ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 143, 18 June 1910, Page 14

ATHLETICS.

At the last meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association au application was received from the Auckland Centre for recognition of the walking record of D. Wilson, 20min. 58 sec, in the three-mile walk championship at Auckland, on February 2Gth. The necessary certificates were enclosed. The application was held over until next meeting, the secretary and chairman to look into the matter of time-limit, and report.

At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, it was decided that all the necessary conditions having been complied with, the record of W. A. Woodgcr, of 22 2-usec. for 220 yds. at the Wellington •provincial championships on February 5 should be passed, and a certificate granted.

Writing to a friend in Melbourne, A. B. Postle, ex-champion runner of Australia, states that he intends (having a few matches in England divring the coming season. He will thus ascertain what liis form is like, and if unsuccessful he intends returning to Australia. There is just a chance that Mr. Rufe Naylor may come later on with Donaldson to endeavour to create a boom in the sport in both Melbourne and Sydney. Says the New York correspondent of the London "Sportsman": "A very serious question haa cropped up regarding the athletes representing the 22nd Regt. National Guard who refused to compete at the recent Military Athletic League championships, as a protest against the treatment of their comrade, Melvin Sheppard. The latter, it will be remembered, was not permitted to compete because he wore spiked shoes, strictly against fcho conditions, whereupon hia colleagues withdrew. They are all, with the exception of Sheppard, now practically under suspension, and they will also be charged by their military authorities with grave 'breach of discipline, and arc ■liable to be dishonourably discharged from the Guard—action which would materially affect their citizenship and civil life. The little bombast is now looked at in a different light, and abject apologies are in order, but nothing seems to remove poor Sheppard's failing for getting into hot water." That road walking and running races have brought useful recruits to the ranks of long-distance athletics there can ba no question (says the "Field" of April 23). Among the competitors at Stamford Bridge on Saturday were several walkers and runners who until quite recently had not thought of distinguishing themselves on the track, but whose form in road walking and so-called "Marathon" racing well justified their appearance in cinder-path competitions. As regards the walking championship, in whicli E. J. Webb, the holder, gained his third consecutive victory in the fastest time ever accomplished in that erent, it is satisfactory to know that the judges were not called on to administer a single warning, and that, while Webb won easily enough in 51m 375, as against the 52m 25s in which H. Venn was successful in 1878, 19 men completed the seven mi]es J journey under the hour. The winner's mode of progression was perfect, and his victory was highly popular. The ten miles' running championship was one of the most exciting races imaginable. It ended in a victory for Sergt. F. O'Neill, of, the 2nd Connaught Rangers, by three yards from last year's runner up, W. Scott, of the Broughton Harriers and A.C., in 52m 41 2-ss, as against the 52m 403 in which A. E. Wood, of the Essex B?agles, won in 1909. Wood on Saturday was a non-starter. As was the case Inst year, E. R. Voigt, the four miles champion, retired, when seemingly running well, about half a mile from the finish. Twenty-two competitors ran the ten miles under 58s, thereby -winning one or other of the association's medals, and seven others inside the hour. The fastest time in which the event has ever been won is 51m-31 2-3s, by S. Thomas, after a sensational race with J. Kibblewhite, j in 1889.