AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7046, 7 February 1910, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

WELLINGTON* PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. .MANY FINE PERFORMANCES. WOODGER BEATS NEW ZEALAND RECORD TIME. It is considered tho rule Tathor than the exception, for a sports meeting which lias had to bo postponed on account of bad weather to "fall flat" when at length it is held. But the Wellington Provincial Amateur Championship meeting held on the Basin Reserve cm Saturday last was an oxooption if ever thoro was one. The day was perfect, and over 3000 persons attended, the gate receipts reaching tho excellent total of £l4O. In view of tho forthcoming Now Zealand championships at Auckland, and the expense that must necessarily bo incurred in sending a team -worthy'to represent tho Wellington centre, tho largo "gate" was most welcome. More satisfactory even than tho financial success of tho meeting, however, vrus tho afternoon's sport itself. Rarely have Wellington athletes been on such uniformly good behaviour, and somo of tho performances wore surprisingly excellent. Considerable Interest attached to tho meeting m that it furnished a "try_ out" for candidates for representative honours. Tho selectors of the Wellington team tm Auckland —Messrs J. Heonan, M. Burnett and R. Bridge—havo certainly a fine array of talent to choose from, and they should havo littlo difficulty in getting together a team sta-ona enough to wrest tho premiership from Canterbury, tho present holdors. Tho hero of tho meeting was without doubt W. A. Woodgor. the tall ran tig Petono sprinter. When Woodger took the track in tho 100 and 220 vards races, no ono on tho ground had tho slightest doubt but that he would win, but it is safe to say that not a single spectator was prepared for what really happened. In_ the IQQ yards—tho first championship to bo decided—AVoodger hopped off froin n "ood start—ho is a great deal bett«° off tho mark than ho used to bo lost soason —and led his. field home, winning by three yards from Duncan in oven time. Woodgor has done his ton seconds hundred before, but on that occasion many people "who did not see the raoe, and somo who did, rushed into print to show that such a performance was impossiblo They should bo just about satisfied now. Sinco that occasion Woodgor has won with tho greatest ease tho 100 and 220 championships both of New Zealand and of Australasia, in every case in excellent time. It is now beyond all doubt that Woodgor really is that Tare phenomenon, a "ten seconds man," and there are not ' a few who believe that the day ho is pushed he will clip off yet another fifth. It was in the 220 yards race, however, that Woodger most distinguished himself, for he won with yards to sparo from Hubbard —no mean performer—in time which, if passed by authorities, will constitute a now record for the Dominion. There can be no doubt that Woodger covered tho distance of the race in 22 2-sseo, onofifth less than L. B. Webster's .present New Zealand record, established in 1903. Tho three watches agreed as to the time, and amongst tho time-keep-ers were such experienced holders of the "clock" as Messrs J. H. Pollock and L. W. Ludwig. Tho most remarkable fact is that" Woodger finished slowing up, and actually looked round. Some doubt the accuracy of the timing. If the race had been run in such time, they say, Hubbard could not have been so close up as he was'. The answer to that is tha.t Hubbard was not so close up as be seemed, '.and Woodger was breasting the tape while he was only at the last bend, a good ten yards and more away. Woodger runs with a beautifully easy style and is (really travelling a great deal faster than his action would cause one unacquainted ivith him to believe.' For that reason alone the watch is often challenged by those who do not know so much as >hey imagine. Where the real difficulty in the way of; Woodger's time being accepted as a record is in the matter of the measuring of tho track. According to Dr Newman all the tracks on the. Basin have been lately remeasured, but so far there is no guarantee that the 220-yards' course may not be just a. Httlo short. Should this be found to bo the case—an inch is all that is reel hired—it will, of course, be fatal. The officials tried to find a licensed snrveyor on the ground on Saturday without success, A certificate signed 'by a surveyor that the course is of the full length will be necessary before the centre can apply to the New Zealand Council to nave the new figures established as _ a record. At present there is nothing to bo done but to await developments—and hope for the best.

