THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10018, 3 January 1896, Page 5

THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

A. SUCCESSFUL MEETING

NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE!!*

TO'THE FORE.

[n IBUiaKAPIf.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.

i CHRIBTOHOKCH, Thursday. Beautiful weather favoured the first Australasian Championship Meeting' hold in Now Zealand— only one, as the Mayor remarked the other day, that will bo held in Chrißtchurch for 24 years. A nor'-wtst

breeze was blowing in the afternoon, but it was never tot strong to interfere with the racing, and before the programme was concluded it had almost died away. The attendance wan good, nearly 3000 spectators being ou the ground, and the arrangements were well devised. There was some delay, however, in getting off the events, and the pole jump was not finished till 5.45, though the meeting wat timed to finish at 5. The starting to-day vas excellent, the threat of disqualification evidently having told. The racing was splendid. The two longdistance bicycle events produced most exciting finishes, Kerr, the Sydney flier, winning the Five-mile by less than the length of his machine, being beaten in the Ten mile after a terrific run home, by Jones, of the Pioneer Blub (Christchuroh); less than a wheel separated the men. In the athletic events, of which eight figured on the programme, the fields were large, and the performances better still. One record was brokea by Creamer in the Threemile Walk. Tin standards were Jjeaten in the High Jump, the Miio Flat, the Quarter-mile Flat, and the Hammerthrowing, and were equalled in the 120 yds Hurdles and the Polo Jump. Thus, in seven events out of eight the standards were equalled or beaten, and in the 100 yds Cartwright's timo was only one-fifth of a second below the standard. These standards are those'adopted by the English Association, and are high enough to stamp a man who attains them as a first-class performer anywhere. New Zealand gained 6 points to-day; Viotoria, 1; and New South Wales, 1. Bennett and Low repeated their performances of Saturday, and the way Bennett ran away froir. his field in the Mile roused the crowd to repeated oheers, which were renewed again and again when ho ran home in the great time of 4m. 29 3-sth «. Corner, of New South Wales, who was expected to push him close, was beaten out of sight, and did not finish. The only regret felt is that Biggs, of whom the New South Wales men are so proud, cannot meet him on Saturday. Low ran a great race in the Quarter-mile. He ala° had a cordial reception. Creamer did as he liked in the Three-mile Walk, and though he had no one to help him in the last few laps, he knocked more than a minute off hit Saturday's time, and put up a record for Australasia of 22m, 51 2-sth s, Cartwright, of Njjw South Wales, as was expeotod, won the 100 Yards, but by nothing to boast of, though his time was good. The jumpers wore all out of form compared with the same men's previous efforts, but oven their bad was good as compared with most, and two out of the three hammerthrowers passed tins standards. Great care had been bestowed on the track, which was in much better condition than on Saturday. The oyoling track had also hardened, and little fault could be found with it, but the times wore nothing wonderful. The fields were largo in the majority of events, and good all through. The details are as follow :—

One Hdndred Yards, first heat. Cartwright. Victoria, 1 ; Reeves, Now Zealand, 2. R. Hurley and Ryan also ran. Won by a yard. Time, 10 35th s. Hayward came up to the post too late to start. SECOND HEAT. Patrick, New Zealaud, 1; Robinson, New Zealand, 2. Campbell, Queensland, Jones, and F. Harley also ran. Won by a yard and a-half. Campbell was third, but did not run iu a very convincing style. Time, 10 4-sth s. FINAL. Cartwright, Victoria 1 Robinson, New Zealand 2 Patrick, New Zealand 3 This was closely contested, the Canterbury man running the Victorian representative very closely, while a foot separated the second and third. Reeves was fourth, and Moir, Victoria, last. The time, 10 2-55., was only l-stl> of a socond below the standard time.

Half-Mile Bicycle, New Zealand Championship.

Kerr, Sydney 1 Jones, Christchnrcli " H. Thompson, (Jhristchuroh ... ... 3

Grow, Peterson, and Pilkington also started. The last got away badly, being some yards behind the rest. Crow led for two-thirds of the distauce, when Jones passed him. One hundred and fifty yards from home Kerr allot in front, and won as lie liked by 4yds. Jones oased up, and was only a wheel in front of Thompson. Time, lm. 9 4 sa.— rather slow time, evon against the breeze.

