ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

.(By Mercubt.)

Those generous ckicket folic. To-day—Petone Junior Club Meeting. March B—Karori A.A.C. Evening Meeting March B—Manawatu A.A. Meeting. March 11—\Y.A.A.C. Carnival. March 15— Mnrton A.C. Meeting. March Woodvillo A.A.C. Meeting. March Horowhcmia A.A.C. Meeting. March IS—N.Z. Championships (Christchurch). April I—Victoria College Sports and Opon Events. Easter—Upper Hutfc Axcuicn'3 Carnival (amateur athletic events). The 111-luck Last Week. Tho ill-luck of the Wellington A.A.C. ia the matter of weather for its sports meetings seems to bo continuous. The latest sufferers—tho Port Nicholson A.A.C. —were at one time considered tho "fine weather club," and their luck in this direction was something unusual; the combined mooting with tlio. Wellington Amateurs last year seems to have changed that. On that occasion (he weather was threatening enough to keep some hundreds away from tho gathering. On Saturday last it is doubtful if the club could ltavo got a hundred people to attend, even had it paid them half-a-crown a head. The. postponement of the fixture was seen to bo inevitable early in tho day. However, owing to tho generosity of the Cricket Association, the club has been able to secure the Basin Reserve to-day, and tho prospect of seeing the. majority of Wellington's championship team in action should attract.a large concourse of spectators. Headlights on tho Championships.

The Wellington selectors (Messrs. Ivitto, Burnett, and Pollock) have undoubtedly done their work well, though 0110 or two of tho selections aro perhaps opon to criticism. Hubbard, as Wellington's only representative in what have been for tho past four years her strongest enemy—tho 100 yds. and 22flyds.—does not appeal !o one as a likely winner. But inquiries fihow that his was the only selection possible. Weodger, of course, is on his way to England, and neither Berry, of Maslerton, nor Williams, of Wanganui, who' finished in front of him in the 100 yds provincial championship are available. Berry has left Kew 7/caland for Victoria, and Williams is unable to secure leave. Hubbard cannot have much chance with Ojio. but. is more than likely to secure second in both sprints. Wellington will possibly liavo the services of "Jack" Stolir 111 tlie«e two events, as it is understood that there is a possibility of the New Zealand representative throe-quarter making the trip at, bis own expense. Harding, of course, wns a corlainty to bo picked as first string for both tho quarter and half-mile championships. Tho "champion, judging by his recordbreaking run nt Auckland in the. spring, has retained all bis form, and his 51 _ 2-5 sec. for tho quarter at Napier a fortnight or so afro is good enough to win five out of six New Zealand championships. Onic may extend him, but 0110 fancies that the Christcliurc.h crack "is at his IK-st at shorter distances. One wculd have preferred to see "Jimmy" Wilton as focond siring, in plncc of Hubbard, but the question of finance had to be considered, so Hubbard, who is competing in_four other events, bad the preference. Wilton is a quartor-miler, pure and simple (though bad he turned his attention to the quarter hurdles, he might have made a champion), and this no doubt ( told aeainst him. Coming to the half-mile, Wellington's chances must ba considered dr<idedly rosv. even allowing for such opposition as Buih and Haskins. Harding, as present champion, has been chosen as first string for Wellington, but "Mercury" is quits prepared to see Wilson finish almost on level JtfrnH with, him- r&t Aiieldsnd lost year it U'Ss"hif g-eiieralihiji' that;' enabled Harding to beat" Wilson. This year Wilran is running as well as ever, and, with the extra .year's experience, be should «>t Harding a much harder task. 11 Burk and Haskins are in farm, this race and the niili should furnish tie best contests of the meeting. This year Wilson has beaten Baxter off tlio mark at 1000 yds., and, wiih l.vrds. handicap, has finished in front cf liim at a mile, and there eau be little doubt that, good runner though Baxter is, Wilson can account for him at a mile. Bun:, Haskins, Hill, and .Wilson—what a race this quartet should furnish on tho 18th! Unless Baxter can give a satisfactory three-mile trial. Wellington will not bo represented in the three miles Hat, and, with such strong opposition in the field, as Dickson—who seems .a certainly if ever (hero was one—and Bent son, it would perhaps bo better to strengthen the team in other directions.

