AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 10187, 14 December 1896, Page 1

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

I Taking into account tho large number of ! competitors, the superb weather, the lengthy programme, and the excellent management, the attendance at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon was disappointing. The lack of support, we are inclined to think, was not due to a waning interest in amateur athletics, but to the waut of publicity given to the gathering : and no doubt the powers that be will in future profit by last week's experience in thai; respect. Although there were only two competitors for the hammer-throwing, they were champions in this particular branch of sport, and expectations of a good performance were not disappointed. R. Martin (present champion of Australasia) was not iu his best form; but M'Cormack (twice champion of New Zealand and the holder of the record for the colonies) made amends by the magnificent throw of 110 ft 6in, thus establishing a fresh record for tho colonies. M'Cormack's previous record was 106 ft 10|in. Another performance calling for special mention was the half-mile run of T. R. Mackay, who, starting from scratch, cut out the distance in 2min 2 l-53ec, and thus secured a standard badge of honor. King, who won the mile flat race with 90yds start, hails from Port Chalmers, and gives promise of developing into a capital distance runner. This is but his second season on the track, and he is still a mere stripling. His solitary opponent iu the two-mile race could not make any impression on him, and was practically useless to him after a couple of laps had been negotiated. Another scion of the Bennett family ran pluckily for three parts of the journey in the mile handicap, and may be heard of next season. Greig won both the walking events, but was very properly disqualified ou the first occasion for lifting. At the second attempt he walked with the utmost fairness, and won very comfortably. The scratch man (Findlay) was quite unable to get on terms with the limit men. Kingston (the present holder of the 220 yds championship of the colony) was the flower of the sprint runners, and he fairly spreadeagled his field in the club championship race. Mowbray, an ex-West Coaster, is a pretty runner, but was unfortunate in getting blocked—particularly was this the case in the quarter-mile bracelet, where he was twice disappointed in attempting to get through his field. The high and long jumping were below mediocrity, while, owing to the poor fields, little interest was shown in the hurdle races. The 440 yds event, which, it is understood, had been inserted on the programme specially for the benefit of F. H. Harley, who has recently been transferred here from Wellington, resulted in a fiasco. There were only three competitors. M'Lean, after stumbling at the second hurdle, came to grief at the next, and shortly afterwards Harley (who had gone out with a poisoned foot) broke down owing to a small tendon in the leg giving way, and had to be carried off the ground, leaving Clowes (the Waitaki representative) to finish at his leisure. The four bicycle events on tho programme attracted average fields in point of number, but several competitors clearly did not put forth their best efforts, and tho referee would have been justified in administering a word of caution. Was the presence of the cash bettors the cause 1 Or was the poor display due to a wish to hoodwink the haudicapper for the cycling events on the programme for the Caledonian sports? On each occasion the men conceding handicaps closed with their fields in the first lap or two, and then made no pretence of taking the lead or forcing the pace. If interest in cycling raoes is to be sustained one of two courses must be adopted—the fixing of a time limit, as had to be done with the Champion Race (three miles) for racehorses in Victoria, or a prize for the competitor who is most frequently iu front at the close of each lap. Such exhibitions as were given on Saturday are not likely to popularise cycling. There was not a breath of wind, the track waa in perfect condition, and everything was favorable to fast times being registered. Despite the fact that ho was a competitor Mr T. R. Mackay made a painstaking and efficient secretary ; many of the finishes were interesting, proving that Mr \V. A. Low had correctly gauged the merits of the performers ; Mr W. J. Burk had charge of the pistol; and the timing was iu the efficient hands of Messrs F. Hyams, W. H. Young, and H. Hunter. The following are details of the concluding events : 220 yds Cluu Championship. W. V. Kingston ... ... ... 1 W. L. Colvin 2 H. Mowbray 3 Also started: K. L. Macassey, G. B. Nichol, and A. G. Thomson. A beautiful start. Macassey held the lead for about 100 yds. but f.t the home turn Kingston came through and won easily by half a dozen yards. Colvin beat Mowbray by a foot for second place. Time, 24 2-ssec. Two-milk Walk.—Standard, lDmin lOsec. A. A. Greig, 2:loyds 1 W. Cashimm, 230 yds 2 Also started: A. Findlay (scratch), A. D. Mitchell (120 yds), and \V. W. Smith (220 yds). Greig led the whole way. eventually winning easily by 40yds from Cashman. Smith retired early in the race, and the other pair were distanced. Time, 15inin 27sec. One-milk Roadster Bicycle Handicap. V. Boot, 20yds 1 \V. H. Gibson, scratch ... ... 2 J. M'Bridc, 45yds 3 Also started : J. Nelson (35yds), T. Maw (40yds), F. Smith ((50yds), and W. E. Gibson (70yds). The field rode in close order until half round the last lap, when Boot with a sustained spurt won by about twenty yards. Time, 2min 28 3-sscc. 410 Yards Hurdles Handicap.—Standard, 64 25sec. K. E. Clowes, 20yds 1 J. C. Maclean, 30yds 1 Also started: F. H. Harley (scratch). Clowes being the only one not to meet with a mishap won as he pleased. Time, 6b' 4-ssec. Two-milk Flat Handicap.—Standard, lOinin W. King, 130 yds ... ' 1 A. T. M'lndoe, 150 yds 2 These were the only competitors. King ran at M'lndoe's heels for a mile and then went to the front and, increasing his lead steadily from that point, won easily by 120 yards. Time, llmin 41 3-sscc. Two-mile Bicycle Handicap. H. Cameron, 90yds ... ... 1 W. H. Gibson, 100 yds 2 W. B. Bell, scratch 3 Also started: A. Maxwell (20yds), C. J. Home (45yds), J. Symes (45yds), S. T. Lawson (50yds), G. C. Moore (85yds), A. Aitchison (110 yds), and W. Begg(loOyds). Gibsonand Moore alternately led the field for a mile at a slow pace, but in the last last lap Cameron went to the front, and remaining there till the finish won an uninteresting race by a couple of yards from Gibson, with Bell close up third. Time, smin 18 4-ssec. 440 Yards Handicap (Ladies' Bracelet).— Standard, 53sec. E. J. P. Denny, 25yds 1 O. M'Cormack, 20yds 2 T. W. Bailey, 28yds ... ... 3 Also started: H. Mowbray (scratch), W. L. Colvin (6yds), E. L. Macassey (12yds), A. G. Thomson (15yds), E. E. Clowes (17yds), A. C. Bucldand (17yds), R. D. Veitch (20yds), D. Duncan (23yds) J. C. Maclean (2,lyds), F. H. Hughes (28yds), and L. S. M'Donald (30yds). A splendid finish. Time, 53 4-ssec. Half-mile Teams' Steeplechase.—For teams of three men each, the team scoring the least number of points to be declared the winners pirates Football Club (T. L. Martin, B. L. ; Gregg, R. S. Orbell), 15 points ... ... 1 North End Boating Club (F. Given, J. Logan, Crow), 16 points... ... ... ... 2 Otago Rowing Club (T. It. Mackay, J. D. Shand, J. C. M'Lean), 17 points ... ... 3 The Duaedin Amateur Boating Club (E. A. Sorgel, T. Scurr, and E. Stohr) also competed, but only one of their team finished in the first ten. Given was in front right up till finally taking the water jump, from which he was some time extricating himself, and allowed Martin just to beat him home. Martin thus gained a special prize, while Gregg finished sixth and Orbell eighth ; Given, Logan, and Crow finished second, fourth, and tenth respectively; and Mackay, Shand, and M'Leau third, fifth, and ninth re- ' spectively.