Tho 440 fell to tho young New Zealand champion "Jimmy" . "Wilt-on, who sailed round tho track in 52 seconds. New Zealand championship standard time. When "Wilton won this cham--1 kinship at Dunedin last year he took n-iul Williams, of Wanganui. both of whom were running; far Wellington, .''■-•rcling has been running excellently ""! season, while Wilton, to put it iTiitclK". has done nothing marvellous. Another meeting between Harding mid Wilton was eagerly looked for on Saturday, but unfortunately the ?."api:v man contracted a severe cold ->n the chest at tho last moment, and ctnthl not t;tke tho track. How he would have farod had ho started with Wilton it is now_ very hard to say. Many seem to think ho would have won: as many arc confident that he would not have had a chance. Cortiiinly ho would have had to put im a great performance to beat young Wilton, who ra,n beautifully, and with great judgment. His only sorious rival was J. F. Wilson, who wars ha.rd!y fresh, 'having earlier in tho day rim a half in wonderful time. The two ran together over half the course, when Wilson broke away and led to tho last.turn. Hero, however, Wilton passed him. and simply left him standing, winning with" ten vards to snare. With Harding and Wilton in the field the 4-10 should be just as good a thing this year for Wellington as it was at Dunedin, when tho light blues took the first three places.

.t. F. Wilson, the new half-mile champion, if a wonder. This is tho first season that he lias been heard of an a really first-class man. but his every anpeamnco adds to his fame. TTo has been a- eonsn'stent '"■inner over 830 yards .through this season, and his times have hern invariably Eood. Tie. too, was to have heen pitted against Harding, who was only beaten bv inches in the same race at Tlrinedin' hv th" redoubtable Guv Tlnskins. "With Hardin? nut. "Wilson had no one. to run asnirst eseent the

time-keepers. R. E. Bust and L. E. r Baxter therefore turned out to give him tho necessary pace. Bust piloted] him over the first lap in 5u seconds, j and then Baxter took a hand. His; pacing did not seem at all good, and | more "than onco he. appeared to be mvru in Wilson's way than anything olse. However that may be. Wilson finished the course in lmin 53 4-usec, which is almost five seconds shorter than Haskins's championship time at Duncdin, and ono and a fifth loss than Now Zealand championship standard time. Of courso it was an advantage, to have a fresh man to run tho second half with, but oven allowing far that Wilson's performance was a very fine ono. Tho recording of oxoollent performances is becoming almost monotonous, hut tho milo discloses still another. T. B. Hefft'ir. tho now champion, is another entirely now man. All through tho present season he has boen rowing, and it is only a few days moro than a week since Mt C. E. Bridge took him from tho boat and sot him to work on the track _in earnest. The week's extra training afforded him by the postponement of tho meeting had domo him a great deal of good, and ho showed veTy well indeed. He led right from tho start, and increased his lead with overy. stride. Ho had no pacing, and ran bis own rnco from start to finish. That ho cut out tho distance in 4min 29 4-osoc is thus most distinctly creditable. HaSkins won tho New Zealand championship last year in 4min 38 3-5 sec. Tho Wellington enthusiast cannot help smiling broadly when he thinks of his team's chances at Auckland. A word is due toF. Wilton, the second man in the milo. '"Frank" is one of tho best "sports" in Wellington, and has been running for years. If there were more with his spirit thoro would be bigeer fields. He well deserved his second place, although ho was a good thirty yards away at tho finish H. T. Thompson, holder of tho Australasian record for tho Marathon distance, won the three miles from Frank Wilton by about thirty yards. Tho two kept together throughout until the last lap, when Thompson broke away. The only other starter was F. Hodson, who soon fell behind, and dropped out. Thompson's time was nothing cut of tho way, and he is capablo of a better performance. Both the hurdles were "gifts" to A. Evensen, whoso only serious rival was G. St. V. Keddell, of Wanganui, brother of G. P. Keddell, of Dunedin, the New Zealand and Australasian hurdles champion. Evensen jumps beautifully. He flies low, and just clears the fence, whereas Keddell makes a leap at it. In the 120yds, Keddell hit a couple of hurdles, and Evensen won easily. In the 440 yards Evensen Keddell ran and jumped together right to tho second last fence, where the latter fell, and Evensen ran in a winner with twenty yards to spare. His times were 16 2-ssec, a very creditable performance, and 63 3-sseo. Evensen should win at least one of tho hurdle events at Auckland, especially as G. P. Keddell will not be there.

The surprise of the day was tho defeat of P. J. Fitzgerald 4 the New Zealand three-mile champion, in tho walks. D. Cashman, who won the mile championship, is just beginning to come to the front. Ho walked fairly well last year, but was never good enough for Fitzgerald. However, on Saturday he made the pace very hot, and the New Zealand champion had to content himself with second place. The winner's timo was excellent—6min 38 4-ssec. It took Stubberfield 6min 51 4-ssec to win the New Zealand championship over this distance last year, Fitzgerald having been "disqualified. Cashman, too, is a more correct walker than Fitzgerald, and the latter seemingly has not profited by former disqualifications as ho should have done. In tho threo-milo handicap Fitzgerald was so hopelessly out of it that he retired with only a third of the distance gone. He talks of challenging Cashman for his place in the Wellington team. He was certainly not at his best on Saturday, but he is up against a tough proposition. The two will meet at the Wellington Club's evening meeting on the 16th, over two miles, and the contest will be eagerly awaited.

