ATHLETIC NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5199, 13 February 1904, Page 14

ATHLETIC NOTES

(By “Advance.”) Despite unfavourable weather the first meeting of the North Taranaki Caledonian Society passed off successfully on the 4th inst. Rain fell steadily all day and considerably affected tho attendance from Now Plymouth and surrounding districts. The AVaitara people declared tho day a close holiday and turned out in force. Tire sum of £33 was taken at the gates. Tho Recreation Ground is situated on the banks of the A\ r aitara river, and is an ideal place for such a gathering. Tire AVaitara Brass Band and Highland Pipe Band were present, and considerably enlivened the proceedings. The gathering was well managed by Mr Hector A. Ross (secretary), who is associated with the following officials: —Patrons. Messrs tV, X l . Jennings, E. AX. Smith, C. E. Major, AY. Symcs, M.’s H.R-; president, Mr J. Pan!; vice-presidents, Messrs G. Pott. D. McKinnon Bain. Mclntosh. A. AY. Og'.o, S. AlcGuinnoss. A. Smytho; treasurer. Mr AY. B. Glover; handicappor, Mr T;. Shannon; starter, Mr K. Tate; timekeeper, Mr E. Salt; judges, Messrs J- Paul, 4 ■ D. AVyllio. AY. L. Gray, G. Pott: judge of Highland events. Air J. McDonald: committee, Messrs G. Pott, R. Tate. AA r . B. Glover, J. C. AlcArtney, it. Purdie, O. Caldwell, A\ 7 . Lovcridge, H. Dooly*, A. Smytho, li. Spurd'.o, AV. Luxtou, AY. P. Snell, L. Jennins, J. AViiliamson: hon. piper, Air A. McLeod. The track is only 300yds round, and tho turns are against tho back markers. C. J. Alorris (virtual scratch) won his heat ox the 100yds handicap, but failed to qualify in the final. Marsh was a good deal fancied for the 220yds event after winning his heat. AlcPiko, who could only get third in his heat, boat Alarsh comfortably at tho finish. Barnes, who heat McPike in his heat, was unplaced in the final. Barnes w:is favourite for the half mile, and had charge at the homo train, whore J. Todd spurted, and tho Aucklander, being amablo to respond, was beaten by five yards -in Imin 57 l-sscc. The Victorian had previously won one half-mile event, off ‘loyds, at Bendigo. Tiro greasy state of tho ground l affected Toro in the high jump, and ho failed at sft 41n. Tho quarter was won comfortably by B. Brower, who made the most of his start. D. Smith made up a lot of ground in tho last furlong, and finished closo up to tho winner. McPike was not seen at ills best in the 120yds hurdles. The finish was a good one between tho placed meal, Toro and Harper dead-heating for third. D. Smith did not shape well in the mile; and gave up at half way. Huckstcp won easily from J. Derungs, of AVcilington, with Capel third. The , Forced Handicap, 220yds, was won by Barnes (13), with Alorris (8) second, and Robinson (10) third. O. J. Alorris and S. Barnes will probably enter at the Stowell Easter meeting. Nominations close on March 2. Tho Feilding Cycling Club will hold a sports meeting on A'ictoria Park on March 9th. Tho wheel events are one mile District Alaiden Race, half m4lo, one mile, one and a half miles (Tadics’ Bracelet), two miles (Wheel Race), and three mile handicaps. Tho Wheel Race is worth £l2. Three athletic events find a place on tho programme, viz., 100, 220 and 880 yards. Nominations close on February 27th with Air A. D. Stanley (secretary). During a brief stay in New Plymouth “Advance” mot Messrs L. B. Webster,' the well-known amateur sprinter,' and H, B. Oswin, a prominent member of the old -Wellington Harrier Olnb. In company with Messrs R. J. Pardy, of the “Taranaki Herald,” tho Taranaki Jockey Club’s hack handScappcr, C. Baker, of the “Taranaki Nows,” J. Elliot and L. Alien, the wellk'nown footballer, I ‘spent a couple of ■ evenings pleasantly in the West Coast town. (Ae Morton Athletic Club will hold its first sports meeting on. St. Patrick’s Day, when the.opening of-the newlybanked cycling track will take place. Tho Athletic Handicap, of three distances, 100, 220 and 440 yards, is worth £lO 10s. The Ladies’ Bracelet, 220yds, is worth £3 3a, and tho 220yds Hurdles, £3 and 10s; the Cycle Handicap, of three distances, one mile, one mile and a half, and two miles, us worth £lO 10b. The Half-mile Handicap is worth £2 and 10s. Nominations o'qsn on March sth with Air A. Way (secretary). On the way to AVaitara last week I met several old athletic friends, and made some new ones, who found time to have a chat as tho train passtv'l through. At Feilding Alessrs E. H. Fisher, AV. J. B. Trewinand R. J. Goodman, of tho Feilding Athletic Club, were conversed with. Air Fiber informed mo that the Boxing Day meeting was a big success financially, and it ■was intended to put on a big, programme next year. Air J. B. M. Lockhead, a Caledonian member of the'Feilding Club’h committee, made the journey to Waitara, and competed in tho beetdressed Highlander event. At Hawera 1 was introduced to Air F. E. Hardy, secretary of the New Zealand Axemen’s Association. Ho had reason to he pleased at the result, of the carnival held at Bltham in December, from which a profit of over £2OO resulted. I suggested to Air Hardy an agreement between the Caledonian and Axemen’s Associations whereby events for Axemen at Caledonian meetings would l bo under the rules of tho Axemen’s Association, and athletic events at axemen’s meetings would be under tho rules of tho Caledonian Association. Also the endorsement of disqualifications whicn would prevent persons disqualified by one body competing at the of the other. Air J. AV. Emerson, who met me at AVaverley, informed mo that tho club of which he was secretary bad drawn up a good programme for St. Patrick’s Day, which would, no doubt, attract the attention of the runners on the AYest Coast. Air AY. A. Cathro, secretary of the Eltham Caledonian Society, was pleased at tho result of his society’s first gathering, held on January 27th. The meeting resulted in a surplus of about £35. Air H. Kivell met me at Stratford. Tho well-known handieapper represented tho Stratford Caledonian Society at tho conference held last June. Air AY. T. Cook found time to meet me at AVaitotara. Air Cook manages tho AVaitotara Athletic Club, wlifich had a successful meeting on New Year's Day. He has reason to be proud of the good financial position tho club is in, considering that it has only been in existence five years. AV. Huckstep is very well at present, and should defeat Edwards in the match over 880yds, fixed to take place on the Auckland Domain on the 17th inst. The programme fox' tho big Stawell

