ATHLETIC NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, 20 August 1902, Page 41

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By “Advance.”)

A. E. Cummins and W. McManus returned to Sydney on Saturday last. The Australian athletes may return at Christinas time for a meeting to b e held at Greymoutli at Christmas, and the Caledonian championship meeting, which may be held at Wanganui on January 22.

The programme of the English Championship Meeting, a marked copy of which George Smith thoughtfully forwarded me by the San Francisco mail, is the most complete of its kind that has yet come under my notice. It contains a list of previous winners of English championships since 1866, Scottish amateur records, results of Midland counties amateur athletic championships 1902. public schools challenge cup winners/ Scottish amateur athletic championships 1902, cross country championships 1902, Irish A.A.A. championships 1902, Irish records, Oxford and Cambridge records and results 1902, New York v. London Athletic Club 1895, Yale v. Oxford 1894 Yale v. Cambridge 1894, Oxford and Cambridge v. Yale and Harvard 1899 and 1901, Harvard v. Yale 1802, the Olympian games, Athens, 1896, Oxford and Cambridge v. McGill at Montreal 1901, Cornell v. Princeton, American inter-collegiate championships, 1902. Pennysylvania v. Columbia 1902, New Zealand and Australasian championships 1901. international championships held at Paris 1900, winners of French championships 1902’ Pan-American World’s championships 1901, Hungary amateur records and championships 1901, American Athletic Union championships 1901, Canadian amateur championships 1901, Australasian, American and English record holders.

Mr R. C. Bruce (president) presided at the annual meeting of members of the Wanaganui Caledonian Society. The following is a copy of the report:—For the first time in the history of the society your committee had the unfortunate experience of having to face a wet day for the annual sports, and as you are all aware, the gathering had to be postponed till the following Saturday (January 25th). Notwithstanding that the day was Saturday, the sports were well patronised, the gate receipts being d£7B, and had it not been that your committee, anticipating a big gathering, had the old grandstand renovated to the extent of £ll and a new stand erected at a cost of .£2O, no loss would have been made on the year. The sports went off very successfully, and although, owing to the postponement, a number of competitors had to return home, the fields were fairly large, and competition—especially in the pedestrian events—was keen and exciting; also in the wood-chopping contests. By the s ad death of Mr W. P. Stuart, in October last, the society suffered tho loss of one of its most popular and enthusiastic members and your committee desire to place on record its high appreciation of the many

valuable services tmdered to the society by our late member. In November last tne society had the distinguished honour or entertaining Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald on the occasion of his visit to Wanganui. The General came to Wangauui_ as_ the guest of the society, and his stay was tendered a banquet, The banquet ?■ brilliant success. The annual concert took place on January 23rd, and was, he,Ton a T blg 3uccess , the net profit Iu £°?l unc tion with the Highsemhl? fl £ S a baU . was tel( * in the As- . Rooms m August last, and cessful* 11 The hJ| 1B affa L r was highly Btlc - S e glance sheet attached will show the financial position of the society, and in. connection with this matter yonr committee are of opinion that strict economy will have to be observed during the coming season in order to make good the loss over the last annual gathering, lne thanks of the society are due to the following gentlemen for donations: McHardy Bros, £5 ; R. K. Simpson, Esq., €2 2s; P. Murray, Esq., £1 Is; Messrs lhomson and Lewis, £1 Is; Mr James lawse, valuable national flag. It has been suggested that a concert he held next' month, and that a strong committee be set up for the purpose.

Referring to the New Zealand athletes xt Dome ‘ Sprinter." in the “Athletic News says: —The 120 Yards Hurdle Race proved a great disappointment, ‘and the much-lauded G. W. Smith, the representative of the New Zealand A.A., came very nearly losing the race he had set his heart upon. A quaint, old-fashioned figure is Smith, not in the least cut ouf for hurdles. He was opposed by A. Trafford (Birmingham A.C.), W. P. Phillips (Swonison A.C.), and Denig Carey (Co. Dub.m ll.), an Irish champion. A poor, starter, Smith was never in the early running of the race. Carey fly ip e over his hurdles in gr.,ut style, and holding the lead when half of the journey had been completed. Here, however, he brought himself down, and this left Trafford with the. lead at the last hurdle but one. Smith, however, now • showed hig merit, and fairly outsprinting the Birmingham boy on the flat, won officially by two yards, but.it. was a very short two yards, W. P. Phillips being a similar distance away third, while the time was 16sec dead; Phillips (16 4-ssec) coming in for a standard medal. Among a section of New Zealand soldier boys, who gleefully called “Smithie” home, the victory was popular, but 1 am convinced that had Trafford’s health and business allowed him to have proper training he would have beaten the winner, who is, to say the least, a disappointing hurdler. Style, he lacks, and he has not too much pace. Referring to the Four-mile Flat Championship, in which F. W. Simpson finished third, the same writer says:—Shrubb at Hudders- ! field last year won the Four Miles Race in 20min 1 4-ssec; on Saturday he repeated the performance in 2-ssec iess time. He had really no one to beat, unless it wag little Fred Appleby, who conquered'him in the Fifteen Miles Race at Fallowfield. Percy Mitchell, the Small Heath Harrier; took the field along for the first half-mile, when he was quite done with, and Shrubb, still as zealous as ever to cutting out the work, settled down in front of W. F.' Simpson, the New Zealander, who is a man of years, the image of P. Cannon, the professional, a runner who might have done something in this country five years ago. At three miles Shrubb commenced his sprintings, and lapped E: R. Small (Blackheath Harriers), ran clear away from. Simpson. Appleby plodding into second place, and Shrubb won a tame contest by 100 yards, quite 220 yards separating Sflnpson (third) from Appleby. Shrubb is still as good as ever at four miles, and, that to-day would seem to be his one and only distance. Too slow at a mile, and unreliable as soon as he has gone much, beyond seven miles, Shruhb’s position today is rather a curious one. The gate at tne second match between. W. McManus and E. J. Lord, at Greymouth, amounted to .£75 ss. From champion George. Smith I have received an interesting letter dated London, July 10th. He complains of the weather being wet for about five weeks and very cold, although for ten days before the meeting it was fine. The Aucklander, says there is plenty of running and a good man can get a lot of trophies. AY. G. George is making an attempt to revise professional running, which is at present in a bad way. Smith expects to ; reach Wellington in the Paparoa about September sth. It is hoped the local amateurs will do something in the way of receiving the champion and W. F. Simi>son. •

