NOTICE TO SECRETARIES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 39

NOTICE TO SECRETARIES

Secretaries of Clubs ivill please , forward programmes, also results of meetings to '"Advance,” P.O. Box 75. FIXTURES—MARCH. 6.—Ciieltenli am-Kiitea. 6. —-Hun.tervil.le C.S. 6. —Auctiond Amateur Athletic Club. 6. —Eitliam Caledonian Society. 7. —Tariki Caledonian Society. 8. —Waitara Athletic Club. 14. —Strathmore Athletic Club. 34. —Gisborne St. Patrick’s meeting. 16. —Wellington Hibernian Society. 18.—Blenheim Hibernian Society. 18.—Geraldine Hibernian Society. 18.—Timaru Hibernian Society. 18.—Rangiwahia and Pemberton. 18. —Alfredton. 18. —Waverley Athletic Association. 27.—Otaki Athletic Club. Nominations for the Wellington Hibernian Society’s sports close on Monday, March 4th, at St. Patrick’s Hall, Boul-cott-street. At the quarterly meeting of the Council of the Victorian Athletic League, the secretary, Mr W. Hastings Bell, suggested that in order to celebrate the birth of a new nation the Council should remove all suspensions up to January, 1901. This was agreed to, and a motion was carried releasing sixty-eight men who were under suspension. Nominations for the Waverley Athletic Association’s sports, to he held on March 18th, close on Monday, March 4th, with Mr J. W. Emmerson, secretary, Waverley. By the aid of Carlson and McLachlan the Dannevirke Athletic Club easily won the championship banner. After journeying to Napier for the Caledonian Societies’ Champions tup meeting I was unable to stay for the sports on account of the postponement. It rained steadily throughout Friday and had not cleared up on Saturday morning, consequently the going would be heavy. Many people were prepared to see Somers down McLachlan in the 100 yards, but evidently the latter was the better man on the day. His performances in the 100 yards and half mile were both good, considering the state of the going. The quarter mile handicap performance was the best during the day. To rive R. Strickland 37 yards and be beaten by onlv two yards in 49 4-5 secs, is a sterling go. The time can be relied upon, because off such a mark Strickland couid repeat it. The latter won the 120 vards, also off a long mark, earlier in the day, the double being worth £2O. McLaci-

la-n won £lB. Strick land is a brother ■< f the ex-amateur champion and. won a handicap at Wairoa at . New. Year time. Sexton appears’ to . be the best. of the d.stance runners at _ present and -Mullins . looks like striking form. A. Carlson, of Dannevirke, wen the hammer, shot, caber, and. hurdle events, besides getting second in the long jump and wrestling. J. W. . Skinner, the ex-amateur champion, was not in form, but managed to get a place in several events. Harry Dunn managed to get,-second in cue of the wrestling championships, all of which were won by R. Scott. The Highland Society was very unlucky in striking bad weather, which must have made at least a difference of £l5O at the gate. I have to thank Mr Thomas Parker, secretary, for press privileges, and Mr R. Smith (secretary of the Association) for his assistance. Had the weather been fine there is little doubt but that thei gathering would have been one of the most successful of its kind eves held in the colony. Nominations for the Blenheim Hibernian Society’s sports to be i held on March 16th, close on March Ist with Mr John Barry, Blenheim. Competitors' must bear in mind that arrangements have been made whereby they can compete at both Wellington and Blenheim meetings. Secretaries J, IPowrie (Takapau Caledonian Society) -and D. Mclntyre (Bannevirke Athletic Club) were present at . the Napier Championship meeting. At a conference of delegates to societies affiliated to the New Zealand Caledonian Societies’ Association, 4 'held at Napier on the 21st instant, Mr It. D. D. McLean (President) occupied’ the chair. Several important' alterations and amendments to the rules were givein notice of. Mr R. Smith submitted a draft programme of events for championship meetings, which include a 220yds fiat race, in addition to the events on tills y eta By program hi e- Mr Powrie ■ gave notice" of motion to move that the place where the following quarterly meeting of the Coon-, eil is to be held shall fee decided at the previous meeting. Mr Shannon gave notive of motion to alter the rule at present existing with reference to priyca for champion. cv r ents, to fee left optional with the Society holding the meeting,, and that the Society holding the Championship meeting shall conduct'the same. Mr Mclntyre gave notice of motion # to. add to cycling events to the Championship programme. A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Niven and Co., for thsijr gift of a hammer and shot to the Asso-. ciation for use at Championship meetings. The following is the list -of events to be decided at the Wellington Hairdressers’ and Tobacconists’ Sports meeting to be held at Day’s Bay on March 20th: , —Maiden Race, 100 yards; Hairdressers’ and Tobacconists’ Grand Handicap, two distances, 100 and 200 yards; .Mar-', ried Ladies’ Race, 75 yards, (handicap},. for hairdressers’ and tobacconists’ wives only; Potato Race, 100 yards; .Hong jump; Veterans’ Race, 75 yards (£j|ndicap), for hairdressers and tobaccpinsfe oyer 37 years of age; Walking Race, one mile (handicap); Open Handicap Race, 150 yards; hop, step and jump; ThreeLegged Race (Handicap), distance once round the track.

