AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7782, 9 February 1891, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. MORE RECOrEbREAKING. '**' (PBB9B ASSOCIATION TKLBGBAH.) AUCKLAND, February 7. fhe Athletic Championship Meeting included to-day, when about 6000 or 7000 people were present. There was excellent •riather, and, &s on the first day, a light breeze was blowing down the ground. She racing was capital, and some remarkable times were again made. Macpherton beat the amateur record, 10 l-sthsec, in the 100 yards flat, which he won easily, btit his time, lOsec, was two-fifths slower than the best New Zealand championship f^rfCfrmance, 04-sthsec, recorded by Hempton. In the three mile flat the New Zealand record, 16mln 3 3-sthsee, was beaten by Wood. There was a great finish in tbis eace. Corner, the Sydney representative, challenged Wood when they weie fairly In the straight, but the latter outstayed him and won by a couple of yards, Corner nltiDggreailydistressedafterbehad passed She tape. Both men were loudly cheered. $atger lowered the world's record in the fuarter-mlle hurdles, which he won in ftpjendid style, beating hi* only opponent, liolr, easily- Great interest was taken in the Quarter-mile Plat, in which Hutchi•9D. the Auckland crack over that distance, met the redoubtable Macpherson. Xhe pace was very sound from the start, Macpherson going away with the lead. When Hutchison made his run in the straight the issue seemed for a few •ecOnds in doubt, but Macpherson keeping his place won by two yards at&id great cheering, Hutchison coming b> tor a good reception for bis tine performance. Hay ward, who won the tweiity-flve mile bicycle championship, was carried shoulder high. In this race Steadman was unfortunate enough to lose s spoke from his machine, and, though he Changed it, the new machine did not suit bita, as he repeatedly lust the pedals, and he therefore left the track. But for this mishap he must have made a bold bid for first honors, as when he changed his machine at fifteen miles he was going very strongly, and was leading the other three southern men. Auckland wins the championship banner, having scored the felgheet number of points. The following f» the results of the day's events :— OfciE Mile Walking Championship. , A. F. Burcoa (Auckland) ... 1 '■.H. S. Cocks (Christchurch) ... g ' '•' G. Peace (Auckland) ... ... 3 .Creamer. Selby, Lowe (Auckland), McDonald (Wellington), and Barley (Sydney) ilso started. Selby took the lead earJy in the race, and led into the second lap, with Beace second, and the others in close order. Peace had the lead when half a mile had fcfeen travelled, Burton being second, and Cocks third, whilst McDonald was last, »bout 15yds from the ruck, Lowe, who JBsB out of it from the first, having retired In the third hip. Burton having secured file lead, was challenged by Bailey, when She latter was for the second time disamalifled for breaking. Burton led for the •emainder of the journey, and though lhallenged by Cocks 100 yds from home, ttajled him off, and won by 2yds or 3yds. Flme, 7inin s&sec. A _ . 4Last holder, B. J. MeKelvey, D.A.A.C., fsein 13sec; New Zealand record, 7min 12 fith sec, by B. N. Thomas, C.A.A.C.]

• 100 Yards Flat Championship. . Macpherson,Sydney 1 ■J. Mi King, Wellington ... 2 A. E. Sefton, Sydney ... ... 8 jXaird (Auckland) and Schwartzkoff JSydney) were the other starters. Macnfcewoa did not get away well, buc Qujekly coming through he was soon tmnnlog on even terms with King ia the lead until about; thirty yards from home, jrhen the Sydney crack drew away and fW* easily by five yards. There was a latendid race for third place, Sefton just Seating Laird on the tape. Schwartz&off f»ve op when half the distance had been travelled. Time, lOaeca. [Last holders— J. H. Hempton, S.A.A.C., 9&sth eec Previous New Zealand record, 10 i-Sth sec, by H. M. Beeves and H. F. Greenwood, C.A.A.C., and F. Meenan, JXA.A.C.