The Foxton Athletic Club has drawn rip a_ programme for a meeting to be held on. November 10tli, which includes three amateur events. *

A committee meeting of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club has not been held since the sports meeting on March 15th. The' rules of the club provide that the annual meeting of members shall be held in the month of June.

The shoes in which George Smith hag competed so successfully in England were made by Mr J. D. McPhee, of Wellington.

LONDON. July 4. Last Friday afternoon W. F. Simpson, the New Zealand distance runner, competed in a three mile open handicap at the Cobham_ Athletic Club’s sports, held in White Lion Meadows—an out of the way grouper “two miles from anywhere.” The New Zealander wag virtually scratch' on the 70 yards mark,, and among the opposition were several well-known distance men including A. Aldridge. Kent A.C. (130 yards), F. Appleby, Herne Hill Harriers (125 yards), George Martin; Essex Beagles (160 yards), J. G. Gibbs, Ranelagh Harriers (170 yards), and E. R. Small, of Blackheath (310 yards). The handicap was framed from the four-mile champion A. Shrubb. Simpson started veTy fast off the mark and was soon amongst his men. hut his effort took all the steam out of him, and for the last mile he ran very “dead.” Aldridge and Appleby had a. rare fight from tho start, and it was not until the pair entered the last lap that the former had his man settled. Then he went away and won by ten yards, Appleby finishing a fnl l 100 yards m front of Small, who niter being caught and passed bv Simpson

fairly out j x) >’ _ the ."New Zealander at the finish aid beat him several yards for third honours. The track was turf, five laps to the mile. No times were taken at the 'meeting.

THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS. By the L.i.t Ptancisco mail we have received a copy ot the programme of the English Championship Meeting with the results of the competitions as follows: 100 Yards Flat. First heat—A. F. Duffey (holder) Georgetown University, 1; Dennis Murray, Dublin Harriers, 2. Time, lOsec. iCi voud heat—R v*. Wadsley, Unity Athi-stic Club. 1; L. F. Fremeer. Polytechnic Harriers, 2. Time 10 1-Gsee. Final—Duffev 1, Wadsley

Murray 3. Time, lOsec. Putting the weight.-—W. AY. Coe (holder) London Athletic Club, 42ft IO.Un, 1; R. \V. Fdgrcn, Knickerbocker Athletic Club, 33ffc bin. 2. One Mile Flat—.l. Minks. Unity Athletic Club, 1; H. C. Hawtrey, London Athic-tic Club, 2; A. E. Barker. Leeds Athletic 3. Time. 4min 16 4-ssec.

120 Yards Hurdles.—First heat —G. AY'. Smith. N.Z.A.A.A., 1: A. Trafford. Birmingham Athletic Chib, 2. Time. lCsec. Final—Smith 1. Trafford 2, AY. P. Phillips, Swansea, 3. Time, 16sec. 220 Yards Flat.—First hear— R. AY. Wadsley, Unity Athletic Club, 1; L. F. Fremeer, Polytechnic Harriers, 2. Time, 22Jsec. Second heat —G. F. Brewill, Leuglibcro Corinthian A.F.C., 1; A. Hargreaves. Southport, 2. Time, 22 3-.'see. Final heat—Wadsley 1. Fremeer 2. Brewill 3. Time, 22 2-ssec.