WANGANUI AMATEUR ATHLETIC

CLUBThe above club held a sports meeting on the 21st- inst. Following are the results : 100 Yards. Maiden —E. B. Williams 1, E. J. Williams 2, W. Ritchie 3. Four others started, and a good race ensued. Won by a yard in Usee, a couple of inches separating second and third. 120 Yards Handicap Hurdles —T. Craig (owes IGrds) 1, I Saunders (owes 4yds) 2, A. M. Williams (scr) 3. Won easily by four or five yards, a good race for second place. Time, 18 S-sth sec. 250 Yards College Handicap—R. Morrison (15yds) 1, A. B. Williams (scr) 2, O. H. Beetb.am (15yds) 3. Won by three or four yards in 28seo. 100 Yards Open Handicap—L. B. Webster (scr) 1, S. Davison (7yds) 2, I. B. Saunders (9yds) 3. Five others ran. Webster got the best of an excellent start, and won by a few inches in lOsec. Putting the Stone—H. Good (scr), 33ft 6in/ 1; W. Ritchie, 2ft 9m, Slit 11-tiu, 2. The only competitors. Public School Championship, 100yds— T. O'Neil l. N.-Eos's 2. L. Carrel! 3. Wen by two yards La 12 2-s.see. Ladies’ Bracelet (250yds) —L. B. Webster (scr) 1, S. Davidson (16yds) 2, E. J. Williams (20yds) 3. Won by a few feet after a well-timed run. 100 Yards College Handicap First heat: R. Morrison, 9yds, 1; R. K. Murphy (7yds) 2, R. P. Abraham (2yds) 3. Time, lOsec. Second heat: O. H. Beetham (Byds) 1, R. B. Ashci'oft (4yds) 2, W. Ritchie (scr) 3. Time, llsec. Final: Morrison 1, Ritchie 2, Beetliam 3. Time: lOsecPublic School Handicap—N. Ross 1, T. O’Neil 2. Club Championship (440yds)—S. Davison 1, T. Craig 2, A. B. Williams 3. These were the only starters. W r on by a couple of yards. Time, 52sec—Standard time. 880 Yards —A. E. Bullock, 30yds, 1; C. Goldsbiiry, 35yds, 2, C. Campbell, 40 yds, 3. Six others started. A splendid finish between the three placed men. Time, 2min llsec. Boys’ Race—Carroll 1, L. Carroll 2, Lawrie 3. Boot Race —L. R. Riddiford 1, A. G. Smith 2, H. Hewitt 3. 440 Yards Hurdles—T. Craig (scr) 1, 1. Saunders (18yds) 2. A. B. Williams retired about 150 yards from home. Time, lmin s±sec. Mile Handicap—L. McKelvie, syds, 1; . D. Burrell, scr; 2 ; it. Tv. Murphy, 40yds, 3. McKelvie made the pace throughput. Time, ornin 6jsec. High Jurnnp—A. E. Bum (Sin), sft lin, 1; J. A. C. Burbury (3in), sft, 2; T. Craig (2in), 4ft llin, 3. There were nine competitors, I. Saunders (the scratch man) failing at the same height at Burn. Yong- Jump—S. Kape, 19ft 2in, 1: A. E. Cowper, 2; T. Craig, 3. Relay Race—Wanganui Amateurs 1, College 2. Time, 50sec. Consolation—A.B. Williams 