, One Thousand Yards Handicap. 8. B, Crocker, Auckland, 20yds ... 1 Win. EL N. Gold water, Auckland, 20yds 2 ''J. Winks, Auckland-,3oyda ... ... 3 Fifteen started. Won by about syda. |fo time was taken* One Mile Bicycle Championship. .A. C. Wilmott, Canterbury ... 1 P. Ledhhara, Canterbury ... 2 , S. B. Steadman, Dunedin ... 3 flayward (Canterbury) and Howard ttok the lead at the start, but gave way » Ledsham, who led, with Wilmott tecond,' through the first lap, Hay ward *nd 'Howard next. Steadman moved up ' (o'the leaders, and just as half a mile was sompleted he had secured first place. He 4 iaowed the way round the third time with wayward, Wilmott, Ledsham, and ' Howard following in that order, the latter riding well up with the four Southern representatives. They passed out of the -Straight for the fourth lap with Steadstill holding a couple of yards' advantage of Hayward, who was riding well, bat as they turned on to the back of the course Wilmott came on the inside from third place with a sudden dash, and at the moment that he came alongside Hayward the latter fell, and was KJaus put out of the race. Wilmott continuing his brilliant ran took command, and came home an easy dinner. Time, 2min 58sec Hayward, Who was somewhat shaken by his fall, | Complained that he had been brought | down through Wilmott colliding with him vthen the latter came up on the inside, pj&d he entered a protest against Wilmott to that ground, but It was disallowed. 120 Yaeds Handicap. First Heat, t&ng, Wellington, scratch .« ... 1 J; W. Bargees, 8 yds „. ... 2 Schwartzkofif, Sydney, 4 yds ... .» 3 Nine starters. Time, 113-sth sec * Second Heat. jetton, Sydney, scratch 1 iWJEL Martin, Auckland, 8 yds ... 2 W. F. Larkin, Auckland. 7 yds ... 3 Five started. Time, 12 l-sth sec. Third Heat, B. Mowbray, Auckland, 6 yds ... 1 fc-Roberts, Auckland, 7* yds ... 2 Jloir, Christchurcb, 6 yds .„ ... 3 Six started. Time,l2sec. Fourth Heat* ~: . a Hesketh, 6yds ... „,■ 1 J. Hill, Auckland, 7yda ... 2 - Bull, Auckland, Byds ... ... 8 Jslx starters. Time, 12 l-sth sec Final Heat. Mowbray, Auckland, 6yds „. 1 , King, Wellington, scratch ~, 2 • • Sefton, Sydney, scratch ... 3 • < Mowbray had the lead-when thirty yards Aad been run, and stalling off a rush by Kins, who came fast with Sefton. he managed to win by about a yard. Hesketh vna an excellent fourth. Time, 12sec . Three Miles Flat Championship, D. Wood, Canterbury «, ... 1 E. C. Corner, Sydney 2 v J. R. White, Sydney w ... 3 " ' V. J. Clarke, Auckland, was the only »ther starter. Clarke led for a quarter of a mile, when Wood took up the running, with Clarke, Corner and White next, separated from each other by a yard or two, There was little) alteration in these place** until Clarke, after having again Assumed the lead and yielded it, at length left the track, while White, who was not fit, fell some distance in the rear. Wood now made his own running, with Corner Immediately in his wake, until the latter challenged him about a furlong from .home. Wood, however, drew away and led into the straight, where Corner came again with a great final spurt, iind amid a roar of excitement, ran up to Wood's shoulders. It appeared as ft this last resolute challenge would be successful, but the Canterbury man immediately responding kept his place and it was then seen that the race was brer, for Corner had every ounce taken out of him. Wood finishing the winner by two yards almost run out. Corner, whose splendid effort was one of the most gallant witnessed, fell exhausted after passing the tape and for some moments lay greatly distressed. Both men were loudly cheered from all parts of the ground. White finished third about a furlong «way. Time, lomin 40 2-sih sec [Last holder, P. Morrison, S.C.A.A.C., 16min 3 2-sth sec. which was also the teeonL] 300 Yabds Handicap. First Heat. ' ' W. Lewis, Auckland, 18yds, had a walkover, as none of the others -wore punctually at the starting marks. ■ Second Heat. •-'.;.. W.H.Boyd,Auddaod,Myd«.« l J. W. Burgess, Auckland, Hyde S Boberts,Aucldand,6yds .„ 3 Sight started. '

