ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP ' MEETING. It is at last possible (says the Referee) to get a good idea of the probable representatives of the various States and the ■ Dominion at tho Australasian Championship Meeting at Hobart on February 29 and March 2. The latest information on the subject is as follows:—The Tasmanian team.will be in all probability as follows:— Sprints: :F. Fairtborne, A. 0. Waikins, • C J. Sear], arid Edwards. ; : Middle distance: 0. J. Searl. Long distances: A. Clemes, 3. Schofield, A. SchoSeld, arid R.N. Morgan. Walks: Rose (two), F. Ford, with Barker and Conaoaar as emergencies. Hurdles: T. Rockliff, O. J. Searl, ColEdward*. ,'. : ? ; - Running high : jump R. Seager and C. , . • Elliott.'. - x Running, broad jump : C. J. Searl and F. UTairtborne. • No selections' have yet been made in the jfield games and pole-vaulting departments. The-person el of the team to represent ihe mother State, although f not, wholly chosen, is dearly indicated. Those selected * . to, date comprise ;--.' ll®?HK^ : r^w : ¥ ,/ : ; :.-: : ■■■'

lOOyds, 200yda, 440 yds, 800 yds, running broad- jump, and 440 yds hurdles Nigel ■Barker. . .■ » , ■:,;--■' ;-: ; -:;- : ' v 'v -": Hammer and shot:, W. O'Reilly. -.' -.- 120 yds hurdles, 440yda ■ hurdles, and running broad jump: Colin Stewart. For middle and long-distance running events the following were to .-compete .in "test" events before a selection was made: —■R.G. Waddy, G. C. . Retford, J. M. Lynch, Andrew Wood, and C. Weyman. (i*. P. Arnold, champion miler of Great Public Schools, was also to be allowed to join in. For long, sprints, and middle distances 0. W. Roe and J. F. G. Fitzhardinge are available; and for the walks H. I. Smith and others, including C. "Weyman ' and 1. 'A. Lewis. ■•"'"-: ' : ■■. .;, ,"■__ _ ~' H. St. Vincent Welch and A. H. Scott were to compete in a running high jump "test" on the 13th inst. It was also probable that T. Arthur would engage m a series of trials, before a local committee, at Inveroll on tho same day. ":■'■". '■ "■-. Other New South Wales athletes who have submitted their names comprise:—T. R. Grey, H. J. Mulholland, G. P. Parke, Milton Westwood, and W. M. Colley. , The selection in the case or a distance runner and a high jumper was to be mado immediately after the " tests" were concluded. - ' ',■■ ~ " '"■'"■ Tho Victorian selectors are busily at work, but nothing of a very definite nature is to hand. The Victorian team may be somewhat as follows: — ,T tt -r. i Sprints: R. Abercrombie and J. H. Prout, of the East Melbourne Harriers. Middle distances: N. F. Burrowes (East Melbourne Harriers), and C. A Hardy. Long distances: Geo. Blake (Melbourne Harriers), J. A. Stillwell (Essendon Harriers), and W. V. Aitken (Coburg Harriers). . ' Walks: W. V. Aitken (Coburg Harriers) or A. C. Ryan (East Melbourne Harriers). ■ Running high jump: H. S. Trangmar <C.E.G.S.). Hurdles J. L. Davis (M.H. and ll.}. Running broad jump: -J. H. Prout (E.M.H.) and J. L. Davis (M.H. and H.). Tho team from the big northern State will seemingly be a Brisbane team actually, just as the New South Wales team is a Sydney one. It promises to be made up somewhat as follows:— _ - - ' Sprints: H. J- Fay (Western Suburbs A.A.G.) and B. K. Berry (North Brisbane Long distances: A. J. Luton (Toowong Harriers). , Field games, pole ; vault, hurdles, and jumps: T. Frawley (W.S.A.A.C), T. Maher (W.S.A.A.C.) between them. B K. Berry, 100 yds champion ot Queensland, will make the trip to Hobart in - company with W. M. Colley, of the Marrickville Harriers (Sydney), the two sprinters iourneying via Melbourne. -.:_ , . 3 There is a possibility of C..W. Roe being taken for the "quarter' and "half. Nothing whatever is known in Sydney ot the intentions of the South Australian AAA. in the matter of sending* a team to The New Zealand team, which now consists of Trembath (Gore), Orbell, Murray, Stubberfield (Canterbury), and Henderson Fisher. Cook, Kerr, McKay, and Sharpe (Wellington), is numerically the strongest that has been sent to represent the Dominion.

