ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 5

ATHLETICS.

THE GREAT "BLUE STREAK." (BT "Meucuht.") .December 2(i and 27. —Australasian Aiiklieur Championships (Athletic Park). A Wonderful Hun. It was recognised that last Saturday's race for tho world s sprint championship, between (he holder, ■ Donaldson, of Victoria, and 0. E. Holwny, of America, would bo productive of something sonsitional in the way of "clocking," and, in very truth, it was. Tho outcome was the establishment of tho sensational time of 12sec. "dead" as tho new JiiOyds. record. Think of it! Ten seconds inside even time. Truly a magnificent, run—granted that everything connected with the achievement proves to bo in order. Ino cable messages announced it as a record, so, while awaiting details by mail, we must assume that the usual requirements were complied with. The figures are the moro surprising from tho fact that they were made on a grass track, and in tlio open. Even in an indoor cinder path such a performance would bo phenomenal, albeit wo live in t'heso days of rccordbreaking. Tho previous best appears to have been put up in England way back in 1557, when ono W. Johnson was credited with 121-Rsec. for tho distance, but this performance has always been looked at side-ways by the old-timers. Arthur Postlo, in his heyday, was timed to run 120 yds. in Western Australia in 12sec.. but this never got into the record book on account of a drop ot Jr. in tho track, and even with t'his factor in his favour, Postlc's "twelve dead generallv met with the sniff of disbelief when quoted. If tho present performance of. Jack Donaldson's is substantiated by compliance with all the necessary record conditions then he must be a marvel and, undoubtodlv, the fastest sprint runner of this or anv other time. That lie is a great sprinter he lias proved before. Ilis previous best time was hoisted in the groat tnan"ular Itest raco at Johannesberg on February 12 of last year when he met his fellow-Australian, A. B. Postle, and his challenger of Jast Saturday, C. E. UolTliis was also for the world s championship, and in addition a purse of <£500 and a sweepstake of =£-00 per man—tru.y a raco worth winning. Tho result was:. Donaldson, 1; Postle, 2i Hoi way, 3. The Liming was in tho hands of three expert watch-holders—not (as the account beloro "Mercury" as ho writes) states *n trio of ancient 'pods' with fatty fingers, and the figures returned slood at 91-lGsec. twice, and 9U-ll>?ec. once. , This last, as tlio slowest was officially recognised and thus tlio world's record for 100 yds. of !) H-Sscc. became tacked on to "Jack" Donaldson's name. The peculiar fraction is accounted for by the fact that what are known as "dog watches" were used —that is watches that are used in England for timing lurcher races. These aro split into sixteenths instead of the usual tenths. This 100 yds. performance works out at G\ yards "inside," and so is eclipsed by the present run which, as stated above, is 10 yards "inside." Donaldson is aptly named the "Blue Streak." On the same day that Donaldson was record-breaking in Sydney, his old-time opponent, A. B. Postle —yclept "The Crimson flash"—was doing likewise in Queensland. According to the cable messages ho beat his own world's best for 70yds., covering tho journey in 7sec., as against his previous _ 7 l-ssee., put up at Johannesberg on Boxing Day of 1008. This looks n.s though the next tussle for tlio title will again be between the two Australians, as Postle must bo getting back to his old-time form again. But it is the last 40 yards or so of tho 130 yards runs that finds Postle outhe is not tho finisher that Donaldson is. Tho two have already a match over 100 yards arranged for October 21, but whether Donaldson will allow the title to bo involved in this remains to bo seen. Apparently he can please himself, as the 130 yards journey is now generally recognised as tho championship sprint distance. Changes in Our Own Control. Thcro havo been changes in Ihe personnel of the Council of tho N.Z.A.A.A. since its last monthly meeting. During tho week Mr Fleming Ross, one of the Wellington delegates and- a vice-presi-dent of.- the association presented" his resignation, doubtless as a result of the carrying by his centre of Mr. J. AV. lleenan's motion of censure on Mr. Ross's attitude toward tho question of the revision of the rules that has bfen vexing the council of late. Mr. lleenan's motion ran as follows: —

"That this centre, having given due consideration to tho letters dated . August 2S 1 and September. 7' from Mr. Ross, of September -1- from Mr. Cliaffev, president New Zealand Amateur . Athletic Association, and of August 8 from tilts secretary New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association respecting the procedure adopted in dealing with the new rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, regrets I hat the valuable time of tho council has been wasted in a discus- : sion which can lead to little good, and that this centre is of opinion that the action of Mr. Ross in persisting with his protest at tho present juncture when matters of greater importance (tho Australasian and New Zealand championships) urgently require tho attention of tho council, is inimical to tho best interests of . amateur athlctics." .' This was carried unanimously, so it would appear that Mr. Ross, having lost the confidence of his constituents, had no alternative but to pass ill his papers. His successor had not been appointed at tho time of writing, but "Mercury" understands that Dr. Newman is to bo approached. Another change was occasioned by tho resignation from tho council of Mr. E. C. Levvey, one of the Southland delegates. Mr. Arthur Marryatt, late president of the council, has been nominated for tho vacant seat, and his election thereto will bo received with the keenest satisfaction all round. Olympic Games: Drastic Change, Mr. R. Coombes, manager of tho illstarred Australasian Festival of Kmpiro team, has returned to Sydney, ami brings views of a drastic change that is likely to Ik> made by the English authorities in regard to _ British representation at tho Olympic Games at Stockholm next July.

