ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 13

ATHLETICS.

FISTUEBS,

.April 11.—Carruthers Benefit Meeting, faster Monday. inter-XJniversity Chimpionships (IKincdin). Caledonian Society (Palmerston .North;. July.—Olympian Games (London).

NOTES BY “ADVANCE."

The students of Victoria Collece were rather unfortunate in regard to their snorts meeting, held on tho Basin reserve last Saturday afternoon, and the gathering was haroly tho success it has been in previous years, 'ilxo duet defect was, of course, the absence of an official programme. It was a utter impossibility for spectators to know how the meeting was progressing, with tho result that the majority of those present, having no means of identifying the competitors, lost a great deal of tneir interest in the proceedings shortly after the first event was decided. Ihe officials in charge of the sports blamed the firm which had contracted to supply the programme, but next year they will do well to take more care over such an important matter, The method or rather want of method —in which iesults wore announced was also not calculated to make visitors anxious to come back next year. In fact tho whole arrangements were such, whoever is to blame in the matter, that strangers at the meeting can have known next to nothing of what was done, and who won the races, until they saw Monday s papers.

D. S. Smith, who won the three-miles flat race at tne college sports, is a coming “star" in long-distance running, lie started from the 320 yards mark, but soon after the pistol had gone he showed that the handicappers had greatly misjudged his powers. Throughout the race ho drew steadily away from the runners behind him, and at one period it seemed almost as if he would catch them and lead by a lap. He tired slightly towards tne end, however, hue stul managed to win by about halt a lap from Short (60 yards;. His win web a hislily popular one.

It is surprising: bow many athletes, or would-bo athletes, take it info their heads that they are fitted to be. good walkers. They go on to tho track, knowing absolutely nothing of what constitutes correct walking, and when they aro disqualified by a judge, they accuse the official of not knowing his business. This did not happen at the Victoria College sports, but it might very well have taken place with some competitors. The mile walk attracted lour starters ,aud from the outset three ,of them “walked" correctly. They all bent forward, with the consequence they could not possibly lock their knees. Tho judge (Mr T. W. Leslie) went round the track with them, and hinted very broadly that the rules of pedeotrianism were not being observed, but without avail, so that he was left no alternative hut to take off tho erring competitors. Hogben, who won the race, walked very well, his style being decidedly better than on the memorable occasion when, Mr H. S. Batchelor ordered him and the Australasian champion Kerr off the track at the New Zealand championship meeting. Me ought to do weil at tho inter-colleze tournament at Dunedin at Easter.

Tho Victoria College champion tor 1903 turned up in E. \V. M. Goodbehero, who scored 57 points, G. V. Bogle being second with 82. Goodbehere won the £EO yards handicap from scratch, and rah second in the 140 yards hurdles, also from scratch. Me was second in his heat in the 11 yards handicap, and second in the long jump,. Bogle was second in throwing tne hammer, and third in putting tho weight. He was third in the long jump, and was a member of tho football club 1 team which ran second in the relay race. Both Goodbehero and Bogle are bound to score points for their college at Dunedin.

A fiinal reminder is given that the Carruthers benefit meeting v.'ill be held at the Basin Reserve this afternoon. The meeting will no doubt ho well patronised as the cause for which it is promoted is a good one. L. McKay, G. S. Hharpe, M. Henderson, E. H. Eisher, and other bright stars will bo among the competitors.

The following have been selected to represent Auckland at the inter-varsity meeting, to be held at Dunedin on Easter Monday; —looyds flat, E. E. Ramford and R. Taylor j 220yds flat, K B. Ramford and 11. H. Hampsdn; l-lOyda flat, B. E. Ramford and M. fl. Hatnpson; , 880yds, F. G, Dunlop and M. H, Hampson; one mile, F. G. Dunlop; three miles, F. G. Dunlop; 120yda hurdles and 41,0yds hurdles, Brookfield and B. E. Ramford; long jump, K. Brookfield and R. Taylor; high jump, W. Oliphant and K. Brookfield; putting the shot, R. P. Hunt and E. E. Bamford; throwing th(J hammer, R. P. Hunt; mile walk. 'J. Oliphant and W. E. Moore. The Auckland team will arrive hero on the ■ lath iust.

