ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13958, 18 July 1907, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

lit Auiibde.

HARRIER. FIXTURES. —Saturday. July 20.— Dunodin Harriers.—Run from North-Eost Valley Gymnasium. Civil Soryico Harriers.—Three-mile Railway Handicap, Forbury. Y.M.C.A. Barriers.-—Run from the residence

of Mr Wm. Dawson, High street, Roslyn. Dunedin Anglican Harriers. —Bun from iesi-

denco of Mr Wm. Brcen, Serpentine Avenue. Cavtruham. Harriors.—Vice-president's Handi-

cap, three miles and s-half, at the Cliffs. St. Joseph's' Harriers.—Eun from St. Clair

Baths. Congregational Harriers.—Run from Morning-

A very neat membership card and syllabus of club races comes to hajid from Mr Victor M'Donakl, honorary secretary of tho Balclutlia Harriers. During the present soasodi thrco races will be held, the first, over four miles of cross-counuy, taking plaeo on tho 24th inst. A large number of niembons are in aotivo trainkig for this race, and a good field is aesurod.

A rcid race of five miles will bo held on August 21, and tho club's championship over the eame distance will take place on September 11. Tho club's management is to bo congratulated on its chodeo of distance, as each race will provido a thorough test of cross-country runnore. Too often it happens with clubs who reputedly cover eight to 10 mijes every Saturday that five miles or more is coneidorod too great a task in a race.

Tile offioe-bearera for tho present year include Mr W, Guest, who lias continued to take a kindly interest in the club as', president, while Mr C. C. M'Lachlan occupies tho important position of oaptain. An old Dunodin runner, Mr E. A. Bone, is luuulicapper, while Messrs'S. H. James and \. M'Donald _ are' deputy-captains. The new lease of life taken by tho club must bo especially pleasing to Mr M'Donald, to whose efforts tho success attained is almost entirely due.

From an unofficial source I learn that the Wellington Centre will oppose the proposed roconstitution of the council at tlio present stage. .Wellington favours leaving tho matter to the next conference of centres. Ottvgo has already decided in the same way, and Southland will also. Canterbury Ceritro is also oppoeed to the motion, so that the four live-" centos' are' against tho schomo. As far as Auckland is oonoerned, amateurism appears to havo been forgotten in that city, and as no one seems to bother whether" the sport is ever to bo revived there, it is almoet farcical for the northern body to be represented on the council. The delegates who represent the Auckland province should take etepts to revive amateurism in tho district. ' '

Balclutha Harriers intend to make a big effort to be represented in th 6 Civil Service lOrDiile Handicap on August 10.'' If Mr Victor M'Donald can train on he will most certainly enter, while sevoral .others will also compete' tJio healthy producte of tho fine, fresh air and open country 10 miles across country .presents no terrors. A special meeting- of the Otago Centre is being held this week to consider objections to the date oliosen. for the Intor-club Raoe. It is stated that some of the clubs will not bo able to enter a team if tho raco is hold in Octobor. Previously the race has been held in .August, but this year it was decided to hold it on La.bouv Day, combined with the Intenprdvincial Championship, tho idea beuij? to establish the latter raoo with tho assistance of the Inter-dub Race.

Next week a deputation representing the Otago Centre will visit Palmoreton South and Oatnaru with a view to establishing clubs in both those towns. Circulars are now being prepared).' and will bo sent out It is understood that a number of likely runnera havo'eienifiey their intention of. joining in both plaoee, and the centre's efforts aro being well seconded by some of the older supporters of amateurism in both towns. ..■ ' •'.','

Balolutha will 6ond a team for the Interclub Championship' this season.' The, split in the weekly, half-holiday has seriously affected harrier-running in Ipvercargill thie season, most of tho clubs boing divided up behvoen Wednesday and Saturday. An effort ie being , , made to overcomo tho difficult)-, and it is to be hoped it will result successfully. ■ ;Mr Arthur A. Paapc, of Inverca,rgill, made a flying business trip to Dunedin last week. The • cross-country .enthusiast tella me that a club will in all probability bo shortly formed in Win ton, w&ilo at Riverton, wjiere o.ne. was formed recently, the sport is booming. . . •

The Civil Service Club are busily engaged in-the details of their 10-mile 'Cross-country Handicap. ,The course selected last year will bo carefully pone over, with a viow to improvement if possible. The race is creating great interest, ae it is tho first 10-mile held in these parts over a proporlymeasurcd .cross-country track, and tho race will, take precedence as tho blue riband of harrier liandieaD running. , Oh July' Zl the St. Joseph Harriers lmvo inyited. members of sister clubs to a combined run, which will take place from St. Joseph's Ball, Rattra.y street.

