ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

WHAT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS?

(Bi "Mebcubt.")

November 29.—Knrori A.A.C. Evening Meeting. November 30.—Civil Service Departmental Tournament (Basin ltcscrvc). December G.—Athletic F.C. Evening Meeting. December 16—W.A.A.C. Summer Carnival (Jlasin Itescrve). December 2fi and 27.—Australasian Amateur Championships. (Athletic Park). February 21—Now Zealand Championships (luvercargill).

Champions Coming From tho "Mother State." As tho date of the big Australasian meeting at the Athletic Park draws nearer tho news of doings in tho Australian States enables one to form a bettor idea of the learns that will be pitted against tho chosen of the Dominion. Latest reports from New South Wales show that, although tho issuo is generally 6upposed to Ixi between Victoria, and New Zealand, tho "Mother State's" team will bo found to be by no means a negligible quantity, provided that she can get her best away, liven if her representatives cannot win the shield for themselves, they are clara enough to affect the chances of the other two principal aspirants. On Saturday wook, in Sydney, the first (lay's events of tho inter-club contest for the Dunn Challenge- Shield (which practically corresponds with our championship meeting) were decided, and, although the report? stato that a strong breeze interfered with. tho circular races, some good performances wore registered. Tho sprint, hurdles, and jump were not affected, and, in the hundred yards, a good run was put tip by tho winner, P. T. Kedmond, who won both this heat and the final in 10 1-Dsec. Tho 120 yds. hurdles fell to J. W. Frazcr, who ran both heat and final in 16 3-ssec, and tho Now Zealander, H. St. Aubyn Murray, second. This same hurdler recently won a 440 yds. hurdle event in 61 3-ssoc. The broad jumping was good, the winner, E. A. Southie, coverinj; 22ft. Tin., and the placed men 21ft. llin. and 20ft. 4!in. respectively. J. J. Harlcy won the mile walk without being pressed in "min. 14sec., and tho 440 yds. Hat went to \V. 1\ Pattinson in 52 2-ssec. —a good run in the wind. The mile run was very fair, falling to 1\ Flowers in ■train. 45sec. By the way, one T. B. Hoffer is reported as having started in this event, this being the sanic name and initials as the local provincial mile champion of two seasons back, who was subsequently transferred to Fiji.

The Victorian Enemy, Too. Victoria has apparently decided upon the number of her representatives, although the personnel has not been actually settled upon, as Mr. \V. 0. Talbot, tho secretary of the N.Z.A.A.A. has received word that seven competitors and three non-combatants will be coming. It is known definitely who three of the seven are, and a formidable trio they are, viz., J. L. Davis, . world's record-holder for 410 hurdles (57 1-osec), Eric Russell, who, with the A. H. .Scott of New South Wales, above mentioned, and L. H. Kelly, a fellow Victorian, holds tho Australasian record high jump at 6ft., and last, but very far from least, the little ex-English champion and Olympic winner, Bmil Voigt.. This last-named runner has a 4min. 23 Bee. run over a mile to his credit, which is an index to his capabilities. Tho sprinter of the team had not been picked when the mail left, but "tests" were to have been run between J. Burton, tho State 100 yards champion, J. A. Troup, who wi;s mentioned in this column last week as winning the public school 100 yards championsliip in 10 seconds dead, H. J. Fey, who ran second to Woodier in Brisbane two years ago, and A. D. Ellis, who at the same meeting ran second to Woodger in the 220 yards and third to Barker and Wheatley in the "quarter." All this quartet are available if picked, and the "test" races should produco some good sprinting. ■ . . Mr. Talbot's Victorian dispatch advised that the, State, team was bburiio"on'December 13, and would" arrive in Wellington on the 22nd. It also stated that, in the.absence of Wheatley and Harpkoft", it was intended to start J; L. Davis in tlio'4-lO yards flat, broad jump, and both hurdle events (it'looks like being Davis's busy day), and Voist in the half, ono mile, and three mile runs, a,nd asked the council to bear this in mind when compiling its programme. The Victorian Association also suggested that, in the 220 yards championship, each competitor should run in strings, and that each track bo surveyed, as is the custom in England and America. "Morcnry" understands that this will be done, and, indeed, it is very necessary on a track with two turns, as is the case at Athletic Park. The Cycling Distances Fixed. The. distances of the cycling events at tho big meeting havo now been decided upon. On Boxing Day, the Wellington provincial half-mile championship and a mile handicap will hs set down.for settlement, and on the second day the mile Erovi.ncial championship and a two-mile andicap.

