NEW ZEALAND'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9305, 4 January 1896, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONS.

A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. " Weekly Press and Referee." One unpalatable feature of the N.Z. A.A.A. 5 s seventh annual Championship Meeting—which this year wa3 a one day fixture, the previous meeting was cycling and athletic combined—was the meagre attendance of the public. Not that I was disappointed, for, judging from a close observation of matters athletic for some years, and especially of the past two or three seasons, I expressed my opinion the day before the sports that a couple of thousand would more than cover the number of spectators, and this opinion was concurred in by prominent athletic officials, who have borne the brunt of the past, and watch the course of events. Of late, amateur athletics have not only not gone ahead in Canterbury, but have actually been allowed to go back in their interest to the public. When what maybe termed the "newparty" of the Canterbury A.A.C came with a flourish of trumpets and were going to revolutionise things, I warned the younger members of the club not to be carried awaywith the specious pleading of certain parties. However, the result of the advent of " newblood, "and the rejection of some of the old, has not to my mind been an unmixed blessing. The C.A.A.C. have failed to keep amateur athletics up to the standard they had reached principally through the untiring energy and tact of some of the old blood. Look at recent sports meetings of the Club. Recall the last, with its handful of spectators. The Club's meetings seem to be fast going back, from a spectator's point of view, to the " happy family " sort of gathering they oucc used to be, and this kind of thing does not augur well for the future. It certainly does not tend to rouse the interest of the people. Thus we have one reason—and a very potent one to my mind—for the paucity of spectators at Lancaster Park on Saturday last to witness the Championship sports. I do not mean to say that there were not other causes acting to affect the attendance. I certainly think there were. We are just now having a sm-feit of athletic entertainment of one sort and another at Lancaster Park. On the 7th and 12th inst. we had the C.A.A.C.'s meeting referred to above ; on Boxing Day the Pioneer Bicycle Club's sports took place. Just prior to these two gatherings we had the four days' cricket match against New South Wales, whose representatives are now playing at the Park a three days' match against New Zealand. To-day and Saturday the Second Australasian Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting is set down for decision, and it is for this attraction that I ltope and think the lovers of athletics arc keeping back their support, for I should be sorry to say that the Canterbury people have lost all interest in such athletic contests as we are able to provide at a New Zealand or Australasian Championship gathering. Of course there is a limit to the spending power of the people, who during the festive season that v/e are passing through find themselves rather heavily taxed. We have regattas, trotting races and other forms of recreation which all find support. The visitors seemed to be much disappointed with the attendance at the Park on Saturday; especially so were the Aucklanders, who averred that, in Auckland the ground would have been packed, and judging from the cxperienca of the past, I quite believe it. In Wellington, too, amateur athletics have caught on the last year or so, and are becoming more and more popular every day. The W. A. A. C. is well and enthusiastically officered. Even Dunedin, where they have been slow in working the sport up, gives evidence of more enthusiasm than Canterbury at present, and the admirable and successful efforts of the Southern team on Saturday should do more than anything to still further lift amateur athletics along in Otago. The meeting on Satiu'day had been liberally advertised in many ways, and had been given much publicity by the daily and weekly papers ; the weather was delightful, and yet only 1428 persons passed through the turnstiles. But lmust for the present pass from this subject, which I may further deal with in a subsequent issue.

The cinder track appeared to be a little heavy in places, especially in front of the old pavilion, but, on the whole, I think it left little to be desired, and Corner, one of the New South Wales team, who was doing work on it for the first time, at the conclusion of the sports expressed his liking for it. The straight hundred, right in front, of the east stand, seemed in nice condition. The grass was fast, as was evidenced by the time in the Quarter Hurdles, and this and the shorter distance stick event were the only items—except, of course, the field games—decided on the turf.

There were twenty-five officials at their vai-ious posts, and so well were the events kept going that the last was concluded well up to time—this, notwithstanding a tedious delay caused by the Hammer Throwing taking place in too close proximity to the the 120 yds Hurdles course. The competitors in the latter event and Putting the Weight were kept some considerable time waiting about whilst the judges were measuring the throws, and the holes caused in the hurdle track by the landing of the hammer were being filled up. I think the measurements could have been obtained more expeditiously, and the contest decided closer up to time, had not the measuring been left till after all the throwing was over. This is a flaw which I do not expect to be present in the arrangements to-day. The pole supplied by the Association on Saturday last is quite out of date. It is not only warped, but it is so pliable—the point has the same fault—that a good man is not capable of doing himself justice. Hunter complained very much of the pole. Kingsley had his own pole, which Hunter found too light for his liking. With the exception of these two matters the management of the meeting was first-class. The members of the New South Wales and Victorian teams for the Australasian Meeting were much impressed with it. And it is only fair to the Hon. Secretary of the Association, Mr L. A. Cuff, to say that, after much enquiry, he failed to secure a pole such as he wanted. A new regulation weight was provided.