The Civil Service Harriers decide their Throo-iailo Railway Handicap. at JVbur'y on Saturday next. As the entries for , this event are good, a keen race is anticipated. The tendency amongst harriers is to <ro in for long distances in their tune on Saturday afternoon. On© club last week undertook a- triflo too rauoh, with tlie result that some of the members were exhausted at tho finish.'

Tho Y.M.C.A. Harriers had a good run on Saturday in tho direction of Brighton, finishing up via the Green Island beach and tho hills above Burneide.

Tile Congregational Harriers' Three-mile Race, decided last Saturday en Tahuna Park, provided a good contest. The winner turned upin K. Hodge, off the 30sec mark, and his win was a thoroughly' deserved one. Early in the season he was noted' as a promising runner, and should turn out a good stayer in another season or so; Wilson, off 456e0, ran into second place. He is also a now man—in fact, the first, four aro this year's men, and the club has in' theso promising materia]. The race was somewhat surprising for the total non-suoooss of tho scratch men, W. Hciglrway and T. P, Laurenson, the former of whom retired ou account of the stitch, and the latter on tho development of a "head" when in a practically commanding position. Apropos of the suggestion to hold the Inter-club Teame' Bace, Otago and Southland Intcrprovincial Race, and New Zealand Cross-country Championship in October, a southern writer states that the date is too late, as the weather is far too warm "for any sane person to attempt to negotiate five miles across country at racing pace." He also points out that it, is Otago's turn to visit Southland, and remarks that the boys down south will fight for their rights, antt keep this annual race between Otago and Southland on tho syllabue as before. What, about having the race run at Gore this season? List year's inter-club course would be an ideal one.

The class of running in the Gore Club has improved beyond my most, sanguinn anticipations (says a local writer), and ehould the Otago-Southland Interprovincial Orcee-country Championship be held in Southland (as it 6hould be). Gore should have at least six representatives out of a total of 10 runners.

At Goro on June 26 F. TVcnVbath, tho Southland' representative, put up _fastest time in a four-mile road race, covering tho distance in 21min 59sec, 'or 24seo faster than E.. E. Bust's record of two years ago.

The popularity of distance running in England is demonstrated by the large entry of 141 a mile handicap, recently put on the South London Harriers', programme. ■ . - It wae expected that a team of harriers from South Canterbury would take part in tho Cross-country Championship in Otago, but it now appears that the Timaru boys cannot make the trip, It is not likely that either Wellington or Canterbury will bo able to «nd a team-(soys'a Christchurch' writer), so that only Otago and Southland will be represented at the meeting. As the terms of the championship stand, there must be'three centre teams or no enampionship, eo that it is not likely, this year at ajiy rate, that a eross-coiinjry chine.pioaghip. jfjll tftka PfeiSei , '

