ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 639, 16 October 1909, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

(By 'Mercort.).

,:,:, .', November < 9.—Wellington 'Centre's. . Marathon '/.(Basin -Reserve'to Hntt' and.'-buck) and '/'."■"t'J-WvA'.A.'C.'-'.'Spring Carnival (Basin Reserve). . January," I.—Wellington Provincial ! Champion! -.-■ ,-^- l v.shjps.;.i:'..:'v.;,'•....(.:■. .-'.-.,...••...'.', ••.■,;•. •-,,,, ■', January.,;29.'—Civil"; Se'rvica. . A.A.C. ■ Meeting ~-'''. ,s(Basin Reserve)./; .;.';-//, :,:.. -..,,,, .>•-. Febrhary.'-^N.Z. :; \ChaiTipionshipsr (Auckland); '•■' '■:■: February.—Port;-:';Nicholson"'. ; A'.A. ; .',Meeting . /, A* (Basin'Reserve).'./•;,' • ;•;.-,. ';'',' -":'"';■. ... V ■La'st I ';we,ek'B;-road.;raceTrthe i seventh -of the '-;■ 'Why'te :nu'd -M'Kny.', Shield—was .', a;great,sii(;ct!ss,;,and' tho interest taken .by tho , publiq .would .seeni to "indicate- that more con- -.'. ■'•'■ testa of ;th&,kind.could. be held- oh Saturday ■.'.'■ afternoonkf%uch races .could easily bo man-. ~' - aged by .orierof- piir; clubs,■ and' there are"quite '•'..-enough' dista'neo;/men','available .now.to, guar- ■■ antee' 'good' fields. ; The events ;need not ueccs;,/,sary,,be for^team's^—theycould be run : as handi';,.W^ :.;-.'. :.perhaps,' special prizes ..for, the' fastest 'time es-",'.tablished.',..;Towards,-the;,cost;..6f;..these ..tho 'entrance. f eep 'would ,'be; no, -small/ factor. ; More- '-, over,'- no-dpubt; -some; of the supportors and office-bearers. :of.-'the,//ent.erprisirig club would see/thatdts/funds'-were,not. taxed, too severely .. in'isuph'a;'god'd'cause.' -. .-■.''.'.: .'■'.-:. in '" Saturday's , ./race •, the W.A.A.C.'.teani ■.-*"as:'the;,pbp"ular'':selection -': for the-' : v'teams' '. ./trophjv and- either-. ; MulcaHy" or' H; T.-.Thord- ,-; i:.ecji -iot ;the .(individual'. prize.'- Seen before, the ;,,sta'r,t;>- Mulc*ahy ; 'statecl. that, ..tnough-not l -quite :.' in;'S'uoh'-gopd' : 'fettle' ; as' for" last; year's -race, ho ■'."-'. was 1 fairlynt-and-expected "to'.be; handy "at 'the ■-.' .fimsh.'-'l'hpmsonrw'its.inot--sov.confidoutiibitt 'he -...; ;"had:h6pes'. : ".''others,'whdse--cliance's wefel-liked •. were"^F.-'-Wilton-,'; Bennett/:Press, ■'• and.'Fitz- ■'.. geraldrand these, with-the-otbor cracks, made ', .thefgoihg,very-solid from .thevstartj. for which ,; ,'••.-",. ~ > ... ,-.''' -"'." ■'. Jliltcahy '; soon 'pushe'd''to■ the' front,' followed ' closely and these,two.reached .'tho' turning'.pbint'fsi-mnlta'nepusly. -Here 'Mulcahy ',- 6'purfe'3,-:;an'd-:operied ,r, a''gap , ',of -SO'.o'r 30."yards ;. - between ;.him'self.v and/his ;next': attendant. ■ Ben-. ;,,;nett, Bust;: and;; Press "were leading, the ruck, ;,and.those of:.THphis6nY;.admire'rs,whp:h«dfol- .'"■ flowed -the^'race- per vbicycle;' wert;' feeling' anxi6iis; i ,'Tho'' order-of 'the', leaders; 6li the return /journey- did not, a\te'r',;much';" , , ; V'J[uleahy.ym-,-..-proved; his'lead, ;and-ran in ,a winner from ■■•.Wilton ■'. by VSOs'ec'iT the /respective; times .'