ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13792, 4 January 1907, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

Br AumuK.

' FIXTURES. Feb. 2, 7, O-Außtralasian Championship! at Chrietchurch. February 21 and' 23-X.Z. Championship Meeting sf Exhibition, Christchureh. The scries of evening athletic meetings promoted "by" the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club, interrupted during the holidays, will be resumed; oiV Friday, January 11, when the following events will he decided:—4lo Yards Plat Handicap (open), Two-mile [Walk Handicap (open), Putting tho 161b Weight, (open). Half-mile Flat Handicap .(Punedin Harriers), 75 Yards Flat Handicap (open). It wan anticipated,, that .a revival iii amateur athletics was about to take place m Auckland, and that the meeting of the Auckland .Amateur Athletic Club would result in a. profit; but. the meeting was not a financial .success, and faint hopes aro eutertiunod-of-e, team-being sent to represent the' northern province at the championship meeting in OhrktclHirch on February next. The progress .of amateurism in Southland is most marked' this season. At a recent meeting there uerc 40-competitors for tho various events, whereas four years ugo there was not a single event for amateurs in Southland. A very promising amateur runner has been unearthed in Southland in the person of V. C. Stokes who, at a recent amatour meeting won tho 100 yds from scratch in 10 2-ssec. A number of enthusiasts in Invercargill were so taken with his performance that it is their intention to urge the Southland Centre to send Stokes io represent the province at the championship meeting in February next. Tho first championship meeting of the Civil Service Association was. held in Christchureh on Boxing Day. Tho team representing iDunediiv woe weakened by several of the members taking part in the military tournament, Canterbury won rather easily with S6 points. The track was in fair order, and several fine individual performances were put up, notably that of F. C. Hubbard. who won the Long Jump Championship with the fine effort of 21ft 2fin. Slunro, of Canterbury, had a field day, annexing; the "100" in 10 2-ssoc (in which M'Corkindale'.' Dunedin, was third), the 220 Yards in 22 2-ssee, and the W0 Yards' Championship in 52 3-ssec. The Half-mile Championship was won by Hamilton, of Canterbury, in 2min 5 4-ssec. Brown, of Dunedin, led till 50 yards from the tape, when Hamilton made; his sprint, and win by 10 yards. Brown finished in third place, being boa-ten for second place ly Kobertson, of Canterbury. The Mile and Three-mile Walks went to Stubberfielci, the former in 7min 57 l-ssec and the longer distance in 27min lOsec. Tho Loug Jump Championship, as previously stated, was won by Hubbard of Wellington with 21ft 2Jin. Francis (Canterbury), 20ft Bin, was eecond. and Williams (Dun. edin, 18ft. 4m). third. Hamilton (Canterbury) won the ]20 Yards Hiirdka Championship in 17 4-ssec. while the Mile Fla.t went |o the same athlete, in time registered as 4mm M 4-s»co. The first win secured by Dunedin was in the Pole Vault, which Overtoil secured, with 7ft , 6in. Francis took off the High Jump with sft. Overton Iwiiig second with 4ft Bin, and Williams (Dunedin) lhird with 4ft 6in. The Hammer (94ft 4iu) and the Weight (32ft lin) were won by Third, of Canterbury. The Threemile Flat championship went to Wilton, of Wellington, vho look 18min to traverse the distance. Tiie Quarter Hurdles Championship was won by Binns' (Canterbury) in 68sec. The Mile Relay Kaee was won by the icam, which included Melville, Williams, Overton, and Brown. Tho ex-New Zealand champion, W. Low. of this oity,_ has suggested the holding of an ex-champions' race in conection with the New Zealand championship meeting in February. By the way, the Dunedin athlete acted as. starter at, the Pioneer Club's meetin)! on Saturday last. The Wellington contingent will be hard to beat this season for championship honours—that is, provided the men can make tho trip. A team which includes Craig, Prenderville, Pollock. Roodbeliere, Webster, and Ross will take something extra special io eclipse. Two Auckland athletes in D. Wilson, tho ex-Xew Zealand champion walker, and W. 11. Madill, the field exponent, are said to be in' training with a view to competing in the championship meeting at Christchurch.' The young Wellington sprinter. F. W. B. Goodbehere, who beat Duffey off the syds mark, is showing excellent form this season. He recently won the W.A.A.C. 220 yds from scratch in 23 3-ssec on a slow track, and. bar accidents, should account for the 220, yds New Zealand championship in February. At. the Cambridge Freshmen's sports, decided a day of two before tho mail left, an Australian in the person of E. Chappie won the 120 yds Hurdles. Owing to rain the going was heavy, and the time slow, 18 l-ssec being occupied in the journey. William CWo.s, a schoolboy of Thrapston, England, is heralded as the coming long-distance runner of the world. At Hie recent sports of the South London Harriers he entered in the Three-mile Handicap and was placed on the 60yds line, with G. Holdaway lo keep him company. There were 84 starters in the race, and Coales and Holdaway were virtually the ecratch men. A contemporary says that never since Shrubb's performance has such fine distance running been seen in England. Holdaway dashed off at Hie start, but Coales soon got on even terms, and quickly disposing of his co-marker began to draw away. He ran right through his field, and taking tho lead in the last half-mile won, easing up, hi the hollowest fashion. His lime was 14min 47sec. Allowing for the 60yds, but considering the big field Coales had to pet outside of, he is easily inside of 15niin, which for a schoolboy is marvellous going.