Thomaa Longboat, a full-blooded Onan< dago Indian, from tho Caledonia Reserve ia the Niagara Peninsula, is tho latest athlete to secure World renown by foot-running performances. Ho recently put up a wonderful performances in winning the Boston (Mass., U.S.A.) Marathon Race over a distance of 25 miles, in the, fast timo of 2hr 24min 24sec. 'Bio previous best timo for thocourso was 2hr 29mm , 23 3-sseo, and tho second man (Robert Fowler) also got under it, but was 3inin slower than the "Bcdskin." One hundred and fourteen runners started, and some 150,000 people watched tho finish, standing for over two hours in tho rain.,' Tho firpt fivo niilcs wns over dusty going, but after' that rain set in, which assisted the athlete considerably, as not time was lost in stopping to moisten tho mouth and throat.. Over tho dusty part of tho journey Longboat was content to let others make tho pace, and" ho remained about ninth place, running very'flat-footed in unattractivo style. When the rain came, and, later, tho hilly portion of tho journoy, tho Indian moved up', simply laUghinfr at tho others on tho climbs—ho appeared to go without effort up tho grades, and didn't slacken his paco. ■ Potch, a Toronto pod., hung closely to Longboat, and at halfway tho pair were well in front; later, , however, Petoh failed to hang, a.iid the lender forged ahead, and .was novor again approached, finishing , up as fresh as a daiej amidst thousands of enthusiasts. ■-His running early in the race was disappointing to cxperte. On moving to tho front Longboat ohanged hie style to a long,' swinging strido on his toes, 'and fcopt- it Rding till the finish. Longboat is 20 years of ago,. sft llin in height, and woifjhs 1451b, He bears all the noted characteristics of tho Indian, race. With the typical square jaw and the loosely-knit frame, tho Redskin ie indeed a facsimile of tho school-book description of the red nun. Stubborn to,a marked degree, the famous runner is a very difficult subject for a trainer to handle. Whon in aotion the Indian is anything but a pretty ■ runner, with his rolling shoulders and long, loose,, ground-covering strides. Longboat sprang from obscurity into; prominenco by winning tho Hamilton Herald Marathon Race, of 19 miles 160 yards, last vear, covering the journey in lhr 49min 25sco. Ho worked right up , till the day before, tho raoe, and his starting was regarded as » joke, and odds of 100 to l.wcro laid him. After tho Herald raoe ho won tho Ward 15 miles, bold at Toronto, on October 28, 1906, from iv Gold of 60 competitors, in'.llw 31inin 10 2-ssec, being almost 10 miles per hour' on a road deep in mud. Following the aforesaid raoe, Longboat took up his residence, at Toronto, Canada, and wont into training. On Christmas Day he won a 10m'ilor in s<fniin 32soc, against 22 rurniore, in 2min below the record. lii a tkrec-milp race hold later, against. Bonhoß, tho New York orack, lie met defeat, but the race did not suit him, as. it wae run indoors. At Easier Longboat ran' an oxccllont half-mile, running ,i« niud all the way, and beating v the record.

CASH ATHLETICS. Bt- Spobt. ■ :

At tho Auckland Athletic: Club's sports on Wednesday, July 3, Rufo Naylor put up a purse of £20 and a fold medal for a lOOyde professional ohamniqnship. Thefo wore five, starters—Day, M'Laohlan, Coles, Western, and Mylee, the weather was bad, with a strong wind against the runners. Day was favourite at 6 to 4-, with M'Lachlan at ovens, while 10 to' or;over could two been secured about the others. Coles was first away, and at the half-dis-tanoo was leading by over a yard. Ho held his advantage, ohd Avon all out by a foot Day was • second, iiiohes in front of, M'Lachlan. The time was 10 2-ssec. It was tho general opinion that the, result might have been different, and no dnubt both second' and third ■ men could beat Colee every day in the week. Coles is an Aucklander, who is 21 years of ago, and made his first appearance at.-'Mastpr-.-ton'on January' l'.last. Atthe noxt meeting, in tho same, town ho won .tho 110 yds and: 220 yds handioaps. .Hβ then journeyed to Gladstone (Wairarapa), • where, in ,ona day, lie won the 220 yds hurdles and 100 yds, 220 yds, arid 440 yds. flat handicaps. Soon after these successes ho came.to Auok'land, and has lately been.: competing in the novice handicaps held at tho Khyber Pass ground. . ■ ' ■•■.•■.' .Some marvellous' jumping.' , .feats wero accomplished by Tom Colquitt, the world's champion jumper, of St. Helens,' at tho Monastery Grounds, Suttoii' (says tho Sporting Chronicle), ■ in: connection with tlie' annual school festival and sports. There was an attendance of some 3000 persons, and Colquitt attempted, to break tho world's record at tho following' jumpe: Three standing jumps without weights, three standing jumps with woights. and two backward jumps with .weights. ; In all three attempts ho was successful,- and ,the following results testify to' tho marvellous capabilities of the St., Helens man as a jumper:—Throe , jumps without weights, Colquott covered 36ft 3in; thrco standing jumps with:- weights—th« distance covered by Colquitt was 42ft 9inj two baokward jumps with msighta, Colquitfc covered 23ft 4in. The first-named jump. 36ft 3in) is not a , record, for the reason that Colquitt cleerod 36ft Aim on August 25;'1900, at St. Helfcns—a performance that he has probably, overlooked. In a letter to "Prodigal" Colquitt, asks for recognition ot the above in the Australian Reoord Book (Miller's Sporting Pamphlet), and also refers to a performance at Bury, Lance, on September 15, 1906. He claims 17ft Win as the longest jump without a rim—iu fact, ho describes it as the "longest jump 'from a -standing .start." • This, of course, is not a standing' broad jump, but doubtless refers .to.tho last spring of a scries of broad jumps (probably three) with weights. ..' ■■