Easter meeting is out. Competitors at Stawcll have to sign declarations as to the correctness ot their performances before they start. This rule could bo adopted in tills colony. D. Smith lias been suffering rrom a bad cold, and ivas not seen at hia best at Waitara. His nomination for Takapu was too late, but ho will bo at Napier on the 17th, after spending a few days at Christchurch. He intended competing at Buudabcrg on March 17th, but on account of the quarantine regulations had to alter his arrangements.

J. W. Paterson, of Auckland, recently returned from a trip to Sydney, and was present at the Kltham meeting on Jan. 27th.

Mr T. IV. Jennings, M.H.lv., a patron of athletic sports in the Taranaki district, was present at tho "Waitara. meeting. ■ , The runners speak m terms of praise of the starting of Mr T. MoNajught, of Wanganui. ■ .... Mr J. C. McArtney, a member of the Waitara .Caledonian Society's committee, is a brother to’ Mr H. Me Art ire y, treasurer of the Manawatu. Cycling Club. , „ , TT . Mr J. H. Hompton, formerily of Wellington, is a member of the sports committee of tho Taranaki oarniVal, to bo held next Christmas. That gentleman is associated with tho following executive:—J. Morey, sen., F. Bellringer, A. Humphries J. Elliott. From Mr A. Potaka, secretary of tho Utiku-Toiere Athletic Club, 1 have to acknowledge complimentary ticket for that club’s meeting, to bo held on Easter Monday. The principal event is the Utikn-Torero Handicap, of throe distances (100, 220 and 44.0yds), worth £27. The 220yds hurdles !is worth £3, £4 and 10s; Ladies Bracelet, 220yds. £4 4s and 30s; half-mile, £4, 30s and 10s; mile, £5, 30s and 10s. Nominations close on March 19th.

J. J. Stanaway, of Auckland, has been disqualified for throe years by the Stratford Caledonian Society for attempting to bribe that society’s handicapper. At Maryborough on New Year’s Bay W. McManus won a quarter mile handicap off scratch in 49see. “Lanky Bill” will he a competitor in tho Queensland £IOO this month. There are some good prizes for pedestrians in Australia. Tho tlrird Queensland Sheffield flandicap, 130yds, is worth £IOO, £l2 10s, £7 10s and £5. Tho Daylesford Sheffield Handicap, run on Easter Monday, is worth £75. Nomination for the first-named events is ss, and acceptance a similar amount. It costs 17s to start the Stawell Easter Gift, worth 70 sovs to the winner. At a committee meeting of the Wanderers’ Bicycle Club, it was decided to hold a sports gathering on the Recreation Ground on Saturday, March IPlh. Tho events will include an Open Handicap Two Milo Bicycle Race, of £5, and a Test Bicycle Race of three events (half-mile, one mile and five nodes). Tho winner of tho latter event mill have (he honour of representing- Hawke’s _ Bay at. the Championship Cycling Carnival, to he held at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on March 26th, expenses to he borne by tho club. Also- in. the programme is an Open Handicap Foot Race, 300 yards, first prize £2O, second £5, third £3, and fourth £2. The entrance foe has been fixed at 9s and the acceptance at ss. The foot race will ho run under tho rules of the New Zealand Association of Caledonian Societies. Tho cycling events will be under tho rules of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen..