Tho "Walks" and the Hurdles. With Kerr in form, and Wilson absent, Wellington appears to lmve a mortgage on both walks. Tho interest; in these events will probably lie in Ihe struggle for second place between Q. 11. Stubberlield and Wellington's second stringeither Turner or C'ashman. These two will probably linvo their trial at the Port Nicholson Club's meeting to-day. On present form, one is inclined to prefer Turner, though tho struggle is bound to bo close. ' In the linrdlo events, Evcnsen, as present New Zealand champion at the shorter distance, commands respect,_ though he is (on (heir form at Diincdin two_ years ago) hardly the equal of G. P. keddell, who seems' to be running as fast as ever, and whose fencing should not have suffered by his short retirement. A. Halllgan, in" form, would have strengthened the team, but, as ho has not had a race since his return to the Dominion, the selectors took the proper course in demanding a trial before they considered his claims. Despite the fact of his having won tho 120 yds. hurdles at the Provincial Championship meeting last month, it is difficult to account for M'Kenzies selection in the team. At best he is, in all probability, 110 better than a lVsec. man, and against him will be Keddell (10 l-ssec.) and Evensen (10 2-sscc.), aild as points are now allotted for firsts and Seconds only, it does' not appear likely that his selection will benefit the centre at all. In the 410 yds..event Evenson and Kitto should each give a good account of himself. 'The latter is to tys manager of the team, and his competing will be by wav of variety to his other duties. Still, a (issec. mail is no mean opponent in a field, in which the best performance of any one, so far, is about C3s.ec. Jn (ho absence of Murray, the winner of this event five years in succession, H. Hamilton, of Canterbury (who ran second to Murray at Dunedin in 1000) reads tho best with Kedtlcl and Evenson next.

The Jumps and Other Events. With L. C. Oi'bell in form, Wellington will probably have to bo content with second place in the high jump. Eveiison and M'Ka.v have each jumped sft. fiii). in competition. Hodge, of Masterlon. has also cleared sft. Gin., but, in view of the superior all-round form of Evsnson and M'lCiir, his omission cannot be cavilled at. On Wednesday evening Evenson, in practice, cleared sft. Bin.—the best lie has shown, and which should enhance his prospect*. Tn the other three jumping events the chances of our representatives are much brighter. Hubbard, as present rhampion, must have a very good change in the long jump. ITis strongest opposition will come from Keddell. who. though lint the juniper he was before his accident, is still capable of something in the neighbourhood of 2Ht. If Hubbard can find the board be, should be capable of between 20ft. Bill, and 21ft. The pole vault as u«ual appears to be a gift for M'Kity. Kvcnseii may possiblv get second place. This being its first year on the championship programme, there is little to puide one in an estimate of the powers of other centres' representatives in the hop, step, and jump. 51'Kay, with a record of 45ft., appears most likely to bo returned the winner, but, in view of the first efforts in this event of local jumpers, there is always tho possibility nf a champion being unearthed. If KeddeH's unsound leg will stand tho strain, he should prove a worthy opponent for ,M'Kay.

In the hammer, Bisset. may if ho throw? up to practice form, ' score a win. The event appears likely to bo a duel bctweenjiim ami M'lloliii, of Canterbury. M'Kay is present champion with the shot. It is worthy of note, however, that hs won last rear in the absence, of De Thier, who won at Dunediu