.The mile saw the veteran T. W. Leslie hack on tho track after many years' rest. "Dorry's" style was an inspiration, and it would be well 1 for some of the younger men. to watch him. However, "the enemy" has bean at work, and Leslie finds it difficult to get into his old-time condition, and ho retired at the half-mile.

Evensen's high jump of sft sJin and Hubbard's long jump of 20ft 2in were both creditable. There was nothing startling about G. P. Anderson's winning throw of 100 ft in the hammer event.

The handicap events call for little remark. Tho 300 yards drew a large field of thirteen, and provided a close finish. Thore were also seven candidates for honours in the 1000 yards, a new event. _ The- boys' walk was a most amusing event. The winner, Frank Sullivan, is really a good walker, and is laying tho foundations of a very pretty style. The last event of the day was an exhibition of pole-vaulting by L. M. McKay, the New Zealand and Australasian champion and record holder, and A: Evenscn. The former cleared 10ft, and tho latter 9ft 6in. Amongst those present during the afternoon were his Excellency the Governor and Lady Plunket, who were accompanied by Captain the Hon. N. Gathorne-Hardy, A.D.C. Dr A. K. Newman, Mayor of Wellington, and the greatest patron of tho sport in Now Zealand, was also present. Interested spectators of the events were Hackenschmidt, tho wrestler, and his two henchmen, "Gunner" Moir and "Big" Bain. Results: CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. The New Zealand championship standard time is given for tho purposes of comparison. _ In four events there is no " previous champion," tho events not having been included in last year's programme. 100 YARDS FLAT. • Previous champion, F. W. B. Goodbehere. New Zealand amateur record, 9 4-ssec, J. H. Hempton, 1892; W. T. Macpherson,' 1891. New Zealand championship standard, 10 l-ssec. W. A. Woodger 1 A. T. Duncan 2 H. H. Dawson ... ... 3 Also started —R. Bridge. Time, lOsec. 220 YARDS FLAT. Previous champion, W. A. Woodier. New Zealand amateur record, 22 3-ssec, L. B. Webster, 1503. New Zealand championship standard, 22 4-ssec. W. A. Woodger 1 F. O. Hubbard ... ... 2 Tho only competitors. Time, 22 2-ssec. 440 YARDS FLAT. Previous champion,. J. Wilton. New

Zealand amateur record, 50 2-sseo, W. T. Maopherson, 1891; L. B. Webster, 1903. Now Zealand championship standard, 52sec. J. Wilton 1 J. F. Wilson 2 Also started—P. Oasey. Time, 52sec. HALF-MILE FLAT. * Previous champion, M. D. Mulcahy. New Zealand amateur record, lmin 58' 1-osec, H. G. Burk, 1905. New Zealand championship standard, 2min. J. F. Wilson ... ... 1 Wilson was the only competitor. He was paced by Bust and Baxter, who each took a lap, and covered the distance in lmin 58 4-ssec. ONE-MILE FLAT. Previous champion, M. D. Mulcahy. New Zealand amateur record, 4min 22sec, A. A. Shrubb, 1905. New Zealand championship standard, 4min 28see. T. B, Heffer 1 F. Wilton 2 H. J. Pollock 3 Also started—W. N. Beaven, V. R. Bernard, P. J. McGrath. Time, 4mm 29 4-ssec. THREE MILES FLAT. Now Zealand amateur record, 14min 49sec, W. F. Simpson, 1901. New Zealand championship standard, 15min lOsec. H. T. Thompson 1 F. Wilton 2 Also started—F. Hodson. Time, lomin 57 3-ssec. 120 YARDS HURDLES. Previous champion, A. Evensen. Australasian and New Zealand amateur record, 15 4-ssec, G. W. Smith, 1901. New Zealand championship standard, 16 l-ssec. A. Evensen 1 G. St. V. Keddell 2 L. M. McKay 3 Also started—A. C. Kitto. Time, 16 2-osec. 440 YARDS HURDLES. - New Zealand amateur record, 58 4-ssec, A. H. Holder, 1897. New Zealand championship standard, 61sec. A. Evensen 1 G. St. V. Keddell 2 P. J. McGrath ... ... 3' The only starters. Time, 63 3-ssec. ONE MILE WALK. New Zealand amateur record, 6mm 27 2-ssec, F. H. Creamer, 1897. New Zealand championship standard, 6min 50sec. D. Oashman ... 1 P. J. Fitzgerald 2 G. J. Marshall ... ... 3 Also started—T. W. Leslie. Time, Gmin 38 4-ssec. HIGH JUMP. Previous champion, A. Evensen. New Zealand amateur record, sft 9iin, R. Brownlee, 1899. New Zealand championship standard, sft 7in. A. Evensen, sffc 54in ... 1 L. M. McKay, sft sin ... 2 P. J. McNamara, sft 4in ... 3 The only competitors. • LONG JUMP. Previous champion, H. H. Dawson. New -Zealand amateur record, 23ft 3in G. P. Keddell, 1906. New Zealand championship standard, 21ft. F. C. Hubbard, 20ft 2ih ... 1 L. M. McKay. 19ft 9in ... 2 H. H. Dawson, 19ft 9in ... 3 Also competed—G. St. V. Keddell, 19ft 4in; P. J. McNamara. 19ffc; W. T.'H. Owens, 18ft lOin. McKay beat Dawson for second place in the jump off, covering 19ft 7in to .Dawson's 19ft 4ln. THROWING THE HAMMER. • New Zealand amateur .record,' 136 ft 4Jin, W. Madil, 1900. New Zealand championship standard, 130 ft. G. P. Anderson, 100 ft ... 1 L. X,. Paul, 88ft Sin ... 2 H. Montgomery, 77ft 3in ... 3 Also competed—H. E. Raansay. HANDICAP EVENTS. 75 Yards Flat (bracelet) —First heat:

A. T'. Duncan, 3yds, 1; S. O. Jones, 7yds, 2. Also started—R. Bridge, 4yds; J. W. Coard, s*yds; W. H. Hagen, 6|yds; J. M. Power, Byds. Time, 7 3-ssec. Second heat: A. Cunninghame, 6}yds, 1; A. 0. Kit-to, Biytfe, 2. Also started —H. H. Dawson, 3J-yds; J. D. Frasor, 7yds; J. Thomson, 7£yds. Time, 7 4-ssec. Third' heat: F. C. Hubbard, 2-Jyds-, 1; F. Strickland, 4Jyds, 2. Also started—i\V. T. Owens 6ivds; D. Oasey, 7yds; J. W. Muir, Byds. Time, Bsee. Final: F. C. Hubbard, 2iyds, 1; A. Cunninghame, 6£yds, 2; F. Strickland, 4iyds 3. All qualified started. Time, 7 3-ssec.

300 Yards Flat—A. C. Kitto, 20yds, 1; F. C. Hubbard, 7iyds, 2; L. McDonald, 19yds, 3. Also started—W. L. Dunn, -7yds: L. A. B. Teutenberg, Byds; J. W. Coard, 11yds; D. Casey, 12yds; C. T. Andrew, 16yds; S. 0. Jones, 18yds; L. . McDonald, 19yds; W. H. Hagen, 19yds; J. D. Eraser, 19yds; J. W. Muir, 20yds. Time, 33sec. Won by inches.

1000 Yards Flat—D. Binnie, 60yds, 1; L. E. Baxter, 40yds, 2; E. S. Forne, 65yds, 3. Also'started—L. McDonald, 60yds; R. W. Blenbinsop, 60y<te; J. S. Martin, 60yds; W. N. Beaven, 75yds. Time, 2min 20sec. Three Miles Walk—D. Cashman, I3oyds, 1; M. Tracey, • 400yds, 2 ; G. J. Marshall, 250yds, 3: Also started— P. J. Fitzgerald, scr; S. Thomson, 270yds. Time, 23min 56sec. Boys' Half-mile Walk—Frank Sullivan, 1; John Ourrie, 2; W. Redmond, 3. About thirty started. Hop, Step, and Jump—W. T. Owenn (sft), 47ft, I; F. Elbe (6ft), 45ft 4in, 2; W. L. Dunn (3ft 3in), 45ft, 3. Also competed—L. M. McKay, scr; F. C Hubbard, 3ft Gm; P. J, McNamara, 4ft dn;. V. R. Bernard, sft; W. P Oalomai, sft; L. A. B. Teutenberg,

or,H utt . m S tne Shot—T. Dasserley (7ft) 39ft 6in, 1; T. Walsh (7ft), 37ft 6in 2; L. L. Paul (sft 6in), 37ft 3in, 3. Also competed—G. P. Anderson, scr; h. M. McKay, scr.