To come to the actual contests I may say that my selection for first place in the 100 yds, *L. W. Harley, failed to run up to expectation. Seeing that he did 10 2-sth sec on a fairly heavy grass track at the C.A.A.C. meeting this month, I concluded he would do better time, good enough to ! win, on a good cinder path, but he was easily beaten in the first heat—actually lost in a field of four—in 11 l-sth sec. t was aware that he was likely to break down at any moment, and some, of course, are better suited to grass than cinders. But there is no excuse for Harley's defeat further than to say he met faster men on the day. There was much doubt expressed as to the correctness of the time, but it should be mentioned that two of the timekeepers made it 11 l-sth sec, while the other clocked it a bit faster. It should not be forgotten that there was a fairly stiffish breeze blowing almost direct against the runners at the time, while in the second and final heat it had lulled a bit. In my notes on Dec. 12 on the C. A. A.C. meeting, I said, in referring to the sprints:—" E. A. Robinson, who ran into a place on several occasions, was not quite fit. I hope to see him going nearer a win presently." But 1 never gave him a place in my selections for the 100 yds Championship, and, without wishing to detract from the merit of his win—which I expected after the easy way in which he won his heat—l think he was just a shade lucky in getting home in the final. Patrick, who is about twenty years of age, and a nice little runner, seemed to have the race won, but he eased up a bit before reaching the tape and looked round, and thus, Ithink,lostagoid medal and six points for his Club, Robinson squeezing home by less than a foot. I tipped Patrick for second place, but my third selection, Jones, failed utterly. He came, a la Buchanan of old, with a great reputation from Auckland, but he did not sustain it. At Napier on February last he was considered to be unfit when he ran second to Broad in the 250 yds in 27 l-sth sec., and was, after getting second in his heat- in the hundred, done in 10 4-sth sec, unplaced in the final in Usee, on a sodden track. His performances in these events on Saturday were worse still. I think Jones is considerably overrated. W. Hayward, who was second in the fir3t heat, I did not expect to find competing. He had only been in training, 1 understand, for a fortnight, and could hardly be expected to run np to his true form. The starter experienced great difficulty in getting his men away in the

final, owino- to two or three being so anxious to get off. Hayward broke away no less than fivetimes,but it must be said in justice to him, andas evidence that hi 3 breaks were not wilful, that he offered to retire from the contest. At the sixth attempt Mr Webb sent them away in line. The Dunedinite, Kingston, who got third place after winning his heat, the slow one—the second and final wei-e each done in 10 3-sth sec—l knew little about. He was slow in getting into his stride but he came with a great turn of speed in the second fifty yards, and was close up to Patrick.

For the Half-Mile, I selected Low, Wood, and Clark in that order. The two lastnamed did not start, and the sturdy little Dunedin champion was only opposed by Grier3on and Stuart. It was merely an exercise canter for Low, who, not seeming to mind Grierson being ten yards or so ahead, could have simply won when he liked. There was a north east breeze blowing, and Low's 2min 4sec is 2sec slower than his time at Napier in February, but he finished vary strongly and I think will improve upon his time before the week's out. Grierson's idea was evidently to run the race from start to finish, but the veteran is not fast enough for his younger rival, while A. M. Stuart, of Wellington, would appear to have been outclassed.

Much to the surprise of most followers of form, I should say, Canterbury's representative, P. J. Brown, turned the tables on the Wanganuite, H. S. Bailey (who won at the previous meeting), in the High Jump. It was not Bailey's true form, and if he has a little luck, he may do better at the Australasian Meeting, where, however, he and Brown will meet a tougii opponent in the Victorian representative. Bailey's style is a nice easy one of lifting himself over. Brown has a lot of action bnt he seems consistent. Kingsley, with his two feet together, has the prettiest style, but it is not the most effective. He was, however, suffering from a weak knee, and as the landing was hard, his limb was not being improved. Westenra, with practice, should do better.

