NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 62

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Tlie- record of 19inin, 31 2 5-cc for four miles, created by Alfred: Shrubb, the English long-dihtanc c champion, at Preston Park, Brighton, England, on October 25, 1902, was passed by tlie Englith Amateur Athletic Association at its last meeting.

Tern Burrows, the Australian club swinger, broke the world's club-swinging record at Capetown (South Africa), on May 13, sustaining the performance for 40hr 10mm. This performance is lOuiin better than that of two other Australian* — T. B. Box and J. Griffiths — who swung a pair of 21b clubs 4-0 hours at >«;u castle on December 3 and 4, 1897.

W. M'Manu*, tho Queensland rliampion. who toured New Zealand recently, has lost his pace altogether He is hating a .'-pell, with a >iew to regaining form. If this does not impro\e him, the long athJeto intends retiring from the tra< k.

At thr> open mtrr seho'astic gamps of tho Boys' Latin School, bold at Maryland Oval, Daltitnoro (U S.A.), on May Day, the famous Georgetown T'niversity Kprinlw, Arthur P. Duffey, racod against time over 75yd«. A disagreement resulted between the timers, some- of them giving the- timo as 7 1 sfec, and the remainder 7 2-s^cc. Both of these times are lower, howevei, than the rrcord held by Maxey Long, of New York, who has a mark of 7 3 ssec.

Two records were put up in ror.n&ch'on with Lancaster Park dunnp the financial year 1902 1903. \\hu.h ended on May 31.

The receipts from cricket, amounting to £454 ss, formed a record, the previous beat cricket return having been £309, in 1897. The amount received from cycling was £239 19s sd, also a record.

Tom Nicholson's throw of the hamnier at the West of Scotland Harriers' meeting, on May 14, was the best native effort ever maklo in Scotland. His throw was 143 ft, or 2ft 4in short of T. F. Kiely'a All-comers Scottish record. It beats the best native throw by 15ft llin.

At a meting of the executive of the Australasian Athletic Union, J. Kearney's 118 ft for throwing the discus (March 17, 1903, at Brisbane) and George Hawk's 13ft 6in for throwing the 561b weight for height (same date and place), were passed as Australasian records. At the same time it was decided, in. accordance with a Tequest from tho Q.A.A.A., to take a mail vote on the question of the amateur status of aboriginals and haH castes.

A vegetarian athlete named G. H- Allen, who holds some pro\incial walking recorUs, purposes starting on a 1000 miles' walk through Scotland and Eugland, walking 50 miles a day for 20 days, and giving an address every evening on vegetarianism as the source of strength — a subject on which he has written and published a book.

At a recent meeting of the English Amateur Athletic Association, it was 'held by tho committee that the signing of a professional football form rendered the athlete so signing ineligible to compete under A.A.A. laws, even if he did not play as a profesional. On the expenses clause of the A.A.A. amateur definition, the committee held tha + "the rule covers reasonable hotel and travelling expenses in connection with championship events, but does not include i the expenses of a trainer."' j In the presence of a large attendance of ' spectators at Preston Park, Brighton, on evening of May 14, Alfred Shrubb, the ' English long-distance champion-, tried to lower W. G. George's 10-mile record of Slmin 20scc, he being the scratch man in | a handicap arranged "by the Brighton and ! County Harriers. A slight but puffy breeze ' was blowing, and this was against him. He did five miles in 25m in 15sec, but in the i sixth and eighth miles accomplished slow 1 timed, and, though he finished with a fine •spurt, he was 10 2-sseo outside George's figures. A. Aldridge was second, three-quar-i ter3 of a mil© away, and S. J. Woolley, of i the Highgate Harriers, thirtl. The handicap 1 resulted in a win for J. G- Cox, of Brighton, with smin start, his handicap time being 51min 12sec ; Woolley, 4min 15sec start, was second, and Shrubb third. Alfred H. Shrubb, the English four and 10-milos flat and national and Southern Counties cross-count rv tampion, had ' another try at record-breaking just before ' latest files to hand closed, but was unsuccessful. He won the three-mile invitation I handicap at the Manchester Harriers' sports ■ in 19min 33sec, just 9sec slower than the | record performance which Sid Thomas established at Stamford Bridge on June 3, 1893. C. I. Shaw, Warrington H., 10Qyd3 start, was second to Shrubb at Manchester. The New Zealand Mail and several other papers in the colony have reprinted over ' a column of the career of the West Coast wrestler, Harry Dunn, from the Otago Witness witihout acknowledgment.

