NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2645, 23 November 1904, Page 57

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

It will be interesting news to athletes to learn that Alfred Shrubb, the world's champion distance gunner, will leave England for New Zealand next month, a cablegram having been received from him by the New Zealand" Amateur Athletic Association to that effect. J. H. M., Ashburton. The following are the amateur records: — 100 yds (9 4-ssec), W. T. Maopherson and J. H. Hampton ; 120 yds (12sec), Stanley Rowley; 150 yds (14 4-ssec), W. T. Macpherson; 200 yds (19 9-lOsec), W. T. Macpherson; 220 yds (22 l-ssec), Stanley Rowley ; 250 yds (24 3-sseo), W. T. Macpherson; 300 yds (33£ see), W. C. Rush; 440yd 3 (50 l-ssec), W. T. Maopherson. (2) The cost of the Otago Witness and postage paid to Canada, is 27s 6d per annum. By the transfer to Auckland of Mr Felix •JVlorton, honorary treasurer of the Otago Centre, the province loses an enthusiastic supporter of amateur athletics and a keen worker in its interests. Although only holding office since the annual meeting, Mr Morton has proved a genuine worker, and his fund of knowledge and experience in connection with the sport will be hard to replace. _ Athletes in Otago will join in wishing him success in Auckland.

The second of the D.A.A.C. evening meetings will take place on Friday night at the Caledonian Grounds, when the programme will comprise a Mile and 220 yds Flat and a Half-mile Walk. Large entries have been received for tHeee events, and the Mile race should in particular furnish an exciting contest. All the known distance men are running, while the large influx of new blood will lend an additional interest. The 220 yds will also be_ worth watohing, some of tho sprinters being in first-class form, ancl intent on securing somebody's scalp at the earliest opportunity.

The members of the Civil Service Harriers and Amateur Athletic Club presented Mr Felix Morton — a vice-president of the clvb — with handsome gold-mounted cigar and cigarette holders and case prior to his departure for Auckland. The presentation was accompanied by the best wishes of his club mates for the future success and happiness of the recipient* During his term of offioe Mr Morton has worked indefati^ably in the interests of the C.S.H., and his ad-vjc-e and assistance have been much appreciated.

The first of the evening meetings promoted by the Dunedin Amateur Athletio Club*took place on Friday night at the Caledonian Grounds. The night was fine, but a lleavy wind from the bay somewhat impede^ the sprinters and militated against exceptionally fast times. The attendance of the public was decidedly encouraging, and it is to b© hoped that the programme provided on Friday and the sport witnessed will have t-h© effect of advertising these thoroughly enjoyable meetings, with a resultant benefit to the club and the sport generally. The 100 yds race brought out a good field, fywfnjxst whom were, sobjjs Bflw toer]. The

race was run in three heats, ? and good finishes were witnessed in each. In the first heat, which occupied llsec, M'Corkindale (6yds) and Clarke (Biyds) fought out the finish, the latter prevailing by a small margin. In the second heat Mooney and Christie dead-heated in llseo. Mooney appeared to win by about 6in. In the third heat the two colts Knox (6yds) ancl Palmer (4yds) had the finish to themselves, and the former won on the tape in 10|sec. In th& final heat no change took place m the field until about 20yds from home, when Knox and Palmer singled themselves out, and in a good finish Knox won by about a. yard in the good time of lOisec. Both these runners appeared to be thoroughly fit, and their performance must have opened the eyes of some of the backmarkers.

The Long Jump was not particularly interesting, Buck and Parata appearing to be out of form, and unable to find the take-off. Palmer, however, put up a good jump, and won by 4in, with his handicap in hand. He will be heard of again shortly in field events. Some novices competed in this event, and their efforts are deserving of enoouragement. The race for the Civil Service Telegraph Handicap attracted a field of 18. In the first heat Brown, who ran a splendid race, won fairly easily from Titchener, with Smith third. Campbell, from scratch, put up a fine >jn on the outside in his attempt 1 to catch th© field, but could 1 not get within , striking distance. In the second heat Pri- t deaux, who stopped on the tape, Leslie, and M'Corkindale finished almost in a line in that order. The time for the first heat was 26£ sec, and the second heat was run a second slower. Th© final had, on account of approaching darkness, to be run immediately. Prideaux, on the limit, led all the way, and seemed to have the race won when Titchener, with a fine run, cut him, I down and won by a yard. Smith was close j up third. The time was 26asec. Owing to the necessity for hurrying on the heats j some of the runners were not able to do j justice to themselves in the final, and Brown j and M'Corkindale would have run much I better but for this cause. The former, from his time and the way he won his heat, looks like the makings of a good sprinter, while M'Gorkinda-le will also improve. Titehener, the winner of the race, ha 3 been fairly successful in his earlier attempts, but seems to run with very varying fortunes. Last year h© created a favourable impression by running a sensational dead heat with Franklyn in the Civil Service Harriers' Ladies' Bracelet, but since them his performances over sprints have been mediocre. I trust his I win is the precursor of better things. ; In the dual capacity of starter and han- , dicapper Mr W. M'Donald was uniformly ] successful. The starts were good! on all 1 occasions, and the worsted tied across their marks brought the erring ones to book with great regularity. The closeness of the finishes witnessed proved the excellence of ; •the handicaps. Mr W. L. M'Curdy, the j assistant honorary seoretary, had all details j perfectly arranged, and the progTamme was j got off tc time, and without a hitch. j A Wellington telegram states that at the j Wellington College sports the senior ohampionship was won by F. Goodbehere (20 points), with M. Oram second and H. Shannon third Goodb&here a/lso won the Lady Ranfurly Cup and Lady Prendergast Cup. The junior championship was won by W. M'Laren. Goodbehere broke school records for the 250 yds Championship (27 4-ssec) and the Long Jump (20ft). Th© death is announced in Wellington of Mr Arthur Brown, better known to atliletes ( as "Brownie," who, during the past two j years, has paid great attention as coach and ; trainer to amateur o-thletes in the Empire '• City. \ :

