ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

The long-promised Olympic games were ushered in with the racquets competitons— events, however, winch lost much of their interest and importance in consequence ot the absence of foreign talent. Other sports and pastimes connected with the great Olympiad will follow. For instance, there are the. Olympic golf comnotitions at Deal and Sandwich. Still, much as they will engage the attention of enthusiasts, it is doubtful whether they will arouse one tithe of the interest which will be evinced in the purely athletic portions of the prodigious programme. ■Thursday, .May 14, was fixed for the ceremony of dedication by the Bishop of London of the great Stadium at Shepherd's Bush. The Prince of Wales was to be present and formally open the vast arena, while; quite a mammoth programme of foot-racing and kindred sports was to be gone through under the auspices of the Finchley Harriers. In all probability some of those who will be chosen to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Olympic games proper will be competing. Monday. July 13, is the date fixed for the j first of the Olympic athletic events, and from day to day, for a fortnight or so, the ; track and field competitions will be in progress. It is hoiwd that the King will not only patronise them in person, but, as was i the ease with the King of the Hellenes, on ] the occasion- of the Olympic games in Athens in 1905, will take an officially active part. Over 3000 persons assembled in the Birmingham Hippodrome on April 24- to witness ! a wrestling match between Zbysco and I Jimmy Essen, in which Zbysco backed him- i self—throe to one—to throw Essen' three times m the hour. The first fall- was to Zoyseo in 26m. 15s. The second bout was fierce, Zbysco twice lifting Essen and throwing him violently to the ground. In gaining the second fall in 4m, 455. Essen hurt his shoulder, but after the interval pluekily reappeared and lasted 15m. 245.. Zbysco gamin;- the third fall in just over 46m. '■ Regarding the new British Cabinet, the London hi:.ortin'cr Life says:—" Lord Crewe, as is well known, takes great interest in' turf affairs, and will be remembered as the breeder of Polymelia, winner of the Duke of Tor* Stake,;, Cambridgeshire, and other raeos. Mr. MclCenua rowed bow in the Cambridge eight in 1387, and is a winner ot the Grand and Stewards* Cups at Henley. -Mr. Kunciman's chief recreation is yochtimr, while Mr. Acland favours golf and fishing As far as we are aware, the other members of the Cabinet do not take an active interest in any snort." After a very short illness the famous athlete Dr. J O. Daly, died in Dublin on -Aprn a. Ho was a snlcndid specimen of humanity, standing 6ft 6in high, and weigh, ing 24st. and for many years carried all before him at weight-putting, hammer-throw-ing, and the like at gatherings in Ireland and elsewhere. Twenty years ago he formed one of the Gaelic - athltie team that visited America,,where he achieved many successes