■■■-,' CRICKET. Br Longi Sup. ■Local crioketors and enthusiasts will regret to hear of tho 'illness of-.H. Siedeberg, the Carisbrook cricketer. Ho is euffer : ing from an attack of rheumatic fever, but Lam pleased to be ablo to record' that ho is improving, and may be expected to bi> out and about again .in■ thel bourse of .a week, or two., . '~ .-.•■.. Thedistriofc scheme of cricket has not been the- success anticipated in Christchurch, and a' certain section in the Cathedral City are agitating for a reversion ot the old eystem of club cricket. A London cable announces the death of Mr J. A. Murdoch, assistant secretary of tho Marylebono Club, who was out in Australia? with the last English team. ■Worley, the Kent batsman, experienced hard luck in the middle of May in missing a century by a single run on two occasions against Northamptonshire and Sussex respectively. ' Fielder, tho Kent bowler, had fino figures against Lancashire in May, taking 6ovcn> wickets for 31 runs, and being chiefly instrumental, in dismissing Lancashire for 103. ' In one week he captured 23 wickets for 153 rune. •'■ ' . i ,■ James Edwards, a wicket-keeper, caught a wasp iu mistake for tho ball, and waa. badly stung when .playing for Marlborough. v.- Hungerford, on Hungorford Down, on August 27, 1835. - •Details of A. E.-Trott's romaTkablo bowling in his benefit match, Middlesex v. Somerset, on May 22, at' Lord's, are now to hand. In the second innings of SomoKcfc he disposed of Lewis lbw,-and. bowled E. S. M. Poyntz,-S..M. J.Woode, andl.E. Robson. with successive balls, and later in the same innings got rid of 0. C. Moidaunt (caught), Rev. A. P. .Wickham (bowled), and' Bailey (caught), thus again performing tho hattrick. Trott's bowlim; has boon consistently successful this year, his record nearing the end of May being over ..40 wickets at sa average cost of 10 runs. My Christchuroh correspondent writes:— "Secession from district cricket in Christchurcli is in tho air. The United Club, at a meeting on Saturday week, -passed a motion favouring tho old club system. - On Saturday night last a thin meeting of tho old Midland Club followed the lead set by United, carrying a liko motion by 14 vote) to 8. No definite reason is urged against the district scheme, which has been in force only two years, but tho social side of the game seems to be the principal trouble. It is somewhat peculiar that tho bittorest onponcnts of the district sehemo axe nearly all non-playora, while tho majority of players do not' wish a change. It is certain that whilo tho newer idea may not yet have elevated the standard of play perccp. tibly. it has increased the roll of playing members in the ■ town, and brought out young players . who would not have been given a chance under the club system; and while .there- wero four senior clubs there aro now six districts. In any case, it seema premature to condemn the district idea on euch a short trial, especially,.as in overy other centre in the colonies whero it has been tried it jww proved.eminently successful after a' fairly, extended trial." •F. Tarrant.made 52 and 28, and secured six for 47 and three for 35; A. E. Trott made 1 and 85, and secured no wickets for 10 and seven for 20. for Middlesex against Somerset. Tarrant'23, six for 54 and seven for 33; Trott 38, four for 29 and two for 32, against Gloucestershire. Tarrant mado 21 and 54, and secured nix for 73 and four for 35; Trott got two for 69 and three for 43, against the South Africans, who won !>y three wickets, Voslcp.-vkuw sieht fo -*'i? in fliA 'c/»/>r>nr! ip'*'no e ' »' f.r»'.s'"<*" : H* , —".Sl •- ■ ' - i "•