ATHLETICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 31 December 1925, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

PROFESSIONAL MEETING AT DUNEDIN. (by TEEEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Dee. 30. The sjiorts meeting of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union concluded to-day in fine weather, though light showers fell towards the end oi the afternoon.

Great interest centred in the winning of the Sheffield Handicap, oi £SO. The race was fun in four heats, two semi-finals, and one final. McLennan, on 2 yards, won liis heat in 12 3-ssec., and his semi-final in 12 4-5 sec. His’ chances of winning the final looked rosy. Hansen (O'aniaru), however, who was on the 15 yards mark, made full use of his handicap in the. final, and McLennan did not get to him till about ten yards from the tape. In a great finish both men appeared to breast the tape together, and the judge gave the verdict to Hansen. The decision was" freely discussed by those in a position to see, many maintaining that McLennan had just won. There were numbers, however, who maintained that the judge’s placing was quite correct. Pearson (Hokitika) was right up third, and Grafton (Christchurch), was fourth. McLennan won the 220 yards championship from E. Cook (Invercargill) and J. Harris (Oainaru) in 22 3-ssec. Ther'e were only three starters. The BSO yards championship went to Newlands (Inchholme). Escreet (Norsewcod) was second and Bone (Invercargill) third There ivere four other starters. The race was won by six yards in 2min. 4sec..

The one mile handican was won by W. Archer (43 yards), 'll. J. Oiliver (60 yards') was second and H. Escreet (40 yards) third. Three others started. The race was won by 15 yards in 4min. 30 2-ssec

In the 440 yards handicap E. Cartwright (7 yards) won from Booth (12 vards) and Macartney (101 yards). There were ten other starters. The time was 53sec.

In the final of the half-mile cycling championship Mackie was first, M. J. Fitzgerald second, and O’Shea third. Wells also .started. The time was 1.22. A protest was entered by ,O’Shea against Fitzgerald for- carrying him out at the bend into the straight. The protest was upheld and Fitzgerald was severely cautioned. It was decided to re-run the race later in the day. In t-lie run-off only Wells and O’Shea started, and Wells won by inches. The time was lmiii. 19 3-ssec. In the mile and a half cycle handicap E. Fitzgerald won easily from W. Mackie and Palmer. Six started in the final. The time was 3min. 34sec. J. F. Wells won the two-mile championship from O’Shea. Mackie ran into a pocket entering the straight and could not get clear. He entered a protest against O’Shea for crossing, hilt the protest was dismissed. H. W. Birch (180 yards) and E. Fitz. gerald (150 yards) paced each other right away from the field, in the threemile handicap a*nd made a dead heat of it. They were fined £1 each, by the referee for not riding the race out.