AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 478, 7 June 1890, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALAND SUCCESSES. THE SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Auckland, June 2. From Sydney we have the full account of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting which took place on the Cricket Association ground on Saturday. There was a large attendance present, and great interest was manifested in the contests. The various races were, as a rule, contested in a spirited manner. As will be seen from the results as given below, the New Zealand representatives were very successful, carrying off no less than six championships outof thetenevents, besides supplying second and third places in several others. The team was warmly congratulated upon its performances. Mr 11. B. Lusk, the only competitor from Auckland, proved himself a worthy representative, winning his event, the Hurdle Pace, in good time ; while Mr F. White, of Napier, was second to him. The sprint events between Messrs W. J. Macpherson, of Sydney, and J. H. Hempton, of Invercargill, were extremely interesting. The Maorilander was the better man at 100 yards, but the Sydney “ rep.” was his superior in the quarter mile and 220 yards. The times recorded in all the events are considered to be very good, while Mr E. J. McKelvey, of Timaru, broke the Australian record by his achievement in the One Milo Walk, which he compassed in 6m 595. Macpherson was congratulated for his times for 220 yards, 235. ; and 440 yards, 53 l-10th s. THE RESULTS. The following are the results of the championships in the order in which they were run : One Mile Walk.— E. J. McKelvey (Dunedin), 1 ; A. Bullock (New South Wales), 2. Time, 6m. 595. Half-Mile Flat.— N. Ferguson (Queensland), 1 ; D. Wood (Christchurch), 2 ; L. JEL Morgan (New South Wales), 3. The other New Zealand reps, did not start. Time, 2m. 4Js. Ore Hundred Yards.—J. H. Hempton (Invercargill), 1 ; W. J. Macpherson, 2. Time, 10Js. High Jump.— Kellett (Queensland), sft Sin, 1 ; L. A. Cuff (Christchurch), and F. White (Napier), equal, sft 4in, 2. One Mile Flat.— P. Morrison (Timaru), 1. Time, 4m 35 4-5 s. Morxison won by 100 yards. 220 Yards Flat. —W. J. Macpherson (Sydney), 1; J. H. Hempton (Invercargill), 2 ; Pritchard (Queensland) 3. Time, 23sec. 120 Yards Hurdles. —R. B. Lusk (Auckland), 1 ; F. White (Napier), 2. Time, 17 3-sbh secs. Three Mile Walk. —E. J. McKelvey (Dunedin), 1. Time, 24 min. 18 4-sth sec. McKelvev won with ease.

Quarter Mile Flat. W. J. Macpherson (Sydney), 1; McCrae (New South Wales), 2; Jacobs, 3. Time, 53 l-10fch sec.

Three Mile Flat. —P. Morrison (Timaru), 1 ; 11. J. White (Sydney), 2 ; D. Wood (Christchurch), 3. Time, 16min 46 9-10th sec.

DETAILS OF RACES. RECORDS OF OUR CHAMPIONS. THE COURSE HEAVY. The weather was dull and threatening, but rain held off until towards dusk, when light showers fell. Owing to the delay the last two events were practically run in the darkness. Six thousand people were present, including Lord Carrington and party from Government House. The recent rains had rendered the course heavy, consequently the times were not so fast as expected. The meeting proved a regular gala day for New Zealanders, who out of the twelve events in which they were entered, secured seven first, five seconds, and two thirds. The following are the details :

120 Yards Handicap.— This event was run in 8 heats, and F. R. Tidswell, H. Schivartzkolf, Ryrie, F. S. Brierly, Ritchie, A. L. Pritchard. Hanchan, and P. Wood (Christchurch) were left in the final heat, which resulted in the victory of Ryrie, with Pritchard second, and Tidswell third. Ryrie led from the start to the finish, and won by a foot. Time, 12 3-10bh sec. Wood’s chance was discounted by his having immediately previous run in the three mile race.

