ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 98, 18 January 1908, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

—r-5 (By Mercury.) ■COMING EVENTS. Jan. 22.—Worser Bay Sports Carnival. Jan. 24.—Hutt Valley A.A.C. evening meet- . i»gJan, 29.—Civil Service A.A.C. evening meeting. _ ■ ■ : Feb. 1. —N.Z. Championship (Basin He serve). . , ; . Feb.; B.—Hutt' Valley A.A.C. meeting' (Provincial .championships).' . Fob." 29 and Alar. 2.—Australasian.Champion- - ships, (Hobarb). ■ Y Tho Wellington Club's evening meeting on Wednesday last was tho most successful to date and produced some splendid racing, in the 75yds. and one mile and a half events especially. The former was run in two heats, and an innovation was tried in allowing the first three to run in the final, which departure had a rather peculiar effect on the result, >as Henderson, the ultimate winneii, could get no nearer than third in his qualifying run, and under the usual proceedure would not have got a start in tho final. Mr. Leslie got the men away, nicely' in the first. heat, . and though Henderson put in a big run alt the filiish he was beaten for second placo by Ilex 'Bridge, who . st arted '. off two-yards, and. ran very strongly,':..' The tape was broken by- "Pink" Pollock, oft 1 , six yards ami a halt', who got away very smartly and was able to hang to it throughout, though ho was going back, to the scratch men very fast at tho finish. The'time'was given' l -as 7 <1-5 -sec., which, with tho brisk following wind would bo about right Goodbehere, on one yard, was tho back man In tho second heat, and getting away well ho was speedily among tho field. At about 60yds. Cozens was leading comfortably, but Goodbehc-ro's challenge was too much for him, and tho latter just got the first place oil the tape, also'in 7 4-osec. On heat form Goodbchero was installed favourite for tho final. There were tbreo falso starts.before Mr.-Leslie could get his men oil', and when ho. did it looked as though tho popular choice was tho correct one; as-Good-beshero moved up very quickly,' and passing Bridge at UOyds. had only Pollock between himself/ and victory, 'llere, However, Henderson. showed, signs of moaning business, and,, coming like a veritable: deposed Goodbehere about 2ft. from tho tape and ivoii by- -a touch..- Pollock was a foot - behind third, with Bridgo inside a foot away fourth. The time was 'given as Bscc. Both as regards the class of tho performers and tho keenness of. the contest this was tho best sprint raco seen on tho Basin for many a day. Henderson's win from scratch was a great performance, ami is an indication of what ho will be ablo to do on February 1 when he will be properly wound II[). It was deservedly a popular victory, and lie quite earned tho ovation accorded him at the finish. Goodbehere also made a fiood performance, and as he is still on the short side as regards his preparation, may 'ie

looked upon as being righi;'in hunt-h} the time the championships come'alongj.v.--fi -Tho ono milo and, a half* runbrought-ouf 13 starters, including :.Jivo _.caudidatcs_fOi tho championship honours .fir' tho"l6ng"."diS .tances on -February .1. 'V'-W.. -. Gosling ■vane oliarpe (tho three miler)- were on -tlioi marl: a limit of oUjds., and Mulcahey,. Patricki and 'Murrai on .40yus. ( with the rGsfc strupg 'pufc.~:\Y , ;;'''' / - ' " lreo limit men—Fitzgerald-,--Bennett and Hawkc, sot tho mam >imthat oixlcr-unti the entrance_ ,of tho straight^for,, lap, when Wilton moved 1 up 1 to third;' only t< ,l)o inphiccd immediately by • , Mulcahoy.' -"Wil ton, howei er, rospondedj .and-put m.Vspnni ■it the di easing shedthat, gavo-lnm- a'- fivi yard lead oil Fitzgerald at c the'fotilitain.'