THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING.

(By Sprinter.) The sports were very successful, albeit in a few cf the events the entries were rather small. A strong Christchurch team was competing, and the exhibitions of the visitors -were the feature of the meeting. Principal honours rested with Pentecost—who started in six events —excluding throwing the 'cricket ball —and won four, taking second place in another. Pentecost was in splendid fettle, and some of his finishes were really magnificent. Perhaps-his best performance was in the 600yds Handicap, which ho won after fighting out a desperate finish in the first-class time of Train 17 2-ssec. On tne second day he was just beaten in the Mile in 4min 36 2-osec. His time was a second and a fifth slower, but after Fieweltyn beat him a dozen yards -from acme tho scratch man walked to the tape. Still, it was a fine race, and the ending was most exciting. Pentecost also invaded what was generally conceded to be Simpson’s territory -by starting in the Two-milo Handicap, but his previous exertions had told upon him, and he only went a lap. 1

The Kirweo runner was hardly in his best form, yet he was good enough to outclass ‘any opposition he encountered in the distance events. Both the Steeplechase and the Two-mile Handicap events were gifts to him, although conceding long ‘starts. In the two Hanß-miles Pentecost fairly outpaced him in the traight, though ’Simpson pressed his opthough Simpson pressed his opponent very closely on the second day. One of the most interesting events at the meeting was the Mile Handicap, won by Fiewellyn from 75yds.' The 'winner ran a well-judged race, never showing himself in front until two hundred and twenty yards -from home. At this time Pentecost was a few yards in the rear, having a trying time after his exertions in getting -up. Flewellyn’s spurt distressed the back man, yet he came with a fine- effort in the straight. When he did Fiewellyn responded, and *when the two had fought ■it out side by side for fifteen yards, Pentecost discovered that the handicap man had most left and gave up the struggle._ Had Fiewellyn not gone to the fSmt just when ho did, Pentecost would almost certainly have won. On ‘the first day Fiewellyn was looked upon as a ‘‘good thing” for the 600yds, but he collapsed at the finish when he looked like winning. 1

In the Mile Handicap, C. Maltbus, a brother of Percy Malthus, put up a good performance, and was 'not beaten until the straight was entered. In the sprint events the hero of the “meet’' was young Anderson, of Christchurch. This runner shows improvement every time he starts. He competed nine times, including heats, and secured three firsts, three seconds and one third, starting from the scratch mark in each instance. For so young an athlete this is an exceedingly creditable record. His best race was in the 2ooyds Handicap, and in this he gave one of the finest exhibitions I have seen for some time. Starting on the same mark with Fraser, ho got right -away from the South Canterbury crack in the first fifty yards, and entering the straight was rapidly overhauling' the field. In the last hundred yards -he appeared to be blocked, and had to run right to the uttermost edge of the track, yet he got past, and a dozen yards from the tape was in the lead. For a moment he seemed unconsciously to slacken speed, allowing Dalgleish, to whom he had conceded lifteen yards, to come at him again, with the result that the handicap man just got 'the verdict at the tape by inches. Hut Anderson’s was a great run, and his time, 26 4,-oscc, considering he had to run round a crowded field, was exceptionally good. I fancy ho is scarcely so good ever the hundred yards, as Fraser succeeded in beating-him at that distance in llsec. In connection with this, it must be borne in mind that the cinder track, though godd, was not fast. One feature of Anderson’s running that pleased me was his manner at tho post. ’There may be a dozen “false starts, but Andersen is never a delinquent. Ho stands on his mark as steady as a rock until the pistol goes, and then he gets away cleanly and smartly. I hear that Anderson —who is still in Timaru—will shortly leave for England. If thus be true, T hope that he may soon return, for it is a long time since Canterbury possessed a sprinter of such promise or “stood in greater need of one.

Fraser performed very erratically. He won the 100yds and ran a splendid race in the Quarter-mile, but in the other events ha gave poor exhibitions. In the 440yds Pontecjost led by several yards in the straight, but Fraser came 'with a most determined rush at the finish, and the Christchurch runner was hard put to. it to-keep his place, only winning by a few inches.

