ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 116, 8 February 1908, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

(By Mehcukt.)

s , COMING; EVENTS. To-day.—Hutt Valley 'A';A.- Club's Summer ; meeting-arid Provincial Championships. Feb. 15.—Dunedin A.A.C.: meeting,, mclud- : ing Burk—Trcmbath. match . . Fob. 29 and' Mar. Australasian. Champion...ships (iiobai't).'' 'March 14.—Hibernian meeting (amateur) on Basin Reserve. ' ■ ; July,—Olympian Games (London).'

Another NiZ; Championship spirts l gathering, the nineteenth, lias been relegated to the limbo of the past, and everyone concerned 'in'. tMo' passing: triereo'f is entitled to; a lively sense of gratification at tho success of tho occasip.ni 11 .,;i , p the .moiribers. of.the Wellington 'Oiiitre 'ii\-.ggnoral,;and, to'; Mr. B. A. Guise, tho lion, secretary, in particular, is all credit duo for the thoroughness with which the arrangements , were-mado and carried ' out; ' The 'enclosure throughout' tho afternoon was kept clear of all except the necessary officials, the events, with tne' exception of tlio Jipld' branches, which cannot be regulated, with any degree of exactitude, were run olf punctually, tne. result-board was promptly; and accurately attended, to, 'and-in every respect the, ground arrangements were thoroughly, satisfactory,; The attendance of , tlie. puolic. was in keoping, with the arrangements, the number present, being .rougniji estimated at four . thousand, whilo , the gate receipts amounted to £180 odd, which should leave a. handsome margin; of profit , for the "iVii Council knd t-he''local.Centre.*- •

Of the actual performances, themselves much could-bo said, but the spaco at my disposal prevents mo. from dealing with eacli event scftatim, so I will.-.confine- myself to a general commentary on. the proceedings. The feature of the mooting that calls for first consideration is, of course, Kerr's dis'qiialifi6hiti(Jh''by Mr. Batchelor in tho Three Milo Walk—the. one ; blefriiali of . the day's work. Last, week I said that it would bo hard to prcdict cxactly what 'would ' happen should this unfortunato.-o'vent como to pass, iincl now that it has happened, I must say that, considering tho deep disapproval with which;the public received tho judge's ultimatum'and tho unanimity with which it disagreed with his ''.'decision,:; tho... restraint, dis-played-was very; cr.editab.lo!.True,..there .was 1 somo desultory hobting : aiid. catcalls, -sbino; of which Were ['foolishly' directed' against. Stiib-' borfield, but on the whole the rest was. silence —a.rather-profane silence, in somo quarters I admit; : ; ' i'. 1 ,-My own opinion is.; that 'Mr. Batehelor's decision, was, to put it mildly, hopelessly inconsistent. Ho passed Kerr's^ walking in\.tho Milo, after -which"ho-'told '-Kerr 'that'?with' the exception of one doubtful'.soction-of -his' journey on .the- back ,stretch (which -might easily have . been caused by ■ the oxtremb roughness 'of/the going'and the brisk following' windT^'this,explanation ■is obvious) his gait was;in ;accordanc'o with the /.rules.,. This' being so", his' subsequent action seems ' inexplicable. 'If Kerr, when going at-'a mile pace, talked correctly, in what way could lie olfond when walking at; a third of tho pace in the longer, ovent? unless Mr.' Batchelor holds that ho changed his stylo .between tho two races. Or -does-Mr. Batchelor .consider that, the'slower-he progresses the more incorrectly 'ho walks ? ; That; Kerr was not called. off' for a temporary lapso is evident from-Mr. Batehelor's subsequent explanation: of the alleged breach, which, was that when ho (Kerr) lifts his back foot lie-turns tho foot out and carries the log forward with a bent knee, thus 'getting, an unduo length of strido and lifting; both, feet, off tho ground before tho heel comes down again. ..-Whether this is-s'o .or >riot is,a matter of fact for the judge to decide, and therefore not open to discussion. The point is this—if Kerr's stylo iis•■irt''fault' in' this respect why was ho not in. the mile? -Mr. Batchelor-ob-viously took pains to ascertain whether Kerr was,"lifting" in this event —he oven went to the length of lying down on the ground to see—and was Apparently satisfied. The only, explanation 'can be, then, that Kerr must have changed, into-tho faulty: stylo for tho three-mile ovent, in which ho only survived three slow laps —which, as Euclid says, is absurd. < /

The disqualification means far more to Kerr than, simply the .loss of .a championship—it means the loss' of his trip to. Hobart with tho New Zealand team, and,-worse still, the very great' probability that tho Australasian Board lyill not pass his world's record, time of Gmin! 26sec.' when it' conies up for confirmation at Hobart at the end of the month. It is not too much to say that Kerr has the deepest sympathy of the Wellington' oportsgoing public, and it'is greatly to -be hoped that the harsh treatment accorded him willnot have the effect of driving him off tho .track-, altogether, or, worse, back to the professional ranks. '

At the time of writing a movement is on foot in the city' to raise tho necessary funds to sond Kerr to tho' Australasian meeting privately, and for the sake of tho Dominion's standing in tho athletic world and for Kerr's own sakq tho successful outcomo of the movement is'a consummation devoutly to bo desired.

