AUSTRALASIAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3259, 16 October 1897, Page 4

AUSTRALASIAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AN AUCKLANDER'S OPINION OF THE TEAM. An Auckland man who went over to Sydney with the New Zealand athletic term was interviewed on his return by an Auckland Star reporter, and said inter alia that the team did exceeding well considering the careless way the arrangements for the trip seemed to have been made. Three of the New Zealanders, Hawthorne, Rhodes and Overton, only arrived in Sydney on Friday- morning, the day before the meeting began. None of them had any time to train, and they ought not really to have competed. Hawthorne had been appointed manager of the team, but as he only arrived at the eleventh hour, so to speak, there was no one to look after the team in the meantime. Wilson made a great impression in Sydney by his fine walking. Most people were surprised to see him beat the Victorian crack Barrett. One of the judges, Mr R. Coombes, thought Wilson a wonderful walker. Next to the 440 hurdles, the mile walk was the best race of the meeting. Wilson let Barrett lead him until 100yds from home, and then he spurted past the Victorian man. Barrett spurted just towards the finish, but was beaten by three or four yards. Both men wore thoroughly exhausted at the finish. Just to see if Wilson’s walking was quite fair, someone took a snapshot of him near the finish of the mile, and the picture showed it to be as fair “ heel and toe" as could be wished for. Mr Coombes said after the race that the faster Wilson walked the better he walked.tbat is in better style.

“ Holder did not run as well as we expected him to do. There is no doubt he had far too aiUoh to do, and ha himself acknowledged tills; and was continually regretting Patrick’s absenCS. By the way, the Sydney people were awfully disappointed that Patrick did not go over. Undoubtedly it was a big mistake to leave him otlt. Holdef, I think; was rather overtrained, it anything; for he was quite done in his heat of the 100yds, when he ran a dead heat with Carter for second place. He did not start in the final of the 100yds, thinking that it might interfere with his chances in the hurdles. Holder had a lot of bad luck in the ItOyda flat, for twice he was blocked and unable to get to the front. However, it is questionable whether he could have beaten Campbell, who ran a great race all the way.” In reply to a. question about Laidlaw, tbe Sydney hurdler, the gentleman said: — “ Well, he is a good man undoubtedly. He has only been jumping a little while, and his win was a big surprise to the Sydney people. He is a protege of Roselngrave, who had him in hand for some time before the meeting. Laidlaw ran a desperate race with Holder in the quartermile hurdles, which I consider was the best race of the whole meeting. It was in one way a most peculiar race. Just about the last hurdle both Laidlaw and Holder, who were leading, were pretty well exhausted, and seemed to be rolling a little: As they opened out, Richards, who was a yard behind, passed in between them, but just then they seemed to roll inwards again and jammed Richards. In the excitement of the moment he shoved them aside in his attempt to get through, and though he finished first, was disqualified for jostling. The general impression is that had Richards run round outside the leaders ho would have won, for they were both done.

“Everyone was pleased with Hori Eruera’s pole-jumping Thera was only one other competitor, Mcßae, and he retired at 10ft, acknowledging that Hori was too good for him. After Hori had cleared 10ft oin they pttt up the bar to lift l|in, to give him a chance to beat his New Zealand record. The ground, however, Was rather soft, and each time he jumped the polo slipped a little, which had a bad effect on his jumping. The bar was then lowered and he cleared 10ft lOi-in. If the ground had been firmer I think Hori would have gone very near to beating the record. “McKean was very disappointing, as he was in such good form. I don’t think it was any lack of judgment that cost him the half-mile ; it is hard to say what was the matter. “ Rowley, the lOOyda champion, is a very good man indeed, and a most consistent runner. He won both the 100yds and 220yds comfortably. Patrick would have to be at his very best to beat him. “ I might mention a good point I noticed with regard to the starting of the various events. The startet, Mr Coorfibes; .stood with his back to the timekeepers and facing the competitors, so that, as he fired the pistol behind his back, there could be no doubt about the timekeepers getting the start at the exact moment. Usually, of course, the starter stands behind the men and facing the timekeepers, which makes it much more difficult for the latter to set the watches going at the right moment.”