The Mile Walking.— E. J. McKelvey (Dunedin), A. Bullock, W. Spring, and Ranger (all Hew South Wales) started. The quartette started well, but before the end of the second lap Ranger dropped out, and Spring gradually fell behind. Bullock made a tremendous spurt in the last lap, and although he passed the New Zealander, his advance was only momentary, as McKelvey soon got on terms again, and the pair raced shoulder to shoulder until within a couple of yards of the post, when McKelvey forged ahead, and breasted the tape eighteen inches in front of Bullock. Both men were loudly cheered. Time, 6min. 59sec. McKelvey is 22 years of age, 5 feet 10£ inches high, and weighs lOst 101 b. His first success was in 1888, when he won the Mile Walk in Dunedin. At the Championship Meeting in Dunedin last year, he won the Mile in 7min. 13sec., and the Three Miles in 24min. 18 2-5 sec.

Half-mile Flat. Ferguson (Queensland), 1; D. Wood (Christchurch), 2 ; L, H. Morgan (New South Wales), 3. Cook (Dunedin) and Wood were the only New Zealanders who competed. At the end of the first lap, R. J. White, of Sydney, was leading, but 200 yards from home, Ferguson forged ahead, hotly pursued by Wood, and he eventually won by two yards.

100 Yards. —J. H. Hempton (Invercargill), 1 ; W. T. Macpherson (New South Wales), 2 ; H. M. Reeves (Christchurch), 3. H. Schwartzkoff, F. N. Daley (New South Wales), and L. and W. C. Pritchard (Queensland) also ran. Great interest was centred in this event, owing to the meeting of Macpherson (the Sydney crack) and Hempton, both of whom looked in the pink of condition. Hempton got a capital start, while Macpherson hung a little. The New Zealander ran brilliantly, and coming like a rocket won easily by two yards. Reeves was a yard behind Macpherson. Hempton has been a brilliant sprint runner for the last 8 years, since he won the 200yds scratch race at Wellington and the 300yds handicap on the same day. He has won races in nearly every town in New Zealand. He has now competed 51 times, with the following resfiltsFirst 32 times, second 11, third 2, and unplaced 6. He is about 27 years of age, sft lQin high, and weighs list 21b. The following are his best performances : —looyd, 9 3-sth sec at the Dunedin Cham? pionship meeting; 150 yd, 15 l-10th sec; 220 yd, 23sec; 250 yd, 27sec.

In the High Jump Glasson (New South Wales) dropped out, at 5 feet 4 inches, and

White and Cuff (New Zealand) both came to grief at the next inch, while Kell6tt (Queensland) closed on his second try, and won. Cuff renounced second prize in favour of White. White is an old Auckland boy. One Mile Flat.— P. Morrison (Timaru), 1 ; Cook (Dunedin), 2 ; W. E. Jacobs (New South Wales), 3. Five started. D. Wood (New Zealand), F. T. Brierley (New South Wales), and N. Ferguson (Queensland), were scratched. Morrison was a veritable dead bird for this event, and

taking the lead shortly after the start, added to his advantage, and won by quite 100 yards. Morrison is a splendid runner, with fine style and excellent l-ecords. He is 28 years of age, sft Bin in height, and weighs 9st 21b. He started running at Timaru in 1887, and since then has been most successful. He holds all tho New Zealand records from half-a-mile up to three miles, and has held all the championships of the same distances. His best performances are quarter mile, 54Jsecs ; halfmile, 2min 1 4 sbh secs ; one mile, 4min 30 2-sth sec ; bwo miles, lOmin 3 l-sbh sec ; bhree miles, 16min 3 2-sbh sec. For bhe 220 Yards Flab, H. M. Reeves (Christchurch), R. B. Lusk (Auckland), A. L. Pritchard (Queensland), and K. F. McRae (New South Wales) were scratched. Macpherson assumed the lead immediately after the start, and ran like a deer. Hempton made a valiant endeavour to overhaul him, but failing be slackened off when

thirty yards from the post, and finished second, half-a-dozen yards behind Macpherson. W. C. Pritchard (Queensland) was third.

