ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mercdbt.) STADIUM ALTAR AND VICTIMS. August 12.—New Zealand Cross-Country Chunipionship (Auckland). Mj harrier correspondents furnishes tho folloM-iiiK budget on the week's woik:Tho inler-idul) challenge race, held at (lie Inhibition Stadium last week, was a. fiasco, as fur as a test between the Brooklyn and Wellington Harrier Clubs was concerned. .Neither club was represented by its strongest quartet, this being due mainly to the competition for the Pnrtridge Cup causing some of tho cracks to compote in other events, in preference to upholding (heir club's honour and prestige in tho scratch race.

The teams wore- as follow:—Brooklyn: F. Byrne, Hodson, Briftow, Pcinton. WclBennett, Press, F. Rowberry, and Wilton. Twenty-six laps had to be covered to complete the, distance of two miles, and the fast pace and hard floor caused two Brooklyn men (Pointon and Bristow) to cry "enough" before half of these, had b«n covered. At the end of the. second lap, AVilton held the lead with Byrne and Hodson close on liis heels, Rowborry, Bennett, and Press following iu that order. This sequence was not disturbed throughout the run, although the leader had to respond to a number of challenges from the Brooklyn duo. Brooklyn were debited with the two last places owing to the retirements mentioned above, ajid. as a consequence, Wellington scored a four-point win.

Tho competitors agreed to offer the value of the trophies allotted for the race to the Centre, to assist it in defraying tho expenses of the team for Auckland, provided, of course, that this can be done without infringing on the amateur status of the runners. Last Saturday's Runs, After an hour's delay at Kaiwarra, caused by tho eccentricities of tho nearside cylinder of the locomotivo harnessed to their train, the Brooklyn Harriers succeeded in reaching Hutt Park racecourse, and running their two and a half miles' steeplechase just before night closed iu on them. Sixteen competed, and a tine race ousued. especially between tho back markers. The winner turned up in A. Cook, who was competing in his first race, and who was therefore an unknown quantity to the handieappers. Ho displaced the limit-men entering on tho last mile, and won with plenty to spare from A. Oliver, to whom he was conceding SOsec. start.

Cook 'has a very free action, and ran in a very convincing fashion for a youngster. Hodson, with Msec, carried too many giins for ]?. Byrne (scr.), and V. Byrne (lOsec), who finished almost together after a struggle down the straight. The winner's time was 13min. 29sec., which is excellent if the distance was correctly measured. This, however, is doubtful, as tlio cyclometer is not the most reliable measuring-machine over a steeplechase course. "Every man his own pacemaker," was tho arrangement for last Saturday's run of the AVcllington Harriers, which took placo over seven or eight miles of Mirainar country. B. Curry and I , '. Wilton selected and trailed the course, avoiding all hills, and shunning the golf links. The course was an extension of the. one generally used as a fivo miles test and championship course, and gave the runners an excellent opportunity of improving I heir sbimina by indulgence in sustained fast work. A pack of sixteen followed the "hares," and a good run ended in C. Rowberry reaching tho winning-post first, with F. Kowberry a good second, and W. Press some distance back third. Lamberg, Eeid, Pincknoy, and Johnson all showed good form, but t' le remainder wcro a long way below championship standard.

Holway, Donaldson, etc. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature r of; the .'recent-world's championship,; spring raco in Sydney (due to tho absence ofj "Jack" Donaldson, the holder of the title), C. E. Holway, the winner of the event, has arranged to "stay in Australia for another three months, "in tho - hopo of meeting Donaldson. He has announced that he will be willing to meet Trcmbath, of Gore, N.Z. over diO yards, in three weeks, and Donaldson over 100 yards, 130, and 150 yards in eight weeks, after which he will be prepared lo accommodate Postle. The last-named is very anxious to como to terms with tho American, and has posted .£25 in support of his challenge lo run 130 yards for anything up to .[■2oo a-side-tho match to be run off anytime after eight weeks from July 111, when ho expects his strained tendon to be right again.' Holway has declared that he does not in- ; tend claiming the litle by virtue of his vecent win.in the big race, owing to Donaldson's defection—a piece of good sportsmanship that is as rare as it is commendable.

The Doings in London. 'During tho week a 'cablegram briefly notified that W. A. Woodger had run second to Ramsdell in a 100 yards race in England. Run-.sdeil (known as "Tex" of that ilk), is, or was, a student at Pennsylvania University, ami is e. runner of parts. Last year In , won tho sprint championship at" the English A.A.A. Championships, and, so it will be seen that our representative was performing in Rood company. 'While on the subject of our Festival of Empire renresentatives, it. is interesting to find in the American letter of a recent London "Snortsman" a reference to Guy Haskins during his stay in America, before going to comnote at the finniM. The ncte says:-Gny V. Haskins, the New Zealander. who was for some, timo a student at Pennsylvania University, has been trying to meet the "peerle?;" Molvin Shepnard in a race of a quartet of a mile, but the Irish-Ameriean for mice does not seem anxious to uphold his title. •U p. matter of fact, it is known here that ITiiskins ran beat the well-advertised Sheprard. and the. latter doe* not want to lose his clinnce of going to Sweden."

From this it would appear that our "milcr" must liavo boon showing bettor form in America during his preparation fban ho reproduced at (he snorls, osyieoially as tho quarter is not his "long suit."

Tho Ordeal of the Week's Marathon. The last of the Exhibition meetings, on Wednesday, was chiefly remarkable tor an exhibition of heroism on the nart of our lonx-dislauco runners. Notwithstanding the bilter night, "ten good snorts and true" saddled up for the 15-mile run, and every man of them saw the distance out. And what a run it was!—out to Island Bay in the face of the driving southerly jleot, round (he Queen's Drive, where a slight: variety was introduced by the adding of blinding salt spray to the other discomforts of the journey, and so on round Evans Bay, and back to the Stadium. Tho going was fearful underfoot, mud and pools abounded everywhere, and the ten stumbled, splashed, and staggered on over tho weary fifteen miles.

Falls were numerous, but none remained by tho wayside. Each gallant muddy and bedraggled runner picked himself out of his respective pool or rut in turn, and joireed doggedly on.

I'inckney was the first to sl'.ovr up at the Stadium, and set out to , reel oll'tlio eight laps that remained to complete the distance amid much, applause. Ho finished in Ihr. 32min. Three minutes later a burst of cheering announced the arrival of (he popular scratch man, "Paddy" TOzgerald, and. close on his heels, came Lambnrg. In the seventh lap the latter Fitzgerald, and secured second plane. Mo<t people would hnvc thought that the 18-mile run sufficient for ono night, but not so the cvercrnen Fitzgerald. After a swllnfn quarter of an hour, the "indefatigable" set out again in tho final of the potato race, and. although not placed, managed to finish the' event—always a trving one—in gned order and condition.

These lilfle meetings nt the Exhibition have been very successful on the whole, and have added greatly to the enjoyment of our track men's winter months. Moreover, they have bcMi the means of nnr.i.rthinT a trmd deal of fresh talent, and Mie Hubs and the sport should aeefirdiu"lv. I."enl "•"■>'i>iir< 1 ari i viuler n big debt to the Exhibition anIhorities, nnd especially to the lianlworkin>* and eopnble committee, under Mr. A, Marryatt, wlio managed the meetings.