m 1909, audi who will bo .a competitor this year. can hardly ho|>o to retain his title against the ex-champion. How Stands Wellington? Looking at Wellington's chances in tho most favourable light, her representatives may seeura first j,laics in the 410 yds. and 8811 yds. llat, 120 yds, hurdle?, one and threo inilo walks, hammeri polo vault, hop, step, and jump, and long jump, which gives a total ot i'orly-ilvo points. Seconds may be secured in tho 100 yds., 220vds., •UOyds., and SSOyds. flat, UOyds. hurdles, high jump, oil? and three-mile walks, and .'■hot events, which mean another 16 points or a total of G3 points o.ut of a possible 112 points. Of course, tliere'is a "may" instead of a "will" in most cases. Still, . the following events appear Certain to fall to .Wellington menHOydsi'flat, one and . threc-milo walks, pole vault, and hop, step, and jump. ii Haskins and tlio Trip Home. In his notes this wcekj. .'"Faultor," of ' the "Weekly Press," advocates the claiiin • of Guy Haskins for inclusion in tho Aus-" 1 tralasian team for the Wstival of Eiu-:' pire Games. Incidentally lie says; "111. advocating tho claims ot Haskins, I do not forget that in Harding, llcdtor Burke, and Wheatley Australasia, nossesses the choice of lour first-class' lniddlc-distaneo runners, but on the form given liasldns lias shown to greater advantage, and has • had moro tmck experience." Now, ,ou tho face of things, there is something, to be said for "Vanlter's" contention, liaskins in 1807 defeated tho cream of American inter-collegiato runners in tho half and mile American University championships, in lmin. 57 l-ssec. and - 4min. 20scc. resweuyoly, two great performances which,'apart from tho fast times, wore remarkable lor the display of wonderful courn£e on Ilaskins's part. Later, in tho same year, he several times defeated Mel. vin •'Shcppard at middle distances. 110 cer.tainly has had greater and moro varied experience in first-rl.iss company than either W heatloy or Burl?, though it must bo remembered that tlio former lias lmd tlio valuable experience one gets from competing nt an Olympic gathering, but as regards his performances it must '1m remembered that on all occasions ho has competed under far more favourable conditions than either Burk or Wheatley. As a member'of the track team of ono of America's great universities (Pennsylvania), lie wns in clover as regards training, and with "Milro" Murphy as trainer and their Oi\n time! to train in, what might not; Burk and Wheatley have done?. Then ngain, tho tracks in these parts era mostly grass, and bear tho same comparison with the American cinder tracks that an ordinary floor boars to a ball, room floor ,I'or dancing, that is, with tho exception of the Auckland Domain and the Sydney Cricket Ground. Even theso two tracks are not as fast as a good • cinder I rack. Yet with all these advantages in his favour, Ilaskins's times aro ■ not very much ahead of (ho others. His best lime for the half-milo—lmin. 57sec., if memory serves me rightly—is certainly better than Jlurk's New Zealand record of lmin. 58 l-ssec., but not equal to WhcatloyV lmin.' MS 3-ssec., in 1000. Allowing that when Wheatlov did this time ()j<? track was a yard or {wo short, it is evident that on tlio' timo tost (ho at his best) is at least Ilaskins's equal at this distance. Both are probably slightly superior in Murk as half-milers, though on the only occasion on which they met—at Dunedin in 1905—Burk defeated Wheatlev. Were all three to mcflt in their best form at half a mile, "Mercury" would bo inclined to the following forecast:— Wheatley, Ifaskins, Burk. When we como to consider their merits as milers, one must honestly exnress a preference for Hector Burk." Hasluns lias done 4min. 20scc., Wheatley 4inin. 23soc. p and Burk practically the same time, for in the one mile championship of Australasia on the Sydney Cricket Ground in Noyefnber, 1905, when Wheatley won in fmill. 23?ec., Burk was beaten by six inches, after having lost about 35 ycfda through having been spiked in tlio'first lap of the race—a performance which stamps him as an even greater miler than the Victorian crack. Now, 4mm. 23sc-c. on a grass track is at least oqual to imin. 20fec. on the cinders, and, always. we must bear in mind;,that Bi\rk, ~ and Wheatley have never had tho training advantages enjoyed by Haskins in America.. In New Zealand Burk's per. fonnnnoes on indifferent tracks speak foi themselves. At Lancaster Park, Christ'"•qlnTch, in 1905, on a heavy track, Burk won the mile championship in imin. 2755t... fairly and squarely beating the in. comparable ?hrubb. who n (oitinglit later on th? Auckland Domain established the present Australasian record of lmin. iJsec., jiving Wheatley a start, of ?J yards, and a beating. At Dunedin, ia 190G, Burk won the mile with the greatest of ease ill lmin. SSsec., and the following year at the Exhibition in Christchurch lie administered (when supposedly out of form) a hollow ljeating to, such good lnilers as J. H. Prerideville and J. Bradbury, in 'lmin. !Gscc„ a perform, ance which Mr. Coombes (president of the Australasian Union)' considered eo.ual to ■lmin. 20sec. on the Sydney Cricket Ground. It seems fair to conclude thdt Burk is tho best liiiler that Australasia has so far produced, and that we unfortunately never saw the best he was capable of. Tho gamest of tho game, he was n very lazy runner, and one who never troubled much about.winning handicaps.. To sco Burk at his best one would need to sco him extended from pistol shot right to the tape, and, except in his race with Wheatley in Sydney, ho was never really extended in" a mils championship.