-being ' 26mih.' ; .' ospcv;;; artd SC'rriih; "35se& :' Bennett' was : third, 'twV -seconds', behind; Wilton,, and .Press ..'■ arrived 13se'c.',later, followed in 7seC, .by. Bust. ~ Fitzgerald was'sixth .(27niiu'.-.'265ec),.-and Thom-- '■ son eightiV : ;;''^:':"'';:.v: ; / : ; ... ';,,.-,,- ,\' ':■ ! The; teams';racb ; 'fell 'tpV'the' POrt'^NichblsonJ Club,' w : hose,■ winning' ■ quartet were:'—Mulcahy■ :. ,fiist,;-Biist .fifth, liimberg tepth, and M'Grathi •eleventh—a total of, twenty-seven. pPihts. .The . r W.A.A.G.'.-team -scored .thirty points, made'up '". ty.''Wilton "second,. Fitzgerald', sixth,/ Thomson' '. eigh'th,!,,'ahd'.Murray.:.fourteenth'.. 'The third ; place'was'filled' by-'thb'iowly-fornicd Brobklyii Harricrs.iwho'/areVmuch'.'to be' commended t'Pr- ." e'ecurihg'/' siich a'-prominent;, ppsition in .this, - ' ..their: first;-'public'-.'.essayJ'>'',.■;. ~;.;;.... -.;,"': •;/The/Zpresentz/is Mulcahy^,;;third /successive; .win' in'thls'.eve'nt,,and '.h'is : ''perforraanco,,o^uite .apart from:;the-'excqptipn'al''meiit ; bf.';such a, sc- 1 ~ ;■ of'wins','V:'as" a .'.'"splendid gPod -. indeed "tb'nt/roiie/is■;;incliiied [to/look askance

>•:■ full •;.<:■',!■ five':miles/,was' ! laid;ofT.;-,This-.is.written with -no ':'.:■ wishrto":belittle; Mttlcahy's ';fe'nt,-. ; and- "Mer- .-. learn, ttjiat.; the.distance .-hastenJconfirmetf.V-'.lf,.is Wh'en'ohe comes 'td-i ':'•'-.i thosG rccordedii \i'in .recent/ruas.'in;Au'stralia:.;that one/wbnderß. :•';••■ course,. .the*, .weather ' was'; all in/ favour : of 1 ,; i sstrd'. Was-vhct-.-:• ;so•/"in vthe '.' -.; JUfpffli'. Case, .referred-'.;' thrbelew, .-and .may' not ' "■ ;naVeibe'eh'::s6:nn':Tasmahia'.; '.On''September 18 ;' ; . the;-N;S:W-.''-. five-mile-.championship- was won ': : hy."Andy".'>.Wbod, v the/Brishano.-:- Marathon" .winner, from'a'fiold of 436;.starters,'comprising '.the.'best/men ; ih;; the'/State. .The .'event took •' place' : oh ,■.- the.'- Victoria.-' SarXtfaeecolirse, ori > a.' ■;:'• o windy .day,and a ; soft track; and the timowas v .'.Slmin..34sec.;vAt about'tho'samc tinie : the ;Tas- . : m,airian; :'fiyc-milo 'championship', was held'-'at •' •■.■.. :Xaunceston,"a"nd 'was;,wqn''by'C.- Clark in 29min. ;'•:'.'; ■' 10 • ,2 ; ssec.'.;. No :;.Newi, l '/Zealand; ..'or'' Australasian • .; tCcordyhaSvbee'njrejistercd for .five miles,"and /'■■ therefore'inq-'lbcal' .comparison .can'bb .niadcj '.but- the/;world's^best:amatdu'r,, performances-is Bhrubb's'24min. 33soc. (oil a track, hot a road)) .'■'". ■■■ From : theso figures', the merit of Mulcahy's. run ■ (aid-indeed-offtbatiof- all .the'.leddefs) .becomes .;;:■ : app.ar.ent-tliaf HSiyifJthe': measurement of;'ihe : ; .-'■■."■'. dlstao6e'-'*'aS"'cbfrectr ( -'lt would'he'quite worth' -..:■• while''to .:havei;iKchecJted.,'.' .' v \ ;;:;;,,/;...??;;;.:;, .:-..■, {The,action;'of,thVN;Z.A.A".A..Council in'ithe .: .'recent; mail-rtbte? /taken: by-.the-'-'Australasian" ■','.■■'• .'Cniphr-regardih'g'-'-poleTvaulfing.'is'^to-.'be'-com- ,-.-. - - mehdedi.iThe.-; point Was," as !; to'-'whether-': or .".not ;.../, ;ya.,pbje-vaulter..