In the walking events Rich, the Lyttelton walked, had very easy wins, and his ‘‘jog-trot/’ 'which has before been commented upon by me, was as noticeable as ever. Rich ran very well in the Two-mile Handicap, and kept his lead from Simpson for a long time, but he has no stride, and eventually fell an easy prey 'to the backmarker. Were he to turn his attention seriously to distance running, I feel confident that Rich would do well at it, as ‘he has plenty of staying power. The weight contests were eliminated from the -programme, as Angland failed to put in an appearance, Meudelson being the only otner entrant. Mendelson easily won the Long Jump, with 20ft He was in good fettle, and narrowly missed clearing 21ft 6in. He jumped that distance, but just failed to recover his balance and fell back. OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE MEETING. The inter-University athletic sports this year were looked on as good things for Oxford, and such proved to be the case, although individual events did not pan out quite as anticipated, the Dark Blues winning one or two events that they did not expect to secure, and losing one or two which they reckoned dead certainties. The gathering was held at Queen’s Club, West Kensington, a.nd, considering the bitter coldness of the weather, the attendance of some COUL) visitors was 'about as good as could be looked for. Proceedings opened with the 100 yards race, for which A. E. Hind ((J.) Was greatly fancied, and he won easily by a couple of yards in 10 3-ssec, the poor time being due to the strong breeze that was blowing. Another Cambridge man in J. Churchill was second. A. E. liind has done the 100 yards twice in 0 4-osec. In the high jump Cambridge scored again, G. Howard-Smith winning with oft lii’in, as against W. Henderson’s (O.) sft 7-iin. The half-mile supplied an interesting contest between J. Cleave (U.) and J. Gilman (C.) the latter being indulged with the lead until 100 yards from home, when Cleave made his effort, and although Gilman stuck gamely to his work the Oxonian gradually wore him down and won, full of running, by five yards in Imin 50 2-ssoc.

Putting the weight is not a particularly popular item at these gatherings ; still, as Cambridge had previously wou it 19 times to Oxford’s IS there was some interest taken -in the competition. It turned out pretty close, too, E. May (O.) winning by only 7in from the Light Blues’ best man (G. Cour). The winner’s “put” was 34ft Din, Cour’s 34ft 2in. The 120 yards hurdle race put Oxford on level -terms with their rivals, {or G. Gamier (0.) went to the front at the start, and was never caught, winning in a yard and a half, in 17sec, from B. Allcock (C.). The winner’s father and brother also represented Oxford in th> ce in their time. J

L. Cornish, from his fine form aring the last two months, was looket on as pretty sure to -win the quarter-mile for Oxford, and so he did; hfit he was given a hard race by R. W. Barclay (C.), and won-by only a yard, in 52 4-ssec. This win put Oxford ahead by 3 wins to 2. Throwing the hammer was a prolonged and somewhat uninteresting affair, although some of the competitors certainly showed skill and style above the-average of amateurs. Eventually E. May was returned the winner with a throw of 113: i 3in., while of -tho Cambridge men B. Hartley proved best with lG9ft lOin. Of the half-dozen competitors in the mile F.-Cockshoot (C.) and H. Brown (0.) were looked on as most likely to supply the winner; but, while the Light Blue representative justified the confidence in him -bv winning in 4min 26 2-osec, with 10 yards or more in baud, Brown could only finish third. Tho long jump went easily to Oxford through the medium of L. Cornish, who cleared 21ft 6|in, as again 20ft Bin by

G.‘Wiles (C.). A. E. Hay, an Australian student, took part in this competition, but was last of the four with only 2Ult 2jin. H. Workman, the Cambridge running crack, reserved himself for the three miles, which he had in hand practically all the way, coming in an east- winner by 50 yards, in the very good time ‘of llmin 58sec. His nearest opponent was F. Jervis-Smith (O.). The grand result *was therefore that Oxford came out victorious by six wins to four, but Cambridge were far from disgraced, and it is noteworthy that, besides winning four events outright, they supplied eight seconds, as against Oxford’s six wins and two seconds.

The ‘record from the institution of theso sports stands at 19 wins for Cambridge, 17 for Oxford, and two dead heats.