OLYMPIC GAMES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10688, 15 July 1912, Page 5

OLYMPIC GAMES

THE AMATEUR DEFINITION

FURTHER RESULTS

(Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.)

STOCKHOLM, July 13.

There has been much controversy here on the subject of the amateur -definition. Some countries, by State grants and big funds, enable men to abstain from work and devote their time to training for a longer period than accords with Britain's idea of -what constitutes an amateur. Miss Amy Curwen, the English champion, did not contest the 100 metres swimming championship, owing to an attack of appendicitis. A representative of the King visited Longworth, the _ English champion swimmer, who is ill. In the final heat of the 800-metres Teams Race, the Americans beat the British. In the second heat the Australians defeated the Germans in 10 minutes 14secs., which was a record heating the Americans' tune by 12 jsecs. , .-i i» ■ Tho Americans secured the first -places in the final for the 110-metres itirdles. the time being 15 1-lOsecs. . The Swedes won the whole of the Modern Penthathlon prizes.

The aggregates so far are as follow :

Americans 97 points Sweden 72 points Britain 55 points Germany 27 points South Africa 11 points Australasia 9 points Canada 8 points

MORE COMMENT OF BRITISHERS. AMERICANS AGAIN PREDOMINATE. (Received July 13, 11.10 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, July 12.

Atkinson, the New Zealand swimmer, who assisted to represent Britain, was unplaced in the final of the 200-metres breast stroke. Mr Thomas, ex-president of the Ox--ford University Athletic Club, writing in the Daily Mail, caustically criticises the British team at Stockholm. He says all the nation's representatives except Britain's regard the Olympic games seriously. The Americans won unprecedented and remarkable victories by determination and sheer merit, ■while England's incompetence is largely due to lack of organisation. Americans again predominate in most of the preliminary rounds. Moulding (Canada) won the 10,000 metres walk in 46min 27 2-ssecs. Italy won the gymnastic display, Britain being third. Longworth is not dangerously ill, and is now recovering.

NEWSPAPER IMPUTATIONS

(Received July .13, I.Bo' p.m.)

STOCKHOLM, July 12

'The British athletes resent the -newspaper imputations, antl declare that if the Americans competed under similar conditions they would have fewer victories. Longer training would have'worked wonders with the Britishers.

AMERICAN SUCCESSES. Heceived This Morning, 12.30 o'clock. STOCKHOLM, July 14. Hodgson but iiip a world's record, his time ibein.g frmiii. 25 2-ssecs, beating Hatfield! (England). • Foster (Euglaml) wofn the semifinal in the 400 -metres .swimming coitesl, (Ei'ae styOe. ' Hardwick, in fimin. Sleecs., was first in. the <seco»d heat ,after a .fine strugigle with Ladtorres (Hungary). Hdale'y w«e third, in 'omin. 37sees. Champion ,was fourth. Hodgson, 'Hatfield, Hardwiok, and "Lastonres will complete in the final, likewise Healey as the fastest third. Hebner (America) won the 100 metres back stroke i'ni lmiu. 21 l-o^ics. Geriwan/s were second and third.

McVilly's iboat has not arrived. In fhe final cf the 400 metres fiat *iu'nmn!g, ißedpatih- (America) ■, .a 48 1-5 sees. Tvoi3 fii'Et, wJtfh Brawn. (G-'er-mdny) 48 3-10 th sees., in second place. Lindberg (America) 48 2-ssecs, -vrtis third.

America won three ont of the first four places in the teamis race.