1, Simeox 2, Pownall 3. Time, llsec. RECORDS FOR THE NEW CENTURY" TO BEAT. It is unfortunate that, while wo have the means of testing the progress of man during the last century in almost every other field of endeavour, we have practically no records from which to discover how far the athlete of 1901 is ahead of his fellows of a century age. If we may judge, howdver, from the slight; advance made in athletics during the last generation, it Avould seem that tli » records of •to-day will compare very weil wuh those of the year 2001. The last year of the c< ntury has ce:tainly made very little impression on the tables of athletic records. Among amateur runners only one man, M. W. Long, an American athlete, who ran 440 yards in 47 4-5 seconds, has established a new record; and’ among professionals, only Len Hurst has eclipsed his forerunners by covering twenty miles in 1 hour 53 minutes 42-1 seconds.. It is instructive and interesting to note that the 200 yards professional record was made by G. Seward seconds) as long ago as yards record of 15 seconds in 1851, when the fathers of some of the swiftest runners of to-day were scarcely born. W. Lang’s two miles in 9 ruinates ll£ seconds run thirty-seven years ago, and J. White’s five miles in 24 minutes 40 seconds still remain unbeaten after the lapse of more than a generation. The table of walking records has not been disturbed for three years, when W. J. Sturges’s created new times for thiee, four, and five miles. Among amateurs there has been no walker for thirty years to put-T. Griffith’s record of 2 hours 47 minutes 52 seconds for twenty miles into the shade; and the fifty-miles time of A. W. Sinclair has withstood the onslaughts .of twenty-one years. It is twenty-six years since W. Perkins cover.ed a> mile in fair heel-and-toe walking, in the wonderful time of 6 minutes 23 seconds and no one since has been able to rival his feat; while the same Walker’s record of 2 hours 39 minutes 57 seconds for twenty miles is still as unshaken as it was in 1877. Recent years have been more changes in jumping record's than in either running or walking, and. some of the feats are certainly astonishing. In 1899 A. C. Kraenzlein, in a running jump, cleared a distance! of 24ft. 4^in., which, it is interesting to notice, is more than 30in. more than any professional has covered; and last year Ray Ewry raised the standing high-jump to sft. 4£in. All the amateur jumping records, it is a little iuirni-

bating to observe, are claimed by American athletes.