Both walks were mere " exercise canters," Creamer (who, by the way, is an old Christchurch boy and now thrice three mile champion) securing two gold medals and putting up 12 points for Auckland in ridiculously easy fashion. Creamer, as mo3t of us know, walks in great form. Maxwell's style is quiet the opposite of Creamer's, altogether too stiff—peacocky, as someone aptly remarked on the ground—nothing like the free-going action of tho Aucklandcr, who beat Maxwell by over a lap in the three mile event. Smithson had pluck enough, but not stride enough. He made a great attempt to secure a silver medal in the mile event. Just before reaching the turn into the straight he came with a spurt to catcli Maxwell, who just got home. Mr Rerr, the ex-Dunedin walker, and Mr Condell, the judges, disqualified Smithson for lifting during his spurt, which of course prevented a point being scored for third place. By the new rule any one of the judges may disqualify a competitor without appeal. The judges may caution before disqualifying, but in the last 220 yds of a race a competitor walking unfairly must be immediately disqualified. Smithson did not come out in the Three Mile event.

The Hurdle events came out just as I placed them last week in my notes. Martin won his heat very easily in 17sec, and the next John Moir, who rapped some of the obstacles rather hard, got home in 16 4-sth from Roberts and H. IT. Piercy. In the final Roberts, who started from his hands, Beemed very anxious to get away. Moir and Martin were also fidgety, and, while Harloy stood still, there were several breaks away. Eventually a level start was effected, and Martin, having always a bit the best of it, jumping cleanly, beat Moir, who again did not clear his hurdles well, in 16 3-sth sec. Roberts gave his ankle a nasty jar. In the Quarter Hurdles, Roberts set out to beat World's Amateur Record, 61sec, put up by himself at Auckland. Ha was not successful in his attempt, but he equalled it. It was a capital go. Martin seemed to leave his effort a bit late, but I think tlte time is, in any case, too good for him over that distance. Harley finished third, but he was much distressed, and it was only with an extra effort he got over the last hurdle, where he almost toppled over in landing. He struggled gamely on to the post how* ever, and secured third place. He was timed to do 63sec at the C.A.A.C.'s sports this month. John Moir, I don't think, has has ever run a quarter hurdles like his second to Matson on that memorable occasion in Wellington in 1893, when D. Matson did the distance in 61 4-sth sec, with Moir eight yards away second, and W. Beadcl three yards away third, the three Canterbury men fairly pulling the Banner out of the fire by this performance, which landed them one point ahead of Wellington. The excitement was intense.

The mile and three mile flat events introduced to Christchurch mostly new competitors, but who have performed in other parts of the colony. The old timo champion, D. Wood, came out to do battle once more for his club, but although in my last week's notes I never gave him a place in my selections, I altered my mind for the final selections in the daily Press on the morning of the meeting, ana gave him third berth in each event. 1 was not sanguine, however, about him getting as close as that. I think myself it is a pity he decided to come out again. If. one keeps on he is bound to "meet his Waterloo" sooner or later. While we must all admire pluck, we must not forget we are getting older. A man cannot go on running for ever; he must make way for the younger ones, and when it is one like Bennett, of Dunedin, it is no disgrace to be beaten. Wood, who I am inclined to think has seen his best day, finished fourth in the mile, but he has the satisfaction of knowing that his 4min3l2-sth sec, put up in the 1890-91 season, is still the best Championship performance, though tho ex-South Canterbury man, P. Morrison, still holds the New Zealand record, 4min 50 2-sth sec. It maybe mentioned that D. Wood's2min at the Championship Meeting of 1890-91 is tho New Zealand Half-Mile record, and is 2sec faster than anything done since. I shall not be surprised, however, to see it equalled at the Australasian Meeting, and to return to the two distance events, there is not much doubt that, had Bennett had anyone to take him along during the last part of the journeys, he could have put up a new record for both distances. I had not seen young Bennett on the track since the championship meeting in Dunedin in February, 1894, when, being taken out of his bed with influenza, he ran second to Morpeth in the Three Miles, in 15min 37 4-sth see, which still stands as the best championship performance, though Burk holds the N.Z. record, 15min 27 l-sth sec. On the occasion I refer to Bennett finished some sixty yards away. Leversedge was third. Since then Bennett, who was kept in retirement for some time, has tilled out and is now without doubt a really sterling runner. He is now twenty years of age, and was running on Saturday at about 9st 21b. He has real good legs, with nothing much to carry and, though I do not admire his doubled-up style—he runs with his body very far forward—he has a beautiful lengthy springy stride, and runs well on his toes. "He is not of the high-actiohed sort; he runs close to the ground, and seems to be able to keep up a nice even pace for any distance. In the majority of cases men run best in their own styles. In the mile Bennett commenced a fine spurt 300 yds from home, and he sustained his run to the post, which he reached, against a fair breeze, fifteen yards ahead of Clark. Bennett, who was loudly cheered, and carried in shoulder high by his friends after both, his races, was trained by his father, who was naturally a proud man. Bennett did not do a trial over three miles before the championship meeting, but he did one over two miles, which he is said to have covered in lOmin, a fine performance. I think Clark's mile was the best race I have seen him run, and I doubt whether he will ever improve upon it. The holder of the Mile championship, Da vies, of Auckland, did not finish in either, event. His form was disappointing, and he seemed to lack dash. It is only fair to say that he had been suffering from indigestion since his arrival in Christchurch, and complained of pains in his chest. Hef runs in very nice style, but I don't think he is a Bennett, nor is O'Connor, the other Aucklander,: who finished third in the mile. H. W. Thomas, trho entered as a member of the C.A.A.C. and London A.C., and only arrived in Christchnrch from Home on the 9th inst, has capital style. He was palpably short of Work, and had no sort of show. What he" may do when fit is another thing. My selection for the three-mile event, Hawthorne of Wellington, bad an ugly looking varicose