Buttan Singh and Peter McGregor wrestled in the Crystal Theatre on> March 28th, for the championship of Australia and a puree of £IBO. N. Williams, of Melbourne, refereed. Buttau Singh weighed list 71b, and McGregor list 81b. The Scot had no chance against the Indian. Buttan promptly had McGregor on the mat, and for over thirty minutes attacked, always being ou top. McGregor made half a dozen splendid escapes, but never once became the aggressor. After going thirty-eight minutes, Buttan Singh got a successful hammerlock on his opponent, and secured the first fall. The second bout was short and sharp. Tho Indian attacked with a rush, and speedily brought McGregor down, and in one and a half minutes from the start had him pinned to the mat as tho result of a half-Nel-son. McGregor became very angry at the decision’, and took his defeat badly. THE MARATHON RACK Whatever doubts may have existed as to W. V. Aitkeu’e ability to run a long distance were set at rest on March 28th when he run from Beveridge to the Brunswick Cricket Ground—2U miles in 2 hours 23min 26sec. He was accompanied in a motor ear by the ■Marathon fund committee (Messrs A. O. Barrett, H. D. Smith, J. March, and M. P. Adams). The last named, however, who ran over 13 miles with G. Blake a fortnight ago, was more often out of the car running with and assisting and encouraging Aitken than he was was in it. In all Adams ran about 18 miles, Aitken ran his first five miles, paced by Adams, in SOmin ISsec. It was (tho "Argus" reports) mostly up hill, and the wind troubled him a good deal. After that the grade changed, and the” long stretches gently sloping to Coburg were easy to run on. Between 16 and 18 miles, the critical period in long, distance running, Aitken showed signs of tiring. He did his first IS miles at the rate of 6min 21sec to the mile. Each mile up to 20 he gradually slowed, and the last mile and a half took him ISmin 23seo Ho \was all out at the finish, and made no attempt to go on to complete the 26 miles 6000 yards, tho full Marathon distance. His times for tho various miles are as follow:—Three miles, 18mih 10sec; 4 miles, 24min lOseo; 5 miles, SOmin 15seo; 6 miles, 38min 45seo: 7 miles, 43min ISsec; 8 miles, 43 min 33seo; 9 miles. 55min S6sec; 10miles, 62min ISsec; 11 miles, 6Smin 61sco; 12 miles. 75min 25seC; 13 miles, 82roin 12 sec; 14 miles, 88min 48sec; 15 miles, 95 min 16sec; 15 miles, IMmin 41se0; 17 miles, 108 min 37seC; 18 miles, 115 min 4596 c; 19 miles, 123 mm ISsec; 20 miles ISlmin Sseo; 21i miles, 146 min 06seC,

Tho 20 mile time is probably the beef ever run in Australia. As soon as Aitken finished ho was shouldered high by his enthusiastic club mates, and, amid much cheering and "Well done, Vic.," was curried into the dressing-room. Some of the Essendon and E.M. Harriers, as well as a good number of his club mates, met him a few miles out, but, if anything, they hampered him, as they kept crowding him- There were also a lot on bicycles and in conveyances, who met him miles out. Considerable enthusiasm was shown in both Coburg and Brunswick, cheering crowds lining the roadway all the way through. The Coburg lacrosse team made an archway with their sticks, and gave the harrier war-cry as Aitken ran through Coburg. Over £2 was collected on the ground towards the Coburg Harriers’ Marathon Fund, and now that both men have proved their ability to run a long race, it is to be hoped that the public will conic forward and subscribe liberally to the Marathon Fund.

Representations were made to the Victorian Premier (Mr Bent) on March,3lst in favour of State assistance being given to the movement to send two Victorian long-distance runners to Loudon to compete in the Marathon Eace at tho forthcoming Olympic Uames. Mr Bent replied that he could not sea his way clear to make a grant, but if representations were made to other Ministers tho request might bo brought before the Cabinet. Tho matter was referred to at tho meeting of the State Cabinet held later in the day, but it was decided that the request could not be enA similar decision was arrived at in respect to an application, for assistance in sending F. 'Bcauropaire to England to compel© in swimming contests.