.Gos jing meanwhile'-had :,hcen ; holding a ■ gooc handy position. in the bunch, and evidentl l was allowing Wilton to run.hisraco _for.liim : iOi as the former took, tho lead ho movet np to third place. Sharp? ■ yaj -finding paeo too- warm for him. ■ Muloa"liey,- tliougl .holding his, own in ther'ucki'' 'was... runninj .without dash, and Patrick ! ~wa's" olivio'usljC.toi f l ' orfc °f condition and drpppcd."put:afc;tnnilp the nulo was covered,.in■'4min. J '''slsec.,, am the order, then was' still Wilton,' Gosling, arii 1 I „'S cla ''li and so till tho bell-rang. Wiltoi | still drew away until he-had-ten-yards-to-thi i good -at the back stretch-whore who throughout pegged':'' created,.a diversion by,\niakiii4>.''a'''.'bi'ds:iiV( i-tunning up into second place.':- IV'wasonl' !,. a s P a f. m > however,: and -coul s d-;not;;w;ithstani .1 challongo from Gosling- who now" produce! a long sustained effort worth going miles -t see. Amid great .excitement'? ho> goir- wibhii speaking tennis.of Wiltbii'at'the second- cor nor. from home, and;gaining iiich by indi go sjiouldev to sho'uldor wTth-:him-~with- ' thi length of tile straight-to/gb."*;Bpt]l~hiett'.wer .rolling, but Wilton seemed ! itlio : 'more v -dis ■.tressed, and,.- despite his-- best--endeavour nature refused her o|fi,cosrahd-legs.-w'ould- no respond, to .nose in front at'tho gate , 'a ; n" out by a yard: of -.so^'iff\7tiiin 25 3-osec Mulcahey and 11. Thompson 'racod'ont th third place about loyds.- behind,;the forme securing tho. verdict by-inches. • w ? s a Brand race,-'and-reflected-\grea credit both oil tho runners and the handi cappers. Gosling gave promise 'ofa re'turi to form, lmt even now looks rather sta'Ks o ■it, and should'nurse himself in. training unti championship timo. Tho.quickness witlrwliic! lie strikes form '-at the-.-bcginriirig \of'..eacl season showshinv-tobe a runner :who.does,;'no require a lot of track work, and I think ,tlia the causo of his in-and-outness is simply-'thji he does too much in- preparation, and t-herob: loaves his,irunning on tho. track.His-.tim for "tho milo; in 'tlie' race \under revie'w wa 4min.. 53scc., and for the whole - distanc 7min. 25 3-ssec;—a very, creditable perform anco. V ' ■ V. '~v Frank Wilton's display ..was . another, o those sterling exhibitions that:the'public ar coming to expect front himV-. Only, his laok- o a sprint-lost him the race, but as tlie distanc is. admittedly too., short; for him, ; hisV displa; must be considered, very "satisfying.- -■ ■-.-" - / Fitzgerald deserves 'a- word of praise fq thu dogged manner iirwh'ich ho. stuck to tli' loaders after they had worn down his han dicap. -A; win,by Fitzgeraldwoijld'be. ver; popular, as ho is a good honest trier. . At th saino time, however, seeing that ho has-tie® selected by thoiCentrc for the' walking'event lie should bo devoting his tiiiie to.'.t-his .de partiiiont only, as no man-can-train for bob! with advantage to >- . Sharjie and Patrick gave, no promise 'o Mampionship form, though;'.: of course,' th tonr.er would find the distance too short. H finished unplaced hut' full-'of-riinningjlso per imps, would make a better I ,.showing.over.tbre miles ■ i the .distance he,..has/'be'en: selected for l'hat. Patrick has pace. .was:>ndcii!iSpa.'6y,. hi running in.tho.y!2oyds, later,vini-the',.evening but at present,ho has .not 1 struck:anythinj like his old 'form' as regards staging 'ca'pabili ties. Mulcahey : was troubled by the short ness of tho distanco.also,''but even'then rai rather dead; Except for,; his finish up th straight with Thompsoirhis finish was absc lutcly without dash. .fTo.y/inr.r.uriniiig'as h did,, it : w-ould be nccessary "'for .'him'to. get u' into_th(>,;frqnt as early as possible, and trus t» jjiis- undoubted staying powers to keep liir there, instead of allowing'' himself to b passed'-carlier-.m the. game by- faster-mendi the-hope of. them coining back to him late °n;; .