ATHLETICS.

NZ Truth, Issue 139, 15 February 1908, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

« (By "Centre.") At the Hutt Valley Amateur Athletic Club's sports meeting last Saturday the Provincial Championship a were the main attraction on the programme. Though the fields were small, the racing was fairly interesting. In the 100 yds event Bass, of Canterbury, proved that his second to., Barry Henderson m the New ' Zealand event m the previous week was no fluke by defeating Dawson, Bridge and Fisher comfortably m the last stretches of the journey. "Cocky" ran finely and created a mild surprise by getting m front of Bridge at the tape. The S2oyds championship was robbed of all interest by the defection of Henderson, who had wisely decided to take no risks of cracking 'up before the Australasian Championships . m Hobart tliis month. Dawson simply went out to give Fisher something to stride against, and all the quidnuncs were knocked silly when ' 'Cocky" 'defeated -the Dominionist champion at his pet distance. "Cocky" ran a good race and tie-, serves credit for liis win, hut Fisher was not m anything like fettle, the* result of an abcess m the jaw. The plow pace m the earlier stages of the journey also assisted to spoil his chances. The quarter was a snap for Billy Pollock, who breasted the tape an easy winner by half-a-dozen yar-ds from Fisher, who m turn was five yards ahead of Cunningha-me. Fisher footed it slicker m this event than m the 220. Gosling upset calculations by coming home m front of Burge m the half-mile event. "The race was run to suit Gosling, and m the run up the straight he gave no chance to his opponent. His indifferent running on the previous Saturday had not prepared the knowing ones for this victory. Burge left nothing to chance m the mile, and rattled off the last quarter at a decent bat. On his sfiowing on the two Saturdays Burge' s- foest distance is the mile— his 2min 1 l-ssec at the V.M.C.A. Club's evening meeting notwithstanding. — . TCerr was seen at his best m the mile walk as regards t correct style. He was not out on a record-breaking mission ', as his tim<e shows, intent more on paying special attention to his mode >of progression. The judges. Fleming Ross, "Dorry" Leslie and Dr. Purdy, were quite satisfied with his style, both m £his and the longer event, which he covered m the good time of Mnrin 24sec. With the exception of the three mile run the other handicap events call for no special mention. Sharpe's j performance m the three mile was a plucky one, and i;b seems clear that he should have bren selected for a place m the New Zealand team m preference to that walking freak, StubberJieJd. E. E. Fisher Is the latest acquisition to the Nrw Zealand team for Hobarb, and all going well he Will be i a competitor In the 220 and 44.0 yds I Aiistra'fl.sifm Championships. I The Port Nicholson Club will hold i an evening's sports meeting on the i 26th inst.. when a 75yds. 410 yds (for

members only), and 2 mile handicap will be contested. For "the 440 yds | event the first prize will be the Patron's (Mr ; W. Ferguson) trophy, and the second man-will receive a trophy donated by- Mr W. H. Pollock-, one o! the Vice-Presidents. j