Third Heat. S. R Chatfield, Auckland, 9yds 1 W. L. Pritt, Auckland, 16yds ... 2 J. Beid, Auckland, 2yds ... 3 Seven starters. Time, 33 3-sth sec. BinalHeafc. Boyd - ». I Chatfield | Won'lSytoree yards. Time, 33 2-sth sec. Quabteh Mile Hurdle Championship. H. W. Batger, Wellington ... 1 J. W. Moir, Christchurch ... 2 These were the only starters. Both men cleared the first and second hurdles together, but at the next jump the superiority of Bather's style was manifest, for he gained a good deal of ground at the hurdle, and seemed to hold Moir safe enough for the remainder of the journey, drawing away whenever challenged. When in a line for home Moir drew up to him at the last hurdle, but Batger, gaining quite a yard in the jump, came on and won easily. Time, 61 2-sth sec Batger was warmly applauded as he returned from *he track. [No holder. Previous New Zealand and world's record 62aec, by G. B. Shaw, C.A.A.C.]. Three Mile Bicycle Handicap. S. Ledsham, Canterbury, 45yds ... 1 H. & Short, Auckland, 60yds. ... 2 E. Reynolds, Auckland, 90yds...' .. 3 L. Aitken, Auckland, 103 yds, and Waters, Auckland, 270 yds, also ran. Ledsham's handicap in this race was 200 yards, allotted to him on his Christchurch form in comparison with Wilmott, _ and in a spirit which cannot be too highly commended he offered to go back with the last man of the Auckland division, Nicholson, who was placed at forty-five yards. As Nicholson aid not start, and Wilmott at scratch, also did not appear, Ledeham was really the scratch man. Waters held his lead for a mile, by which time Ledsham had goue up into second place, with Reynolds, Short and Aitken nexc. After two miles and a quarter had been travelled, Ledsham tonic the lead, and from thin out he was never headed, riding away from the others whenever he pleased, and eventually winning easily by fifteen yards. Short beat Reynolds by five yards for second place. Time, 9min 47 3-sth sec. Quarter-mile Flat Championship. W. T. Macpherson, Sydney ... 1 J. C. Hutchison, Auckland ... 2 J. M. King, Wellington ... 3 J. F. Grierson (Canterbury) also ran. Macpheraon was quickest away, while Grierson had the worst of the start. The Sydney representative making every use of his opportunity ran out of the straight two yards in front of Hutchison, the others in close attendance, but rounding the turn into the back stretch Hutchison, coming wide on the outside, drew level with Macpherson. The race from this point was of a most exciting character, both men running all they knew, stride for stride, Macpherson, however, keeping the advantage of the inside position. This told at the Hospital end of the ground, where there is rather a sharp corner, for Hutchison shot a little wide, but coming again was almost on terms with Macpherson entering the straight. Macpherson, however, succeeded in keeping his lead in the struggle which ensued, and won by about a yard and a half: King, three yards behind, third, and Grierson last, six yards away. Both Macpherson and Hutchison were run out, and the performance ~of both men is considered as a great one, the time, 50 2-sth sec, being nearly two seconds faster than the best New Zealand record. Hutchison's time is reckoned 50 4-sth sec, and great regret is expressed that uuder the rules of the Association he may sot receive an Association cup, although the record was so thoroughly beaten. [Last holder, H. M. Reeves, C.A.A.C., 54 3-sth sec. Previous New Zealand record, 52aec, by H. M. Reeves.]

