ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12711, 25 January 1907, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

a> SPORTS GATHERING. A GIGANTIC PROG RAMBLE. The pre meters of the New Zealand Athletic Union's Championship Meeting entered into the performance of their programme on the Exhibition Sports Ground yesterday afternoon in a spirit of indefatigable enthusiasm. Forty-one events had been drawn up for tho 3fte.rnoon'6 modest bill of sport, and two important finals of running events, the pipe music selectirne, and some minor diversions had been set down for the evening. Tlie athletes who took part in the great gathering showed a fine ardour for snort, but they were quite outmatched in staying power by the pipers, whose contests formed an important feature of the gathering, and who glidly persevered in their delightsome strains till after eleven o'clock at night. Then they took their way homewards from the Sports Ground with a sense of duty done and pleasure given. A volatile public did not show such prolonged interest in the proceedines. There was a large attendance in tho rtfternoon. nnd the sirnultineous progress of piping, foot races, and general athletic .events afforded plentiful diversion. But early in tbe evening an unpleasantly strong wind was blowing, and the final heats of the 75yds Flying Handicap and Quartermile Handicap flit race were witnessed by very few except officials of the meeting. Later a friendly- liftlo -"thered close about the rotunda to listen to the pipe bands and admire tho dances, but there was no larger attendance.

In the afternoon's athletic events competitors from all parts of the colony displayed their prowess. The running track was in excellent condition. an<l seme good finishes were witne«aed. C ■J. Morrias, of Masterton, a well-known sprinter, mas first both in the Championship 100 Yards Flat Race and in the final of tlie Flying Handicap ot 75 Yards. An astonishing performance in the Hop, Step and Jump contest was aohieved by Aleck Lindsay, of Maheno, who covered no less a distance than 44ft Sin. In the Highland Pipe Band Competition, quicksteps, tho Invercargill Band was first, with Timaru second and Otago third, while in the "Own Be.ee-

tions" - Competition. Timaru was first. Irvcrcarjiill mtotkJ. ami (Janiani third. An army of officials'controlled the me«-t----ing very creditably. It will be concluded on .Saturday afternoon. Tho rwult« <\f yesterdays events, in detail, arc a« follow:Flying Handicap Fiat llace, 75yds. Htrt prw Jtio. accord X5--i-'ir.-t heat • C. J. Morn*i .-tJi 1. Tim« 7 sec. J. Murray »3iydiO and T. Croft UJrdM a!«> started. S*cot;d h»at: W. Lr*>v*haw (3yds) 1. lime, S»er. A. A. NicholW v «cr>. C. U. lU.d : i-. B bam aiv,U). a.n.l I. Heali-y 'lydM •!«' Third heat. W. IJ.ark 2y.iM 1. lime. ' H '"- A Hancock ,<yd-s>. A. J-, Barrett K. M. Chester .4iyd--> a!«> started■ t ° utt 'i heal. f. T. M«ci.ii.«.t. o.ydM • T ,n T.V. I;;.!" «n-l I:. M.r..itl.