Bicycling is naturally the most progressive of all forms of athletics, and last year witnessed some marvellous performances. At tbe Crystal Palace A. A. Chase covered a mile in the excellent time of 1 minute 38 3-5 seconds, or ar the rate of 36-£ miles an hour. W. Stinson pedalled 25 miles in 37 minutes 19 4-5 seconds; and a.French nuer, A. Bauge, covered 50 miles in 1 hour i 4 minutes 55 3-5 seconds and 100 miles in 2 hours 33 minutes 40 4-5 seconds. At still longer distances Walters achieved the magnificent record of nearly 350 miles in 12 hours’ riding and in 24 hours he rode, a distance of 634 miles 744 vards, a journey which, in a straight line, would have taken him from the south of England to sc'me distance beyond the extreme north of Scotland. In July, 1900, A. A. Chase covered 37 miles 196 yards in an hour, thus travelling for over thirty-seven miles at a greater pace than when making a record for a, single mile: but even this. feat was completely eclipsed by W. Stinson, who at Brockton, United States, America. last year, actually rode 40 rodei' 327 yards in sixty minutes. It is -o’y right to state that most of these wonderful records were made with motor pacing. In skating several new and excellent, records stand to thci credit of 1300 At Davos, P. Oestlund skated 1000 nr-t res (1093 yards) in 1 minute 30 seconds, and 10,000 metres (6.21. miles) in 17 miruos 50 3-5 t-h seconds; while a little earner, at the same place, C. Edgington covered 19 miles 248 yards on skates v. itbin the hour. Perhaps the best skating performance in England is still that of Fish Smart, who twenty years ago skated one mile on a straightaway course!, and with a flying start, in exactly 3 minutes. With the help of the wind, a very vital factor in skating, J. Donoghue covered a straight mile on the Hudson River, thirteen years ago, in the wonderful time of 2 minutes 12 3-5 seconds. CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS. NAFIER, February 23. _ The affiliated Caledonian societies of New Zealand second championship sports which were postponed from yesterday on account of wet weather, were held on the Recreation Ground to-dny. There was a good attendance, about 2000 being present. Good form was shown in several events, notably in the 100yds championship, in which McLachlan beat Somers by a yard in 9 4-ssec, and in the 410yds handicap, in which McLachlan, from scratch, got within two yards of the winner in 49 4-ssec. The time for the mile handicap was fast—4min 23sec but the winner had a start of 100yds. R. Scott won all the wrestling events, and a f-pecial prize for"the most points in wrestling. A. Carlson won Lord Ranfurly’s medal for the best all-round athlete, and also the championships for tossing the cabre, putting the 161 b hammer, putting the shot-, and the 120yds hurdles. J. McKechnie gained champion honours for the Highland fling, schauntreus, Reed o’ Tulloch and: Highland reel, and the special prize for the most points for dancing. C. Smith won the sword dance championship. D. Campbell was the champion piper in pibrochs, strathspeys and reels, and won the special prize for the most points in piping. W . Sutherland won the gold medal presented by the Hawke’s Bay Highland Society for the best piper resident in Hawke’s Bay. The following are the results : Quoits Championship.—W. Goddard, 1; McKay, 2. Bagpipe Music (Pibrochs) Championship.—D. Campbell, 1; J. McKechnie, 2; A. Mackay, 3. Throwing the Hammer Championship. —A. Carlson, 90ft 3£in, 1; R. Scott, 86ft 7in, 2; J. W. Skinner, 85ft- 2in, 3. The Amateur Handicap, 100, 220 and 440yds, was won by W. Gumming, who was first in the two last distances. D. Nicholson, with a first in the 100yds and a second in the 220yds, was second ; and J. Humphries, third in the 220yds and second in the 100 and 440yds, was third. Hop, Step and Jump Championship.— W. Wyeth, 40ft 6m, 1; A. Carlson, 38ft 7in, 2. Two-Mile Bicycle Handicap.—C. Burton, 40yds, 1; M. Randrup, scr, 2; G. Braclley, 120yds, 3. Time, smin 16 l-ssec. Highland Fling (boys and girls).-—P. Watt, 1; Nellie Walden, 2; G. Smith, 3. Highland Fling Championship.—J. McKechnie, 1; C. Smith, 2; K. McDonald, 3. Mile Flat Championship. —J. Sexton, 1; T. Beatson, 2. Time, 4min 49 l-ssec. Bagpipe Music (marches) Championship.—J. McKechnie, 1; D. Campbell, 2 ; J. McKay, 3. Tossing the Caber Championship.—-A. Carlson, 1; R. Scott, 2; J. W. Skinner, 3. 120yds Handicap.—R. Strickland, 14yds, 1; H. Neagle, Byds, 2; E. T. Brandon. Byds, 3. Time, 11 l-ssec. Wrestling (collar and elbow) Championship.—R. Scott, 1; H. Dunn, 2; Dancing (Reel o’ Tulloch) Championship.—J. McKechnie, 1; W. Smith, 2; C. Smith, 3. Dancing (shauntreus) Championship.—J. McKechnie, 1; C. Smith, 2 ; W. Smith, 3.