vein bandaged up in an awkward part of tho ] leg, which must have handicapped him j considerably, but he stuck to his work ami was the only other with Bell (who vm second) to finish. I fancy Bell was n bu short of work, and may possibly do better m the Three Miles on Saturday. _. Kingslev and Hunter tied at 10ft o«i (1 3-Bth in. less than New Zealand record pi-/ up by Hunter recently at Nelson), am. ncitheY could get higher in the regulation number of attempts, and although handicapped with a wretched pole "as mentioned aWe, Hunter only just touched the bar at lOst 51b on the landing sido, but it came down. It was a very near thing, and judging from his form I should say, had he been provided with a good pole, he would have done a really fine performance. He seemed very much disheartened at the way the polo kept givinsr, and not at all pleased. Kingsley won the Pole Jump at the two previous meetings with vaults of 10ft and 10ft sin respectively. The Hammer competition was poor, and had Martin been able to be present another six points would have been scored for Dunedin. At the Championship Meeting, held at Napier, Louisson, who has had no practice thisseason, won with 75ft5in. Heimprovedon this, now doing 83ft 6in, but P. J. Brown won with a throw 6ft further. Looking at his physique I would be prepared to see him do better than that. The veteran Wachsmann —he is forty-two years of age—was in no condition—lie is altogether too fat—to expect to do a decent throw. He has not competed since the meeting in February, 1894, at Dunedin, where he did 83ft 6in, the previous year throwing 84ft 4in. On Saturday his best was 78ft 2in. The Wellington representative, Rhodes, withdrew from the Hammer competition to save himself for the Weight Putting, and he had no difficulty in beating the previous champion, Louisson, and P. J. Brown.

Neither Ryan (holder) nor Ross Gore, the champion of i 893, put in an appearance for the Long Jump, for which L. A. Cuff somewhat unexpectedly came out. Last week 1 said if Cuff competed he would be good enough for a place, and I was then under the impression that Ryan and Gore would come down, while Macassey of Dunedin, who had recently covered 20ft 3in, I selected for third place, but to the surprise of most people Cuff, who has not competed for nearly four years, came out and, after failing in his early efforts to reach the take-off, he got fairly on to tho board and did a leap of 20ft 7iin, and scored a popular win, and an appropriate one seeing that he is relinauishing the office of Hon. Sec. at the end of tne season. In 1888-89 Cuff Avon this event with the moderate jump of 19ft 7iu, but later on at the South Canterbury A.A.C.'s meeting lowered the then existing record by clearing 20ft lOAin. In writing of Piercy's jumping efforts at this month's meeting of the C.A.A.C, I said he would improve if he practised, and I was quite prepared to find him doing a fair leap. Macassey in the face of great odds—a very badly sprained heel, which he had bound vp —went through the competition, struggling for points for his club. His plucky efforts could hardly have been expected to result successfully, and it was painful to see him limping about. It must have been considerably more painful for himself.

