AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 15

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

TO-DAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. SOME NOTES AND ANTICIPATIONS. (By "Eqnitas.”) FIVE YEARS AGO. It is five years ago since a New Zealand championship meeting was held in Wellington, and the meeting to-day will see whether Wellington can again triumph on her own ground and secure tho athletic championship shield for another year. In 1908 Wellington ran out easy winners on the Basin Reserve, scoring 81 points out of a possible ISO. The points on that occasion wero counted 8 for first, 3 for second, and 1 for third, but to-day the points will ooqnt 5 for 1 first and 3 for second, total,possible 112. j In 1908 also there was no hop-step-and-I jump championship as on to-day’s programme. Since 1909 Wellington has been , the champion province on two occasions i«—in 1909 and 1910. Tho present holders of tho championship are Southland, and they have a strong team entered to defend tho shield. "THE OLD ORDER PASSETH.” Of the champions of five years ago only three will be competing to-day:— E. E. Fisher (Wellington), winner 220yds flat, 1908; L. McKay (Wellington), running broad jump champion, 1908; and W. do Thier (Canterbury), winner of putting shot championship, 1908. Those champions of 1908 who will not be donning the shoes are H. Henderson liooydsj, W. F. Trembath (440yds and ’SSOyds flat), A. E. Burge (1 mile), Q. Sharpe (3 miles), H. E. Kerr (1 mile walk;, P. H. Stubberiield (3 miles walk), H. T. Gook (120yds hurdles), H. St. A. Murray (440yds E. McKay (pole vault), C. L. Orbell (high jump), and J. Wallace (throwing hammer). THE NEW CHAMPIONS I Who will be the champions after the decision of to-day's events r Some of the names can no doubt be written down practically as certainties, but many of the events are very open. The sprints (100 and 220yds) will, I.think, Be between Duncan (Wellington), Mark (Auckland;, and Saunders (Southland). Tho first named should on his form win both events. Egglestone (100yds) and Upie (22uyds), the present champions, are not defending their titles. Tho best race of the day promises to be we hast one on tho programme, the 440yds flat. The oompetitois, of whom tfiere are eight, include Dormer (Auek land) the present champion, Wiitbn (Wellington), who is running exceedingly well at present, Thomas (Canterbury;, Mark (Auckland), and Saunders (Southland). The real issue will lie between' Dormer, Wilton, and Thomas, but Dormer sikjuk. be able to retain his title, with Wilton runner-up. Tho half mile will no doubt go to D.ormer, the present holder, although Thomas (Canterbury) should be well up. Bradbury (Wellington) will probably scratch in this event, and put all his energies into the mile, which he should just about win. Dormer may, however, be able to run a -mile as weil as he can the shorter distances, and may add this championship to his list. The three mile flat should go to Beatson (Otago), the present cross-country champion, with Byrne (Wellington) in second place. Q. N. Hill (Auckland), the present one and three miles champion, is not defending his titles. The hurdle events should prove wins for G. P. Keddell (Southland), the present holder of the New Zealand and Australasian championships, and holder of the Australasian record of 15 3-lOsec for tho 120yds hurdles. Many are inclined to think, however, that Cook (Canterbury), who recently did 60 ■ 3-Ssoc for 440 hurdles, will bo hard to heat in this event. There is also McKenzie (Wellington), who' showed vast improvement over this distance at the provincial chamnionghips. Providing there are no "spills,” the race should bo a most interesting one. Little need be said about the one and three mile walks. H. E. Kerr will not be defending his titles, and the events are robbed of ail interest by the fact that only Wellington men , have entered. A sure 14 points for Wellington. THE FIELD EVENTS. For tho long jump there are eleven entrants, including Keddell (present champion), L. McKay (cx-ohampion), and Hubbard (ex-champion). Keddell ia the most likely winner, with Hubbard runner-up, but there are bo many comparatively "unknown” performers in this event that there may be surprises. There is no one of outstanding merit in tho high jump, but there are eight entrants, and the event should be a close and interesting tussle. F. M. Reid (Otago) seems to have a good chance. The hop-step-and-jump should prove an exciting contest between Hazlitt (Southland), the present champion, and McKay and McKenzie (Wellington). McKenzie and Hazlitt can both do about 43ft. McKay has done 46ft, but has not been able to get near that distance during the last two years, for McKenzie has beaten him at the last two provincial championship meetings. The public’s popular event is the pole vault, and this promises to be a real splendid “go." The competitors are Harvey and McKay (Wellington), Giller and Whittaker (Southland), and Laurie (Auckland). Giller is the present champion. Both he and Whittaker are capable of doing 10ft 6in. MoKay easily did 10ft Gin at the provincial championship meeting, and Harvey did 10ft Sin, and in trials has cleared 10ft Gin. The men therefore aro a very even lot, but I think McKay will wm, with Whittaker, who beat Giller last week, the probable runner-up. The putting the shot event should result mainly in a tussle between de Thier (Canterbury) and A. S. Reid (Southland). The latter is the present champion, but he will 'have to be at his best to defeat do Thier. McHolm and Bissett (Wellington) and Kean (Southland) aro the competitors in throwing the hammer event. Kean beat McHolm and Bissett for the championship lest year, but both —McHolm in particular—have improved. McHolm holds the present Australasian record. McHolm will probably be the winner, with a keen struggle between Bissett and Kean for second place.