ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

THE AMATEUR CODE. NOTES-AND COMMENTS. 1 The results of the Australasian championships come as a great surprise, as he would have been a bold man indeed who would have, despite the smallness of the team, predicted that New Zealand would be outclassed by Victoria and New South Wales. Such, however, is the case. It was left to Boat son and McHolm to save New Zealand from the ignominy of being bracketed with other States for last place. Keddell and Dormor were both expected to win one or two events. The former had the misfortune to be placed second in his three engagements —the 120 yds and 440 yds hurdles, and the broad jump. Dormor was a signal failure. The 880 yds, being accomplished in lm 56£8, was not run at a loitering pace, but, as the winner, R. H. Watson, of Victoria, who is also the Australasian record-holder for this distance, won by 10yds, and Dormor was not-placed, the Aucklander's time must have been well-nigh two minutes. As Dormor has compassed half-miles in galore in lm. 58 l-5s when the occasion required, it requires no further comment to prove that Dormor, in Melbourne, is not the Dormor we know in Auckland. The time-test applied to the one mile endorses the running of the 880 yds. Power, of the American team, emerged a victor in '4m 25'4-ss. The cablegrams do not enlighten one as , to, how Dormor fared, other than stating that he was much below form. It would not be surprising to learn that Dormor failed to run the race out. It will be hard to convince athletio enthusiasts throughout New Zealand that Power could win a race in which the true Dormor cut a sorry figure. Thorpe, the New South Wales distance champion, was second in both the 880 yds and one mile, and is evidently as good as his admirers claimed previous to the meeting. Keddell succumbed to practically unknown talent. A little-known hurdler in L. H. Wallman, of South Australia, relieved him of his title in the 120 yds hurdles. Reading between the . lines, . there could not have been much. wrong with Keddell. He defeated Templeton, who on one or two occasions accounted for him in New Zealand, while his quarter-mile hurdles effort is his best to date. The , Southland crack has never been particularly, sound at the longer distance, and his previous success was due to the wretched class opposed to him. The winner, Watson, must be a classy athlete, as he also secured the 880 yds flat. - x ,,. was thought that J. L. Davis, also of Melbourne, had a mortgage over tins event, but probably the world's record holder did not compete at the meeting. He would certainly have gained a place in one or other of the events. Keddell required only a fraction of an inch more to have gathered in the broad jump. As it was, J. Smith, vJ^.koo^.^ 4168 ' * red 22ffc 2iin to Keddell s 22ft 2m. As Smith was reserved tor the jumping events, he met Keddell, who had three severe hurdle events previously, at a disadvantage. Keddell has covered 23ft 3in, while at Auckland on January 10, he jumped 22ft 7in. Cashman did not perform up to expectations in the walks, both of which fell to A. W Pickard, of New South Wales, who is only in his second season at the heel-and-tori business. Presumably Cashman's style passed muster, as there is no notice of disqualification. Here the chapter of illluck terminates.' Although it was generally known that Australia was weak in distance running, a win on J. Beatsori's part was not expected. The time of the race, 15m 52 2-ss, represents the mediocrity of the class engaged in this department. Beatson won after a fierce struggle over the final stages, which elicited the applause of the spectators, so evidently he was fullv extended'. '■ Beatson is not 'short of'titles now. The Caversbam - harrier holds the three miles' flat championships of Australasia and New Zealand, and the crosscountry championship of New Zeahnd, besides several minor club .and provincial championships. McHolm triumphed in the hammer event, though his throw, 138 ft, is considerably under his best performance. The American athletes justified thenselves at the championships. They secured five straight-out wins, and shared the honours in the pole vault. Pan:er put up the best individual performance, winning all three sprint championships. Not in any instance did he establish fast times, but the fact of his being crippled three weeks previously, and then accounting for the cream of Australasian amateur sprinters, stamps him as an athlete of hiiili order.' Templeton suffered defeat in the 120 yds hurdles, and the high jump. L. H. Kelly, of Victoria, who held the title and the Australasian record, prevailed in, the latter with a jump of 6ft Ofin. Templeton's best effort fell £in short of 6ft. The pole vault was regarded as a certainty for the American, but again an Australasian champion was equal to the task, J. G. Brake, of Victoria, tieing the visitor at lift. ' Caughey was in a class by himself in the shot putt. The best in opposition to him was D. McGrath, of Queensland. From his performance, his furthest putt being 40ft 6in, there is no question that R. Adam, of Auckland, is the best resident amateur shot-putter in Australasia today. Power has, in part, justified the reputation that preceded him, albeit, in winning, he did not run as fast a mile as he did when placed second to Dormor on the Domain cricket ground. With all the performances taken into consideration, the championship meeting compares favourably with its predecessors. From a competitive standpoint, it was superior to the last meeting held in Wellington. This was, in a measure, due to the presence of the American team, but the experience of the past, that the conditions are all in favour of the home State, was endorsed. Whereas in 1912 New Zealand made : practically a clean sweep of the championships, Victoria, on whose territory the championships were held this year, won the banner. The attendances on the two days were not as large as was anticipated. The American team proceeds to Sydney to assist at the New South Wales championships, while the New Zealand team leave Melbourne almost immediately for the Bluff, in order to represent their various provinces in the New Zealand championships to be held in Dunedih on February 7. UNDER UNION RULES. As will be seen from our advertising columns, the time for the closing of entries for the Exhibition axemen's carnival has been extended to 31st inst. It is necessary that all axemen's nominations be in by that time, as logs have to be secured and brought to Auckland. They will be ordered immediately the entries close. The time for the closing of nominations for pedestrian events has also been extended. The first prize for the mile race is £7, the second £3, and the third £1. For the two miles cycling race, the first prize is £10, the second £4, and the third £1. For the quarter-mile, the first prize is £5, for half-mile £5, and for the 220 yds £5. Altogether over £70 is to be given for pedestrian and cycling events. The prizes given for chopping events are very substantial. The Exhibition chop draws £100 for 18in standing log, the handicap chop £50 for 15in underhand, New Zealand championship £22, and world's championship £20. All entries close with Mr. A. J. Woodley, sports secretary, His Majesty's Arcade. The Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Industrial Union Picnic and Sports Committee has again postponed the annual gathering to March 7, so as not to clash with the Exhibition axemen's carnival and Premier Picnic, which take place . on February 27 and 28. The Thames Foresters' Sports Committee will have the programme out in few days for their usual Easter gathering..