ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12989, 2 June 1904, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

Br Amateue.

FIXTURES. August 20,30,31.—Olympian Games, St. Louis,

U.S.A. September 1, 2, 3.—Olympian Games (continued).

The Now South Wales Amateur Athletic Association has decided to co-operate with tho New Zealand Association in bringing out * team of American athletes to tour the colonies noxt summer.

The members of the Invercargill Harriers team competing in tho Intorprovincial Crosscountry race against Otago on Juno 3 will arrive in Uuneilin by tho south express on Thursday evening, Arthur Dnffey, tho famous American sprinter and 100 yds world's record holder, is timed to arrive in England in the third week of the present month. Nigol Barker, the champion sprinter and all-round athlete, won the 100 yds (10 3-lOsec), 440 yds (Sljsec), and Broad Jump (20ft Sin) Championships at Sydney University sports the other day. Barker was also second in tho 120 yds Hurdle Championship, won by Allen in 17 2-ssec.

There- was considerable discussion at a, recent mooting of the Victoriau Amateur Athletic Association regarding the proposal submitted by the N.Z.A.A.A. for securing a team of American athletes to visit Australasia noxt summer. It was decided by the V.A.A.A. to reply intimating the willingness of Victoria to join the other States and New Zealand in the venture.

Tho application for reinstatement of A, Small (Ballarat) was referrod by the "Victorian Amateur Athletic Association at a recent meeting to the N.Z.A.A.A. in accordance with the rules, Small having last competed in this colony. Tho Victorian Athletic Association is in a position to guarantee £25 towards the sending of a team of Australasian t athletes to compete in the Olympian games at the World's Fair in St. Louis. New South Wales will recommend that speedy sprinter Nigel Barker as its representative if a team is to be sent.

In recognition of his past services, Mr A. 0. Barrett has been elected a life member of the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association.

ii. Blake, tho Victorian ex-cross-country champion, recently applied for reinstatement as an amateur. After some discussion, the

applicant wa's adjudged a nominal offender, | and his case will come vip for settlement at tho next meeting of tlio Victorian Association. •■-■ For the fourth year in succession, that athletic wonder, Alfred Shrubb, has won the Ten-inilo Athletic Championship of England. The race came off on Saturday, April 9, m wfotched weather. Shrjibb left the 10 miles behind in 54min 30 Msec. Word-spinning, or thought-evolving, is not necessary to tell tho story of the race. Of course, Shrubb, as befits the Number 1 invariably upon his breast and back, dashed off at pistol-shot, ami rattled the field along at a " 4.40 " pace. Graceful George Butterfield, the hem ideal of a milcr to the. Athletic News writers mind, stepped in Shrubb'.s shoe marks, jauntily and prettily. Then csune James Roberts, the Sefton Harrier, thin and wan, and really fit for his bed; 3. D. Marsh, the Welsh Salford Harrier, the bulldog of the path to-day: and next 0. J. Straw, the. Junior North Champion, blowing less' than, usual. Then there was a,' long ''toil," and retirements were soon the order of tho day. Shrubb's surprise at jßuttcrfleld holding him so long was obvious. Repeatedly he tried to choke- off tho Northerner, but at a mile, (4min 44 2-sscc) George was there, planting down his toes ever so gracefully. .Roberts was now 50yds away third, with Marsh, Straw, and then "Teddy" Watorson asnearost attendants. At one milo and a-half Shrubb got rid of Buttcrliekl. Hβ did 'it with a long sprint of quite 200 yds, and, gradually tho IJarliuglonian dropped away. Straw now moved .up third, but Roberts was jealous, and quickly recaptured the position. Watorsonls was the most 1 noticeable retirement—at two miles—(9min 51 l-ssec) and tho taJo can soon lie told by stating that the .remaining miles were reeled otf by Shrubb as follows:—3 miles, 15min 4 2-ssec; 4 miles, 20inin 21 4-Saeo; 5 miles, 25niiu 44 2-ssec; 6 miles, 31inin 22sec; 1 miles, 3Vmin otseo; 8 miles, 42min 49sec; 9 miles, 48inin 46- 4-sscc; 10 miles, Stein 30 2-ssec. The Seven-mile Walking Ohampionship of England, decided on April 9, was won by G. E. Lamer in 52tnin 57 2-ssec.

At last we have some of the wrestling cracks coming to terms for money matches (writes a London correspondent), and eomo very intercating contests oan ba looked forward to with confidence. In the first place the great Hackenschmidt has consented to treat, and hae deposited £25 to bind a' match with Alec Munro, the famous Glasgow sergeant of polico; while tho "Russian lion" also expresses hie willingness to give Ahmed Madralli hi 3 revenge in a matoh for £1000 or £2000 a-side. These contests Tnuat, of course, bo in the GrECO-Boman style; outside tha.t Hackenschmidt will not budge. Thca Madralli has himeelf signed articles for a match for £100 a-side and a purse given by the Alhainbra management, tho Turk's opponent being tho Mozambique natjve, Buck Fanpiar, one of Mr F. H. Martin's importations, and the style to be catch-ns-catch-can, at which each man io an adept. This is to come off wirliin fivo weeks' time. Prior to this, however, wo shall witness what promises to be a most exciting contest,. George Lurieh, tho re-cently-arrived Russian, who five years ago actually defeated Hackenschmidt, having backed .himself for £50 a-side and the Alhambra purse of £.100 to throw tho stalwart young German, Ernest Seigfried, three fair pin falls in the Gneco-Roman style, within one hour, with 10 minutes' rest between the falls.

At the athletic meeting of the South London Harriers, decided on April 16, most interest was evinced in A. Shrubb's attack on Sid. Thomas's five-mile record of 24min 53 S-_seco, made as far back as 1892. A handicap had been prepared with tho idea of fully extending the four-milo and crosscountry champion, who has never been beaten on even terms at any distance short of 15 miles since ho finished third in tho four-milo championship of 1900. Ho was now called upon to concede 50sac to A. Aldridge, lm'in to G. Poarco, and Itnin 25seo to G., Still, the four-mile Midland champion, tho limit man in a field of 22, receiving 2min 30seq start. At the outset Shrubb, who met with a very cordial reception, quite electrified the crowd by hie dasfi, and ho actually covered the first milo Msec in front of Thomas'-s time. Without showing any diminution of pace, the South London harrier completed the second milo in 9rain 40 3-ssec, as against 9min 47sec, but from that point he began to slacken somewhat, and half-a:mil<3 farther found liim one-fifth of a second outside the old figures, while at three piles he was 5 o-foeo to tho bad, and at three miles and a-half 10 2-sseo outside his record. Never making up the gap in tho limes, Shrubb failed'to cut the old figures by 16 2-ssec. Good judges opined that the champion took too much out of himself in the first two miles. Shrubb was naturally disappointed, but epasidering that "ho has only recently concluded a heavy eeason of cross-country work, and was virtually stepping from field to path, his display cannot be called a, bad one.