W. McManus is giving away 13yds in tho 130yds Sheffield Handicap, run at Queensland on the 17th and 1 18th, 22nd and 23rd March.- Dave Smith is on 12yds—9yds from McManus. In the half-mile both are on scratch, giving away 60yds.

THE AUSTRALASIAN AMATEUR MEETING. From the notes of the 'vell-kiKHVH, athletic authority, “Prodigal,” in the “Sydney Referee,” I take the following concerning the New Zealand representativels at Melbourne : I cannot go into detail! in. all events, because some are unfinished at the time of writing. A feature on the firslb day was tho number of “standards” broken, the list comprising;—22oyds, by Barker, and also Hunter; IGlb shot, by OReilly and Rouse; mile, by Sutton an t d Wheatley; three miles walk, by Barrett; 120yds hurdles, by Smith and Gar-doer; high jump, by .English; and 440yds, by Barker and Pollock. Before taking the first itean, I must, ailiwi© to the shockingly bad 1 kick attending the New Zealand team, or a portion thereof. By reason of compulsory vaccination. W. F. Simpson became a spectator only in the mile, and may also look on at the three miles. Simpson was really bad, and had to take to his bed two days before the meeting commenced. It w-as indeed bad fortune when he elected to journey to Melbourne via the Bluff in the Moeraki, as against travelling hy the Manuka, via Wellington, and on to Sydney. I don’t say that Simpson must have won the mile, but on form he must have had a great chance in it, whilst tho three miles was at his mercy. With Simpson hors do combat, the chances of Victoria looked brighter, and a second stroke of misfortune—the eleventh hour arrival of Pollock—made the outlook more rosy still. Wo started with the heats of tho 220yds. Barker won the first hy 3yds from Hunter, whilst Nicholls defeated Geo. Smith, hy two yards in the second heat. Tho New Zealand hurdler could have been alongside Nicholls had he desired—at least it seemed so. Nigel Barker’s run was very solid, and duly impressed the cognoscenti. In the first heat. A. Scott IQ.) shaped well, and finished very strongly. The shot put was a soft thing for the holder, despite that O’Reilly, although his action was as faultless as ever, was dead off.' Ho started too close to the left edge of the square, with the result that on four occasions, after delivering the implement, he overbalancofl himself as he swung round, and got outside the square at the left corner of the face of it. One of these “fouf” pills' was well over 40 feet, in fact, considerably more. English, winner of this event in 1897, is unable to raise a decent “put” nowadays, hat in Rouse and Murphy, especially in tho case of the firstnamed, Victoria has promising men at the game. Neither knows much, if anything, of the finer points of putting the shot, but coaching will soon put this right. The judge at tho square was, under the circumstances, somewhat indulgent. First blood to New South Wales, and the hoys in pale blue were jubilant. The miPe (run fojllolwed, lift being expected, with holder Simpson absent, that it wais to be a race between Sutton and Wheatley. And so it proved, the popular doctor winning hy a yard and a half from Wheatley. Judgment won tho race, for on Saturday I don’t think there was a pin to choose between tho pair. Before the numbers went up, however, we had plenty of excitement. After Ferguson had made