I received a note from W. F. Simpson last week (says "Sprinter"), in which the long-distance champion gave me particulars of p. rather nasty accident he sustained on June 10. On the morning of that day he was shunting on the railway at Lyttelton. While getting on the engine his foot slipped off and was caught in the front of the cowcatcher. Fortunately ho had a firm hold with both hands, and was able to avoid falling in front of the engine. A medical examination showed that no bones were broken, but Simpson's foot received a, nasty wrench, and he waa ordered to his home. The injured parts swelled badly, and it will be some time yet before he is fully recovered.

By the last Mail (says the same authority) W. F. Simpson received a long letter from J. Binkg, the English mile champion, whom he met during his trip least year to the Old Country. The contents are very intere«ting, and the inquiries after George Smith and "your new man. Webster," show that tho WTiter is maintaining an interest in colonial athletic doings. Referring to himself, Binks states t/iat Bi'rce his victory in tho championship last year a series of mishaps has kept him from striking his best form again. At time of writing he wa* making another s^n-t at training, but warcaly .hoped to be thoroutrhlv fit for this year's championphips, to be held at Northampton in July. Binks writes with unstintpd admiration of the "marvellous Shrubb," and considers that if he were le*6 impetuous in forcing the pace during the early part of his distance races he would easily lowrr the world's records, and would get near 51min for 10 miles. He mentions that Shrubb has rpeorded 4min 19 3-ssec for a mile, in training, and expects him to win both one-mile and" four- mile championfchipo this year. The Melbourne University sports w*.re held on the 10th jmd 12th inst., with a fair attendance of onlookers each d-*v. Trinity and Ormoiul mflde a good fwrht for the inter-university chamr)io.n?hkD. which the former eventually won by 65* point* to 61i. H. H. Hunter and L. M. Macpherson did fin© performance, the former scoring 27 points for his college, while Mie latter won three championship.? and a handicap event, and »a« «ccond m another championship Appended are the results: — INTER-COLLBG JATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

100 Yard*.— H. H Hunter (T), 1 ; F. Meyer (O.). 2, L. M. Maepherson (O.), 3. Time, 11 1 120 Yards Hurdles— L,. M MarplieTson (O ), • 1 H. H. Hnnt&r (T ), 2. E. A. Gardiner -T.), 3' Wonby6iP. Timo 17 l-ssec. 1 Hiirh Jump.-H. R. Holmes <T), sft lin. 1; J T. I^wton (O) aJid M. C. Davics (O), 4ft lira, 2

2"0 Yaids-F H. Htm«*r (T ), 1 : F E. Mevpr (O), 2, L Arnold (T). 1 AA on com.foHeb y by two yards. Time 24 2-sser. i Lonfi Jump.-L. M. Macpher=on (0). 20ft 9Jin. 1. H. H. Hunter (T.), 20ft 6Jin, 2; E. A Ciariiiner (T.), 20ft lin. 3. On« Mil«.-T* Arnold (T.), 1 : E. P. Oldham (O ) "> F. fiava.Ti-Duffy (O.), 3. Won by =six varcl^"' R"f«l thud. Time, snnn 5 2-ss.ec WTHi-X W B-rett(O) 1; T^ M Macpher-on' (O ). 2; H. M. Z. Itoss (T.), 3 AVon by two yards in 56 l-ssc:. I Tlie follow ingr ar© the results of ilie Mp-lbourno I'iiivereity championships- — lOOvtl" —F- E. M6>-cr, 1; L. M. Macphcrron, 2; V. F. Crowe. 3. A fino finish. Timo, 11 2 s*ec. Wiyds.—'L. II Macpherson, 1 ; H. Sutton, 2 Won by half a yard Time, 55 4 smm\ RFOyfte— H. Sutton. 1; N. W. Barratt. 2; It. 'L. Forsyth. 3. Another good race