; Tho other running events call for no special ; mention being won in each caso by tbo popular selections, Trombath and Burge, without special eirort. In each „event, however, Wellington's second string, W. Gosling, failed to substantiate his claims for championship selection, and after his really good handicap performances during tho season died away unaccountably when tho pinch came. In tho,'hunllo. events as anticipated, Cook proved .too speedy for tho opposition in tho shorter : distance, and.is'to be congratulated on getting- standard- timo, beating his' performance of last year by . 1-Gsec. Murray fell at tho' second .hurdle,' whichspoilt a good raco, but of . courso tho. fencing l is as mucl\ part of tho gamo as pace. Ho did tho samo thing, in Christchurch last season, so it would appear that, ho does not manage his striding properly. . In tho quarter milo hurdles, however, ho mado no mistako and put up a performance lyhicli 011 timo' stands out tho most meritorious of tho day. Ho dashed to tho front from tho word' "go," and fencing beautifully covered tho journey in tho excellent timo of 59 4-Sscc out . on his own _tho wholo way. This is. only ono second, outside Now Zealand record time,' and .is one an one-fifth sec. 'insido tho standard, so .had ho'- bden pushed it is reasonable to supposo' that ho might liavo put up fresh figures for tho event. ; Tho field events wero, productive of very mediocro performances and olio has only to look at tho figures to bo forced to tho molancholy conclusion'-that wo aro retro-; crossing in this department.'. Is it fru;-'want

of proper coaching, or is interest in these contests wining aipong our athletes? 1 do not protend to know, but when 111 ft. odd for hammer throwing, 36ft. 3in. as a shot put, a polo vault. of 10ft.-. 3in, ■ and a long jump of 19ft. 3in. can. .win New Zealand championships,'it ' makes,'..dno. inclined to turn up tho past performances on record for thoso events and ponder deeply. .. ' Even Orbell's winning high jump of sft. fin. is only fair and compares very unfavourably with what is commonly dono in tho Australian States. In Now South Wales both Scott and Welsh can-do oft, 9in. for the and tho former has recently done alt.LOm. whilo in Queensland in a-recent trial for selection for tho Australasian cham•pionship all threo. candidates, Maher, Frawley, and Henriksen cleared oft. Din. M Lay won tho all-round championship with tho rest nowhere, but was prevented from doing himself justico. by soreness in his legs, still tho consistency of his performances stamp liiui as one of tho best in all-round' work. '

hen I say that Trcmbath quite justified tho reputation that preceded him and fulfilled tho highest iqxpectations. of that had had his prowess, dinned into its ears for weeks past it'is handing him lid small tribute, and' it'-.is 'one nthat- ho'thoroughly deserves. It is truo that his times in tho quarter and h'alf-milo wei-o nothing startling, in fact'it was cleverness'rather than fleet- | ness that won him tho former event, hut in neither contest was ho taxed to his utmost. In tho 220 yn rcis event ho had a rough passage, being jostled badly by: MacPh'ail at' the start, and [)eing.;to somo : extent "pocketed" at ; tho.corner,' and .though I do hot; considerthis affected tho-ultimate result it "preventedhim from showing us his.best. ' .... Going back to his now'famous'"break"/, in the quarter mile; it can justly bo said that it was; an instance of "slimncss" and opportunism that will, live. f6r a nuncH ;.of,'those saiv; it. "' It is Jan old' story now but. will. bear _ retelling.-; -,At tho sound of the gun Cunninghame juinped ito tho front and at tho first . corner was displaced by, Pollock;, who/ slackened . down>.to an easy half-mile , pace, : evidently in. the expectancy that Fisher would make tho running. Fisher, however, did., not t .grasp tho inwardness of:the situation, and likewise eased off, remaining, about two yards Trembath was then lying about the- same distance behind Fisher and seemed coutent to reniain there. When about 150 yards had been covcred, however, ho seemed to size up., the position .. and decide that as othors. -were . diffident' it was his ■■-move, jand, move ho did. For .about.. fifty .yards ho rattled' , in a • sprint . that, was a thing of pure joy to witness, '-and , thorace was over. When an astonished crowd had recovered its. breath and a more astonished trio; of. quarter-milers had made' upi its- several, minds as -to -.what had 'happened ,tho ;w'ily.£outliorner.:was' teii yards.'clear and racing for homo/'bows'undsr; I ''i 'Tlien l'ol- ; lock .showed', true grit by - taking, oil -tho'-al-' Jmost, impossible' 1 task of wearing the leader down, but , tho old adago about . tho stern chase proved true again and though at the tape the gap was materially# lessened there was never any-real question as to tho result. . .'