tlie pace for a hit, veteran Saundorsout took a hand, and at tf.io bell simply sprinted away in the lead. X was warmed not to underrate Saunderson, who evidently improves with age. Has bold) showing, however, surprised me. He stopped as if shot about I.loyds iron* home, and Pollock, who had displayed! form, paco and grit, camo at tho O'oilers, but ho har.l to put up with third place. For a man who only arrived from New- Zealand (via Sydney) iho cay before tho mooting, tho form and finish of Pollock was surprisingly good. S_uttons victory was popular, and the hoisSbing of a win against tho name of Victoria on tho scoring board raised storms of applause; and very shortly afterwards the ‘‘one” became a “two,” ior A. 0. Barrett camo out, and paralysed all opposition, on the three. miles walk. I have seen Barrott (who seems to know some charm which ensures perpetual youth) walk often, and _ uovef saw him go so badly or so well ini the; same race, paradoxical ah that may appear at first brisk. His first lap (Fish was almost suggestive of doubtful style j at least, in my opinion, and yet after a mile or so of this work, he gradually altered Iris mode of progression, so thaS the last couple of laps was quite a treat —an exhibition of really- fine heel-and-toe work right up to tho letter of tha now rules. I suppose it is any odda that Barrett, who is tho soul of ‘airnraa and good sportsmanship, will net credit that ho altered his stylo at all., F. Ross (New Zealand) should have been second, but suffered from the boat (and the paco ho had been taken. along), and practically collapsed, although ho gamely finished. In trying to “hang on' 1 to Barrett, the New.Zealander, who evidently can walk well, despite a “jumpy” action, got both feet off the ground at the same time in the first lap. In like manner, whilst trying to paco it with the flying leader. Penny mixed matters, otherwise be walked like a soldier marching. Tho beats of the sprint hurdles followed. In the first heat, Corrie Gani ner, going about bis business like a tradesman, ran right through in 10 2-3 sec, winning by 10yds from Niched Is. Burton (Q.), who got from, three strides to a go-as-yon-please gait, was last. lit the second heat, as George Smith and Macphcrson alone started, one expected a “walk over,” as both qualified for the final. Nevertheless they went at it pretty solidly, tho champion finally winning in a canter at tho end. In tho final, wo saw something happen, as anticipated by the writer. Smith gelt « at Iris first hurdle tho quicker, but Gardner more than held his own at jumping. They rose tho last -flight simultaneously, hut Smith dashed Iris leg down first, and got homo by a foot and a half in 1G 2-ssec. Gardner, who ha» been training well, and having some hurdle practice with tho well-known pro. Bob Wandin, set Smith a-real good go. Both first and second deserve praise fol their game and fin© exhibition of hurdling. First blood to New Zealand. The running high jump followed, English (winner in 1897 and 1899), representing New South Wales, Laurie New Zealand, and Duigan, Brake, Francis, Kirby and Morgan Victoria. As is ever the case English did best when the occasion demanded that ho shorjUd rise toil. He won at sft 7in. Accustomed to hard ground, the “velvet” of the M.C.G. troubled him, furthermore, bo seemed to have lost all idea as to how to. get in to his jump. Laurie jumped well, but still goes in too hard. Bui gag knows most about the fine points of the game, whilst Brake showed most promise to acquire such knowledge. Francis, a tall man with a fine natural sprint, came in too hard, and took off too- fat from tho bar, often getting his feet over, and dispiacing it as ho came down. When Francis gets some expert tuition, he will become a good jumper. Ho would he better, I fancy, if he camo in from the side instead ot coming straight in. Second win to New South Wales. English has now won in 1897, 1899, and 1904. / ,

The mile had aroused enthusiasm by reason of a slashing race. Tho juarterraile provided a performance as good or better—l think better. In this event Barker followed up the tactics that have , won him many a race. Ho went flora, the jump, and without a lot-down, except during the last ten yardb, when ha had the race won, ho kept up tho pressure. His 501-sco was a grand performance, and naturally ho was warmj’.y. applauded and congratulated. A. A. Nicholls tried to go with him, and settled himself. Pollock, who is a fine, actioned runner, and vc/boran Charlie, Campbell, filled 1 the places. Both -ntt in rattling good style. Result: Third win to New South Walcb, and a rare shock for tho supporters of Victoria, who had three good quarter-rollers in the field.

Monday’s results were remarkable foil tho number of records that were broken —one world’s, three Australasian, and seven Victorian. The New Zealand representative, George W. Smith, succeeded in lowering Arthur Holderib great performance at Wanganui in 1897, of 58 4-ssec for the 440yds over hurdles to 58)seo, which is a record for the world. The 220yds Championship record was broken on Saturday by N, C. Barker (N.S.W.) in bis heat time, 22 2-ssec, and in the final ho ran. in beautiful style, and won by 2yds, beating h;s previous record, and creating a now Victorian record of 22 3-10-cc. Interest iii the three-miles was lessened by tho unfortunate illness of W. F. Simpson! (N.Z.), who hotels tho Australasian record for the distance. Simpson arrived in Melbourne after the outbreak of smallpox at Christchurch, and had to be vaccinated. During the week ho baa been in a high fever, and was unable to start in the mile championship on Saturday. He, however, decided very pluckily to run on Monday, and started with his arm in a sling. After putting in three laps he fonnd he was too weak, and had to retire, and received a groat reception for his plucky effort. In thia race Ferguson (Vic.) eventually won. easily in 15min 30sec, another Victorian record. A splendid finish in the halfmile saw Sutton (Vic.) just beat Wheatley (Vic.) on the tape, in Imin 68 Asseo —another Australasian record established. The winner, Sutton, however, has an application in for another performance over tho same distance, at Bendigo, in Imip 57 4-ssec, and this may be passed at an early dalte.