AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7781, 7 February 1891, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

FOUR RECORDS BROKEN.

(rasas AssooiATzoar t___qbam). AUCB___ND, February 6. The Athletic Championship Meeting, under the auspices of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and Cyclists' Alliance, opened to-day in the Domain Athletic Grounds. Beautiful weather prevailed, and the ground was in excellent condition. A light breeze was blowing down the ground. Only about 2000 people were present, as to-morrow will be the day -hore generally favorad by the public. The meeting was well conducted by the officers. The sports throughout were spirited and exciting, the bicycle riding, especially of tha Canterbury and Dunedin representatives, being quite a revelation here, as the local riders were quite outclassed. The finish for the ten mile bicycl" championship was a magnificent one,: Wiimott wearing Steadman down in the straight, and winning by half-a-yard. Wiimott also carried off the five mile championship, in which he made great speed at the finish and scored the race by loyde. The performance of Macpherson, the crack. Sydney sprinter, in the 250 yards flat championship, was a phenomenal one, aa he beat the world's record. He had a light breeze behind him, and there was an imperceptible fall In the ground. King, of. Wellington, recorded a meritorious performance in the event, running second tp; _*tacpherßon. Batger, whose style was greatly admired, won the hurdle championship easily, Owen, the Auckland representative, running disappointingly. Wood, of Canterbury, was in srreat form, andhisdouble win was splendidly received. Btirton, who won the tbree mile walking championship, strode along In grand style, very like that of McKelvey of Dunedin. and showed lots of staying power. Considerable regret was expressed at the disqualification of Bailey, the Sydney -'representative, when prominent in this race. Another subject of regret was the . ill-luck which attended Hayward of Canterbury, who fell iv both his bicycle races. In the five mile event, he was going well, third in the last lap. when tbe tyre of his machine slipped, and he came down. He had to ride a strange machine in the ten mile bicycle, race, and though prominent was losing ground when he again fell just after four miles had been covered. The time-Keeping during the afternoon was most careful. _3e-lde the three officers appointed to this _h_ty, Alcock. a well known Sydney expert, also took the records. Tee following are the results ;•— T___s_-Mi__ Wale: Championship. A. F.Burton (Auckland) ... 1 H>B; Cocks (Canterbury) ... 2 G. Peace (Auckland) ... ... 3

Other starters were G. Bailey (Sydney), K. 'McDonald (Wellington), R. Bain (Dunedin). Bailey took the lead early In the :_-ce r and led strongly for the first quarter ot . a mile. At that point he was warped by the judges. Iv next roucd Stocks displaced Bailey of the lead, Bur3fl_ being third, Peace fourth, Bain fifth, McDonald last. In the fourth lap Peace challenged Burton for third place, but the latter spurted strongly, and walked clean past Peace, Bailey, and Cocks, replying Co'this challenge Bailey " broke " and was disqualified from further competition in the race. Cocks again took command .ahortly afterwards, and held it until .the last lap, when Burton spurted and !passed him, and won easily by about lOyd&t McDonald pressed Peace for third Honors, but the latter held his own, and secured the place, a long way behind Cocks. Bain retired at one mile and threequarters. Time_23min37 _40_hsec. [Last holder—E. J. McKelvey, D.A. A.C.; time. Strain 183-sth sec> which was also previous New Zealand record. H._. Cocks walked second last year, j

250 Y___DS Fiat Cha_i_ iondhip. W. T. Macpberson, Sydney ... 1 J. M. KJing, Wellington ... 2 •_u C. Sefton, Sydney ... ... 3 _5. Owen <__uckland) aud M. H. Laird (Auckland) also ran. The start was a poor one, owing to the Eiatol hanging fire. Oweu started, but anlked and fell on his hands and knees, while King bounded away with a clear lead. Macpberson, however, once under weigh, soon collared the Wellington man, and passing down on the eastern side made a dash of speed, winning easily by four yards from King, who was about one jflrd ahead of Sefton, Laird being; at Matters shoulder, .while Owen was five yards away last, having never Made up ground he lost at the start. Time, 24 jXaOthaee. holder J. H. Hempton, S.A.A.C. Tftne, 27 _-Sth sec. New Zealand record, •Was©, by H. M. Reeves and A. B. Williams, 4_A.A_C.I

Five Mile Bicycle Championship.

