ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 2

ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALAND MARATHON RACE. The New Zealand Marathon Race, from Howick to Auckland, a distance of thirteen miles, run under the auspices of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, was decided on Saturday in the hottest of weather. The event created tremendous interest, and should do much to Tevivc amateur athletics in Auckland. Of the forty-two nominated twenty-two started,including M. Dickson and K. W. Shanahan (Christchurch), M. Mulcahy and F. Wilton (Wellington), S. W. Moore (Rakaia), W. Reay (Ballarat, Victoria), and W. Wilshaw (Manchester, England). The I road was dusty, with numbers of loose stones, and the presence of numerous vehicles on the road made running unpleasant. The road was lined with thousands ot ! people, while at the Domain, where the nice finished, about 5,000 had assembled. Dickson, after leading for seven miles, lay down when still leading, tinally finishing eighth. Hill, a college youth of eighteen, then went to the front, and won by, less than 100 yds, from Moore, with L. J. Ormstein (Auckland) third, Rogers (Auckland) fourth, and Shanahan (Christchurch) fifth. Other Southern competitors to finish were Mulcahy (tenth) and Wilton (fifteenth). Hill covered the distance in lh 18min, while the sixteenth man—the last to finish—came in thirty-one minutes later. The scene on the Domain when Hill and Moore wctv finishing was one of indescribable excitement. In consequence of this race all cricket matches were postponed. SATURDAY'S SPORTS. A meeting of tho Sports Committee of the Dunedin Sports Club wa-s held on Saturday evening, Mr K. A. Falck presiding. Richard Artist wired stating that he would not he able to slate definitely till Tuesday whether he would bo able to ride in the bicycle races a! the club's sports, as he was too busy looking after Fogwell, in view of the latter sculler's forthcoming rowing match with Whelch. —lt was decided to hold over Arnst's nominations for the bicycle events. | Ariist advised to-day that he would be a competitor.] The Dunedm Centre, N.Z.A.A.A.. advised that periilission had been granted to place two amateur events—22o Yards and Half-mile—on next Saturday's programme. The Secretary t-tnted that he had interviewed Mr Gooff Porter, the Dunedin Fire Brigade's engineer, in regard to giving an exhibition motor cycle ride at Ihe sports, and that he was negotiating for tho hire of an eight horse-jxiwer Peugot motor cycic, so that Mr Porter might be able to put up Tccord time.—Mr Sullivan remarked that as Mr Porter was considered one of the most daring riders in New Zealand, this item should be invested with plenty of thrill. Mr Porter should go very near lowering the New Zealand motor cycle mile record of lmin 24sec, and aho put up time for five miles which slwuld stand for fome time.

The Kaikorai Band Mere engaged to play during the afternoon. The Sheffield Handicap and the Halfmile Cash Race have received excellent entries. Mr Corcoran remarked that with such runners in the Half-mile as P>. 1). Chalmers (Dunedin), 1). Sanson (I'Vaiherston). W. G. Granger (Oarnaru), and W. F. Trembath (Gore.' the erstwhile Australasian amateur champion), tlie contest should prove one of the finest ever witnessed on the Caledonian Ground.