Meantime, What of Ourselves? Coming to our own affairs, it is to be regretted that the New Zealand team is not vet choion. The centres have been asked to upiuiuatc their , best, for selection, but beyond this nothing lias been done. Tho council should appoint a ."election committee, and get the men into training at once officially. It is known that most of tlio likely Shield defenders have started work, but nothing should 1» left to chance. The men chosen will buckle dowH to work far more seriously after they have been informed of their selection, and tho work of sorting them out should be put in hand at onco. Tt i>s more than possible now that Wocdger will be available for selection, lie is seriously contemplating Retting into business again, and, if so, will place himself in the capable hands of Mr. "Dome Leslie for training. Just at present, however, his plans have been somewhat upsnt by a temporary transfer to Kaitoko, in" which salubrious spot he will bo relieving; for a fortnight or so. Another'asset to the Dominion learn will l>o C. L. Orbcil, of Canterbury, who holds thn New Zealand high lump record of sft. !Hin., and who, as he has been nominated for the'team by the Canterbury selector, is apparently available again. Iho full O'.itorb'.iry nomination is-—looyds. and 22dvds.. K. Opie; 4-iO.vd.s.. I?. Opie and E. U- Wright: SJOyds.. I/. A. Dousal; OM. nu<l three mile*. M, Hlrkson.:. 120y«Is. an-1 •UOvds. htmlkvs 11. E. Hamilton, I. Cook and F. V. Itobinson; one mile and three mile walk. ?• U StuMierficlell; polo vault G. Batsionei putting shot, \Y. do Thier; hUh jump, C. L. OrWl and V. V. Tlobitison; running broad jump, I'. V. Eobiuson; hop, step, anil jump, F. <-. Cook; throwing lGlb. hammer, J. Mcllolme.

Fete Dav in "The Bigoest Wooden Building." Next Thursday, St. Andrew's Day, boing .1 holiday in tho "bieEcst wooden building," tlio Civil Semen A.A.C. wi conduct tho first of what it is hoped will bo an iinnuiil secies uf inter-Depart-mental iouriiamcnts. A large, and con;, prehensive programme, comiirifing tracic ithlctiw. field events! wrMtluij, tennis, and swimming, has l>ooll listed, and tin. venture is mcelinar with much suppurt from the various Government ])ppartnients. U ia with Ibo athletic eveiiU on the Basin lii'scrvo that this deponent is mo ; t eonoernod, and tho fare offered is re.illy tle?erving of twtronage^ Tho track events are oft, n>, wO, 410 yards, one milfi walk, 220 yards (age. 18 wi.i undcrj, 50 yavds (over W). and a rt'liiy race over half a muo for teams of The field events arn high jump, shot piittinc;, hammer throwing, throwing cricket ball. tuR-of-var (teams oi eißht). wrestling, and two football events, goalkickiuj,,. and dribbling for team.s of four. 'J'hfiii there u mile bicycle race, and various ;x> s t. entry cvonts—?aok raco, etc. This should bo satisfying all' i-oiind, to the public, the competitors, iind the officials. The idea is an excellent 0110 in every wav In il* relation to tin , welfare of lociU auial-eiir atlilelics it is particularly happy. Not only would m:;ch good incvitaiily I'nllov; a< the result of (lie iiicmiM' in the number of actual p.ivliripant--. but. a further benefit would aii-e ironi the i'nut that it would be the niosiis whereby a number of our citizens wboi-e interest and supixirt would Ix , invaluable, would lxs brought into touch with a clean and healthy snort, which is at present nothing but a uame to far too many of them

Athletic F.C. Evening Meeting. Tho Athletic Football A.A.C. is holding an evening meeting at the Bosiii Kcservc mi December G. Tlin events are 7, r > yards club linudicup and 220 yards und hull-mile open handieups. Dr. Haskins "Holds Forth." The returned wanderer (Dr. llaskins) confirms tho reports 1:1 ml hove been all 100 common of recent, years ns to the decadence of amateur athletics at Home, duo in his opinion largely lo luck of method and wnnl of knowiedgo in the preparation of the men engaged in them. This view of tho ca<o bcciiis lo bo borne out by nn article, in a recent London "Sportsman," which seriously advocates tho raisin;; of a fund whereby a "Training College." with a staff of duly f|ualiii«d instructors, may be instituted lor the preparation of England's representatives ol the Stockholm Olympic Games next July. The idea is that tho men bo chosen 6omo months beforehand, and bo sent to tho college to live and train, so as to ho enabled to compete with the foreign teams' on equal terms instead of being selectc<l at the last Moment and sent out to do battle for their country in the haphazard manner that has obtained so far. And, if English athletes are lo do any good, something of the kind appears really necessary when the elaborate preparations that are being made iu other countries are considered. Thus for two years past (he Swedish Executive lias been paying an American export .£101)0 per annum merely to travel the country aud report upoii and coach likely material, Tho enormous 6UIHS of money voted for tho purpose by the United States Government enable tho Americans to make the most elaborate preparations, and tho Olympic Committee in that country has already issued a circular soliciting subscriptions. The Amateur Athletic Union has headed tho list with a trifle of J2200, but tho committee lias announced that it needs at least ,£IO,OOO. In Canada, too, Government assistance is freely given, and no expense is spared in making her representation as strong as possible. In face of these conditions, how can English methods prevail? They can't—and they don't.

Tho Mannwatu A.A.C. is putting on a sports meeting at Palmcrston on Now Year's Day, in the hopo of securing the attendance thereat of some of tho Australian competitors at tho big gathering.