ATHLETICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 354, 27 March 1889, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

3 Genial -Captain Morse, of the mail steamer Alameda, was clecoiated by the California Athletic Club when last in San Francisco with a handsome gold medal a& a testimonial to the excellent service he has rendered sport in tlie Califorriian metropolis. At 'Frisco, at Auckland, and at Sydney, Captain Morse is very popular with all athletes who have" eoine in contact with him. I understand from one who saw him when he last passed through h'ei c that the Alameda's skipper is to make all arrangements for tho coming of- O'Connor, the American sculler. He expected that the champion oarsman would be through by the next mail steamer, which should anive at the end of next week, but we have as yet received no cable message to that effect. The following records wero parsed by the English Amateur Athletic Association at a meeting ot the general committee held at Manchester on Jan 19 :—l5O: — 150 yards race, 14 4-sth sec. (C. G. Wood). 200 yards race, 20 l-sth sec. (E. H. Pelling). 220 yards race, 21 4-sth sec. (C. G. Wood). 330 yards race, 31^sec. (C. U. Wood). 600 yards race, lmin 12 3-sth sec. (H. C. T. Tindall). Half-mile race, lmin 54 2-sth sec. (F. J. K. Crobs). Mile walk, 6min 41 3-oth sec. (C. W. Y. Clarke). High jump, 6ft 3Jin (W. B. Page). Throwing the hammer, 124 ft Sin (J. S. Mitchell). The pole jump was referred to the Northern Counties' A. A., while the three miles walk, by C. W. Y. Clarke, was not recognised. The date of the championship meeting was fixed for June 2S=)th,'to be held at Stamford Bridgo, London. It was reported that last year's championship meeting resulted in a profit of £114 14s' 4d. The following resolution was carried :—": — " That no British athlete resident in the British Isles and a member of a British athletic club shall bellowed to compete for the Amateur Athletic Association championship of England as a member or in the colours of any' foreign club,' and ho net fide residence abroad of not leas than | one year's duration shall be required from ■ all competitors who are members of foroign athletic clubs.'' ' " "The Duke of Wellington said that Waterloo was won on the cricket fieias of Eton. He. referred to the gallantry of his officers, many of whom had been, trained, by the games and sports of that famous school. An illustration of tho effect of such train-

ing in developing^ man's limbs and wind was given- ab Inkermann, one of the most stubbornly-foughb battles of the Crimean . war. A young officer, who had learned at ■ Ebon not much from books bub a o-ood deal from its sp,orts }</ liad hot work °on that eventful night.i His sergeant foil at his side. Seizing, the dead man's rjfle,lie fired it, emptied his .own revolver, drove his sword through a -Russian officer, and was surrounded and taken prisoner. While going to the rear with two stalwart Russians, he lookbd at their long coats and said to himself,' ' They can't run.' Watching his opportunity, he knccked one soldier heels over head, threw the other by a wrestler's trick into the' mud, and took to his heels. Before his guardians were oh their legs and could fire he had got over a I good piece of ground. A Russian lancor made at him. He ran as if loading an Eton foot race, and cleared a good-sized fence. The lancer cleared it after him, and with lance fixed pressed the fugitive hard. A fewollen brook, running fiercely, barred his way. It was 17fbwide. Bub the Etonian had won the long jump when at school, having cleared 19ft over G'halvey ditch. He now jumped the brook. The lancer rofused to follow ; and tho young officer ran back into the English lines. " Hurrah for Ebon !" he shouted, as a schoolmate shook his hand — rocalling the i school where he had learned to shoot, to fence, the art of boxing, tho wrestling dodge, the high jump,-* tke long jump, and the use of his legs.