ATHLETIC CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10365, 13 February 1897, Page 5

ATHLETIC CARNIVAL.

THE NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS. CONCLUDING DAY. The second and concluding day's sport in connection with the eighth New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championship gathering of 1896-97 will be held on the Domain Cricket Ground to-day, the first event on the programme being set down to start at two o'clock in the afternoon. If the results of Thursday's events may be taken as any criterion of what may bo expected to-day, then it might be safely said that some of the finest racing ever witnessed in the colonies will be witnessed by those present, and with favourable weather there is little doubt but that the function will be one of the most largely attended ever held on the ground. The management have left no stone unturned to make the outing a pleasant one from a spectators point of view, special attention having been paid to the provision ol result boards and other necessary appointments to indicate the scratching!, winners, etc., of the various events, so that the spectators may be thoroughly conversant with everything that is going oa. At the conclusion of the gathering, weather and other circumstances permitting, E. Reynolds, the local champion, will endeavour to lower the existing record for the Domain grass track. Afternoon tea will be provided for lady patrons, and a brass band will he in attendance, and will submit an attractive musical programme, to add to the enjoyment of the afternoon's outing. lynx's notes. Tho Championship events to be decided this afternoon are the 250 yds flat, 880 yds fiat, Three-mile Run, One-mile Walk, Pole Jump, High Jump, Throwing 161b Hummer, and the 440 yds Hurdles. In the firstmentioned event, the 230 yds Handicap, the competitors will be H. Miluer (Nolson), A. J. Patrick (Wellington), A. N. Norton, A. H. Holder and U. A. Holder (Wauganui), A. H. Freeman, H. V. Buchanan, R. Oliphmit, and A. Jones (Auckland). On Thursday's running the Wanganui champion, A. H. Holder, would appear to have all the best of this event, more particularly when it is mentioned that the Wellington sprinter's (Patrick) pet distance is the 100 yds; upon which he had set his heart. Oliphant will run a big race over this distance, and if anyone is to trouble the Wanfanui man I think it will be the Aucklander, while Patrick, H. V. Buchanan, and G. A, Holder must also be handy. To place them in order my vote goes with:

A, H. Holder 1 K. Oliphant U H. V. Buchanan 3 In the Half-mile Flat those engaged are : J. F. Grierson (Canterbury), J. M. Hamilton (Hawke's Bay), P. E. Beamish (ffanganui), James MeKeeu, A. I£. George, and E. Sutherland (Auckland). On recent performances, and a comparison of the doings of the other competitors engaged, the Auckland representative, Jas. McKeau, might be almost counted upon as a certainty, and had the ground been at its best instead of being heavy, as at present, very few would have been surprised to have seen this runner equal, if not improve upon, the present New Zealand record of 2in. for the 880 yds. Grierson, of Canterbury, is JJcKean's most dangerous opponent, and should be very handy at the finish. Sutherland, of Auckland, should also run a good race, and the same remark applies to Hamilton, of Hawke's Bay, while Beamish, of Wanganui, is also said to be a very good man over the distance, though his performance in the recent test matches (2m. 10 l-55.) is not sufficiently good to recommend him. The most likely-lookiug men to fill the places are: Jas. McKean ~ ... 1 J. F. Grierson 2 E. Sutherland 3 The Auckland distance-mat), McKean, should also account for the Three-Mile Flat, and the most likely-looking man to follow him home is E. Reynolds, unless Burrell, of Wanganui, and Madill, of Auckland, are better men than I give them credit for, The result will probably be: Jas. McKean 1 E. Reynolds 2 D. Burrell 3 The Oue Mile Walk calls for no comment, other than that I was more than ploased at the fine form shown by D. Wilson in the Three Miles event, on Thursday, and quite expect that he will keep the champion going to-day. 'l'hey should finish in Thursday's order, viz.:—

F. H. Creamer 1 D. Wilson 2 The six contestants in the Pole Jump are H. L. Kingsley (holder, of Wanganuit, R. Meus, Jas. To Pan, Hori Eruera, (J. C. Lauri, and II Madill. As far as can be seen, none of the others will have a chance with the champion, Kingsley, who has cleared 10 feet 8 inches (fresh Australasian record, if passed), and knowing little or nothing of Madill, I take C. |C. Laurio as the next best. They may finish the jumping as under H, L. Kingsley 1 C. C. Laurie 2 Jas. TePaa 3 Without going into ldetn.il over the High Jump, I should say that C. C. Laurie will prove the best of tlioso engaged, as he has already shown us that he can do sft 7iin, which is only three-quarters of an inch below the New Zealand record of Sft in, held by H. S. Bailey, of Wanganui. In saying this of course I do not know exactly what Kingsley is equal to, us he had no occasion to jump better than sft Sin to beat his opponents at the recent Wanganui test inatoees. The event may result:— C. C. Laurie 1 H. L. Kingsley 2 J. M. Vercoo 3 The Auckland team should add to their points in the throwing tho 161b hammer contest, iii which T. B. O'Connor, Kallender, and Madill will represent the province, while W. Rhodes will represent Wellington, and F. A. Piper, Wanganui. O'Connor should bo the hardest to dispose of, and I shall place them T. B. O'Connor 1 W.Rhodes ... 2 J, A. Kallender 3 The event of the day is of course the 410 yds Hurdles Championship, in which the field comprises T. Roberts, W. H. Martin, R. Oliphant, and A. Jones (Auckland), 4. H. Holder (Wanganui), and Jno. Moir (Canterbury). Such a field of jumpers has never before como together in the colony, and this race alone should amply repay a visit to the Domain ground. Holder has covered the distance in 605., thus establishing a fresh world's record for tho quarter hurdles, the previous record being (lis., by T. Roberts (Auckland), while tho latter in turn was timed to have got insido 60s. in the 440 yds hurdle oveut at the recent Caledonian Society's Sports. At the same meeting K. Oliphant, though not actually running the correct course, inasmuch as that ho, having 10yds from scratch, completed the journey by running 10yds beyond tho tapes, was also timed as under 60s, Then comes W. H. Martin, who won the 440 yds Hurdles at the Australasian Championship Meeting held twelve months back in Christchurch, on which occasion the Canterbury representative Moir ran him to a matter of inches. However, to sum the event up my fancy is Holder, and I look forward to their finishing as under: A. H. Holder 1 T. Roberts 2 R. Oliphant or Martin 3 In addition to the above several handicap events, both wheel and pedestrian, will come up for decision. Laurie'; pedestrian starting machine, which worked successfully on Thursday, will be again used in the sprint races. THE HARBOUR EXCURSION. On Sunday the visiting athletes will be entertained conjointly by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and the local committee, at a harbour excursion, the steamer leaving the Devonport Ferry Tee at ten o'clock in the morning, and returning shortly before six o'clock'm the evening. The arrangements for the outing are of a most complete nature, and the pleasure of the afternoon will be rreatly heightened by. the intended movements of the Auckland Yacht Club. The Commodore of the club, Mr. T. Henderson, has invited the yachts to meet at Motutapu at four o'clock in the afternoon, in order to accompany the steamer containing the athletes on their return journey home, and with favourable weather the spectacle will prove a most pleasing one., ..