In post years England has sent her own team, and such of the oversea Dominions as havo been able to do so havo sent representatives of their own— quito as a tiling apart. Mr. Coombes now reports that, as a result of representations made by himself and Mr. J. G. Merrick, it is proposed that the team from the Motherland shall bo an Empire one. and shall bo recruited from all tho British possessions. It is to train together, if possible, travel together, and generally to bo "oho and indivisible." What is Coming Oyer England? This would seem ail excellent proposition in every way, but, strangely enough, the idea has. met with violent opposition in some quarters in England- In tho forefront of tho objectors is "Slrephon," tho well-known athletic writer of the "Athletic News." In an articlc on tho subject he is most caustic, as tho following extracts will show, and, incidentally, his concluding remarks show exactly whero the Festival of Empire Sports, which we vjero sadly deluded into flunking were to occupy such a high place in tho athletic world" at Home, stood in tho estimation of tho sporting press, and, presumably, its readers. Thus "Strcphon":—

It is suggested that in furtherance of the notion of Imperial development the English athletes and thoso of tho colonics should train together and travel together, and, I suppose, sharo in the triumphs of tho British Empire. Fiddlesticks! say 1. As men of our own kith and kin wo shall bo glad to see Canadians (the keenest of all our colonial cousins),.- Australasians, and South Africans successful, just as some of tlicm wcro when they came to Shepherd's liusli, and Robert Kerr and 1!. E. Walker triumphed in furlong iuk! sprint respectively. But wo want England—the United Kingdom—to take ho.r own part. Surely to goodness we of (ho Motherland are not so played out a people that we cannot produce yet ono more 10 seconds man—a sound (en seconds man will not bo far from winning (ho 100 metres—a decent 200 metres runner, a man who can run a half-mile as Edgar Cluchestcr Bredin or Mi', Tindall used

to run it, a tip-top inilcr or a 400 metres nutu. Wo linvo had men on tho track second (o liono that have .suececdod them, and J am ocit:iin that if wo ro about it and train Ilieni, that we can find others. 1 del est this word "Imperial" in some ways. I think it is almost .synonymous of funk. •linlis', minimum, beaten in his fight with Dinks, says: "Oh, yes, you'™ licked me, but you can't lick my brolber?." Or else Snoots declared in explanation of his hanuncrin;i: "You're very clever, but you can't beat my cousin." There is something of the same spirit of dependence about this parrot cry of Imperialism in sport. "The athletics of liiis-land may he bad, but look hov: tho South Africans, the Australians, and tho Canadians arc coming on." Which is all very well from tho colonial point . of view, but is reflective of degeneracy at Home, li is this siißKeslion of degeneracy which 1 want uur athletes to light down. Oh! For Shame! Then nfk?r same more in the same strain comci tho tail—with tho sling in it. Let something be done to.waken np Knghmd! The colonics, will kok niter themselves. We are told, with painful reiteration, that the l escival of Empire did much for spurt. Let us have one in-st-anco of practical benefit this glorified sidc-.-.iiow did. it did as much as a joywheel or a, switchback; it provided entertainment for a pas-ins handful oi the people. 2t was ignored by Englishmen, it was n:it considered worthy the attention of South Africa, it was participated in by a set of badly-trained and half-crocked Austra.lia.iis, awl by a fair, yet lucky, team of Canadians. Yet it was a succivsl It also provided a theme for sloppy sentimental dissertations upon the subject of Imperialism—of funk. In that it was successful. Let us think moro of England and less of Imperialism. The results will be moro satisfactory. ,S'o thoro now!! ",Stre;dion" aI?o raises a point that has a more direct bearing on local affairs. In elTect ho says that Emil Voigt is not eligible to represent Victoria m the Australasian championships in Wellington next December. If he is right in his assumption, and he should know, the long-lookcd-for visit of the little Olympic winner cannot eventuate. His contention reads.—

"What is tho position of E. 1?. Voigt in Australia ? I read in a note from a friend ill .Melbourne that tho cx-champion is expected to bear the banner of fair Victoria in tho Austr.ala.sian championships in the winter. I tako it that when Voigt mado that ill-advised 'attack' on the threequarter mile record at Hull last March ho automatically put binuclf out of the A.A.A. court, just as did every other runner participating in that proscribed' meeting. At any rate, Voigt's next appearaneo was advertised to take place under X.C.I', and X.A.I.', rules, only the weather gods intervened. Now, whatever he himself may think, Tv. If. Voigt lias erred against: the A.A.A. laws, and could not, without reinstatement bv the latter body, compete under (he laws under which lie mado his name famous throughout tho athletic world. What is his position in Australia? I do not know that tho N.A.V. have a working agreement with the Victorians, but I do know the latter body has such a thing with the A.A.A., and I also know that even whether he competed under the banner of tho Commonwealth, Voigt will not be allowed to run in A.A.A. championships."