ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10058, 9 June 1898, Page 2

ATHLETICS.

[By Vaultkr.l

I clip the following from a Sydney exchange, and I notice that other Australian papers have fallen into the same error: — '"From New Zealand comes the information that Hempton, the great sprinter and erstwhile record breaker, has been re-instated as an amateur. Maorilanders are pretty good on the re-instatement business. Athletes over there are continually forfeiting their status and being re-instated again merely for the asking. Probably the battle now waging among several of the governing bodies has a deal to dowith this state of affairs." It was A. H. Hempton, a brother of the crack, that was re-instated, the latter having remained an amateur since he was re-instated years ago. English files convey the news that an immense amount of interest was being felt in athletic circles over the meeting oetween those two great distance runners, W. G.George and W. Cummings, which, provided nothing occurred to interfere with the arrangements tihen existing, should have taken place early this month. It is twelve years ago next August since these two met in the famous match at Lillie Bridge, England, when George did the mile in 4mm 12Jsec —a record which has stood all these years unbroken, and will possibly continue to be, the world's best for many, a long d&y to come. George is now thirty-nine years of age. Since the time he broke down, Downer has lain low, but now he expresses a strong desire to run W. Fitzherbert, the winner of the quarter-mile championship in 1895, over any distance up to a quarter of a mile. As the 'Varsity man (Fitzherbert) is yet an amateur, and intends remaining so, it is hardly likely Downer's challenge will be taken up. ..'"(■'■ On April 16th, last year's one mile champion, A. E. Tysoe, beat this year's national winner, Sidney Robinson, at the Salford Harriers' sports. A special two miles scratch race was got up for the occasion, and Tysoe had the Northampton man in hand all the way, sprinting past him in the straight, and winning by Byaa in the slow time .of 9min 49sec.

At latest dates English athletic circles were all agog over the arrival in London of a couple of noted South African amateur performers, in the persons oi Philip Blegnaufc and H. Morkel, of the Soath African Amateur Athletic Association. Blegnaut is no stranger in England, as he was a competitor in the 100 yards championship in 1895, and was beaten by Bradley and Fitzherbert. Last January be won the Sopth African 100 yards and 440 yards champion* ships, and was credited with doing 49 4-5 aec in the 440 yards event. If all that is eaid

of hurdle jumper H. Morkel be true, then Englishmen have no earthly chanco with him. He is stated to have won the South African 120 yards' hurdle championship in the extraordinary time of 15 2-ssec, and, during the same 'week, at Johannesburg, he owea 16yds, and covered 136 yds, over ten flights of hurdles, in 17 l-ssoc. This is a worldbeating performance, and even suck; a hurdler as Godfrey Shaw, at his best, would not be in the race.

The sub-committee—Messrs R. Coombes (N.S.W.), B. J. Parkinson (Victoria), and L. A. Cuff (N.Z.)—appointed to draft the constitution . and rules of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia, have finished their labours, and the report will be submitted to the various Associations in the other colonies for confirmation at an early date.