ATHLETIC NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10919, 30 March 1896, Page 2

ATHLETIC NOTES.

[By Sprinter in “ Canterbury Times.”] 1 I have received the programme of the fourth annual gathering of the Dannovirke Caledonian Society, which is to be held on April 15. The principal event is the Daunevirke Handicap, oi' £2O, distances 100, 220, and 440yds; prizes for each distance ,£3, £1 10s, and 10s, winner of the handicap to receive in addition .£3 10s, second man =£l 10s. The Mile Handicap carries prizes of £6, £2, and J3l; the Halfmile Handicap prizes of <£3, £2, and 10s; and the 220yds Hurdles prizes of <£3, .£1 10s, and 10s. There are also the usual items to be found at a Caledonian gathering, such as wrestling, dancing, bagpipes, music, and weight events. It is worthy of note (writes “ The Prodigal ” in the Sydney Referee) that the honorary secretaries of each of three old- j established Associations is resigning—Mr ; Marks from the New South Wales Amateur j Athletic Association, Mr Cuff from the j New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, j and Mr Parkinson from the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association! The gentlemen named are three of the hardest | workers in the cause of amateur sport in the wide world, and each Association will sustain the loss of an old and tried official exceedingly hard to replace. At the St Patrick’s Sports, Sydney, on March 17, an Irish amateur named Eoseingrave, who recently arrived in Sydney, put up a colonial record for the running long jump, covering 22ft loin. Masterton was second with 20ft 2in. The previous record 21ft Gin, was held by Eyan, of, New Zea- j land. Eoseingrove also won the High J Jump with sft 7in, Cole with sft sin being t second; and the 120yds Hurdles Handi- I cap, owing 16yds, in 19sec, Masterton, ! owing 11yds, being second ; and finished | second in the Shot Putting Handi- ! cap, with 3ft handicap, putting 33ft 9in. W. Cartwright, the Australasian champion, was beaten by inches in the 100yds Handicaps, by W. E. Bnckham (Byds). The Boston Police News having been sold to the Boston Engraving Company the sporting department has been discontinued. But this will not prevent the late Editor, Captain- A. W. Cooke, from carrying out; the' annual professional sprint championship of America. E. H. Flack, of Melbourne, representing j the Thames Hare and Hounds, won the | Club’s Pour-mile and Three-quarter Invita- j tion Handicap, across country, on Peb. 1, I by 100yds in 26min 38sec. He had Imin 1 lOsec start. The scratch man, H. A. j Munroe, of the United Hospitals covered the distance in 27min 27sec. i Eepresentatives of the English, Irish and | Scottish Athletic Associations met in Leeds j on Peb. 1 to discuss matters of interest to | the sport. It was decided that the de- | eisions arrived at should not be given \ to the public until the three Associations | should have considered them in general j meeting, but it was announced that the j following subjects had been discussed: (1) j The amateur definition in its various re- | lations,not only in the separate countries, but j also in regard to cycling; (2) The assimilation | of the various rules for competition; (3) ,; The question of jurisdiction when an ' athlete is visiting in a country other than the one to which he owes allegiance; (4)

The advisability of organising international contests between the three countries; _ and (5) the establishment of an Internationa] board to deal with matters of international interest. In a recent issue I reported the de'ath of “Deerfoot,” and alluding to this ,oneefamous Indian long-distance runner the London Sporting and Dramatic News Says: — The death of “ Deerfoot,” at the Cattarangua Reservation, recalls vividly the palmy days of pedestrianism when the Seneca Indian was one of the greatest “ draws ” that ever stepped on to a cinder track. His detractors always asserted that he was a half-breed known as Louis Bennett, and, of course, it is perfectly possible' that: there was the “h. b. " stain somewhere in his -pedigree.. Be this as it may, however, it is quite certain that few people' oah have s6en a finer type of ; the North American Indian than “Deerfoot” was. He stood | about six feet and had- the prominent ; cheekbones and aquiline ' ; nose .of his rage, ■ and, as he, walked round a; running track, 1 with a great wolf-skin oh' his shoulde rs I and-a single eagle’s feather on his head, he might -have stepped straight out of I a romahee of Eenimore Cooper’s, He i came to this country in 18(51, and although he was not in the best of hands, and a. big mistake was made at first in arranging for English pedestrians to finish behind him at four miles, a distance at which he could never really shine, owing to his lack of pace, instead of allowing him to take longer, journeys on his merits, he was too good- a man not to very speedily earn a big reputation. He was one cf the ugliest runners ever seen, rolling about all I over the course in extraordinary fashion; bub | although it is very doubtful if he could ! ever beat 4min 40sec for a mils: his stay-. ! ing powers were simply marvellous, and he j could do his first mile in about 4min 4. 550 c, j and then continue to reel off mile after | mile at little decreased speed. His records of eleven miles in 56min 52sec, of twelve in Uir 2min 2£sec, and of eleven miles 970yds in one hour, all made bn April 3, 1863, are unequalled to this day, and although various statements have been made that the track was several yards short in each'quarter of a mile, no proof has ever been adduced of this, and they very properly still retain their places in the books. Most of Deerfoot’s great performances were accomplished at Hackney | Wick or the West London grounds, both of which tracks have long since fallen a prey Ito the irrepressible builder. Ho must have been upwards of sixty years of age at the time of his death.