-... V; ;, ■■ ■ ■; ; A formidable contingent.of 28 stripped fo tlie■ 220yc15.,' and necessitated, the running o four hoats. In the first heat Henderson: agai: showed himself to -be in ..winning;.. mood" b; calchiiigJiis field at tho. corner and canteririj homo .with the brake on in 24scc., followed b; Baumgart. Dawson turned,out, ' but ; couii not . get a ; place off; syds. ,VThe back, marl alsc. provided the placed men in tho seconi heat,' Goodbehcre just boating ■ Cunninghar for tho first place. : Ho started off 2yds. an< the. former off Byds., took tho'turn about i yard ahead, and led Goodbehere. through thi fielfl'-'whon the latter slacked off, content ti get the' secoiid place and qualify. "Patriol ran prominently throughout,'' being onlj about a foot away from tho second-man-a the' end, and 'showed traces, of pace- th'a should bo useful to him in his longer,race; when lie has developed his staying capacity In the third hent again : the back marl proved tho lucky one, old-timer W. H Pollock, off four yards, just beating Kitto. Fron t-hs -start, to the turn Golds, looked all ove a winner, but closed up in the straight Ilex Bridge and Strickland battled out . tin places in the fourth run, and. after a ding (long go from the gato'jthejatter got jh( vcrdict by a foot, with the fKiraTl cfose up All the heats were run in i24sec., 'and tak ing into consideration the'case with whicl Henderson finished, the filial -looked a ven good thing for him. However, his efforts, ii the 75yds. and tho preliminary,-heat-, of- thi 220 yds. had shaken him-up to such-an ox tent that he was doubtful about turning out again, and wlion he did. failed to dnr-himsf 1 justice. Pollock and Bridgp. elected not t( start, and though tho race provided a' good keen contest, and Cunningham's win wai nono the less meritorious, these defection; robbed it of a good deal of interest. The '.track .for the 220 yds;.: came in ''foi somo very strong criticism, and'remarks botl loud and deep of a very uncomplimontary nature were to be heard oil all sides... Of coursc tho prevailing drought has a lot:to do with it but, in addition to its hardness and deadness, there aro rises and bumps in -tho i straight that provo ; very trying to a. man running al put. The starting sectioA is also very rough and if possiblo something should be done tc improve matters (though. - i fear I ' Caimol suggest.' a- remedy), .-before; ohampionshii: timo,, if only out of courtesy to our. visitors. W. H*. Pollock made a, welcome reappearanco on Wednesday,-, and'showed some of liii old dash in the 220 yds. Intending competitors are reminded thai entries': for , the championship and handicar events' at tho N.Z. A.A:A. meeting on February 7 close to-night. . I have to thank tho secretary of tho Hutt Valley A.A.C. for a draft programmo of his club's meeting on February 8, and will make further rcfercnco to tho meeting next week. : ' : Tho following team has been chosen to represent, t-lio Canterbury Centro' at tho New Zealand A.A.A.'s ■ Championship meeting, on February 1: —100 yds., 220,vd5., and 440 yds., S. F. Bass and 0. M'Phail; half-mile, 11. St. A. Murray; ono milo and threo miles, S. W. Moore and T. Claughton; 0110 milo and threo mile walks, P. 11. Stubberfield; 120 yds., and 440 yds. hurdles, H. St. A. Murray and C. L. Orbell; high jump, C. L. Orbell; long jump, C. L. Orbell; hammer and-shot, W. do Thier. . Of. theso men, Murray is tho only ono • likely t > secure- a win. , Last season ho won the 440 yds. hurdles championship, and this year so far has performed very consistently in middlo distanco events. Bass rftn third in the 100 yds. last season, but will find the company too good to allow him to repeat tho performance this timo. Stubberfield is well known as a good solid trior at tho walking events, but 1 doubt if ho can do much better than Gmin. 43sce., so cannot bo accounted dangerous. Orbell is good, especially in tho high jump] but if Koddell competes and M'Kay strikes form 110 will have to equal his previous best to score first points, though ho -should bo good enough for 1 ijlaca.