DONALD DINNIE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1596, 30 January 1884, Page 2

DONALD DINNIE.

k writer in the Otasje Daily Times, evidently disgusted at the fuss made over the above athlete in this colony at the present time, gives the following to show Donald is not the champion he is generally supposed to be:— Donald Dinnio was beaten by Duncan: 0, Boss at putting the stone ■and throwing the hammer at the Yorkers Caledonian Club in America, July 3, 1882.

Boss on July 4," 1882, in putting both heavy and ligght stones,' and also throwing the hammers, afc : Jersey City, A, M'Donald, the. Glcncarry giant, by his record made at Montreal in August 1882, also beat Dinnie's beat; throws with the hammers—viz,, 138 ft 6in against 140 ft 4ia for light, and 115 ft 6in against 116 ft 10in for the heavy hammer.; , W. J. Coleman, of Manchester, England, also beat Dinnie's best recorded throws with the heavy hammer. Morris Davin, of Dunedin, also beat Donald Dinnie's. record with both hammer and stone.

The above are for stone-putting andW hammer-throwing. At wrestling Dinnie is only a second-rate master, being after defeated. At running or -jumping to is also behind; Whatever he may have been, it is very evident that age is telling on his constitution now, and that when compared with Duncan 0. Ross, Edwin Biddy, H, MiDufur, Wm. Miller, Professor Thealbaud Bauer (of America), W. J. Coleman (of England), or Morris DavitP(of Ireland), he is simply out of fact, we have men in the colonies that could give a very good account of themselves if put in opposition .with our "pet." The last few weeks I have been tp any amount of trouble to see if I could discover the cause of Donald's popularity, but can't. If he wero a ohampion in anything, I could understand, but otherwise I can't.

This puerile cringing to athletes of Donald Dinnie's description is not at all beneficial to, nor does it conduce in any way to further, legitimate sports and wholesome competition, but quite the reverse. Youth and our local men look on all this ' furore' in something the same light as did the' prodigal's brother when his father killed'"the fatted calf. At present every small township seems bent on getting the renowned one to appear, just to show them what he can do. He appeals, of course, for a small consideration, not worth mentioning here; but do his visits conduce to any good end? I trow not, wherever he goes. Instead of infusing into* the minds of our own athletics the spirit of competition, this fashion of flaunting false plumes before an ever gullible public will have quite, the opposite effect, Any man may become champion of the world'in this way, because a man competes at the Caledonian gatherings for money, and thereby earns his living at feats of strength. Others quite as good—though not made for public exhibition —there are, many even in this Colony who could beat "Donald."