The result of the 250 yds Flat was a general surprise. I selected Balch to win, with Reeves and Jones in the places, but after the beautiful way in which Reeves strode out and won his heat, the final looked, bar accidents, a certainty for him. Reeves got away well and led in his heat throughout, Balch evidently boms; unable to extend him. Patrick carno at Balch half way down the straight, but could not quite catch him. Mowbray, the West Coast representative, was unplaced. Broad, who won the championship at Napier, and Kingston, qualified in tiie first heat (done in a second faster than Reeves') for the final. Kingston came with a great rush in the straight and beat Robinson for second place. W. C. Jones, who got at least 2yds the best of the start, died away at the turn into the sti'aight. Broad kept breaking away in tho final and ho gave a deal of trouble, and at length Balch got away with the start, but Reeves, who did not seem to get settled into his stride so quickly as he did in his heat, was soon in the lead. At the turn for home he had a commanding lead and seemed to be winning easily, but after shaking off a challenge from Balch, he met with strong opposition from Kingston, who came with a most determined run in the straight, and having disposed of Balch, gradually wore Reeves down and beat him by about 3in. in a second slower time than he won his heat in, and two seconds slower than the one in which Kingston ran second to Broad. Reeves did not finish with any dash, quite the opposite to his conqueror, and his friends saj' he was not sufficiently keyed up for two races, and that he will run in improved form in the Australasian 220. Reeves caught a cold during his training, and had to stop his preparation, which put him back. I think myself that the fiddling at the start took a lot out of him. Kingston's victory was the more meritorious because he had been ill since his arrival in Christchurch, and was in a nervous state. lam quite satisfied when properly fit he will put up much better time. The Selection Committee thought so much of his running that they announced he would have bean picked as a member of the NewZealand team, could he have remained for the meeting. Balch did not run up to his form. He was no doubt not as fit as he has been, or could have been had the meeting been later.

Balch, however, ran a fair quarter, but, of course he was no match for Low, who by annexing this event, scored for the third time in succession the double of quarter I and half mile, no mean performance. I This w r as the only event in which the starter failed to get his field away on terms. Low, with Bassett, got off the best, while Balch j and Grierson were the slowest to move, the latter being actually last away. And he ' was never able to make up the lost ground. j Of course Low's victory was easily achieved, j and it looked as if Mowbray was going to I secure a silver medal to take back to the West Coast. He made a great effort, but | Balch, who came with a strong run home, j fairly shot him on the post and secured | second honours. And tlras did the seventh ! annual championship meeting come to an end.

I append the number of firsts, seconds, and thirds gained by the various competing clubs since the institution of the Championship Meeting. It should be mentioned that there was no banner till the second year. It will be seen that Canterbury has come out at the top of the winning list four times, Auckland has scored twice, and Wellington once. The positions are thus shown :—

1889-90 (at Dunedin). Total Ist. 2nd. 3rd. points. Canterbury _ 4 8 4 48 Dunedin ..3 2 5 26 Southland ..2 1 — 13 Wellington ..2 1 — 13 S.Canterbury 2 — — 10 Auckland .. — — 2 2 1891 (at Auckland). Auckland ..' 6 3 4 43 Canterbury .. 3 5 2 32 Wellington ..3 3 2 25 Sydney ..3 2 2 23 1892 (At Christchurch). Canterbury ..6 12* 3 68 Auckland ..3 2 6 27 Hawke's Bay.. 2 — — 10 Wellington ..11* 1 8 Dunedin ..1 — 3 8 Manawatu 1 ■ — — 5 1893 (at Wellington). Canterbury ..5 6 6 49 Wellington .. 8* 1 6 48 Dunedin ..26— 28 Jlanawatu .. 1* — — 4 1894 (at Dunedin). Wellington ..9 2 1 52 Dunedin .. 5 7* 2 37 Canterbury .. 1 4 6 23 Auckland .. 1 3* 5 18 South Canterbury 1 — — 5 1895 (February, at Napier). Auckland- .. 4 3 3 32 Canterbury ..3 3 1 25 Waajpuiui ..2 3 2 22 Wellington ..2 3 2 21 Hawke's Bay.. 13 3 17 Otago 2 — — 10 Jlanawatu ..1 — 1 6 1895 (December, at Christchurch). Canterbury ..4 8 5 53 Dunedin ..5 2 2 33 Auckland .. 4 1 2 29 Wellington ..1 2 2 14 Wanganui ..1* 1 — 7| Nelson .. 1* — — 4J West Coast .. — — 11 * Including dead heats. [Note. —Up till the last meeting the points were : 5 for first, 3 for second, 1 for third. At Saturday'? mectirer under the new- rule 6 points were scored for first.] Notwithstanding that Canterbury secured the banner on the number of points scored, the Dunedinites can fairly lay claims I think, to having put up the beat record. With only five men, and one actually a cripple, their performance as told in the figures Above is, especially nnder all the circumstances, a highly meritorious one. Low, the captain of the team, and Bennett, stand out as quite

the heroes of the meeting, while Kingston's J victory was likewise splondidly obtained.; The success of the team is in the main really i attributable to Low, who has worked hard J for the D.A.A.C., and who, I know, did! everything in his power to get a team away ! for the championships. I have no doubt j when the team return home the members of it w iU receive a fitting reception.