Athletics.)

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1907, Page 18

Athletics.)

[By "Asxateub."] ' One of tho most successful evening meetings 1 yet hold in Wellington. That web flic popular verdict on tho' combined mooting of the Port Nicholson and Civil .Service Clubs afc, tho Basin Reserve last Wednesday. The handicapping 'was uniformly good, with the consequence that tho finishes were all keen and very close. The events wero got off punctually to timo, and for once in a, while tho enclosure was kept' clear of people who had no business there. Tho local officer of tho centre was present, and kept a sharp look-out for any symptoms of tiredness on tho part of competitors. However, everyone appeared to be out to win. Tho policy of the two clubs in substantially increasing the valtio of tho prizes proved to bo successful from tho sporting point of viow, and they will bo very littlo out of pocket through it. The heaits ! of tho 75yds handicap provided some very exciting racing. In tha first heat scarcely a foot separated the first threo men. Woodgcr and Golds led. the field all .the way in the second heiit, but the third heat again produced a keen struggle. The final was somewhat spoilt by tho failure of ono or two of the runners to keep a straight courso. Hodge was a notable offender,, and he completely spoilt, whatever chance Cunninghame had of winning. Golds, 100, was put out of tho running by two other competitors closing in in front of hiir/. It is, hard to keep a, straight courso without tapes; but a,little care would obviato most of tho trouble. However, when all allowance has been mado for the losors, Woodger, who ran wiTli good judgment, deserved his win. A field of twolvo''turned out to compete in the mile, and a 'magnificent strugglo resulted. Tho battle over the last quarter boLwoon Wilton and W. Gosling was worth going a long way to Seo. (iosling Won by about a yard, but he is such ai good judge of pace, and 'times Ins runs so beautifully, thnt, it is probable that he finished with a bit in hancl. Wilton had bad luck in his last two races, in bumping up against Gosling in his be6t form. Ho has improved his paoo considerably since last season, and if 1 am uot niuch mistaken, will take a power of beating in the three-milo NewZealand championship, providing, of course, that Burk doos not start. A pleasing feature of tho milo was tho sporting finish, for third place between Lambert and. 11. Gosling. Though neither had a chance of winning, they battled it out yi great style, Lambert should train more system- j atieally. _, The bread jumping was poor. The most promising of tho junipers appears to bo H. H. lJawson, who, when he can learn to take tho board correctly, should do very well. L. M'Kay made his first appearance this season in the jump, but_did nothing to add to his reputation. He is evidently short of practice. Two' other New Zealand champions, in Henderson and Fisher, turned out at tho meeting, but could not get near enough to catch the judgo's eye. Henderson was n?kcd too much m being handicapped to give such runners as Woodger and Golds blj, yards in 75 yards. Tho distanco was too short for Fisher, who, further, docs not usually get into his best form till the season is well advanced. ' The Otago Witness has it that W. Gosling is expectnd to give Burk a great go this year. Gosling is a good runner, but is hardly in Burk's class. However, if Burk fails to reproduce his last year's form he should beat all except Burk in tho milo this year. At tho half I fancy both Burk and Trembath will finish in front of him! Burgc ran a very disappointing raco at last week's gathering, being fully fifty yards' behind Gosling when he entered on the last quarter. As usual he made up a good deal of leeway in the last, furlong, but at no time did he run with his former dash, and never looked liko winning. I shnll be greatly disappointed, however, if he does not win a good race or two boforo long. J«k Prendevillc was in town this week, and may occasional!}' be seen on the track if his steamer happens to be in poit at the time of a mooting. He is looking big and wqll, but, as he has no opportunity ol training on board, cannot bo expected to show moro than a stray glimpse of his old form. Halligau's absence will not be a, very groat loss to the opntre at the championship meeting, r<? Cook will probably bo available, and berides we have two likely hurdlers in Evcnscn, of tho Port Nicholoon , Club, and flolmden, the 'Varsity champion. E\ensen is endowed with plenty of papp, mid is a. very pretty fencer, and Holmden has done 17 ]-sscc for tha 120 yds hurdles. Ho is capablo of doing bettor than Huf, or I am much mistaken. The Wellington A.A.C. is holding an evening mooting on Wednesday next. Tho programme, I understand, consists of a 100 yds junior handicap, and a half mile, for club members, and a mile walk handirap 1 , open to members of all affiliated clubs. Several gentlemen connected with tho olub have presented trophies, and tho meeting should, prove every bit as successful as previous gatherings held by this club. The Centre's fport3 gathoring on 21st instant is arousing considerable interest amongst runners and the public alike. Kcrr, of course, will be the big attraction, but all the events are sure to be "attractive, especially that hitherto much-neglcct-od but decidedly interesting branch of the, jumping department— the polo vault. Corn- 1 ! petitors in this event will probably havo ] tho use of one of the now bamboo polos I reconlly imported by tho council from Japan. Entries close on 12lh instant, and the attontion of intending competitors is drawn to the rule stating thait all club subscriptions ''must be paid before any corn* petitor will be allowed to start.

Meddler : "I say, isn't it extraordinary how much the Grimleys know about tho Trimlcys' afliairs?" Pondler — "Extraordinary? Why, Crimiey bought Trimley's parrot." The Professor : "Some of you gentlomen aro not giving; mo your closest attention. Mr. Biggs, w-h'nfc do wo find' iimloi the kidneys?" i'uturo M.D. — "Toast, sir." Tho Poet— "Ah! tho world is full of poetry." The Editor — "Uni, yes— Micro's a good deal of it in tho v waste-paper baskot.. '