OUR ATHLETES OVERSEA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 594, 24 August 1909, Page 5

OUR ATHLETES OVERSEA.

~ i —, —« —= — • i ' . A LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA,' ' ' i ON THE EVE OF THE .BATTLE ~< ',' ' , s ' (Br "Osb op Them") t ' ' Sydney, August 13 " To-morrow the New Zealand contingent leave Sydney for the frootj, and, pith the exception of Dickson, tho three-miler, all our men are in excellent health and .condition. By last mail, your correspondent stated that it had been considered necessary t°' obtain medical advice for Keddell and Dickson, both of whom ' ' ware showing sympions of "grogginess" in the legs—the former from an old knee trouble, and a muscular brmso from striking a hurdle, and tho latter from a strained sinow. Our hurdler is now happily quite sound again, but is still sore, and had to slacken off in his 1 work considerably The specialist cpn- , ' suited did hot, as was feared, "lay him off" altogether, and, as a result of his advice, the trouble is not, now so marked. Dickson will not jtart quite up to his best form, although lie, anticipates no ill effects in tho three-mile championship. His Maiathon prospects, however, are decidedly gloomy, and it is quite possible that ho will withdraw trom thi* event. ■ i , ' ' Every other member of the combination has *coine on well'iq "preparation, and 'all are ' levelling in tho firm grounds and warmth. Several "trials," of a description have bpen held, and though only approxi-, mate,'' have proved satisfactory, woodger ' has been moving well in His gallops, and has on two 'separate days been' timed' over 75 < yards. On the first occasion, paced by Keddell, off three yards, ho was clocked to do r eight! seconds, and, ,on _the second, with his pacer up" another 1 halt-yard, 'he J did a' shade better, catching his man, op each occasion ' Both these'iuns were wuh a'slight breeze Keddell, paced bj It'Kaj, was tested i2Q hurdle distance, nnd, aided slightly by the Hind, did his task in 16 l-ssec—a sound per- ' formance, even allowing for some (lattery fiom j.he timing. Kerr'also was raced against tho watch over a mile, and, finished' comfortnbly mth something lp reserve—a shade better tjian .fmj'n > Today he did .his woik under the. $yo of llr. Jl. Coombes, who expressed himself jas quite satisfied with his mode of progression: Mr. Cponibes l at Brisbane will not oc- . oupy his customary position of -referee of the 1 ' wa)kjn» contests, that appointment being, filled by a local / man, > which, under the orcomBtances, is rather to h e legretted. ; Stopre has bean doing inost of his work on the road m 'company with Synie, the N S W. t Jfaralhon ,"crack." and reports favourably of his t form. M'Knight's preparation lias consisted of steady work on the track, and his form indicates that, even in the evept of Dickson's injury telling ngawst him in the three mile run, the Dominion's ohance of annexing this event is a good one. Of the field events there is le6s to report. , M'Kay has confined his vaulting practice work to jumps of between Oft. and 10ft., in accordance with his system, ,Be has been clearing the bar at this height 'very comfortably, but has not yet had a test" vault. Both M'Kay and KeddelJ have been hampered in fhe.T broad-jumping work by tho want of a proper place for practice. Owing to (ho ground being constantly lu use for football, the Dpi) "pit" available has been dug in a. vacant cprner, and has a short and very rough "runin." Consequently anything liko decent practice has been out pf the question for Keddell, who comes in from over 40yds, and, after one day's attempt, which proved very unsatisfactory, it was, decided to leavo another trial until Brisbane is reached- M'Kay, who takes a much shorter run-in, did better, on one occasion, clearing 20ft; i An item of interest, and one which may have a big bearing on New Zealand's chance l ;, came to hand this t afternoon. The secretary of the N.S W A.A A.' received word from Nigel Barker—the Mother State's blight particular star—that he had broken down in training through an old strain, although ho would still compete. If this is ireall.v senou«, NS W. is in trouble indeed, as Barker is the maiuptav of her team, ne is entered for the 100, 220 410, and 880 vnrdi, and the broad-jump, and is looked to locnllv to capture at least three of these events, but these. reports pf brenkr ~.;-. doyns pn;his part have<be'en;hea'rd'-9n'';'preyioun' ,V • :: j;i;;' .•'Winning chances ;at ; a,U' when'it;;capie Lto'the■ '.. .v;,':.% 'point; which naturally.; makes ,'ono" •rather seep-- :.'■■'■'■■ ::;.y,'.ti<:'al' iff'-thV.present''instanced ;: : :k--^"--' • ViJugkE.-'E.-Fisher's, inclusionin-Vthe'. team ; rd> :-„•: :■:.- ;; ; :f«red to ; last. ; mail.; VHis,,entry 'for" the? 440 yds; •■•'.••;.;.-.' championship ,'has : :boen:,4ele'graph'ed"•• to ''' Bris-: /■•'•':;^V/..ban*..:'apd;-:ac^^ ;-whether:'he>:gan ; .i))ake'#e ; trip.;';in: any' '■. ,■';-.■ he will not accompany,,thei team to-morrow.