AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 10465, 1 October 1894, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CROSS-COUNTRY STEEPLECHASES. The Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club brought to a successful issue its annual Cross-country Steeplechase Meeting at Mr J. S, Monck’s property, Sumner, on Saturday afternoon. Fine weather was experienced, and a gentle easterly breeze blew from the sea. Fully one thousand spectators were present, and by standing on the surrounding hills were able to obtain a view of the races from start to finish. The competitors had only three or four fences to negotiate in the three-mile event, but the committee bad marked off a stiff course, and before half the journey had been completed twelve competitors had retired. The race was won by J. W. Jones, a promising young long-distance runner. Ho assumed the lead before the first mils had been completed, but T. H. Harker stuck to him gamely, and draw level at the end of two miles. The struggle between them was fought out in the last mile, when they were repeatedly passing and repassing each other, with the result that Haikar retired beaten at the quarter-mile post, and Jones, taking the last fence neatly and sprinting to the tape, won by thirty yards. In the quarter-mile race F. G. Banks, of Christ’s College, ran with good judgment, and won comfortably. The Consolation Steeplechase was won easily by H. G, Gray. The* following are details :

Cross-country Steeplechase Handicap; under N.Z.A.A.A. rules; first prize trophy value £3 3s; second cup, value £2 2s, presented by Mr M. Sandstein j third trophy value £1 J. W. Jones (Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club) 250yds, 1; T. H. Harker (Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club)'27syds, 2; C. E. Smith (Ashburton Amateur Athletic Club) 300yda, 3. The other starters were:—E. S. Leversedge 150yds, W. J. Percy 155yds, T.M. Sheehan 185yds, F. I. Cowlishaw 200yds, J. L. Carl 200yds, C. E, Cholmondeley 200yds, H. G. Gray 225yds, T. Cowlishaw 250yds, A. H. Jewiss 250yds, P. G. Banks 250yds, P. Wynn-Williams 260yds, C. W; S. Cox 285yds, W. Smith 295yds, H. Inwood 300yds, W. C. Harrington 300yds, James Moir 320yds, E. A. East 350yds and C. Louisson 350yds. ; . The back , mark men soon caught the limit men, and at the first hill Cox was leading, with Jones, Harker, Banks and C. E. Smith following in the order named. At the end of the first mile Jones took rip the running a short distance in front of Cox, who was followed by Marker, Smith, Banks and Percy. Jones was still- in front at the half-distance, Harker being next, and then came C. E. Smith, Cox, Banks, . Sheehan, W. C. Harrington, Jewiss, Leversedge and Percy in the order named. The other competitors had retired, and Jewiss, Harrington and Sheehan did likewise after climbing the hill. , Harker caught Jones at the twopile post, and ran through the grass paddocks well clear 1 b£ the others. Jones came again, and after catching Harker the two ran neck and neck for some distance. At the second fence from home Jones forged ahead, and clearing the last obstacle neatly, went on and; won by thirty yards. Harker was fifty yards in front of Smith, who ran well throughout. Time—22min 56|sec. The following are winners of the Crosscountry.Steeplechase since its institution: —IBB7, D. Wood; 1888, D. Wood and H. M. Reeves (dead heat); 1889, M. Suckling; 189 Q, T. W. Reese; 1891, W. Beadel; 1892, C. G. Rees; 1893, C. Rides; 1894, J.'W. Jones.

Quarter-mile Flat Handicap, Strangers —F. G. Banks (Christ’s College) 29yds, 1 j A. R. Gard’ner (Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club) 36yds, 2; O. J'. Nowall; (Hardware Football Club) 29yds, 3. W. J. Percy (Greendale Amateur Athletic Club) 15yds and W. Lang (Merivale Football Club) 23yds also started. Newall promptly showed in front, and held a strong lead of eight or nine yards for three-fourths of the -distance, but'on turning into the bottom stretch fell back and gave place to Banks half-way up the straight. The College boy came with a determined rush in the last twenty yards, and won by eight yards from Gard’ner, who was a few yards bettor than Newall. Time—67|sec. Consolation Steeplechase; about one mile—H. G. Gray (Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club) 70yds, 1; W. J. Percy (Greendale Amateur Athletic Club) 60yds and C. E. Cholmondeley (Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club) 70yds, dead heat. C. W. S. Cox, 60yds, also started, but did not finish. Gray ran well throughout, and won easily. [Psb Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. SO. The athletic season was opened with the Amateur Athletic Club’s cross country run. Twenty-seven started. The winner was J. Stone (North End Boating Club) 85seo, 1; W. King 130 sec, 2; J. Brian ISsec, 3. The distance was about four miles, and the winner’s time was 28min 6sec.