ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18428, 8 July 1925, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOME. (FEOlt OVK OWK COERESPOKD-EST.) LONDON,-June 2, : . The Oxford University Athletic Club has selected Air A. E. Porritt (Otago and Magdalen) to be its president for the coming year, and Cambridge . University has chosen Mr V. B. V. Powell as president of ■its .Athletic Club, with Lord . Burghley as Secretary. According to the 'Athletic News," the election of ilr> I'mvcll was expected. The comment follows: "rowelt has not yet had the good fortuno to win an inter-'Varsity event, but he was a hard-working and successful secretary, and is universally popular. He came 'up' ■ with a great reputation from .Clifton as a Rugby footballer and athlete. He won the long jump at. the Public Schools Championships, and was second to C. "l'\ N. Harrison in the hundred. Ho has had to give up Rugby owing to a weakness in the head, brought about by a scries of serious accidents. He also has a 'football knee.' which is a handicap to hiui." The Stamford Bridge Contests. Porritt still is prominent at athletics. As a member of the London Athletic Club ne ■nas participator in the triangular contest at Stamford Bridge, the organisations represented being the University of London Athletic Union, the Royal Military Academy (Woolwich), and the London Athletic Club. The New Zealander won quite easily the first event—looyds—in lOsec. He defeated C. F. N. Harrison. (L.A.C.) by three yards. "It is quite amazing," says "The Times," "how Porritt retains his form —he seems capable of doing even time for the sprint at a moment's notice. There was a splendid entry for the Three-Quarter Mile Scratch Relay Race (440, 220, 220, 440 yards). In this event several of the runners, who had represented the London Athletic Club in. the match now ran for other clubs. Two of these were Lord Burghley and A. E. Porritt, who now ran for the Achilles Club, supported by D. .G. A. Lo>ve and E. H. Fryer. Naturally, this powerful combination was much too good' for the other teams —the Achilles men being in front all the way, to win as they liked by some 25 yards in 2min 26 2-osec. The South London Harriers were second, the third team being tfte 'A' team of the Polytechnic Harriers." At Stamford Bridge on Saturday two early features of the Polytechnic Harriers' Marathon and "Kinnaird" Trophy meeting were the performances of F. U. Gaby and A. F.. Porritt (Achilles). The former, in the final of the 120 yds Hurdles, :r magnificent victory over Lord Burgiilcy liy a foot in 15 3-ssee, while Porritt, after winning his heat and the final of the 100 yds scratch event in 10 l-ssec, beat "evens'' in 'his iheat of the 100 yds "Open" Handicap, for which he was on. the bciatch mark, covering the distance in 9.4-ssec, after a thrilling finish with E. H. Stephenson (31yds) ° l the promoting club. Porritt won his heat in the sprint in 10 l-ssec, and went away at the start of tno final in magnificent style to defeat H.*Brooker by two yards, and repeat tnai ''Porritt is working hard at. Oxford for his B.A. Finals, for which hj« is o jsit on July 3rd. Next day he. wil lea" < " America by the Mauretama, and he I take part in the athletic events at Boston on July Utb. This does,» »«j « » much time to regain bis snore '"»-• But ho is in excellent health and form ju=t now.' ———■—•