ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 14

ATHLETICS

(By “Tlio Spike.”)

Bob McKenzie, the Wairarapa representative at the recent athletic gathering, had bad luck right through. Ho is generally knocking at the door, but has probably trained off, as ho failed to get into a place in any of the running events. Mr C. T. Young has resigned bis position as secretary to the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre. He has. I understand, taken on travelling. The 1000 yards handicap proved a good race, R. Renkin just getting the verdict from Nash by inches. G. Hal© put up a good performance in tho broad jump. He wrs making his debut as a jumper, and did 21r' Sin. The handicapping throughout was good, as the results and close finishes demonstrated. . For three years running tho decision as to who will hold the shield for the following year has had to be left until tho last event was decided. The quarter turned out as was anticipated. the best of good things for Wilton, but ho greatly surprised the public when he downed 800 I in the 220 yards. Robbie ran gamely and managed to get into second place. Binuic was decidedly unlucky in tho half mile. ' Ha ran past Bradbury, who tired badly in tho run home, but the fr/rmer took things too easily and Bradbury, seeing an opening, rushed up in time to beat Binnie on the tapes. Hanigan’s time for the 120 yards hurdles, if correct, is the best put up in Wellington for some shears.

Doyle, who beat the standard high jump (sft Sin), performed indifferently in the running events, and is probably stale after his severe racing.

Some jostling during the mile walk was fairly conspicuous. Sievewright, it is alleged, spoiled Turner’s chancts when he commenced to put in some “extra” arm work in the run home. 1 am sure it was quite unintentional, and Sievewright probably got a little excited when he saw Turner catching him. The latter protested, but the protest was dismissed. The meeting was one of the best managed that has been in Wellington for some years, and the officials received no end of congratulations for their promptness in getting the events off up to time. By their hard work in this respect, the meeting did not drag as is usually the case at athletic sports meetings. Some of the officials were away, and that most likely was the means of keeping the others up to the scratch. The Carnival Committee made a wise move when they decided to include the provincial championships in their programme, for they must have largely increased the attendance, and as complimentary tickets were only issued to the visiting athletes, the carnival funds must in consequence have greatly benefited. A reminder is given to athletes or the St. Patrick’s Bay sports to be held on the Recreation Ground, Lower Hutt. A very fine programme has been drawn up. Amongst the items is a tug-of-war (eight men a side), hop, stop and jump, 120, 220, 400 and Bbo yards handicaps. A social and dance will be held in the Drill Hall (Petone) in the evening. In a letter to the Sydney “Referee recently, the much-travelled Mr M. P. Adams said he had been discussing jumping for hours, and especially the style of Templeton. “Hie sight of the picture of Templeton clearing the bar took me back to the time I njek Davies,” continued the writer, “who jumped in the same stylo and who was disoualified for indulging in acrobatics.^’ Russell Watson, who won the half-mile championship of Melbourne, is considered by Adams to bo the best halfmiler seen out to date and with careful training may run half a mile in Iminj 55seo any day on a good track. So great, in fact, are the opinions formed of Watson, that he is expected to develop into a world-beating half-miler. A cable announces that _G. M. Sproule, of Melbourne University, won the three miles race at the Oxford University sports in 14min 65seo, a record for the Oxford track. It was he who won the Oxford-Cambridgo inter'Varsity cross-country championship on December 14th, 1912, in 44min 13 4-ssec, and at the track meeting in the March following he finished third in the three miles. Arthur Postle, the famous sprinter, celebrated his 32nd birthday on March Bth. Postle has not been seen in action for some time and people are beginning to wonder whether he has bidden farewell to the running track. Herb. Hedemann (Australia) and Harold Wilson. (England) were to have met on Saturday last for the mile championship of the world at Durban (Natal). No news of the result is as yet to hand. It is reported by cable that at the Oxford University sports on Monday the Rhodes scholars won every event, two Australians succeeding, Savage (W.A.) in the long jump, and Sproule, of Melbourne, in the three miles.