Half-Mile Championship. —L. C. McLnchlan, 1; J. Sexton, 2; G. E. Baird, 3. Time, 2min 6sec.

Wrestling (cateh-as-catch-can) Championship. R- Scott, 1: H. Dunn, 2; J. W. Skinner, 3. Mile Bicycle Championship.— W. , Clarkson, 1; M. nett, 3. Time, 2min 25 3-osec. Putting the Shot Championship.—A. Carlson, 40ft Bin, 1; J. "W. Skinner, 36ft Ivin, 2; D. L. Dalton, 35ft 10-Vin, 3.

Dancing (Highland Reel) Championship.—J. McKechnie, 1; W. Smith, 2; C. Smith, 3.

440yds Flat Championship.—L. C. McL a cilia n, 1; E. T. Brandon, 2. No others started. Time, 60 2-ssec. Long Jump Championship. —W. Wyeth, 18ft 3in, 1; A. Carlson, 17ft 9in, 2.

Sword Dance, Boys and Girls.—Nellie Walden; 1 ; W. Watt, 2.

Bagpipe Music (Strathspeys and Reels) Championship.—D. Campbell, 1; J. McKechnie, 2; A. McKay, 3. High Jump Championship.—D. L. Dalton, oft. sin, 1; Hoppy, sft 4in, 2; T. Troy. sft 4in, 3. Hoppy and Troy tied for second place with sft 4in. but in the .’limp off Hoppy cleared sft oin, and took the second prize. Mile Run Handicap.—A. Campbell, 100yds, 1 ; P. Mullins, 50yds, 2; J. Sexton, scr, 3. Time, 4min 23sec. Won by twenty yards. A protest was entered against the winner, on the ground that he had not sent in a full list of his performances. Consideration of the protest was deferred.

Sword Dance Championship.— C. Smith, 1; W. Smith, 2; J. McKechnie,

100yds Championship.—L. C. McLachlan, 1; F. H. Somers, 2; H. Neagle, 3. Won by a yard. Time, 9 4-ssec. Five-mile Bicycle Handicap.—C. Barton, 90yds, 1; G. Bradley, 250vds, 2; W. Clarkson, 90yds, 3. Randlrup, scr, with a splendid sorint, caught the leading division a mile and a half from home, but came down and spoilt a splendid chance of winning. Barton won by a wheel. Time, 13min 24sec. Wrestling (Border style) Champicnshio.—R. Scott, 1 ; A. Carlson, 2; J. W. Skinner, 3. 120yds Hurdle Championship. —A. Carlson, 1; Hoppy, 2; W. Wyeth, 3. Time, 20sec. 440yds Handicap.—R. Strickland, 37yds', 1; L. C. McLachlan, scr, 2; F. H- Somers, 10yds, 3. A splendid race. Won by two yards. Time, 49 4-ssec. Highlanders’ Race.—A. Campbell, 1; Spence, 2; McDonald, 3. " Best-dressed Highlander. Master Brown, 1 ; S. Campbell, 2 ; F. Ferguson, 3. Mr R. Smith, secretary of the affiliated societies, was very much in evidence in carying out the arrangements for the meeting. Special to the “ Times.” NAPIER, February 23. A feature of the sports was McLashlan’s 100 yards in 9 4-ssec. He was beaten by a yard in the 440 yards, which he covered in 49 4-ssec, after going right round a big field. In the jumping and hurdling events the performers were a poor lot. In the long jump it was ludicrous to see how far from the hoard they took off. In the wrestling H. Dunn was palpably out of form, whereas Scott looked in the pink of condition. The pistol firing in the sprints was perfect, thei fields invariably moving together from a dead-set start.