CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14184, 9 April 1908, Page 10

CASH ATHLETICS.

By Sport,

April 18—Caledonian sports, Cromwell, April 20—Caledonian sports, Clyde. April 20—Caledonian sports, Waitati. April 20—HiberniSn sports, Oamaru.

A final reminder is given to all intending competitors at tho Cromwell' and Clyde sports that entries close on Saturday next, April 11, for the principal running events at both gatherings. The Winton Caledonian Society, the oldost Caledonian Society in Southland, has shown their disapproval of the action of tho Southland Society in seceding from the New Zealand Athletic Union. Their unani-

mous opinion at the special meeting held last • (Monday 1 night, 30th ult., was to the effect- that the union was dqing good "work in preventing "ringing-in," and in protecting affiliated bodies from losing money in entry (ees. Mr G. W. Woods, in championing the cause of tho Now Zealand Athletic Union stated, "that juveniles wero under tlie oontrol of thp union, which was really the point at issue. Juveniles and all other competitors at the Scottish Society's gathering had been disqualified at' the special request of several Caledonian Societies, including the Southland Society. The union had disqualified the competitors accordingly, and it was absolutely fair and just that any society should be penalised for having, in defiance of the union's action, taken entries from a disqualified competitor." One of the younger members of the society said ho thought they should look up to tho Southland Society for advice on these matters, tho latter being tho older society. The president (Mr Robert Wilson) explained that tho Winton Society was tho senior of the Southland Society, being established for clo6c on 30 years, as against

the others 16, andi in matters of this sort oould well give advice to the Southland Society.

H. H. Brinkman, of Dunedin, writes as follows:—"I was somewhat astonished to notice recently in your sports rolumn, a criticism of my performances at the Matakanui sports wherein you state I annexed

tho 150 Yards and the 220 Yards running events, and was socond in the 100 Yards and 440 Yards races. It may interest you to know that I wa6 never entered for those events, that I did not compete, and. that I was not present at tho sports. I have, indeed, apart from the informatiou disclosed in your par, very good l reason to believe that a certain disqualified runner has been competing in my name. I shall be glad if you will give this publicity, not only that any wrong impression anent

my running niay be removed, but also that the Athletic Union may have an opportunity of taking the matter up, for it certainly appears to come within their province. I shall be glad to furnish any further information required." Tile paragraph referred to was gleaned from a report of the Matakanui Sports in tho Dunsta,n Times, which refers to Brinkman's "initials" as bcine "H. R." not "H. H." as given by my correspondent, I referred the letter to Mr Corcoran, tho Union Centre secretary, and was informed: that the matter had already been taken up by tho centre, which would probably deal with the ease at this week's meeting. Champion A. B. Postle made his second appearance in Johannesburg on the 15th February, when he was billed to make an attempt upon the 50 yards record of s|sec, which had been on the books for 25 years, ■uid hold. by H. M. Thompson, of America. I be record' had been equalled in Victoria 17 years ago by "Billy" Clark, and had! been beaten by Postle, but not under conditions which wou]s have been accepted!

without question. Oil tho present occasion Postlo was timed by fivo watches, four of which recorded 5 l-ssec, tho other being a shade less. The champion was accorded a great ovation for beating the worlds record over this distance. In Teply to W. J. Smith. Rccfton:— M. J. Hanlcy, of Gore, was credited with doing 10ft llin standing broad jump (without weights) at t.ho Scottish Society's sporta on January 1, 1907, tho previous best being 10ft 6in by an amateur named A. 11. Jones (Brisbane) on October 27, 1900. The performance, cannot be placcd on record by the Athletic Union, as it was done at an unregistered gathering. From the Transvaal Leader tho following is taken:—-The debut of tho Australian' phonominal sprinter—Postlc—at the Sheffield iUinuiiig Grounds on Saturday night, February IS, attracted the largest crowd vet seen there, well over 1000 spectators gathcr- . ing to witness his contest with Arnold for the championship of tho world. Arnold's performance six weeks ago, when he beat Mitchell for tho championship of South Africa, and his lino form in all his recent running to a certain' extent justified his heroic resolve to try conclusions with tho famous Kangaroolahdcr after the latter's three weeks.at sea. To'a representative just beforo his great effort iie did not, however, express any degree of confidence. Ho. was certainly as fit as a fiddle, and proparcd to do his best, which, as events proved, was a shade better than his previous best,

Postlo on the other: hand, was admittedly not up to his best, and will not bo for a good threo weeks Ho come; Tho ten days on his land legs had been put to the best use, but his thigh sinews wero a tritto so . 1 '? with :the, training. Since his meeting with 13, K. Day, champion of England, about 15 months tt g o at Kalgoorlie, Postle has been running a boot store at Kalgoorlie, ; putting up marvellous times on the Jocal track, but not trying ;his strength against the outsido world. ' He spoke highly of tho track at tho Sheffield grounds, .which ho described as tho fairest he had ever seen, and praised the running. Ho i™, however, that ho could beat Arnold. Tho appearance of Postlo in his trial spin, along tho track was ■ tho signal for a burst/of, applause. Arnold received a much heartier welcome, a fitting tribute to his pluck. The ' real confidence of the crowd in-tho Australian was proved by the fact that there was practically no betting on the race.

In tho'first-.-distance—7s yards-tho Springbok and. the Kangaroo wore watched in silence until about 30„vds from home, but then- the groat stride of the champion made its impression, and Arnold. was loft a yard behind the tapo amidst ringing cheers, from every point of vantage. On lus return Pc6tlo received an ovation, and the opinion was freely expressed that he could give the Africander something like four yards' when at his best. Unquestionably the athletic six , feet of West Australian. bone and musclo proved his claim to be a really, great runner.. Tho onlookers .were electriliod by his performance.Oh the second distance—l2o j ; aKls—being 'ca,Hod there was not the slightest doubt in tho, mind of anyone present as to what the result would be. From half-way the champion maintained a slight lead, which, ho increased towards the finish in a manner which simply thrilled all. whoso eyes were fixed on- that effort. The visitor had maintained his title to the oliampionship of the world, and this fact was no -sooner realised than it was acknowledged, by a tremendous buret of enthusiasm,

Tins being the first occasion on which the "Emu and Kangaroo" liavo been carried by Postle' outsido the Commonwealth, Saturday's success was a good augury for future triumphs. His time in the first distanoo was 7 3-5, his best time for 75 yards being 7 1-5. For tho second distance his time was 12 l-10sec. Arnold's best timo for the latter distance was 12 3-10scc.