The departure of George Blake and \V. V. Aitken for London next month now seems certain (says ‘ "Harrier"!. Early last .week the Association had in hand MS, includihg its own vote of Mo, and various subscription lists and promises were estimated to bring it up to £IOO. A. sum Of Xl7O is required to send both men, and the Association only felt justified in booking Blake’s passage. A member of the Coburg Harriers then came forward, and took the risk of also booking for Victor Aitken, and a big effort is being made to secure the balance.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATION.

Australia and Now Zealand will _ ife fairly well represented at the Olympian Games in England this year. So far as X know, the position to-day is as follows: AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES ! EITHER on their way to LONDON OR TO GO. Charles Swain, of tho Toowong Harriers, Brisbane (Q).—EDO and 1500 metres running. i E. W. Springfield, of Brisbane, longdistance swimming. F. Beaurepaire, of Melbourne, swimming events. George Blake, of the Melbourne Harriers (Vie.). long-distance running, including “Marathon" race. Norman Brookes, of Melbourne, lawn tennis. W. V. Aitken, Coburg Harriers (Vic.), for long-distance runs and "Marathon" race. - RHODES SCHOLARS AND OTHERS WHOSE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. Dr Harvey Sutton (Victoria), now at New College, Oxford, for 800 and 1500 metres, running races. .R. L. Robinson (South Australia), now ■at • Magdalen College, Oxford, for field games. . , A. Clemes (Tasmania), who leaves for Oxford in May next, for “Marathon” race. ~. . . L. E. Pomeroy (Victoria), who is visiting London shortly, for Walks. R. r.. Baker (N.S.W.), swimming events. T. Tartakover (N.S.W.), swimming events. . ' ' • Harold Smyrfc (N.S.W.), ■ for diving contests.. i ' OTHER POSSIBLE KEPRESEN- ■ i ■ : TATIVES. N.S.W. Rugby Union's team, to visit England next autumn, for Olympic International Rugby match. Individual riflemen for ;th© Bislcy meeting. Who' may be visiting England this year.. So far as New Zealand is concerned, it is to bo presumed that Colin Gilray (Otagb), the latest of- the: Dominion's Rhodes scholars at Oxford, would be' available;: whilst efforts may' be made to get Guy Haskins (now at the University of Pennsylvania) to represent. New Zealand. Another whose services may be available is A. F. Wilding, the tenuis champion. ' It is possible that H. B. Kerr and H. St. Aubyn Murray, 'respectively walking and 440yds Uuidles champions of Australasia, may be sent direct from New Zealand. DIARY OE THE GAMES.

April 20th, entries close racquets; 27th, racquet Competition commences; 28th, entries close covered court lawn tennis; 80th, entries close gymnastics; May 6th, covered' lawn tennis oomoetition commences; 11th, entries close ten* nis; 18th, tennis competition commences; 23rd, entries close, golf; June Ist, entries close rifle shooting, clay-bird shooting. polo, rowing (except Belgium, Canada. (idrmnny, Holland, and United Kingdom), golf competition commences; 2nd and 3rd, golf competition continued; Gth, entries close grass court lawn tennis; 13th, entries Close athletics, archery, cycling, swimming, wrestling; 15th, entries .close fencing, polo competition commences; 20th, final polo match; 27th, entries close for motor boat races; 23th, entries close yachting; 30th, entries close rowing (Belgium. Canada, Germany, Holland, and United Kingdom); July 6th, grass court lawn tennis competition commences; Bth, rifle shooting at Bisley, clay-bird shooting at Uxendon commence, and continued on 9th and 10th; 11th, motor boat races; 13th, Olympic Games in Stadium commence; 27th, yacht races commence, and continued 28th and 29th; 28th, Olympic Eegatta at Henley commences; and continued 29th and 30th.—“ Prodigal" (Sydney “Referee.")

The Kev. E. S. de Conroy Laffan, non. see. to the British Olympic Association, cabled from London to Mr E. Ooombee, representative of the International Olympic Committee for Australasia, to the effect that entries from the various countries may exceed the maximum allowed in programme provided that all superfluous names are cancelled by cable on or before the date of closing entries.