ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

;.,:■.;:; '■• ;;■■— —^-*—-r-—- .'., ■:■.;"■■: ;'.'■■ ',]/,■•'■'.■ ... . (B*; Mebcubt.). •■ ;'•■:.;y ■;■ ' '-•■--: v/' coming , , events.-'.' y?■■'■ - February 27.—P.N.A.A.C. Carnival. ; ;' March,—W.A.A.C. Autumn Meeting. V :; Maroh ':■■: 20.—Now Zealand : Championships ' "i-: (Dunedin). v':. '-;:;. ;:;";:/■■ Maroh 20.—Auckland Marathon. •. ■ v March 20.---C.Y^M.A.A.C: Gathering (Basin Reserve).. ' ;..'■'■■ ■'•"■■■:.-.■: •■" ■■'-:.;•..■■;..■'. March' 25.—Asliburton.Marathon.. : : '. ; ' "Marathonitis", is the fashionable disease in athletics just now. ..'Since the; sports bodies of j'the Dominion:are catching, it, the, following remarks from iho..' "Field" : will be in of the residual products of the Olympic Games is. the: new fancy for Marathon : raoes. • Contests under the; designation are being held everywhere, and even the Ama-■teur.AthlQtic'Assooia-tion has been persuaded to 'give 'them recognition and encouragement; whether because it believes them to be- a laudable addition to the ordinary curriculum; or:merelyunorder that British athletes may be well prepared for the. struggle: when; the next Olympiad comes rpund, is not clear. The distinguishing; features, of .the Marathon race are. that it is of; greater length than ordinary oross-country. or long-distance events, and that it is run on tho highway. Its attractiveness seems to lie in tho appeal: that;it makes to the" public through the idea that it brings out a particularly ■■ admirable kind of endurance.' When: thfl thinghas become familiar it .will,probably,be found that it matters very. ittlo to the. specially trained atlilete whether ie. : competes.with;others over four..milesor 50,-and,he will:not gratifyra.depraved spectacular, taste'by running' himself to, death at one; distance rather than another., v We have ■yet:.to : .Jearn. that:,mere tolerance •of: hard isuburban, roads, streets,'. ■'. pavements, : ,'and tram .'lines,'; with their foul mud ■ or -dust, is ah athletic. quality, that. requires special encouragement,; and reward, or that the- ordinary crosscountry run is ■ not long' enough and .arduous enough for the most ambitious youth. Indeed, , it is not many years since the dangers of ..oro'ss-cbuntry','. races ■• caused well-grounded "concern, in those who attended them as spectators; and -even yet; the presence of/an ambulance corps/is considered' desirable at , the championships. It .is generally, v howeyer, ; the least competent, and'not , the victor's,..that require medical aid. in these competitions, i'and; hereini the' Marathon: race, - from :'the ■ circus; point:; of/ view, .has the advantage. Bev fore, long; the -competitors will have / adapted ..themselves :tb the peculiar /hardshipsoof;,the .ordeal, and 'unless some new tortures -are invented the spectators._ will'be deprived of an, essential 'part ;of- J their enjoyment, in which case .•Marathonomania,'- like'-.the recent craze ;for .road-walking, will come to an early end.". A: .prominent- figure in : American amateur athletics, has', run;his- last .race. :,<,This ',is J.'B./Taylor,, the; Pennsylvania -liniyersity ■ negro sprinterj•'■"■'who-' died ;iri.;December last.: Taylor. l was: a : splendid'.. : quarter-miler, ■ ''and ywasmuch 'in/the public eye.'?las't,:July:on.