- :I .Cyds. al~ , ".S..vonth h-at: W. K-;,Muon c.yd., ' • hnic «<er. J. Sinclair .:«ycl-.. .1. 'i Jl r«..d J. K. Wilkin .•■.v.N. «- -tart. rf.| •■■/.th li-a»; •). Hh.v:.-. Ojvrio 1. Time. , |*,', r / 1.-.1.. al«<> Mart.-.!. Fir>t M-rr," 1 S h: va« J. T-m*. Ivr-v Vart.'l. Final- Mo,t>« 1- ;,„•,•■■;., ■:. frd-A-'hs-.v "• '!'■'"", v ';;,'!,',' "v'; t ri l amnion..hip ! pl, ; °' J " j 1 , ;^! Th.ro *.t«. no other Martors. Mr.m??. *ho ,\ r.vo K .iis«l a* o.io nf th<> hr*\ /r-'r-'' ,^ r,(T mark, at which >s an a.L-i> .1 w mcc was an fxe?ul:nK]y c!o?o oiv.- .or v.x '"s'w Zoa:»r.l In!.-rnation!-l F.xhil ::;<• n SheffioH ilan.li.-.p. LV.y.l, r.Pt pri*r i o HO. th.r.l K. fourth Ci. 11 - «•'- ---7.;a. I. A- A. X.-holt, MV.N. 2. ~.-• l'/'-'-ith J. Murray i!h-d«'. and J--. 1 - CJ V ,I., IC. Hariliiubmn iSvda) 2. Time •|"--.th ««■ !' C.'.-Walbiirt..n ,7<y..l- ar.<l \v"K Wntd 'l<-h-fl-). aLso i.»*rtml. Hi.li Ll T. OT!n,M,- f .V : v<!., H.'V 2. Time 13 a-.-.th sec. W. Ra.rd H-lvlA anri J <■■ Weir dm-<l'V »!■"« compntrd. Sixth boat- H. H. Brinkman (f*iyH') 1. Jv,l», ftl-o started. Sevoith h^-»t: \\ R<> ;- Tin" KM %'h ;«•■ H. Uarrott fPlycl--, and US Jordan .Hyd-l. aUo .t-rie«l Kt,hth Ut: W. (J. Hill (I2}vd-I 1. K. I . Somor. J»»vd«!> " Time. 1.1 2->th ?«•. C. J. C o!----i,Vr n'" v ,l.) and O. O«born« (10yd=.). al.«o Ninth hrat: C Uowcll ,S}yd,, 1. fi C Kin.w (7iyd«. 2. Time. U -5->*h sc-c. J.Healey (H>>d-V an<l W. U'tydsK also starts. Tenth boat: W. L. Colrm iTlyda) 1 W Mann W\vds) 2. Time 1? '2-oth fpc. ( ; . ForCvard (13yd,>. and S. Frew (lOyd-J. al.o htartod. First semi-final: Shiva* 1, Merries 2 Time, liisec. Robinson. Cnlvin and Howe!! alfo started. Shivas. after leadin? from the start, beat Morrisa by a yard. Second fcmi-Gnal: O'Brien 1. Crawahaw and Haucock looual) 2. Timo. 13hp<-. Brinkraan and Hi!! klao started. Tho first three finished almost in a line. The final will be run to-morrow. Half-milo Handicap. Flint prize S3, second £3. third £l-S. 11. McEwen (Mastcrtoti> -35yds, 1; J. ArriM (Chrißichurch), 1;>(K '1; V. Spring (South Canterbury). 33yd«, 3 Time, lmin 58 44>th sec. A. Suttie (-i)vdel. A. Valentine (Wtyds). A. Lindsay (30 yds). C. T. Mitchinuon (35yde>. J. Weir (40 yds). A. L. Tnbb (45yds). H. V.. Wilkin (i.» yd*), and K. McFadden (.Vtyds), also started. VV'on by about five yards; two yards wparatinit nccond and third m«n. Seantreus for girls, championship of New Zealand. First prize U. second £2. thml !i\ — A Currie 1. J. Hopping 2, Christina Banks 8. Ilita Glover. Mary Elder, J. MeKechnie, and Stella Olennie also competed. Chempionship <2«) yd«) Flat Race. First prire £i. second £% third £I—L. C. Mγf,achlan (Napier). 1; J. Shivas (Gore). 