ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

PROPPING UP POOR ENGLAND,

[By "Meucuiu-."]

To-day—Wellington Provincial Championship Meeting. February 17.—Canterbury Centre Sports Mooting, Lancaster I'ark, Christchurch. February 17.-I'etone Junior A.A. Club. Altoriuon sports meeting, PeVonc. February 21,-Karori A.A. Club, evening meeting. February 21.-liawko's Bay Caledonian Sports, i\apier. February 21-Nciv Zealand Championship Meeting, lnvercargill. February 28.-Manawalu A.A. Club's sports meeting, Palmerston North. March 2.—Karori Club's Carnival, Karon Park. March IC.-Cha.llenge Competition, Athletic Football Sports Club and Yictoriii College A.A. Club, KelbunflPark. March 23.—Victoria College- A.A. Club Sports, Kelburno Park. How They Propose To Do It. Last week ".Mercury" found occasion to reproduce a portion of an article appearing in London "Truth" on the lack of coaching, and the regrettable disregard of up-to-date methods in the preparation of the English competitors for the Olympic Games ia particular, mid for athletic competitions generally. He is now glad to be able to show that something at lenst is being done in refutation of the strictures passed by the writer of the article. The Idea Followed Up a Little. In a recent issue of the New York "Evening News" there appears a •report, from its special correspondent in Unglan'd, of the formation at Home of a body named the "Athletic Advisory Club." This body has for its main object the uplift of English athletics, by means of the propagation of a systematic, and scientific method of training and coaching. The writer formulated the scheme sonic time before, believing that it was the lack of skilled coaching which was causing English athletes to finish behind representatives of Canada, South Africa, and America. The inaugural meeting was attended by upwards oF forty enthusiasts, including a dozen ex-champions. There was great enthusiasm, and it was made clear, very early in the meeting, that the English material was all right, bill was in need of further development. The work done by thofc volunteer coaches may not be ripe enough to be judged at the next Olympic games, but it should be felt to some degree, at the various club and local championships. Much of the discussion was interesting, in that it touched on the scientific side of athletics; incidentally it revealed how much, quicker athletes of other countries were to avail themselves of all means of improvement. French runners and junipers, for instance, were using a series of focal plane photographs for the purpose of ascertaining their faults in stylo. In dealing with the results attained by a scientific study of the principles of any particular branch of field or track work, the writer of the article points his moral by showing the great advancement made in hammer-throwing under the modern idea. The record now stands to the credit of M'Grath, the IrishAmerican, at 187 ft. 4in. Consider that a throw of 130 ft. was considered great twenty years ago, and granted that tho improvements in the i c. nstmction of the hammer arc partly responsible, the advance made has been wonderful. Few will claim that tho individu.il performers of the present are better constituted to throw (he hammer than some of the "cracks" of the past. Tbo advance is due to the more scientific study of the game, and what is true in <vei?,'ht-throwing, and hurdling, is also so in many other branches of athletics. Gerald Keddcll Tried It. This is true for England, and it is none the less true for and applicable to New Zealand. We have had this brought home to us forcibly of late by the success of Gerald Keddoll in the hurdles. Our champion iu this department has raised himself from mere mediocrity to a position where he need fear nothing from the world's )>est, simply by an intelligent study of, and adaptation to his own case,' of the methods of the great American hurdlers. This he has dono principally through photographs—on the same lines as_ mentioned above iu the case of the French jumpers and runners. He has had himself "snapped" at all stages of his fencing, and, by comparison of the results with photographs of Kraenzlein, Smith, and Co., has been able to mould iiis system upon theirs—with the result we know. Where We Ourselves Lack. This shows what can bo dono in hurdling, and as much can be done in our field-game department. Thero is no doubt that we are lamentably weak in these branches, and, as is said in the case of the English athletes, it is not because we have not the material. It is simply, as with them, because our men do not know -how. The question is how to show them how, and the answer is not easy. But, if our athletic authorities in the various centres were to go thoroughly into the matter of providing facilities for practising and coaching on up-to-date lines, some measure of good would lie sure, to follow. Recently "Mercury" advocated that the permission of the City Council should be obtained for the placing of a permanent jumping pit and shot-putting circle in the small enclosure in tho Basin lieserve. This would afi'nrd our local athletes a chance cf getting practice which is at present denied them, and would at least be a step, if only a short one, in the right direction. As for the larger question, tho writer would draw tho attention of the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. to tho advisableness of considering whether an athletic advisory club would not justify ils existence in New Zealand. Keddell was a Far-seeing Man. Reverting again to Keddell, it may not be out of place hero to quote Mr. 1(. Ooombes on the subject. In the continuation of his review of the recent Australasian championships iu tho "Keferoe," and, apropos of the hurdle champion, he writes:— "To-day he would, with one exception, beat anyone I saw during my visit to England with the Australasian Empire team—Frank Lukeinan (Ottawa), K. Powell (Cambridge University), M. iVeunier (Club Atliletique de la Socicte Generale), F. K. O'R. Phillips (Cambridge University), and G. K. L. Anderson (Oxford) were about the best. The exception is G. A. Clvisholm, of Yale University. And 1 see no actual reason why Ir> should not be as good as Chisliolm, who also strides over his hurdles on the Krneussloiii principle. But wo must wait and see whether Cliisholin (who won at Harvard-Yale v. OxfurdCainbridge games last July 11 in 15 2-.lsec.) is out- of America's selected men for the Fifth Olympiad liciuro we can say if lie is a really "rest thrce-striilo artist or not. At 'Wcllinston Kcddcil 'sot down' very ia.st when over the hurdlus, but tin" trail leg was carried in a way open to slight improvement, whilst u certain spasmodic jerk requires lonim; down. 551 ill. there are great possibilities in ■ Keddell at hurdling, whilst he j s o f the resolute, game <ml:;r that fi"ht battles out to the end." In concluding his review, Mr. Couinlics has something to say about llio manai;cmcnl of the bis meeting, and, as thi.s importaut feature has come in for some captious criticism from some of the i\ew Ze'i land papers-particularly in tho South Island-his views, as being both Expert and unbiased, are of value. He savs — "Speaking as one with athletic 'experience in every department of the sport and in various parts of the world ex! temliiis over u period of 37 years, ] tan saiely say that the championship iraim-s were handled iu a manner roilielinn crrat oreilit on the council of the .N.Z.A.A \. and oOicials. The best pos-