•A. C. Wilmot., Canterbury ... 1 ;b. R. Steadman, Dunedin ... 2 . .P. Ledsbam, Canterbury .. 3 :; and Short (Auckland), and Hayward (Canterbury) were > the other starters. Wilmott assumed the „toad at. the start aud after about a quarter ft! a mile Hayward, Steadman, and Led!cbam left the Aucklanders and keeping gave a fine exhibition of riding, each of. them alternately holding the lead, -lathe last lap all dashed away for a spurt. ■Sayward had gone twenty yards when tyre slipped and he fell at the back of -the course. Wilmot collared Steadman «_d spurting splendidly led into the tn&aight and won by fifteen yards, Steadijoap heating Ledsham by about five yards. The winner was loudly cheered and •Steadman waa well received. Time, 15min JSS-Sthsec. ._jfLasfcholder-N. Hall. P.8.C., who also Jtolda the New Zealand record, 14min $5 4-sth sec.] High Jump Championship. _'Hume (Wellington) and Lawrie(Auck- j land) tied for this event, both being equal at sft Sin. Hume ricked his knee in his last leap aud was unable, therefore, to :sota.pete in the long jump. He will probably be all right to-morrow. '7\ t_Aßt holder-.. McNaught, D.A.A.C., neigh.. sft SMn; New Zealand record, SfTeinf F. C. White, _LB.A.A.C,_ Ha_f-M__. Flat Championship. : D. Wood, Canterbury ... „. 1 J.F. Grierson, Canterbury ,„ 2 'J. W. Winks, Auckland ,!. 3 ", B, J. White (Sydney) was the only other atarter. Wood took the lead with Grierson at his heels, White next, and Winks last. .When a quarter of a mile was completed .th? field was not ten yards apart. In the .Mcond lap Winks passed White, and drew dose up to Wood and Grierson, there jtting only four yards difference in the trio. Both the latter spurted, and a Jtqugh struggle took place, but halfway up the straight Wood forged -•head, and won by three-quarters of a yard from Grierson, Winks, who had |teen outpaced in the run home, finishing third, 6 yards behind, and White last. .ffims, zmln, (Last holder, J. F. Grierson, C-A.A.C, time Smin 5 2-oth sec; previous N.Z. record, 2mln 1 4-oth sec, by P. Morrison, 8.0 A.A.C.] 120 Yards Hurdle Championship. H. W. Batger, Wellington ... 1 •'■• W. J. Moir,Canterbury ... 2 •' Owen, Auckland ... ... 3 '_ There were no other starters. Owen _ad a slight lead at the first hurdle, Moir end Batger being together, but at the third hurdle Batger jumping beautifully assumed command, and was never caught, winning easily by a couple of yards. Time, 162-th sec <• [last holder, H. W. Batger, W.A.A.C., fiffle 16 l-sth sec ; N.Z. record, 16 l-sth ,eec by H. W. Batger, W.A.A.C.]

TJEN•__-_ BICTCIJ. C^aAMPIONSHIP. Wilmot., Canterbury 1 Steadman, Dunedin ... ... 2 Selby, Auckland ... ... 3 Buchanan and Short (Auckland) and Hayward (Canterbury) were the other starters. The bouthern representatives todk the lead at once, and held It throughout. At two and a half miles Buchanan left the track, and his example was followed by Short a mile further on, whilst after the fourth mile had been travelled Hayward fell. Steadman was leading Wilmott by a yard when the last lap was entered on, 'ahd the two men then settled to work for a ereat finish, for as they turned out of the set out upon a ft*i__ run. Wilmott immediately folSfwS. but the former had still the lead of tfte ground, and tohead for home, when Wilmott, ___-£3__**?««** • m * **•

Long Jump Championship. T. F. Upfill, Auckland, won this event, ? jumping 20ft 2in, beating McKay (Auckland) «and Batger (Wellington), the only other competitors. Upfill gave an exhibition jump, clearing 20ft 9in, and thus lowering the previous New Zealand record (.Oft 6_tn). .Last holder, T. D. Harman, C.A.A.C., 20ftmin, which was also the previous record.!

One Mile Championship. D. Wood, Canterbury ... ... 1 E. E. Corner, Sydney ... ... 2 J. F. Grierson, Canterbury ... 3 White of Sydney was the only other starter. Corner led for about threequarters of a mile, at which point Grierson was running well in secoud place and Wood third, White, who was out of form, having retired. Wood passed Grierson in the last lap, and, overhauling Corner at the back of the track, finished strongly, winning by about thirty yards. Time, 4min 31sec - - . . - ("Last holder P. Morrison, S.C.A.A.C. ; time, _mm 41 3-sth sec. New Zealand record, 4min 30 2-oth sec, by P. MorrUon, S.C.A.A.C.I 600 Yards Handicap. T. Gordon, 35yds ... ... 1 G. B. Crocker, 15yds ... ... 2 J. Winks, 23yds 3 Eleven others also ran. All the starters except Moir (Canterbury), syds, were Aucklanders. Roberts won by about a yard and a half after an excellent race. Moir was fourth. Time, 7 l-sth sec Two Mile Bicycle Handicap. P. Ledsham, Christchurch (100 yds) ... 1 J. E. Reynolds, Auckland (60yds) ... 2 H. S. Short, Auckland (40yd-j) ... 3 There were six other starters. In the last lap Ledsham had a commanding lead, and finishing in excellent style won easily by about twenty yards. Time, 6mia 28.cc.