Under the heading of ' The Oxford Rhodes i Scholars,", that well-known writer "Old Blue" "Everybody must have noticed there is a spirit abroad which, it it does not actually threaten the old-time relations between Oxford and Cambridge athletes, requires careful watching. It shows itself just now in the strenuous endeavours of well-meaning, but irresponsible Cambridge partisans and others, to belittle the Oxford Rhodes scholars in connection with games. I have no patience with those who dub them 'professionals,' or 'games scholars'—nor have nine Gantab3. out of ten. That sort of so-called argument is right out of court. It was very; properly, condemned by a leading Cambridge journal not long ago. The Rhodes scholars are proving of enormous assistance, to ' Oxford, : however, ' I admit. And whether Mr. Cecil Rhodes meant the most important result ' of his . bequest to be tho yearly acquisition of matured athletes at one University for the discomfiture of the other, is, of course, another. storv. The facts remain (a) that the Rhodes scholars are bona-fide members of Oxford University, (b) as such, they cannot be barred from inter-'Varsity competition, and (c) all the controversy in the world will not alter the position one whit. Frankly speaking, the average Cambridge athlete troubles very little what sort of foeman he has to meet. It is only very few who are now rushing 'into paint and trying to make things unpleasant; which action, . I may add, is contrary to all the best Cambridge traditions. It may interest many just now to learn that, seven Oxford Rhodes scholars have very Lighly distinguished themselves at that University during the past twelve months. Other academic prizes have also been captured'. Does this look like their being merely ' games scholars?'" ; : Commenting on the London Athletic Club meeting of September " : 21, < Sporting Life says:— H. M. Rowland/the New Zealand walker, started' from the back mark, with F. M. B. Thompson, but did not perform anywhere near up to his reputation, although his style is beyond criticism. No doubt when he has had a bit more training he will do better time, and, indeed, one could hardly expect him to be in form now. On the other hand, Thompson walked faster than ever before, and secured second place, but at such a sacrifice of style that there was much criticism after the race. In view of the debut of Rowland, many oldtime walkers were on the ground, to see what the New Zealand definition really meant, and they were more than surprised to see the latitude allowed to more than one competitor. I was told on Saturday—l give the statement with all reserve in mak- . ing the time standard 14m. the handioapping conference asked the A.A.A. to .see that the judges were instructed to keep the walking beyond suspicion, and if so this was a very reasonable rider, for there are 1 a number of men who could beat 14m. if I allowed to go loose. On. the _other hand, few would approach it with strict judging." Rowland's time for his first mile was 7m. 355., against 6m. 435. when he won the last New Zealand championship, which clearly indicates his want of condition. The following is the programme of the athletio ©vents to be decided in connection with the Olympic Games in London next July:—Athletios: 100 metres flat (109.3 yards), 12 200 metres flat (218.6 yards),. 12; 400 metres flat (437.2 yards), 12; 800 metres flat (874.4- yards), 12; 1500 metres flat (1639.5 yards), 12; 110 metres hurdle (120.2 yards), 12; 400 metres hurdle (437.2 yards), 12; 3200 meres steeplechase (3497.6 yards); 12; I, five miles ran (8.047 kilometres), 12; 10 | miles walk (16 kilometres), • 12; standing broad jump, 12; running broad jump, 12; running high jump, 12; hop, step, and jump, j2; pole-vault, 12; hammer, 12; shot, 12; fcug-of-war, 4 teams; three miles team race (4.8 (kilometres), (5 to run, 3 to count), 1 team; 3500 seres walk (3825 yards), 12; discus,-1., free style, 12; 11., Greek style, 12; javelin, 12. _ The figures after the distances, etc., indicate tho maximum number of competitors from each country. It will be noticed that no Marathon race is included, and the omission has evoked loud complaints. '