The slackness of tho, pace at the beginning was rosponsiblo for the slowness of the time, 53 3-ssec., which under; tho circumstances--is no indication of the calibro of tho runners engaged, for I bcliovo every man of tho four could beat this''with case. "

From tho public's point'.of. view it is,a pity that the 100 yards run was disposed of'in ono heat, .as .a' preliriiinary; run: or two makes tho moil known and gives : tho spectator an opportunity .of sizing up form and',.style.. However,' tho .small'; entry .did not, permit' of heats, and. though 'an audionco got .hut a lieeting glimpso of .tho performers,; tho glimpse .was productive of a thrill both ior Wellington and Canterbury, supporters. After tho usual championship, "breaks." at tho start Mr. Leslie got his men away beautifully,- and when things had .settled became apparent .that Bass 'of Canterbury was-just in tho lead'with tho others, bunched. At'GO yards tho position' was tho samo,;-and tho Canterbury thrill, was on. " One. could almost" hear'. tho question, that wtfs. 'Seething :■ througlilither bfam-'ofthfe crowd "Where aro Henderson and Gbodbe-l , hero ?V; v arid: then*--Wcllingtoi^ 1 got its thrill. !At about 65 yards a'bluo Jers'eycd Sgure-feliot-.'outiof-. tho.ibunch • of ■ flying .-.runners «on .tho .track'.liko -an-'aprow frohv-tiio- bojvr.' .A Iroar aj-osb"from tho spectators-ahd'Harry Hbriderson had for : the. second timo auiiexed tho 100 yards championship of New. [Zealand. ' .'.Bass .ran. a good raco : indeed, and proved, <his worth 'by beating'.G.oodbeherq, but without .wishing >to.detract from a meritorious,■ performanco I must say I- consider ho ; kept his lead'so long : on sufferance.. ,Had Henderson not . been keeping a ."'little up his 'sleevo over 'the first half of the' journey, ho could not; possibly' havo found tho . wonderful sprint-> ho - ; pro r ducod for. Itho last thirty yards or 50...1t takes, a very- speedy.- dash to gain a clear two yards ' in- thirty -at; :tlio: end of'- a chariipion-, ship hundred, and I doubt M rtny . man could do it after running, all out from, the ..gun— 1 - that .is, unless the other : ; men ''slacked ■■ up, and there' was no slacking up 6u"Sat'ui"da.y last. . -- - / . -." - ' , Tho timo rather favours this theory 'in tho present instance, as Henderson should with -tho .assistance' of tho wind - and the track, which, though rough, is decidedly down hill, havo done even time. ■ • .; 'Fisher's win in the 220 yards was tho re-! suit of shcei' determination and, strength, helped along by vory doubtful judgment on Henderson's part. •. The preliminary heats did not ,l)rovb exciting- nor did they help 1 in picking tho winner of tho final, as iu each case'.'the placed men were' nioro' concerned in qualifying ' than' .in battling out'the finish hard. : ; Hcn'dcrSon'was' first.- ,ta. shonv.out' iii" the final'anU roiindcd,tho corner into the straight fully six yards ahead of Bass ami; .'Fisher, who jwprft- ; haying a.?, jostling ■ match-:on;;tho inside,-: whilo.Trembath,. whose start'Miad- been intcrfered-'with by"MacPh'ail, was --lying behind- them. It was hero that-Henderson's judgment proved faulty. Knowing as, ho does that ho is not a strong fmishei\ over this event, and that ho still had to negotiato a lnmdrecl and twenty yards of iiphill'v straight " against a stilt' breeze, ho' should havo taken adyant-ago of. his.big lead.to.take a pull until'lie had gathered l ih; ri. stock of reservo' force. Instead of' ;this, however, ho simply ran''.himself to'.a standstill, with tho'result , that "Fisher, whoso run homo was a great exhibition' of pluck and determination, passed, him .two yards from' the tape, thus repeating his performance of last year. year. 7 ' _ ■ 1 ' , ; ' ■ The meeting to-day at the Hutt of these two-in. tho 220 yards' Provincial Championship will alono bo worth'' the journey but; and as it is to bo rim off in : one heat, and ori tho chance..of the weather.conditions being favourable; 'I: am inclined" to fa'iicy'-'Hender; SOn. ■■■■" -W, ; ; •) To return to-the big mebting':—strangely enough one.of tho best, contested races of the day was tho three-mile run—an event that is usually looked forward to by tho average spectator as a weariness of tho flesh —Wilt-on, Sharpe, Moore, Frew, and Claughtoii -at times each looked likely t-o pull it, oft, and. only Sharpe's condition and strength took him home. Though Wilt-on rather disappointed his,supporters by fading away in tho last mile, ho did yeoman's service as pacemakor. Mooro ran 'a very sound race, and in. tho latter half of tho last lap put in a strong challenge that filled tho Wellington barrackers with trepidation. Sharpe, the winner,' was a dark horse, and though his time was 20sec. outsido tho standard, tho wind and track, would account for quito this difference. In addition to this ho niado ■ extra .work for 1 himself by running for two milbs abreast of Moore and Claughton alternately on' tho outside, a pieco of poor track tactics • that must havo sent him a considerable distanco further than was necessary.