ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

In a half-mile match for £25 a-side between the professional runners E. ■ Furey and A. Kennedy, at Coromandel, on Saturday last, Furey won by a couple of yards in 2m. 10 3-ss. The time is deoidedly slow, but is said to have been creditable in view of the wretched state of the track. lorn sfoung, of Warrnambool (Victoria), who has run many good races on the Australian side from- 100 yds to half-mile, is said to be coming across to this colony shortly. Tho West Coast runner Lord, who recently defeated Sherlock, of Westport, at Creymouth over 440 yds (£SO a-side) in 533. on a soft and sloppy track, is looked upon down below as one of the best quartermilers in the colony. Two of the three distances of the long-talked-of running match for £50 a-side, between tho well-known professional "peds.," W. McManus (N.S.W.) and L. C. Mcliachlan, were decided at Oamaru on Tuesday j last. The distances were 300 yds and 440 yds, and in both instances victory rested with the Australian, who covered the first distance in 325. (winning rather easily by 2yds), and the quarter-mile in 50s. (again running in an easy winner). That McMauus should have scored in such easy fashion in the times mentioned will no doubt come as a surprise to the New Zealand crack many admirers, as McLachlan has more than once proved himself capable 01 running the quarter-mile under 505., and this was perhaps the distance- over which Ins chances were most favoured. In the absence of a more detailed report it would perhaps be unwise to offer further comment but when particulars of tho match come to baud I shall have something more to say on the subject. GEO. SMITH IN ENGLAND. The London cable message published in the Herald of Wednesday morning last to the effect that George Smith, of New Zealand won the hurdles at Walton (Walton-on-lhames is a Surrey village 17 miles south-west of London) in 16 4-ss. over a rough track, will be hailed with delight by athletes throughout the colony and particularly by his many friends and admirers in Auckland. It is now just over three weeks since Smith and the Christchurch distance champion, W. F. Simpson, sot foot on the Mother Country, and it is gratifying to note thus early that the Aucklander is at least in fair nick. Their mission is the English amateur championship meeting, to be held in Loudon on July 5, and as they have yet another month in which to prepare themselves before measuring strides with the flowei of England's athletes, there is every prospect that they will be by that hmo in their very best form. The bald message of Wednesday last gives little scope for comment, but one thing is quite clear, and that is that the Auckland crack performed on a rough track. Whether or not he won with ease is a matter purely for conjecture, but I should be inclined to the opinion that he must have had something to spare at the end of the journey, as had he been hard pressed it is more "than probable that the fact would have been referred to. However, be this as it may, I may say that in view of the information to hand I shall be quite prepared to see the New Zealand crack doing his 16s.—better could hardly be expected under the changed conditions, added to which a friend who recently returned from England tells me none of the tracks there are as fast as the Auckland Domain if my anticipations are borne out on that eventful day in July he is bound to be found knocking at the door. For the information of my readers I append a list of Smith's performances over the sticks: — • 1896, at North Shore: Twice unplaced in 120 yds hurdles. Brunnerton benefit, Domain: Unplaced 120 yds; won 440 yds from 28yds; A.A.A. and CO., November meeting, first 120 yds, unplaced 440 yds. 1897, A.A.A. and C.C. November meeting: Second 120 yds from 7yds behind, first 440 yds from 20yds behind. At Thames (November), first 220 yds from 4yds. At Wanganui, second in 120 yds championship (won by A. Holder), won 440 yds championship. 1898: At Thames (March), first 120 yds from 18yds behind, first 220 yds from scratch. A.A.A. and C.C. (March), second 120 yds from 12yds behind, second 440 yds from scratch. Pavilion benefit meeting, second 120 yds from 12yds behind, third 440 yds from scratch. 1899 Auckland Industrial Exhibition meeting, second 120 yds from 12yds behind. New Zealand championship (Dunedin), won 12Cjds and 440 yds. A.A.A. and C.C Li'a.'d; meeting, first 120 yds from 12yds behind. At Queensland, fell in Australasian 120 yds championship after winning his heat in 165., won. 440 yds championship. Now Zealand championships at Wellington, won 120 yds and 440 yds championships: A.A.A. and C.C. (November), first 120 yds from 12yds behind in 17 l-ss. 1900: A.A.A. and C.C. March meeting, second from 18yds behind, run in 17 3-55.: won scratch race against Roseingrave in 15 3-ss. (not passed); won * 120 yds handicap hurdles from 7£yds behind scratch in 16 3-ss. 1901 A.A.A. and C.C. November meeting, won 440vds from scratch in 60 l-55.; New Zealand championships (Auckland), won 120 yds in 165., and 440 yds in 60 4-55.; Australasian championships (Auckland), won 120 yds in 15 4-ss. and 440 yds in 595. In addition to the foregoing Smith has made two attacks on the 120 yds record, his time in the first instance being 165., while en the second occasion (A.A.A. and C.C. March meeting, 1902) he did 15 l-ss. This latter time has 1 been passed as a New Zealand record, and has been sent on to the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia for consideration as an Australasian record.