High Jump. Doyle, Victoria, 5 feet 6J inehos 1 Brown, New Zealand, 5 feet 5J inches ... 2 Kingaley was scratohed. Gormley, New South Wales, and Bailey, New Zealand, also jumped. Both Gormley and Doylo knocked over the bar at their first attempt, but easily cloared the 5 feet at their next try. Bailey, much to the surprise of she spectators, failed at 5 feet 4| inches, and Gormley also retired at that height. Brown succeeded in jumping 5 feet 5.J inches, but the Victorian cleared an inch moro, and then jumped 5 feet 7i inches, but on trying 5 feet 8J inches he gave up after two attempts, His best performance is 5 feot 10 inches, and the standard was 5 feet 7 inches. One-mile Flat. ennott, Now Zealand ... 1 Clark, Now Zoaland ...- 2 D. Woed, Now Zealand 3 Corner, New South Wales, Townley, Victoria, Bell, Thomas, Davies, O'Connor, and Hawthorne, New Zealand, also started. Bennett made the pace warm at the start. Going off at tho first lap he gave place to O'Connor, Corner lying near tho tail. O'Connor preserved his position till opposite the old stand in the last lap, and here Bennett ran up to the front again. 300 yds from home he shot out at a terrific pace, and left the others standing still. Before the turn was reached he was 50yards a-head, the spectators cheering him to the echo. He had made his run rather soon, however, and in the straight eased off a little, whioh enabled Clark to close up the gap between thorn. Still the lad came on full of going, and passed the post a good 25yds a-head of the Cantorbury rep. in the fine time of 4m. 28 3 Sths s. Clark, who but for Bennett would have been considered to run a great raoe, was only syda below the standard himself, and Wood was syds behind Clark. O'Connor was fourth. Hawthorn fifth, and Bell and Davies last. Townsley and Thomas fell out when Bennett went to the front, and Corner gave up at the entrance to the straight. As the winner returned to tho pavilion the spectators greeted him with a succession of rinsing cheers. Seldom has a win on the athletic field appeared so popular. Bennett's timo boats the standard by 12-sth« a., and is only 3 35th8 a. below Dalrymple's Australian record. FIVE-MILE BIOYOLE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. Kerr, Sydney 1 C. Jones, Chrfstchurch 2 Thomson, Christchurch ... 3 Crow, Shorland, Peterson, and Pilkmcfcon also startod. Crow, Shorland, and Pilkington toop the lead at various timos, Shorland being mostly in command, but the race, as is usually the case, was praotioally confined to the last la«. At the turn by the old stand Kerr pushed through his men, olosely followed by Jones. On the baok stretch the Pioneer rep passed him, and ories aroso that the Sydney wheeler was beaten. In the straight, however, he came again, and after a splendid finish won by less than the length of his machine. Thomson, who came up fast in the straight, was only a dozen yards away. Time. I3m. 25 4-55., nearly ljm. below the standard. A protect was entered against Korr for orossing four other riders, but was dismissed. 120-YARDS HORDLES. Martin 1 Molr ... 2 Roberts 3 Doyle, Victoria, was scratched, leaving three New Zealanders to fight it out. Martin led all tho way, but had his work out out to stall off Moir, who stuck to him to the finish and was only beaten by a few inches, Roberta was also close up. Time, 16 25th o, equal to the standard. Three-Mile Walk. Creamer, New Zealand ... 1 Goodwin, New South Wales ' 2 Barrett, Victoria ... ... 3 Holt, Victoria, also started. Creamer and Goodwin went off with theload, and had soon distanced tho two, Victorians. Creamer made the pace very warm,'"and though Goodwin stuok to him grandly for two-thirds of the way, he had to oaso off and content himself with jogging along far second place. Creamer camo in nearly a-quartor of a mile ahead, and beat his own previous record by 6 3-sth Barrett was, thirty yards behind Goodwin, Time, 22m, 51 2-6 th s., an Australasian 1 record...,- •.< v.' : -.'--- ; .-'-i .: .v- ,• '• : '\v- '•■••' iV ','ii ; ..:;;,.Throwing, the Hammer. ,-.:*, I Martin, New Zealand, 104 ft Sin ... 'i*.:l i Brown, New Zealand, 100 ft lin ...,-v.: 2

Louiason iilso threw.but his distance, which was about 81ft. was not measured. - BOW Martin and Brown beat the standard, wort.

|, '••'.' i Pole Jump..7 -/, •- Klngsley, New Zealand, 9lt 6m ' ... ••• * Oormloy, New South Wales, 9ft lin - 2 Doyle, Victoria, 7to ... ... ' •■•■ / Hunter, New Zealand, was scratched. Kinsley afterwards did 10ft, which is the standard. ' Ten-mile biotclb (New Zealand CHAMi PIONSHIP), C. Jones, Chrißtchurch ■ •», * Kerr, Sydney ( £ Petersen, Napier ... , " Langdon, Pllkington, Crow, Sharland, and Thompson also ran. In this race two prizes were offered for the man who passed the posts on each side of the ground most often first. This was to induce competitors to keep a good pace. Crow maintained the lead for some 20 laps, and secured both prizes. He slipped his pedal and lost 60 yards, which he made up with a spurt, but the effort was too mnoh, and he then retired. In the laat lap, Thompson took the lead 300 yards from the post, all the men being then in a bunoh. Kerr then spurted, and. followed again by Jones, drew clear. A most desperate finish ensued, both men riding all they know.. Jones wrenched away the lead, but Kerr dispossessed him. The Pioneer champion; however, was not done with. He crept up-inch by inch, and in front of the stand drew level. Here Kerr swerved a little and forced Jones outward, but nevertheless he held on, and the two men flow past looked together, Jones winning by less than half a wheel. Petersen was 12yds behind. There was tremendous excitement over the result, and Jones was loudly cheered. Time, 26m. 38a—a long way below the standard.

Quarter-mile Flat. Low, New Zealand - ... 1 Campbell, Queensland 2 Reeves New Zealand 3 Wingrove, Townley, Victoria; Mastorton, Cartwright, New South Wales; Roberts, Batch, Ryan, New Zealand; also started. Cartwright got off with the lead, but half-way round Low appeared in front, and running strongly was never headed. Campbell was four yards behind and Reeves a yard away. Time, 513-sth s, two-fifthß of a second under the standard. Low, li'-e Bennett, was loudly cheered for his fine running. [BY TELKQRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Christchuroh, Thursday. Manager MoCormick leaves by the Takapuna for Auckland to-night. Roberts is very well, and intends trying to break the record for the Quarter-Mile Hurdles. The Mile Walk between Creamer and Goodwin _is causing great excitement, the latter being better over one mile than over three miles. Creamer is slightly the favourite, The weather is terribly hot for training.