Twenty-five Miles Bicycle Championship. W. J. S. Hayward, Canterbury 1 C. Wilmott, "Canterbury ... 2 W. Buchanan, Auckland ... 3 Aitken (Auckland), J. Selby (Auckland), Ledsham (Canterbury), and E. R. Steadman (Dunedin) were the other starters. Before the first mile had been completed Buchanan took the lead, and at one mile and a half he was a couple of yards in front of Ledsham, Ha) ward third, Steadman and Wilmott together next, , Aiken and Selby last. Buchanan showed the road until the last lap of the seventh mile, when the four southern representatives passed him, and* Steadman went on in front, Hayward, Wilmott, and Ledsham being his immediate followers. By this time Aiken and Selby were a considerable. distance away, and evidently already beaten. Steadman, the first of the four southern men, who were riding on in front, separated from each other by a couple of yards, led for two miles at a good even pate, the average time for each lap of that distance being SOsecand the fastest 47sec When the leaders had travelled nine miles and a quarter, Aiken, who was a quarter of a mile behind, retired from the race, but Selby, the other outsider, continued to toil along. Thirteen miles had been recorded, when Steadman, who was still making the running, called out as he passed the knot of officials gathered in front of the pavilion, and said that a spoke of his bicycle had gone, and when another lap had been travelled, he dropped away, thus giving first place to Hayward. By the time another circuit had been travelled, a second bicycle had been procured for Steadman, and mounting this amid applause he rode on again in pursuit of the leaders, who had now gained a furlong advantage of him, Hay ward being first; and Wilmott second, whilst Ledsham had also lost ground, and was even with Steadman. They had completed fourteen miles when Ledsham gave up, and a quarter of a mile further on,Steadman, finding that he could not grip the pedals of the bicycle he was riding, also retired from the track amidst general regret, as his chances were thought very highly of. When the mishap occurred •he was going stronger than anyone else in the race. The issue-now lay between Hayward and Wilmott, who were riding steadily, and they went on in front half a mile ahead of Buchanan, who rode immediately before them, the only other man lefc in, Selby, retiring when nineteen and ahalf miles had been recorded. He was at this time about a mile behind the leaders. At this stage of the race the average time for a lap was about 55secs. so that Steadman had brought the field along saecs quicker in each lap when he was at the head of affairs, the lap measuring a quarter of a mile. There was no change in the position for some time, Wilmott riding immediately behind Hayward, but shortly after they had entered upon the first lap of the twentythird mile Wilmott was attacked by stitch, andwasseento falter, and when they ran into the second lap a great shout arose as he stopped riding and, resumed, only at a much slower pace, when he had lost a good deal of ground. Hayward riding in grand style, increased his lead.and spurting in the straight he passed Buchanan who had never dropped further away than a mile, and won amid hearty cheers, about seven furlongs from Wilmott, who beat Buchanan by a furlong for second place. Time, 1 hour, 27min and 4 5-th sec Hayward's victory was very popular as he had had the bad fortune to fall in his other races when going well, and he was seized and carried shoulder high. Putting the Weight. T. O'Connor, Auckland, threw 37ft 3in, beating three others, including Moir, of Christchurch. [Last holder—R. J. Malcolm, W.A.A.C., 36ft 7in. Previous New Zealand records— (10ft 2in) 36ft7in, K. J. Malcolm, W.A.A.C.; (7ft 2in) O. McCormick, 33ft 7in, W.AA.C # Pole Jump Championship. Upflll, Auckland, won with 9ft lOin, beating Hume, Wellington, 9ft 9in. (Last holder—D. M. Robertson, C.A.A.C., Oftoiin. New Zealand record—9ft lOin by J. E. Hume, W. A.A.C. The prizes were presented at a smoke concert on Saturday evening at the Imperial Hotel.