The 120 Yards Hurdles was run in bwo heats. Lusk won the first in 17 4-sth sec,

and White the second in 18 2-sth sac. In the final heat, Lusk and White jumped each hurdle together, taking them beautifully, bub the former had bhe advantage over the last obstacle, and won by two yards. Lusk is well known in Auckland as an all-round athlete. He is 23 years of age, 6fb 1-Jin high, and weighs 12sb 21b. His record “for 39 starts is : First, 17 times ;

second, 9 ; third, 3 ; unplaced, 10. His beet performances have been : 120yds hurdles, owing Iyd, 17 l-sth sec ; 120yds hurdles, owing 20yds, 18 2-sth sec. He is good on the flat, a splendid footballer, and a good cricketer. Three-mile Walk. —E. Jr (Dunedin), J. J. Giltinan and Brayth (New South Wales) were the only starters. McKelvey gave his opponents au awful showing up, having led from start to finish. After the first mile he had a lead of 120

yards, and this he increased every lap,winning by close on a quarter of a mile. McKelvey’s walking was the theme of admiration, and he was enthusiastically cheered. The other bwo pegged away steadily, and were close together all the way, Giltinan only gaining second place on the tape. Long Jump. —L. A. Cuff (Christchurch), 19ft, 1; E. J. Kelleb (Queensland), 18ft 10Jin, 2. Cuff is secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. He has been very successful in at both running and jumping. He is a prominent cricketer. His best record is : Long jump, 19ft lljin. He is 24 years of age, 6fb fin high, and weighs list 121 b. He is manager of tho team. Quarter Mile. —There were only six competitors for the 440 yards, 11. S. St. George, W. D. Evans, Flanagan (New South Wales), R. B. Lusk (Auckland), D. Wood (Christchurch), Hempton (Invercargill), P. Morrison (Timaru), K. Pritchard did nob start. Cook, of Dunedin, started. L. F. TVicks, of Sydney, got away with the lead, and before the men had gone a couple of hundred yards, Reeves, of Christchurch, who had got away well, ran through the field splendidly and assumed command, closely followed by Macpherson. When within 160 yards from home Macpherson headed Reeves, who began to tire and at 30 yards from the post stopped running, leaving Macpherson to romp in as he liked. Mcßae finished second, and Jacobs third. Macpherson is the crack short distance runner of Now South Wales and has made some splendid performances. For the Three-mile Flab A. W. Ralph, F. Brierley, H. Evans, Triggs, G. Casson (New South Wales), N. Ferguson (Queensland) were scratched. W, Evans was the first to show in front, followed by R. Liddall and A. E. W. Machinaun, Morrison

waiting back in the first cluster. During the seventh lap Morrison extended himself, and entered the eighth with a lead of 30 yards, Wood and White (Sydney) being together next, the others gradually dwindling away. Morrison increased his lead at every stride, and left White and Wood struggling desperately for second honours. Entering the last lap only three were left in the race, the others having retired, and Morrison won by 60 yards; White beat Wood by two yards ior second place. REMARKS. The Queenslanders made a fair record j securing two events, while of the numerous New South Wales contingent, which included representatives from all the Sydney clubs, Newcastle, Maitland, Wagga, and Bathurst, Macpherson was the only one to secure a winning bracket. He, with the two New Zealanders, Morrison and McKelvey, were the heroes of the afternoon, each having carried off a “double,” though Hempton earned much kudos by his victory in the 100 yards. Lusk's style over the sticks was much admired. Previous to the race he expressed confidence that he could do the distance in 17sec., but the record shows that he was slightly longer, possibly because he was not pressed. The New Zsalanders speak highly of the treatment received from the New South Wales athletes, who afforded them every assistance, and placed all needful conveniences at their disposal while training. Now that the meeting is over, a round of amusements is being prepared for them. To-night they are the guests of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association at a theatre party, to-morrow a smoke concert will be given at which the medals and trophies won will be presented, while on the* 9th instant the East Sydney Club will entertain them at a ball at Nithsdale. The trophies for the various events are . gold and silver medals of choice design, having a plain centre with the initials “N.S. W.A.A.A.,” in blue enamel, sur- ; rounded by a wreath of floral leaves, making a remarkably neat medal, the finish and workmanship being excellent. CONGRATULATION S. No doubt, from all the towns in New Zealand, congratulatory messages will be sent to the team to-day. There was great enthusiasm at the Opera House and Circus on Saturday evening when Star extras were read giving the results, and Mr R. B. Lusk’s name was greeted with hearty cheers. To-dav Mr Jas. Halyday, junior, secretary of’the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, and Mr B. J. Esam, treasurer, sent a cable message to Sydney congratulating the team, on behalf of his club, on their successes. Private messages of a similar nature have also been sent.

The team has been invited by the Secretary and Treasurer to return to the colony by way of Auckland, and if they can do so they will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed here.