ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14302, 23 February 1910, Page 5

ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

• Another New Zealand amateur athletic championship meeting in Auckland will be held on Saturday, and everything that can be done by the officials controlling amateur athletics in Auckland has been done to make this meeting a huge success. It is now nearly 10 years since the Auckland public have had an opportunity of witnessing a New Zealand amateur athletic . championship meeting, and it is to be hoped that they will not be slow to avail themselves of this opportunity and will be present in large numbers on the Domain Cricket. Ground. Amateur athletics have not had during the Inst few years the support from the public they deserved. An opportunityis no* - given to the Auckland public to show their Southern visitors that they can appreciate good, clean sport. Even at a championship meeting it is seldom that such a large number of athletes who have proved themselves of more than ordinary merir, not only in New Zealand, but in Australia and England, arc among the competitors. By reason of his . recent performances W. A. Woodgei, the young Wellington sprinter, stands out as the star attraction of the meeting. Woodger has been on the track for only a short time, but during that period has proved himself to be a sprinter far above the average. Another pleasing feature is that on each • appearance he has improved on his last performance. The Domain Cricket Ground is credited with being one of the fastest tracks in the Dominion, and with sprinters of the calibre of Opie and Ward opposed to him Woodger should -be capable of lowering the NewZealand record for either the 100 yds or 220 yds. Another performer who will be seen in Auckland for the first time is Hurry Kerr, the popular walker from Wellington. Kerr, has been credited with some very fast times for the walks, especially over the mile, bub ho will have to be at his very best to beat such well-known performers as P. H. Stubberricld and D. Wilson. Amongst the entrants for the walks is D. Cashman, who surprised Wellington the other day by easily defeating P. J. Fitzgerald, the present one-mfle champion, in the fast time of 6m. 38 4-ss. H. St. A. Murray is the well-known Canterbury hurdler who represented New Zealand at . the Olympic Gaines in 1908. Prior to being sent Homo lie'won the 440 yds hurdles Australasian championship in a fifth of a second outside the world's record, • He is in splendid form at the present time, and Aucklanders will have the opportunity of comparing him with the famous ex-champion, George Smith, whose deeds on' the Auckland tracks a few years ago created such excitement. The three-mile flat event holds a special interest for Aucklanders this year, as Q. N. Hill, the winner of the Auckland Marathon, and c! Reid, who defeated Hill in the crosscountry championship held last winter, and who subsequently represented Auckland in the Wellington Marathon, will once again try for supremacy. Rcid is running in specially: good form at the. present time, and is confident of putting up a good performance. J. Beatson, of Otago, is also reported to be running very well, and his supporters expect him to take the championship back to Otago. . In the one-mile championship Wellington have as their representative T. B. HefTer, who till a few days ago was unknown in the ftthletio world,

hut who jumped into prominence on his first appearance on -the- 'rack by running' a mile in 4m. 29 4-ss. G. X. Hill, the local distance champion, will be "a competitor: in this event, also, and, as he has been, credited with. 4m. 505., the meeting between these two runners should bo worth going to see. Mr. .1. H. Pollock, an enthusiastic supporter of amateur athletics in the Empire City, will bo present at- the championship meeting." ; ;

INTER-UNIVERSITY TOURNAMENT.

Since its inception last year the Auckland University College Athletic Club has endeavoured by means of a series of entertainments to obtain a sum of money sufficient to defray, the-., training and. travelling expenses of-its. representatives to the forthcoming inter-university tournament, to be held in Christchurch during' Easter week. The club, in pursuance of this policy,, is, putting forward strenuous efforts to make' a great/- success of its open-air concert, which is to be held this evening in the University College grounds. A. concert, programme has been arranged '• and the items will be provided by our best local talent. The Bavarian Band will give selections at intervals and light supper will be provided.

SECOND EVENING MEETING. . Tim second of the series of evening meetings under the management of the. Auckland Amateur Athletic Club was held at the Domain Cricket " Ground last evening and proved very successful, 17 starting in the 220 yds handicap and 10 in the mile. Opie, 'of- Canterbury, competed in the. sprint, and Pugh, from the" same centre, in the mile. Both ran unplaced, the handicap being too severe in each instance. Hill showed a good sporting spirit by not accepting a start of 20ydn in the mile. He went back and started "It scratch with Pugh The results ate as follow:— 220 Yds Handicap.—First heat: J. H. Edwards, 14yds, 1; W. Mc.lndoe, 12vds,-2; W. R. Dick 13yds, and R. Sainsbury, 22vds (dead' heat), 3. Opie, scratch, was fifth. A line race: Mclndoe/ eased up and allowed Edwards to win on the post. Time, 22 l-ss. Opie's time was about 235. Second heat: J. Twiname, 22vds, 1; J. Simpson, 12vds, 2: O. J. Cowan, 20yds, 3. - Won easilv. Time, 22 2-ss. Final heat : .1. Twiname, 1; C. J. Cowan, 2; .T. Simpson, 3. Won easilv. Edwards and Mclndoe fell and interfered with the whole field. . Time, 225. " ■ One-mile Handicap: Burns. 150 yds, 1; E E. Bamford, 100 yds, 2," G. N. Hill, scratch, 3. Pugh (scratch) made a mistake in this race and sprinted during the third lap. He was .overtaken during the fourth by Hill, who, however, failed to reach Bamford and Burns. The latter caught Bamford napping and won by inches, Hill being syds away third. Fifteen started. .Time, 4m. 30 2-5-. Hill's time was 4m. 31 2-ss. . ~ Further evening meetings are contemplated after the championship gathering. ' The events at the next will probably- be a hurdle race and ! 440 yds flat. ~