^ jhMvex_ceeding : "qne\"fopt''ih ; "diameter, in" which : ■:. ..'to "place-;his; poieT for/his/ "take-off."/'ll'vinay' ■'~■■;., be; remembered, that';this.'.question was ;one.: of. :.. ;th'ose.>'oyer : ;which*i:the'.regrettable friction-arose ."" :bß't\«:eeh'th.e''Americaris ahd'the English' ner-. . ■'■f*mers->hd^6ffiCiate;at J .'the '.'■ last Olympic ■■ '.-games., . had .'always-. ■' •beeny>all6,wed''.tp.:u'se.the > hole,-but..the - idea :'iad • r : ■•■; lip'parSiitty ■■■,not'. occurred; .to;.- the Home! people. ''•:■ : ''Gonsjiiiiehtly, Vwheh - 'the) visitors . commenced! :-'■'-.;digging /their little pits,.'th'ere was .trouble- with :•;the'..vomcials..'immediately'.'.-:-.The'"'authorities ', : Btated'ithat',-thereWas,,nothing;iu.the'.English ■'-.-;:'.-.rules.to,-allow:-"of;:the'-innovation:;-The Ameri-- :, "cansi.retbrtcd that,theVe.'.was'nothihg'to prevent .•.//iii.abd.. that, /'iabrebver';-; they;, had, -always; done .-.-it:6h' < .tn'eir.:'side.;.;!''Howß'vef, /they were .-iibt.'al-.-:;]owed.-'to.*d,o.Nitv''on"eth'is:;.occa'sion';: hence ;the >trbuble.; L lt'isVrdifficnll: to : fin'd/an .objection to -,-. - :.;the practice,.' arid^t l obviously- makes tor safety. >.jSo.\the.;c'ouncil>rightlj'..votodi in 'favour, of it. '•';'(,. - ,■; v Seemingly Jhope- 'of the : Walker .Australasian revisit ','is;?.npt;;yet; quite* dead.'; So . i'hadicome..to;hand:.',as;.to,:the; reasons;.for- the : ;,').cancellatioh ; 'ofA'.the ..tour .'in. ''fiihe.:;' for.'.•'.; the \y.':-?.NiZ;A.'A'jA.! : Conncil';.mee'(iiig..last .Monday.'.but : ji-e'pprts/frpm "the.South ..African'/papers make ;': \'vil. appear, that;-the; pbstacles-are tho'soriiewhat, finance.' .-.The .in- ' ' ; fprm.atidh..fis'!verv,',.'scanty, ;'and-. : the;,'.above /.is .-.: VMonly isur,mise,i.deduced':'ftorn..the 'following ~e'xT ;;:' '.'^tracts^repHnted;■.by;"■'Trpdijal,■".'frbrn'.reports . ,',' of la -'meeting, of.'the committee, of the\South, . : , /African.' 'AiA.A:','.... held ./'at. .''Jbhanuesburg.- ion .; ."August• 27 • .Walker' : and :Duncker, ',-Vtho-. chairman' said'/that:'.'all ..'the -money;' sub- ' iißbribed ■-, i orU the., vexpenses,- :of -'..'.Walker;. and- > >15s.—had been; expehded;- . other-gentle-. : - in.eh-.in ; -Londoii. ( were : .supplying.:any. .additional' , fuhdS. ; ;'-;-Their.-_'engag«'ments-, '.\vou..t : | ; keep : them ;.;'-';'in..'•Ehgtadyui'til,-■ the' iSe'ii.tomb'er.-..,'The ;,!■;. : 'they:'!werp'ratfc ; '; ; :ing'; ; th'eif 'leave,-tbut..-as?,.they ; ..wero ' ih: good, ;; : .;•; h.apds. itj'did': hotJinatter Ivpry much." "A.- fur- • ...'.th^r.letter.'.was'^received',from ; : .the-A.A'. .Union ..:, of-Australasia.. Asking/. if'''a 'visit. could bo . a'r- :'• ranged, for : .VWalKer,;and Duncker'.'or Hefferoh; /.:-:tq'.;V\slt-Aii?tfdlia: :^lt''was; ''deJ!ided to;.reply' .:.'that;-Walker; and 'Dqiicker; hadjonly-': received ; month's' 'leavef of ...absence, : 'and -'that : this. -..'.; pei;ipd:.'oould J hPt'.be.;<!xtended, and, further,. to: ettite!that'Hefferdh-'hadyjoihe'd ;the'professional .^.,;ra'h^:V;w;J.;(.7;;..v;y7:,;,v:.;; '■■;.. r.'.:';';; : ,'-',..';\;' : ' ;:. I'ilf./itj.is'-.rc'.ajlj.