siljlc was dono in the circumstances with the tracks, which were well and truly lnul out by the ground superintendent and his staff, Tho various athletic paraphernalia was ample and complete, right down to the movable stands for judges and timekeepers—quite on Hie Stamfordßridge and Btckuiiliam CO. lines, which 1 saw in use lust vear when in J'Jiigliiiul." And lastly comes a much-doservcil tribute to a hard-working official:—"lt ia also necessary to say a few words about the starling. A starter cannot nowmmys mar a meeting—in Die past, when there was no "recall" in the case of an mil air start, many a race was spoilt by someone beating the pistol-but Mr. ']>. W Leslie showed himsi'ir tlirmißlioiit at fi'hil Willi the 'kuh.' His starling was indeed first-rate." To-day's Championships. 'i'o-dav, at the Basin Reserve, is to bo held the sixth provincial championship meeting of the local centve. At the conclusion of the day's work the executive wi I select the team to defend Wellington's title to the championship shield of the Dominion which is to be disputed b.y llio oilier centres at Invorairgijl on F'ebruar.v 21. Besides the individual champions, there is, for the first lime, to be mi inter-club competition for the JfVilly shield, which trophy will be awarded to tile club scoring most points throughout ilia alternoon. Tim Wnirarnpa A.A.C. is making a, strenuous effort to capture the shield, and is sending down a properly organised team for the purpose, consisting of the following:— 100 Yards—Messenger, Boyd, Nicholson. 22(1 Yards—M'Kenzie, Messenger, Fisher. ■llu Yards—Fisher, M'Kenzie, 'Messcngor. Williams. BSO Yards-Fisher, Iggulden. One Mile—Bradbury, Iggulden, Fi6her. Ihrco Miles—Bradbury, Flannngan. 120 Hurdles—M'Kciusic, Hodge, Wil. liams. *\l Yards Hurdlcs-M'Kenzio, Hodge. Williams. Naturally enough the town clubs are equally keen on winning the trophy and. as our local cracks are evenly divided among the various organisations, club rivalry has been stimulated as it never was before. This is the first time that such a competition has taken place in Wellington, and its eflect has noeu to "buck" things up considerably among the various club officials with the result that the entries for the championship events are easily the largest which the centre hat ever had. Rather unfortunately the servicos of W. A. Wpodgor and W. G. Harding, the Australasian champion half-miler, aro not available for Wellington, but as these defections leave the way clear for the younger aspirants to representative honours, the competition ior the vacant places in the team will bo keenly fought out. •>. V. Wilson, is out for the half-mile and a great tussle should eventuate, between him and Y. Byrne, who has been running so well over this distance since Wilson's retirement. The two have never met on even terms and they will liavo a big field, including E. B. Fisher, the exNew Zealand 220 yds. champion, to push them along.

In the mile an interesting- feature will bo Hie reappearance on the track of .T. Bradbury, of Maslcrton, an ex-champion of a few years back, who has been in hard training in an effort to "come back." Hβ must have succeeded in a certain degree for, last week, ho ran n trial in Masterton, conceding Fisher 20 yards, and IgKiilden 35, yards, and was only beaten on the tape by a foot in 4min. 402-Ssec. Since then he has conic along fast, and writes to sny that he feels "quite hopeful."

Young Bigg, the Victoria College "miler of two seasons ngo, is also "out" again in the one and three miles, nnd with C. Pugh also in the field, the distance running promises more than well. In its endeavour to foster tho younger folk the centre has included two public schools championships—au example that rauld be followed with advantage at all cur sports meetings. The Manawatu Meet, From Mr. D. Park, honorary secretary of the Manawatu A.A.C, comes a programme of his club's meeting at Palmersion North on Wednesday, February 28. '1 lie principni events and trophies are:— 100 yds. Handicap, .£2 and £1; 220 yds. Handicap, £2 and JDlj 44flyds. Handicap, gold bracelets; SSOyds. Handicap, dC2 and oClj One Mite Handicap, i 3 and JEI j 120 yds. Maiden, M 10s. and 155.; 120 yds, Hurdles Handicap, £2 and .CI; Teams' Relay Kace, i gold medals; 150 yds. Consolation Kace, trophies; High Jump, ill and 10s.; Long Jump, ill and 10s.; One Mile Walk, £i and £\, Jlr. Park points out that the Woodvillo Club is holding a meeting on the day following, so any of athletes who could make the country trip can be assured of a good time and "good huntkg." A Good and Faithful Servant. At the last meeting of the Wellington. Centre tho resignation of Mr. W. L. Dunn as honorary secretary was tendered and accepted with regret. Mr. Dunn has worked faithfully and well in the service of tho centre and has been a good friend to amateur athletics in Wellington, throughout his connection with the sport, and he thoroughly deserves all the good things that have been eaid about him. He will carry on until the end of February with Mr. G. Scott, the present secretary of the Port Nicholson A.A.C. and Brooklyn Harrier Club, as assistantsecretary.