ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 229, 21 September 1908, Page 4

ATHLETICS.

POSTLE'S WORLDS RECORD. In beating W. Croweott. the English professional sprint champion, at -Manchester last Saturday, Arthur H. I'ostle of Australia, undoubtedly accomplished the finest performance of uis onllinnt career. The match was decided On the Manchester United F.C. li round. A line grass trad; had been arranged from 'corner to corner of ihe field. Tii£ track was rather peculiar. It seemed to rise from the start and drop to the finishing post, the highest part being near the centiv. IJoth men were lit as fiddles, and confident. The conditions of tile race were, briefly,' to run 130 yards (level) for £2OO a side and a purse of .CISU, given by Mr ltufc Xaylor, the popular Australian spoilsman, L'.'»U7 10s to go to the winner and .07 10s to tire loser. The weather had been so line for some time in the district that up to Friday a new record Iliad been anticipated; but all thoughts ol this were abandoned when it was seen that rain had fallen fiom midnight on Friday almost continually until the race was decided. The previous record for 130 yards on a grass track was 13scc, made by Wendell linker, U.S.A., in 1880. I'ostle is reunited to have covered the distance in 1 12sec on a track falling 3ft Oin between start and finish. There were about 10,000 people present w'neu the men went to their marks, and both received a tremendous (nation from the crowd. All through (irowcoft had been favorite, and the final betting was as much as 3 to 1 on Ihe Englishman. The men got away splendidly at pistol lire, ■but Postle was smartest in getting into his stride, and when the men had gone twenty yards (lie favorite was. a yard in the rear. At the half-dis-tance the positions were exactly the same, but Croweott was making strenuous ell'orU to equalise matters. At 100 yards the Englishman was only inches behind, but the non-favorite then drew away again, and passed t'lie ' judge a good winner by over a foot. The official time was returned at four yards inside 13sec, which, seeing thai Postle was travelling at rather over ten yards per second, must mean 12 3-5 see, "which is 'easily a record. It was n splendid race and the loser is to be sympathi-ed with, for ho had broken tlip record by more than three yards. Postle was afterwards decorated with the championship sash and medal, and j was carried shoulder-high to the pavilion.

Following the Postle v. Oowcotl match, a half-mile .race on level terms between J. Todd (Australia) and F. C. Davies (Wales) was decided. Hie stake bring £l2O. Odds of 5 to 2 were laid on Davies. who led throughout and won easily by six yards.