ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

A FAMOUS SPRINTER.

A. R. POSTLE IX AUCKLAND.

VISIT TO DUNEDIN ABANDONED.

Arthur B. Postle. onf of (he most famous 2 sprinters the world has seen, is now in Auckland, i he having; arrived from Sydney by the, Slalieno on Sunday in order to fulfil an engagement with ( the. Auckland St. Patrick's Dav Sports Commit- I lee. On Saturday, March 16.' Tostlc will meet ! Jack Donaldson in three 6print event*--75yds, 1 150 yds, and 200 yds— the Domain. Postle is 1 staying at the Wavcrley Hotel. i Postle name to Auckland so coon— just on throe ( weeks before the sports—in order to get thoroughly fit. and accustomed to the climate. I Donaldson will arrive next Sunday. The two sprinters were to have met in si contest for the world's sprint championships in Duncdin on March 23 under the auspices of the Otago Caledonian Society. Hut this engagement is falling; through, and the reasons were explained by Postle to a HERALD representative yesterday. II will be remembered that when the fact, that the two great runners were engaged for Dunedin was announced (he Auckland St. Patrick's Day Committee arranged that they should appear in Auckland before going; to Dunedin. Such an arrangement would not. interfere in the slightest with the attendance at the Otago Caledonian Society's sports, but the Southern body (stipulated that Postle and Donaldson should not race anywhere in New Zealand before appearing in Dunedin. When the runners received from the Otago Caledonian Society an agreement for their signa- ; tures to be appended to it, they found that it ■ included not only a proviso to this effect, but also , clauses binding 'them not to advertise that they would appear in New Zealand at a date to follow that, of the Dunedin fixture, and also that they would deposit a certain sum of money as a guarantee, of their appearance. In view of the | conditions, Postle and Donaldson considered that the trip would not pay them. There wan also, the further factor that they had already ac ceptcd the Auckland offer. However, thev offered to give a guarantee to run nowhere in the South Island but at Dunedin. Then the Dunedin bodv Altered it 3 offer from a payment of £150 to 70 per cent, of the net profits,' and altered the conditions to allow of the Auckland trip being mad". This was accepted by Postle, but Donaldson, annoyed with the objectionable clauses with regard to a deposit remaining in the Agreement and averse to a percentage basis, refused. So when Postle, left Australia the Dunedin trip was abandoned, so far as he knew. At present Donaldson intends to return to Sydney immediately after appearing in Auckland. Postle, however, will travel through New Zealand. ; and he is open for engagement after appearing lin Auckland. Doth men will afterwards leave for England and remain there for the running season. On his way to England Postle may meet the winner of the Holway-Walker match in Durban. He intends to retire from running at the end of the running season, and he may settle down in Queensland, his native State. The visitor is delighted with the Domain track, which he considers the fastest grass track he lias seen. lie commented upon the facts that it is well sheltered, has fine turf and plenty of room for running, anil is set in such pleasant surroundings. Both he and Donaldson prefer a good grass track to cinders, and he thinks that they should put up very fast times on the Domain. That the races between the two sprinters will bo extremely interesting cannot he doubted. The records of both men prove that there is very little between them over sprint distances. Postle is the quicker at. starting, but Donaldson finishes magnificently. The Queenslander is confident of repeating his success over Donaldson at 75yds. and it is only at the longer distances that Donaldson is likely .to beat him. Even then there will probably not be more then inches between the two men. Although they have met so often, they are still as keen rivals on the track as ever, and both are "triers" to the last ounce. So the. public of Auckland are assured 'of not merely seeing two famous sprinters in action, but also of witnessing some of the finest, and closest sprint racing ever seen in New Zealand. Postle is not only a sprinter. He holds the records for three standing long jumps (53ft. lOin). single standing jump (10ft Sin), and standing hop step ami juny> (J2ft. Bin). < VICTORIAN AMATEUR MEETING. NEW RECORDS. By Telegraph Association.— MRLBOrnsE, February 26. At the Amateur Athletic Association meeting, held on Saturday, W. Murray walked a mile in 6m. 22 4-55., a world's record, the previous best being 6m. 235. He. also covered the three miles in 20m. 56b., which is an Australasian record. Watson won the half-mile in lm. 56 3-10s., which is 3-10 of a second outside the Auctralasian record. Drake won the polo jump, jumping 10ft 6in, and Davis the 120 yds hurdles in 15 5-5b ; both arc Victorian records. PUTTING THE SHOT. WORLD'S RECORD BROKEN. By Telegraph——Copyright. . SIAJ? FRANCtsco, February 25. At Son Francisco Ralph Rose, the noted shotputter, broke the world's record for putting tho shot, with a throw of 50ft 2in.