Athletics.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 14

Athletics.

[By "Amatbt;r."J | j !

The feature of the Hutt Valley Club's evening meeting on Friday last was thfi dead heat between W. H. Pollock and E. E. Fisher for second place in tho quarter. I am informed that tho time was 54sec — not too good on tucn a fast track—but they should both easily beat that to-day. The si niggle between the pair in tho Provincial quarter championship next Saturday should bo great. With the race toda> and a week's training to go, I fancy that Pollock will bo returned the winner, even though ho should be beaten today, i The Hutt Valloy Club is working Btrenuoudy to make tho Provincial Championship?, to be held at tho recreation ground. Lower HuU. on Saturday next, a great success. In tho Prouncial Championship events —100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds, 880 yds, 1 mile, and 1 milo walk, the beet men in the province have entered, and with the beaten ones to-day seeking to avenge their defeats the competition is sure to be keen. The ladies of the borough have undertaken to provide afternoon tea to the club. The track is one of the fastest in the Dominion and it will be no surprise if tho times put up to-day are beaten next Saturday. I have received a copy of the programme for the Dunedin A.A.C.'s meeting on 15th lebruary. An attractive list of events at the New Zealand ohampionp u d^sta. RCes —with substantial trophies attached—is drawn up for decision, and the club is making special endeavours to secure the presence of the New Zealand team on its way to- Hobart. I notice 1 one respect in which Dunedin athletes are not treated so well as their Wellington brethren. Tho entrance fees are higher all round 2s for a£2 race and—ye gods !— Is 6d fpr a 30« race. If Wellington clubs charged these crices tho number of entries would drop with a bump. By the time tins is in print Wellington sports will have seen and judged Trembath, but a short account of his doings at Duuedin last Saturday should prove none thu lew interesting. Ho won the 100 yds championship of Otago, tho half-mile handicap, and the «Cyds handicap. On his win m the half a Dunedin p&por has the following:—"When tho half distance had been covered Trembath seemed to havo an impossible task in front of him to catch the leaders. To mafa if etill harder competitors kept dropping out and so left Irembath to do all hi B own pacemaking. He, however, showed the sterling stuff that was in him by setting after McDonald. Running in good Etylp, tho Gore man overhauled his field, and at the eu trance to tho straight had the race in hand. Twenty yards from home he was in the load, and coming on won a magiuncent race amid a scene of great enthublasm, by half-a-dozen yards. The time was Emm, which is tho fastest performance in a half»milo over put up on the Caledonian .track." The fame panpr EBys of his win in the quarter "Trembath again asserted his power as a runner Williams got. spiked and foil, and this steadied up the back men, Trembath having to run round him Notwithstanding this hrn urance, Trembath came with a great sprint in tho f-traight, and catching the leaders five yards from home, won by three feet. Timo 52sec." "Prpdig'al," of the Referee, has tho following on the New South Wales men tor the Australasian Championships : — Theto are throe "certainties" for positions in our team, and between them they hold seven Australasia championships, viz, Nigel Barker (100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds and running broad lump); Colin Stewart (120 yds hurdles) ; and W O'Reillj- (hammer and'shot) H- St Vincent Welch (joint holder, with T. Frawley (Q), of the running hiirh jump championship), A. H. Sooti, and T Artnur, are a trio of high jumpers from whom a selection must <be made. Welch is the all-around jumping; champion of Sydney; and he [bit tin) defeated Scott (sfr 6in) by an inch on the Sports Ground last November, fiincp then Scott has put uu ,a fino jump (at thp Highland Gathering) of bft' 9Jin. Welch did not compete in the event Scott so easily won. T. Arthur thas thb reputation of being capable of "big things" Us a high jumper. A test of some eort seems imperative. In the middle distance and long distance running the claims ol G. C. Retford J. M. Lynch, and R. G. Waddy, are undeniable. It may be taken for granted they will be asked to meet in a mile e^ent, and also over 3 miles. In the walking department H. I. Smith has claims which cannot bo overlooked. Ho has fair pace and is a sound heel and too performer under the Union code. It would 'appear that in addition to the four events in which he holds championshipß _ Nigel Barker's tcrvice must bo requisitioned in the 44Oy<!s hurdle championship, and possibly alro in Iho "half." Colin Stswart will ako be of service in the 440 yds hurdles and as a bioad jumper. Ovor aud above those named there are C. Weyraan (walks and distance running), S. Leaclley, ililton We'stwood, J. McPlierfon (sprints), P. L. Lavender and J. C. Lamroek (hurdle?), F. J. Morgan (hammer and .shot), A. S. Lloyd (broad jumper) and a number of other pcrfoimers of good class. Last Wednesday's evening meeting, held by the Civil Sorvlce Clnb, was responsible for some fino racing, particularly in tho mile handicap. Murray, tht. winner of tho milo, showed his best form for the first time thir season. He made the most of his rather too liberal handicap, and stalling off a determined challenge by Thompson in tho last hundred yards he won comfortably at the finiph, Thompson, who is more at home at 880 yards, ran a very plucky race, and had hard luck in meeting Murray at his best. Of the back markers, Mulcahy showed best form, running- iuto third place. Patrick showed up well in the last quarter, but left, his run too lato. Of, thp sprinters, Goodbehere stood out head and shonldeis the best. Though obviously out of condition he shoAved Ricat pace, and with a few moro yards to go would probably have won