-ac-, couiit;of. , his,presence.at the:O)yinpic GanWs,particularly; .'bo;'as 'he ■« as 'one of' the cpm-' petitors-in,the:now:famous 400 metresi-race:.' , ; ;-:The Ajrierioan -and',Canadian clubs are very keen , just, now:,in. looking: ; fpr likely: talent .amongst,"thei'R'ed , ' Indians; 'who: arei'noted distance Zealand 1 clubs,' gestS;''";Prodigar.;Vin:the v Sydney';''K.eferee"); might'follow.-this lea'dsby..searching for shot, putters;'.'arid,vhammer-throwers , amongst;tho -Mapris,vjwho;'are 'often ! ;very v heavy"as:°well ■as-:-strong i and : '.'active. : ■" ■■' , '.''■''■Vj--' ':'<:'■ .upon;;;another f r . : ara ,; culled /respectiveiy;- from Ehglislif and-. Americant-.eschanges i ■.; f;';: ; ;; ; Alfredv Shrubb, ■jAmerjcan: i tburi'. : ;Has;''fr l Ufl^.33; : Taoes.:Bnd,'''TOri -,to England, ■fpr-twp'-inbhthßVUn\'pWer^W;;try' l to"Sarrarige l races! with 'Longboat'. and Dofando. 'Hβ' has offered to '.run;::therii-:; three (.distances ■■ of 4Q, •15, •Oγ..,;.2o v 'miles" of> fwo.:'"out;';of,.,three•;'races l ;'to -claim, ;: the stakes; . butlShrnbb ;is:hopeful-; , miles ;;fespeoti vely i ! .i£4oo figoinfci tpi - . the- ■ winner 'bf ;over; stipulaj;esVthat"the,f,;firsfi:..jaQef'shaUT.be run othefp distances;. 'Lbngbbat:;decjiies,'to%ive:the ; g rieftptiatiijiisrarei'still'; in'■■■progressi? , ':'•■'"■■ v:f*H \ ; SoU3^Haskiris;Shas= signified ;his' intention of ,'.<»mj»|ang v ;;i^ , ~ ;March;2s.,-/An6ther;:competitor of notewillbe ex-champion; alid ! Ausy/;'j xi-,;; v: : opd I ;.ne v ws ;to3heari thatvthere' 'ire isome-eiitliusiasts in.Christchurch ,with:energy onoughto turri'out andbattlo;.w,ith the'sjack-:iesss'.and'-"ineptitude' that; is" responsible: for ■tH9,,moribundity;:. 'of' :ama'teur ; :: athletics ' in 'Canterbury.' :A .cps?,.':.and which ;speaks,' for/atself, : has". been :in : circulation,in Christchufoli, and from:the . : foUowingY,repprt.;it iwould I Appear/that, the mqvement;h'as already ;borno fruit :—A meeting was held in the City Hall on_ Friday, January 29,,:t0 ■foonsider:: , -the'.:'.- questioia.'.vi.of ,'•■:'■ forming ".amateur^athletic; olublin , .connection'.with ; Mr.-,1 , .,. A. 'Hornibrbok's. School "of ...Physical 'Culture.', ;-Mr.\Hbrnibrook,aprilied :to:the.Can.terbury.'Centre^of the .'.New,. -Zealand'' Amateur /Athletic.'■ Association' at : its r .l.a'st"- ; meeting for affiliation, : and", the centre; replied that; it .would- favourably, consider, the. proposal, if the necessary^:rules .and- I^^ regulations.. ; for.;a : ':new club provided;.;'■■.■There : i!-'.v':.wae';".i i : a .large ..''■ attendance,' -and. -'it •■■.!'i?aß;-;':.;ianani- ■ mously!';';deoided-...;WV;.f6rm'Va.'Holub-v-wi''cpn-hection with the" school. ■ The followingofficers we're .elected :-fPresident, , - Mf; A.; Horni:.brbok;:(captairi,,:Mr<;P. Drew;".-secretary,.'.Mr, ;,C; Millar; 1 committee,-Messrs..D.'-H.' i 'Bussell, W. Oatos, W.'Norris, H. Parry, and B. Carter... Mr!-Hor,nibrook states that he has about half ;;acdozenj yoiing; athletes announced their; intention" of: competing in the coming A'shburton.Marathon- , Race.-' , . "■ •,•• , : ." , :■ ;The 'circular: runs:'., as -/'follows :—''Deai iSir^Ma'hy■--pf,--i ; jthose; interested :in" .amateur,..athletics'"'.have ; , felt .--for' some time ,th'at ;this province is not upholding; its;traditions/in the "direction or-,..' bringing.;.out amateur;'runners.and-athletes.