ATHLETICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 442, 1 February 1890, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

(By ACTION.)

The mile bicycle championship of Ireland was won on the sbh October last by Ar. Dr Cross in 3min 2 4 sth sec. beating his brother by a few inches after a desperate race. The same rider won the 25 miles championship in lhr 27ntin 22sec by about 70yds. Bicycle riding has got quite a strong hold in France, and some of bhe.riders there do excellent woik. Two riders, named Fol and De Oleves (a lad of 16) beat the French 12 hours record on the 23rd September last, the former doing 180.4 miles and the latter about 180 miles in the 12 hours.

A lantern procession of cyclists was held on the Cardiff road early in November, and proved a very attractive affair. Among the processionists was a little girl of a dozen summers, who steered a small tricycle, canopied by a huge Japanese umbrella, draped at the points with eight globular lanterns. These “ Chinese lantern rides ” are becoming very popular. The following records at the Dunedin meeting have been passed by the Committee of the N.Z.A A. Association: —T. D. Harman, 20fb long jump; R. J. Malcolm. 36fb 7in, putting the shot, and D. M. Robertson, 9ftsiin, pole jump. The recoids of Hempbon, 9 3-sth sec, 100 yards, and Babger, 16Asec, 120 yards hurdles, were held over pending the decision of the English Association on Pelling’s record of 19 3-sbh sec for 200 yards, made under circumstances similar to those of the above mentioned athletes.

It seems to be pretty we'l settled that a New Zealand team of runners will visit Sydney when the championship meeting is held there. The cost is expected to be about £l5O, and it is thought in Christchurch that little difficulty will be experienced in raising the money. Circulars are to be sent bo all the clubs in the colony asking their co-operation. The following have to be sounded as to thoir br-ing willing and able to join the team : J. H. Hempton, sprints, Invercargill ; H. M. Reeves, J and 4-mile: G. B. Shaw, Christchurch, Hurdles and 4-mile; H. VV. Batger (Wellington), hurdles; T. Upfill (Auckland), long jump ; F. C. White (Napier), high jump; E. J. MeKe vey (Dunedin), walks; P. Morrison (Timaru), distance. The following will be good news to the Auckland friends of Billy Murphy, the light weight boxer. It shows that there is a good deal of the “man” about him. Speaking of Murphy, he “ San Franci-co Chronicle” says : “ Nearly all the professional pugilists nightly pray for his downfall. Never was there a slugger so cordially detested by the punching fraternity. His 'dees from the pugilistic sbandnoinb are insufferable. He neither drinks, smokes, nor loans his money, and his vvnole demeanour is that of a man who has come to this country with the malicious and highly reprehensible purpo-e of getting rich.”

Never since the institution of the Rugby Union trial match London, Midlands, and West v. Oxford and Cambridge havo bne ’Varsities suffered such a defeat as that sustained by them this year on the Rectory Field, Blackheatb. Tne score was three goals and two tries against them to nil. The “Athletic News’ savs that A E. Stoddarb has never been seen to better advantage than in this match. S. Thomas, the English amateur longdistance runner, has been breaking records in America in a 15 miles run on the Manhabian grounds. He broke every American record from 10 miles to 15, doing the latter in lhr 27miu 11 3-sth sec. The track was in very bad condition. The previous American record for 15 miles was lhr 36min 7sec, by VV. C. Davies. The best English amateur record is lhr 24min 24sec, by G. A. Dunning. The be.-b English professional record is lhr 22min, and the best American lhr 28min 46sec.

Very good entries have been received for the 150 Yards and Quarter Mile Handicaps at the Squadron Sports next Saturday, considering the meeting is an off one. A. number of the men have been training carefully, but the majority simply con sider it a day’s outing. There is some chance of a mile race for amateurs being put on the programme, and I am sure such a race would meet with much favour CRICKET. The New South Wales Selection Com mittee have come in for some rough criticism because they left W. L. Mur doch out of their team against Yictoria. “Mid-on” in the “ Leader ” has the following remarks :—Hold your breath, g6ntle reader, while I tell you that the New South Wales Selection Committee omitted the Australian Grace, the nonpareil of Australian batsmen (who has led Australian teams to victory repeatedly in old England, and will soon do so again), because they were not satisfied that he was good enough. Surely they had a right to leave him out if he was not good enough. The following is the opinion of the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch “ Press ” on the match Wellington v. Auckland :—“The best men won. In batting, bowling, and fielding the Wellington team are far ahead of Auckland, but more especially in bowling. The Aucklanders could do nothing with Frith and Dryden, whose bowling seemed altogether too difficult for them. Then it must be remembered that Hewatt, who is undoubtedly one of the very best bowlers in New Zealand, was absent. The Wellington batting, though better than that of Auckland, was very disappointing. But some good men wore absent, and the selection made was not a happy one.” You don’t say.