membership of the club has inci eased by at least fifty since the championship meeting. Both of these facts are evidences of the thoroughness with_ which Mr. Robinson has carried out his duties. More success to him !