2; \\. L. Colvin (Uunedin), 3. Time. 2;isec. McLachlan l«i all the way. Charloe Ilowell and R. W. Thompeon aUo utarted. Championship Wrentling. Cumberland Htyle. Lafe. Mr Seddon's Rold medal. First prim £5. second £2. third £1. First round: F. Ford throw W. Bnrbury twice; M. F. (Jeancy threw W. Scott. \V. Scott threw (teaney, a dog fall followed, and then Oeaney was victorious; W. Ford threw R. J. Scott twice. Second round: Oe*ney and W. Ford drpw. G<+rx>y pot one fall, W. Scott «tot another, ard Ford th* final. W. Ford had then to wroatlo his brother, F. •Ford, who Rot a bye. Third round: W. Forrl was twice thrown bjt F. Ford. F. Ford threw Ueaney twice, but tho judges disqualified F. Ford on the- ground of not exerting himself against hie brother, and the tK-cond priae. wae awartied to Gc*nov. W. Ford winning first, and R. .7. Scott third. Hop. Step and Jump. Fir!"t prize it. second £2. third £I—A. Lindsav (AfahnioV 1; ,T. Currie (Heriotl, '1; J. Healey (Temiika). :1. Distance. 44ft Sin. which is probab'y a Tecord for tho colony. The distances of Currio and Healey were «f*t OJin and 42ft 9Jin. Hunninp Hijjh Leap Championship. First nriie. medal; eecond. medal— Georsie Campbell (Temiika). 1; E. Ryan (Timaru), 2. Distance, sft 7Jin. Grand Championship Bagpipe Music (Sir Joseph Ward's trophy). First pri*<« £6. socor.d £-». third £I—A. Duncan (Tapanui*. ] ; R. Thompson (Oamarn). 2; J. Caiooron (Mataura). 3. Grand Championship Highland Fling: in costume. First prize £1. second £2. third £I—Campbell Smith (Pahjatua) 1, W. H. Kilgour (Dunedin) 2. J. MeKechnie (Dunedin) 8. Highland Pipe Baud Competition, Selected Qnicketeps—lnvercereill I. Timaru 2. Oainani 3. The Christchurch Pipe Band rlw> competed. Putting the 16lb Ball. Scotch style. Championship of Xew Z'.'aland. Firet prize £•«, feoond £0. third €1 —Frank Forde (Invercwgill). 42ft 6in, 1 ; James Catneron (OtiakeV X9tt sSin, 2 ; W. Skinner (Dunedin). :17ft lOiin. 3. Hu«h McGregor also oomneted. T/hrowinjr the 16lb Hammer. Championiibip. First prixe £4, second £2. third & — Frank Fordo (Invercargill), 111 ft. 1; D. Brcen (Glertavy). 9Cft 4\n. 2; W. Skinner (Dunedin). 93ft lin, .1; Jnmee Cameron. Offft lin. 4. There were no other competitors. Grand Pipe Music. Selection*—Tiunru Highland Pipe Band 1. Tnrercarin'll 2. O:im»ru 3. Tho Christchurch Highland Pipe Band nUn competed. Quarter-mile Flat TCaee. First prize £3, Arrond X.\ third £1- -First heat: E. MoFadden. r'jyiU. 1 : V. HaHiucham. lovds, 2; W. Huiridjre. :«ry»l«. *. Time. 50 l-sth siv. A. A .Vicholls ilOvdsi. \V. L. Colvin UOvds), R. W. Thornp""" M3yd«i. A. Sultie (18vdsV F. Tf. Somer* (iih-ds). F,. V. Enrnshaw (25yd") and C. Forward (nsyd«) also competed. Sopond hr«t T. Croft (3nrd-» 1. N. H. MγKwen iwrl 2. J. Arnst t:Wvd->) 3. Time. 51 4-.jth «cc. C. Uowcll (!'>vds). A. I/indsay (•Myds). H. S. Jordan (Wvdn) and H H. Wilkin 'Slydsl al«o rompeted Fina.l--McF«dden (Timaru) 1. Croft (Oamiru) 2. Burridpo 3. Time 50 l-sth sec. About two ysrds separated fbe first two men, end a ynrd the eeoond and third. Highland Flinp, for Iwvs and pirls under Ifi. In costume. Championship of Xew Zovland First nrize, C.nvernor'« (sold troobv. fpcond and third. po!d medals—Christina TJanks 1. Stella Glennic 2. Janet Campbell S.