-lthe lack" ,bf.' ';■' {u'ndsVan'd!' l inability':!to'?,'ob'fain' , -fnr'tlier'leave" --T-'.' tjiings-Stnl/tbie.-. -waj;y-:-the''diffi<;qli7.. ■ ... eagnotxl^':consider '.•■.■.. grav,eV*'); : 4s.:.regar.ds' ■the;fi.ha'ncml';aspe'ct,:,aii;tne; .: yisitp'rs ! ,'expei\sas'jwill• ib«:';'boi;no''.by .the. as>o- .. : o».fiQ.i)?/w^ttjfl4inßvh'»tn^;iiidv'the'.iStatcs'''and ;i .:, ;ppniiinpnji h^ye';alreadv.;,made'i.siiarantees;.ih , : ; this;d.ifJF,t.ion"."i-Ne.W 'Z^olandAhas'pledged" her- - Selfi.'up.'tb":-JslOQ?.'.ahd~Viotoria'--and-Tasmania--.■:',-.■.iso"e;ach'iV '.j-,'. ; i..;''i:* : V-v''-i..'.' ! ;.v.;...;.;c':. '■: : .. : ■'„.: -.. .V'Anp'arehtlyJWalker.' would.;h'eedva; trayelling , .Hefferoii:-if.'nQ ...;.>.lo6ger.'ravailable. ,';Wjil'ihg -of.the little 1 .sjprhi- .:'•■;."■■ ■;-.te'rs"-;stap'in| EiJgl^'d;iMr. : ; : -J,:>;.T,': Wallace, /';, vice'-president -tpfA'the''. Natal.';:'A.A.A.,'.;ahd ..• .' Walkbf.'s! , chief..giido;'';*philosopher,'.npd.:fi'ieiid, says,'-'.inter;.'.alia,;;>"Walker., has ■. been' .'com-. ■'..-'■ plainingiVefy.^feittei'ly'lpf...the. Cold :nnd .wet' in ■": tEhglandj„as he'ijs^such'a'.fragilevlnd.physically > :;'.-':the,dampVafi'ect;^'fllfii,.an'd / iliakes: him.-nielnh- ■ -.-; ,choly,'' He;,^s.'iofii\ !: ,ncrvoiis, disposition''and :'., fr'etfiil,"ib^tliat;.Vl..,sfi^ll. ; h,'aye [t'd; pick a gqp'd ...' m.ah,to..go^t'with;him:'^.-; : .'. : i ';' l -.'. .'".',.' .. : - •^,. : Anpth'e^ : 'auth*drity,'.'.iif/it(it«ra!i' Smith African . ;; ; ex¥L'iiii'i)'ibhj;'give"s!;hLs.'-opinion "of ,the'.-'"fret-'■j- .: ; ,.,ful'V;ohr.ih .theifollowihs..terms-.— -i, ;■.-,•■ ' .'•. : think\of; W-n'l.ker?• .Well/' I.jiist ■ "w,hipcdrd;.;.wUh'- a ".'..'Bpr'vigtCafc.-ii^'orvals^of:',an. ;; iijch-_;ap'art.'.'-..J10 'is. ,;.-, beautifully,.biiilt;>'and- d;t'thb : stinie,lines .as a' ..''•'■■■; racihfc cutter; V.T.ho. secret-.of -his power Is; to.be. .'■'. ■:.', BeenjwV'. liis, ti-6riderfiil;;thigii.' - . It is long-ihconi* paiisSn'.withUhc Jpwer.pnr.t'.p.f the.leg'.frpm the .';'' .kneefto'the'lieelj'^and'tW..miiscle;.tbn',f:' rounds; ■ . '..tho^tliigh',bbhe. : stands, 'but •liko.-'a'mahiln liaw-■Ber.'.-J Below'Vt)ie-_knee- eyminetrically ,m'ohldcil' l '-,:witli',;just;' sufficient: development of ; - theljtricepftto.give- the''lbg..a',perfoct cutV'Tho' : .:fopt '"\i -.small.Vandvdelicate'.vwith.'tho:.longest .' ''-. J.have.eyer. Sce,n:. : oH'.'a; man...'Here,'again, . /powers; . In-".:-'-.i.-'.a'»a'di'-bf';'ruhniriB'-frbihSthp':baH.'of..tliq" .foot,.as .... mpst.spr'infers.i'Wal.kir .tjirns-his; .foot'-inw-ards '. : : Iw^enVhbJtPuches.theigrouh ';;^ i: ■^..Bis''•toes^whlcb:,•'joTv'S ,1 nim'■aat^^|■ally > ■hs■-db.tll■e.■ '. .;.;;"ar'tifieiai'.spiral .tdqs.-.pff'/tbe : spring-jack,-■ His