Time, 2min 7 l-ssec. Cue Mile.— H. Sufc- V ton, 1; If. Arnold, 2; F. L. Bavies, 3". Woo by syds. Time, smm 4 4-ssec. 120 yd* Hurdles.— L. M Maopherson, I; E. A. Gardner, 2. "Wort easily. Timo, 19 2-ssec Running High Jump. — H. R. Holmes, sft 3in. 1 ; N. W. Barratt, sft 2m, 2- J T Lawton, sft, 3. Running Broad Jump — L. M. Maopherion, 20ft 9in, 1 ; J. T. Lawton, 19ft sin, 2; E. A. Gardner, 19ft 2in, 3. During the 30 odd years it has been in existence, the clut) known tbe world over as the South Loadojx Harriers has turned out many a fine athlete. The most recent "find," Alfred Shrubb, may, however, be safely t>nt down as the pick of th© S.L.H. bn«ket." Shrubb's fsino ia known wherever athletics are thought of (says London Sportsman), and it wculd be waste of time to go into even a few of the many excellent tlnnga he has accomplished. Champion at four and 10 miles on the flat, aad National crosscountry champion for the last three years, Shrubb. on the evening of May 21, attacked th> three-mile record of 14min 24-see, standing at the time to the credit of Sid Thomas, of the Ranelagh H. A meeting was arranged for this purpose by the comanittee of Sbrubb'a olwb, and held on the- L.A.C. Ground, Stamford Bridge. In order to give- Shrubb a chance of creating new figures a handicap was framed, in which starts were given uip to 310 yds. lhe weather was perfect, saving for ju&t a little too much wind, while the path proved in exce'lent condition. Shrubb. took an exercise canter p.cout 6 o'clock, and then retired to the dressing room until lve> was called to the mark at 10 minutes past 7. By this time th© wind had dropped somewhat, and, amid a good deal of excitement, Mie little man went after his field of 15. Putting on the pace, ho covered his first quarter in 62sec, and when the mile had been reeled off in 4min\ 343 ec, the opinion pro voiled that Shrubb had again started too fast. His sixth quarter was a slow one, but when the ohainpion, running like a deer, had covered two miles in 9min 27 2-ssec, it was seen that he had only to keep on at a decent pace to accomplish the task he was attempting. Shrubb was a shade fagged in the eleventh quarter, which occupied 75aec. His success, however, was assured, and, running clean out, the harrier beat the record by 6 2-sseo. Shrubb'e times were as follows: —

The first race of the Civil Service Harriers, a sealed handicap, was held 3n Saturday afternoon, the course selected — from St. Clair Hotel around (outside) Forbury Park — equalling a. distance of one inilo and threequarters. There were about 18 starters, who all got away well together. Clancy got home first, but on the handicap being unsealed tlve prizes were awarded to Goodmanson (30see) 1, Dickson (30sec) 2, Reynolds (45s«c) 3. The distance was covered in. 9min 7see.

J Mile i Mile i Mile L Mile LI Miles 11 Miles .. 1 2 1J Miles .. 2 11 2 Mi'es .. 3 22 24 Miles .. 4 34 21.2 1 . Miles „ 5 47 2J Miles ..703 Miles in. a. .. 813 .. 9 27 2-5 .. 10 42 .. 11 55 .. 13 10 . . 14 17 3-5