Throwing the Hammer —T. F. Kelly (holder) Carrick-on-Suir, 142 ft 9in, 1. Half-mile Jt lat —First heat—D. C. Cowan, London Athletic Club, 1; B. J. Blunden, JBlackheath Harriers, 2. Time, Imiu 53 l-ssec. Second heat —A. B. Mannering, Swansea Athlet’C Club, 1; J. H. Bessell, Kaneleigh Harriers. 2. Time, 2min. Final —ALuming I, Cowan 2, Bessell3. Time, lmiu 59 4-ssec. Pole .lump—F. J. Ivauser, Magyar, Budapest. 10ft Sm. Four Miles Flat Race.—A. Slirttbb (holder) South London Harriers, 1; F. Applebv, Herne Hill Harriers, 2, \Y. F. Simpson, N.Z.A.A.A., 3. Time. 20min 1 2-ssec-. Long .Tump.—P. O’Connor (holder) Waterford Athletic Club, 23ft 71 in, 1. C. Leahy, Limerick, 21ft lin, 2. Two Miles Walking.—W. J. Shtrgess, Polytechnic Harriers 1; G. A. Bush, Northampton Institute Harriers, 2; AY. Fi-dean, Polytechnic Harriers, 3. Time, 14inin 46 2-ssec.

Quarter Mile Flat Race.—G. AY. AA'hite, Northampton Rod ley Harriers, 1; R. AA'. Wadsley (holder). Unity Athletic Club, 2: G.' P. Constantine, South London Harriers, 3. Time, 50 l-ssec. Two Miles Steeplechase.—G. Martin, Essex Beagles, 1; ,T. Sturt, South London sell 3. Time, lmin 59 4-ssec.

Particulars of the English amateur championships, held at Stamford Bridge grounds, London, on the sth July, came to hand by the San Francisco mail this week.

A. F. Duffey, of Georgetown University, who holds the British (9 4-osec) and American (9 3-ssoc) amateur records, successfully defended his title to be called the 100yds champion. He won his heat and the final in even time, and becomes the possessor of the Challenge Cup presented by Prince Hassan. Duffey won the event three years in .succession, and put up lOsec each time.

W. AY. Coc practically had a walkover in the weight-putting contest, his single opponent putting 38ft Bin. Last year Coe did 45ft SJ-in. The best championship performance is 4Gft o£in, by the Irishman, Dennis ITorgan, who won the event seven years in succession. S. S. Jones, of the New York Athletic Club, pub up Oft 3in in the high jump. This is a rev vd championship performance. This event has been won by an American the last three years. I. K. Baxter (Pennsylvania) was successful in 1900 and 1901.

W. F. Simpson (New Zealand) was not entered for the one-mile flat race, in which J. Binks broke F. E. Bacon’s record of 4min 17sec put up in 1895. Under the most favourable conditions, there is a chance of Binks breaking W. G. George’s world’s professional record of 4niin 12? sec, which has beaten allcomers since 1886.

The two heats of the 120yds hurdles were run in one race. George Smith (New Zealand) won in 16sec, and the final in the same time. His nearest opponent in both races was A. Trafford, of the Birmingham Athletic Club, who won in 1897 in 17 2-osec, the slowest time on record since 1879.

The 220yds flat race is a new event, and was run on a straight course. The winner, R. AA r . Wadsley (Unity Athletio Club), won his heat and the final in 22 2-ssec.

T. F. Iveily (Carrick-on-Suir), who won the hammer-throwing with 142 ft 9in, won the event in 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1901. His best performance in English championships is 148 ft G£in, put up last year. He is Irish champion and record-holder (151 ft llin). J. J. Flanagan (New York) holds the championship record (163 ft 4in). The half-mile flat race was run in heats. D. C. Cowan (- A.C.) won the first in lmin 58 l-ssec, A. B. Manning (Swansea A.C.) won the second in 2min, and the final in lmin 59 4-ssec, with Cowan second.

The pole jump went to F. J. Kauser (Magyar, Buda-Pesth), who cleared 10ft Bin, and defeated W. H. Hodgson (Milntliorpe), who last year tied with I. K. Baxter at 9ft lOin. As predicted, when the cable came through without the name of the winner, A. Shrubb (South London Harriers)

won the four-mile flat race. He put up SOinin 1 2-ss.ee, which is two-fifths of a second faster than when he won last year. The man who boat Simpson for second place was F. -Appleby, of the Herne Hill Harriers.

P. O’Connor (Waterford A.C.) had no difficulty i.i successfully defending his title of long jump champion. He did 23ft 7-iin, one inoh less than when he “ walked-over ” last year. The two-mile walking race went to the record-holdc-r, AV. J. St urge ss (Polytechnic Harriers), who covered the distance in llmin 4G 3-sscc. Prior to last year the race was four miles, over which distance Sturges.s won six years in succession, from 1895 to 1900,-inclu-sive.

R. AA . Wadsley, who hold the title of quarter-mile flat champion, was defeated by G. AA'. AA'hite (Northampton Rodley Harriers), in 50 1-osee. AA'adsley put up 49 4-sseo last year, and also won in 1899.

The two-mile steeplechase was won by G. Martin (Essex Beagles) in llmin 31 1-osee, with .1. Sturt (South Loudon Harriers) second.