- It.has' been suggested- that a clubshould bo formed :ing;for,one of itschief jObjeots the encouragemerit':;."of. ypungery runners at':a subscriptioii that 'will, enable;'youths leaving school, as well as; more;;advanced'athletes, to keep in ;train|ng arid cofiipete rogularly ; at Organised '.meetings,'-'X Amateurism ■ in 'Canterbury :certaiiily' is notpwhat it used to be,;:and it is difficult to understand why one does not heai ;more:of. the large of young. athleteE who show.such promise, 'both,'at'/primary arid .secondary' schools. ! With .the object of forming :a:;genuirie. amateur athletio or, sports clul ■for the.specialVencpuragement .of young 'performers, and; tho ultimate ; re-_establishmeht of tlie sport on, a strong .basis,, it is proposed to hold a meeting atthe Gloucester Chambers, 190 'Gloucester Street,-on Tuesday,■'•■Februarj 2,r1909, at, 8 :p.m., and your attendance-'is ■•earnestly solicited. The promoters, feel sun ■ that there'i-is -.a -large ■ number;, of ruririors whp'se interest for various reasons is, at present., and. we trust these anc others, will assist ;in the; promotion,of a clul as has been, suggested. -Please.mention tb( matter to.'any. of your friends likelyHo assisi hi'the promotion of the'club;'—Yours, etc., ¥,; IIV -Murray, hon.,' secretary Cariterburj -Centre." : ?■■ ' ■ :•' ■■ ■',-- -. ■..' '■■-.''.'.■ -';'■' :-- : ,:': ■'■■■'■"' Bays, an English file of December 11:—Th< Furlong Flat Championship of --'England which.Came:off at Oldham on.Saturday, wai to have been; a three-cornered '■ sweepstake :Tho contestants'were .at. the outset A. B ■Postle (Australia), B. JB,, Day.(Dublin), ant :W. Grpwcott (Bunbury);-who were articlec to run 220 yds,'. on level terms for £100 : .corner.- : .■Unfortunately, ,"■'. however, . Postli wrenohod the-musclos of his thigh badly a , the Stadium, and.withdrew, paying : £2s:for feit.' Day: and Growcott decided to go oi with the .race. There, 2000 people/pre sent, and. Day, -was installed a. hot- favourite After going 50yds., tho favourite had estab lished a lead'of : half a yard, and at 200 yds : ho had ine'reasod his \ ad vantage to.3y'ds. • Thi race was npw'practically a gift for the Irish man. Urowcbtt, however, did not give'up On the other hand, Vhe persevered gamely bub failed ;io get on terms wjtlr Day,, whi .eventually-won by about ,4yds. .The:winner' time -was 21js'ep... ■'"'•'".•;■ '.■.-.. .■.■•'■'■ .-■-... v Running men will join in expressing regre at tho misfortune of Mulcahy, our iong-dis tauce runner; It will be remembered tha he'ran in: the three-mile handicap at the even ing meeting on WfdtieadaT week, and ho thei complained of having a cold upon him. How

■■ ev.er, Tather than disappoint the public he ran his race, and, since then, I learn that . he has been confined to his.room, and has ■ bad rather a bad time. Mulcahy had set his heart on competing in the Auckland Marathon on March 20, but I understand that this is now out of tho.question. .This :.' makes it doubly hard for our pi'ovincial ■ , champion, whose return to health: will bo , welcomed by runners and public alike. 3 1 lejrn that Goodbehere,-our sprinter,; and Rigg, three-niiler, both of,whoni were, asked 1 by. the Contre. to : go. into trainirig in view i of the championship naeeting in March, are ' unable to make the trip. . ■ ■■'•■■