ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12478, 23 January 1904, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

Although the entries for the amateur running events to bo decided at the Auckland Cycling Club's sports carnival at the Do main Ground 011 the afternoon and evening of Friday next (Regatta Day), a.l-0 hardly up to expectations, as far as numbers are concerned, there is plently of material to furnish interesting racing.

Southern writers refer to Harry "Woods' winning performance in the long jump (19:* 7ii). at tho New Zealand championship meeting as distinctly disappointing, in view of his doings a few days before at Timaru, where ho is credited with having jumped 21ft 3J>:n. This is 2*in better than the NewZealand best on record (21ft 6in), held by J. Ryan, and established in February, 1595. J. J. Gilmour, who was runner-up to J. Griffin in the middle-weight class at tho last New Zealand Foxing Association championship tournament, left for England by the Kaikoura recently. P. W. Olliver, winner of the light-weight, championship at the first tournament conducted by the New Zealand Boxing Association, is also 011 his way to tho Old Country. The full programme of sports for the Premier picnio will be found in our advertising columns to-day. Those outings have obtained a wide reputation, and the committee say they intend to do all in their power to make the next celebration (the diamond jubilee of the establishment of the order in Auckland) tho best yet held. TUB AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Tho athletic event of the year, as far as tho Australian States and New Zealand are concerned, will be commenced on Saturday next, at Melbourne, when a start will be made with the Australasian championship meeting, which extends over two clays, and will lxi completed on the Monday following. The voted title of champion colony is held by New Zealand, our representatives having carried off the honours when the last Australasian gathering was held on the Auckland Domain ground ia December of 1901. A select little team will do battle tor us on the Melbourne Cricket ground 011 Saturday and Monday next, and though not sanguine enough to venture the opinion that they will be found capable of defending the title, 1 feel justified in predicting that a very fair proportion of the championship medals will be brought back by our representatives. With Vv'i-b~tm- (at his best), W. 11. Madill, and D. Wilson in the team, the prospects o'f the Maorilanders wotdd have been very bright, as first only count in the intercolonial event but in their absence, coupled with the knowledge that W. F. Simpson can hardly be up to his form of three years ago, we must not expect too much, as the climatic changes, the sea voyages, and other disadvantages under which travelling teams labour, have also to be taken into consideration in tin case of our representatives this time. It is, of course, within the bounds of possibility that the team will retain the title, as the Victorian and New South Wales representatives appear to be pretty evenly matched, in which case the wins will bo cut. up a good deal, while there is 110 reason why the Queensland should wot win 0110, or, perhaps, even two championships. The hardest man Smith will have to bt>at in the hurdle event,, will probably be C. P. Stewart (N.S.W.). but I feel pretty confident that tho Auckland crack will pull off the double. If time goes for anything, our men. Smith and Pollock, will be beaten in the three sprint, races, but in tho absence or D'Arcy Wentworth (Queensland), Pollock may be found capable of disposing of the opposition in the halfmile championship. If Simpson can get anywhere inside 4m. 375., he should win the mile, while latent performances from the other side show that the Australians have no men who can live with the distance champion. over three miles. The Wellington walker, F. Boss, won the one mile heel and toe event at the New Zealand mooting in 1902-03 in 6m. 595., and if equal to reproducing that form should keep A. O. Barrett (Victoria) moving, but I _ fancy that when the numbers come to be hoisted it will be found that Iwth walking championships stand to Ihe credit of Victoria. The polevault reads a gift to C. C. Laurie*, but the Aucklander is likely to go under in the high jump, in which he has not been shaping too v.-e>l in competition since tho meeting of 1901-02, when he divided with C. S. Harper at sft 8i«:. His best, on record is sfr 8 J in, done at the New Zealand championship of 1899-1900. The teams will be as under: — NEW ZEALAND. Sprints: G. W. Smith and W. li. Pollock (latter for 440 yds only). . Hurdles: G. W. Smith. Pole Vault and Jumps: 0. C. Laurie. Half-mile: W. H. Pollock. One Mile: W. F. Simpson and W. H. Pollock. Throe Mile: "W. F. Simpson, Walks: F. Ross. NEW SOTTH WALES. lOOYds: N. O. Barker, H. Henderson, L. D. Robertson. 220i:ds: N. C. Barker, 11. Henderson, L. D. Robertson, and A. J. Wilkins. 440 Yds: N. C. Barker*and A. J. Wilkins. 880 Yds: N. C. Barker and A. J. Wilkins. One Mile: A. J. Wilkins, G. H. Dent, J. Lynch. One-mile Walk: J. Penny, P. F. Corrigan, L. F. Pomeroy. Three-mile Wailk: J. Penny, P. F. Corrigan, L. F. Pomeroy. High Jump:'P. J. English. Broad Jump: P. J. English, C. P. Stewart, and N. C. Barker. Pole Vault: P. J. English. 120 Yds Hurdles: C. P. Stewart-, P. J. English. 440Yda Hurdles: C. P. Stewart and P. J. English. Throwing the 161b Hammer: W. O'Beilly. Putting the 16th Shot: W. O'Reilly, P. J. English. It is possible that others may be added in several events. QUEENSLAND. IQOYds: Dawson, Scott. Burton. 220 Yds: Dawson, Scott, Burton. 440 Yds: Campbell, Scott. SSOYds: Saunderson. Campbell. One Mile: Saunderson, Campbell. Three Miles: 0. 0. Saunderson. 120 Yds Hurdles: J. Burton. 440 Yds Hurdles: J. Burton. Broad Jump: J. Burton. VICTORIA. The Victorian team had not been completed when the 1a.% advices came to hand, but the representatives of that State will include the following:—Hunter, Nieholls, Melville, McCra-o, Wheat-ley, Sutton, Ferguson. Maepherson, Piper, Ilerrington, Francis, Wiugan, Muellei, Gardener, Rouse, Sullivan, James, Barrett, and Saunemann.