balancing power when on tho move is marvellous, and not to bo attempted by-less gifted runners unless theycan accompany it with the necessary strength to maintain tho'.'body nt an angle-;6t which Walker'does. . His arm' action is unique, effective, and olmost'gro-. tesmie. . Ho sweeps his open" palms across his body .like the fore.fins of a 6eal, and flies along when at the top of his stride, tipping the daisies like a crane leaving Mother Earth for thp.wing." .-;•■., Failing Walker, the council is very desirous of .obtaining tho services of some other performer of note to tour for the forthcoming season as an offset to ! the Postle'visit.' There is no-time-to go further .afield than Australia, and'the' first name that suggests itself (it being understood that Barker is not available) is Wheatley, who toured and ran so well at the time of the Duffcy, and Shrubb boom. A subconsisting of Messrs, A. Marryatt 'and C..E. Bridge.has beoii set up/to,open negotiations with Victoria, and to-niako preliminary arrangements for Wheatley. It is proposed to'bring either a distance, runner or a hurdler as well, if possible, and tho Victorinn,- J. L. Davis, the,world's record "holder for HO yards 'hurdles, is the man required. 'The project is yet only in its infancy, and may bo found to be quite impracticable, but if it could bo pulled off it would prove> an excellent substitute for the" bigger scheme. Wheatley. versus "Jimmy" Wilton,: Harding, and Opio, over a quarter, and lagainst Harding-and.Hhskins'(if he could be prevailed upon to come out),,over a half-mile, would be contests only equalled by the "goes" that would result between Davis, St. .Aubyii Murray, and Keddell, in the two hurdle events. Wheatley. could beat anything the Dominion has over n mile, but Hill, Mlvhight, Steele, and Co. could niako him" hurry, and when Wheatley hurries he is indeed worth watch- ' Mi;.fJ. H. Pollock has returned to the charge 'over tho "standing" versus the "crouch" start question, iu regard to the advantage gained by a runner adopting the old-time standing "set" and its customary leaning, of tho body forward'over, the mark. Mr..Pollocki points out that Hewott,'.whom ho had ' compared .with Duffy, 'did not lean over-his mark—in-:; fact, quite-the l averse. He stood with his-weight, if anything Ln his-track foot—the right—leaning -a'trifle-back, and'with his'right hand raised in tho^air high over his shouler. At the.gun he swung his.arm down and piit at the same time as his' right foot-went forward, and.so■ swung himself off tho-mark, andinto his stride. In the face of Mr. .PollocKs remarks, ."Mercury s' comment of -last week falls to. the ground as regards- Hewott,' but it -still' obtains: as regards thomojofity'-of :cascs,'. "Mercury" was .building his case mainly on- the-standing. start used by;i"Jack" Hempton,- who most decidedly leaned well forward over the mark wlnlq ' set, and therefore did not carry his body or run as' far' "as a.modern "crouch" starter-who., sets with his hands only on the mark, and -consequently with his feet and,body behind it. . An'interesting letter has also come, to hand 'from Mr, L. B. ("Pat").' Webster, 220 yards !and 440' yards New Zealand record'holder,,embodying his views upon this matter. Mercury" has to thank Mr. Webster fortius valuable'contribution,' and -regrets that _it arrived too'late/for;publication this,week. It will appear next week.. " , ,' -,>.'. "..-■••.■ .