Commenting on Champion Shrubb's latest record-breaking feat, when the little wonder s succeeded in lowering the ten-mile record, "Harrier" says: — "On this form, if Shrubb runs in Melbourne, our best local runners < will need! a start of one mile in ten !"

A schoolboy athlete of exceptional ability is J. Brake (th© new schools champion), who at the Hawthorn College (Melbourne) sports meeting recently created a reoord by winning every event in the open championship of his college— 100 yds (10 4-ssec), 440 yds (55 4-ssec), High Jump (sft 3£in), Broad Jump (19ft 6in), Throwing Cricket Ball (93yds 2ft 6in), and kicking th& football (59iyd«). Add to these his pole-vaulting Oft 2in) and hurdling at the Public Schools championship of Victoria, and that he can put the shot over 30ft, and it will be recognised that his all-round athletic ability is something to ponder on. The secretary of the Mataura Athletic Society forwards a copy of the programme of the tenth annual sports meeting, to be held on Boxing Day, December 26. There aro 22 events on the programme, principal ol which is the Sheffield Handicap of 135 yds. Nominations close on December 12.

Peter O'Connor, of Waterferd, Ireland, the world's champion long jumper, is said to have retired from the track, on his marriage with a wealthy young woman from the same county. One of his presents to his young bride was a waistbelt containing no fewer than 22 gold medals, each one of which stands for a championship in the United States or England. His longest jump was in 1901, when he covered 24ft 9in, and only recently, at Wicklow, he ran 100 yds in 10 l-sseo, a high jump of sft lOin, and a broad jump of 23ft 7in, all at one sports meeting. The secretary of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletio Club forwards a copy of the programme for the annual athletic meeting of the club, which is to take place at Timaru on Friday, December 16. The events include 120 yds Maiden, 100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds, Half-mile, Mile, Steeplechase of one ancl a-half miles, 120 yds Hurdles, High and Long Jumps, Throwing the Cricket Ball, Half-mile. Relay Race, 120 yds, 440 yds, and Half-mile for schoolboys attending any school affiliated to the Public Schools Sports Association, Mile Bicycle Race, 100 yds Consolation, and 75yds Officials' Race. A yery excellent afternoon's sport. Competitors from Dunedin may rely on having a good time if they make the journey. I had nearly forgotten to add that entries close with Mr Cuthbert Hafper, .the hon. seoretary, on Friday, December 9. Denis" Horgan, the Irish athlete, at the Mtinsfcer sports on September 18, is said to have eclipsed the 161b shot-pu,tting record of 48ft 7£in, created by Ralph Rose, the Michigan University athlete in April last, by putting the shot" 48ft 9£in. At the same iiiesting R. Kinvan won the High Jump with an effort of sft 10£ in. This was beaten at the Limerick sports qn the same day by Con Leahy, who is credited with the splendid perf prmance 6ft 4£in.

This is the season when the sports programme of the "apnual gathering" is over the laud. Latest to hand is that forwarded by the secretary of the Wairarapa Cale-

donian Society, which sets forth that_ oa Monday, January 2, the twenty-ninth annual shorts meeting will take place. Thera are no fewer than 36 ©vents on the 'gram', which is as varied as it is interesting. Entries close on Saturday, December 10.

Georges Hackenschmidt, the " Russian lion," the champion wrestler and fclrong 1 man of the world, who is under engagement to Mr Harry Riokards, arrived in Melbourne by the German steamer Barbarossa. Hackenschmidt, on being interviewed, stated that he had competed in 40 championships, and had won all of them. Ho had met and defeated all the wrestlers claiming to be the world's champions excepfe Carkeek, and two others who were afraid of him. He had given Carkeek every opportunity, and had challenged him times out of number, but Carkeek would neveU meet him. He would deposit any sum with the editor of a paper to bind a match with Carkeek. He was also desirious of arranging a match with any wrestler in Australia-, and would pay £150 to any man whom lief could not throw. His greatest struggle was against Jenkins, the American. Haekensohmidt, who was born in 1877, has a chesfc measurement of 52in, biceps 18^in, thighs 27in, and is sft lOin in height, and weighs 14st 81b. Haokcnschmidt holds 14 world's championships for weight-lifting, and has lifted 501b more with one hand than Sandowhas done. Axa, the "largest athlete in Europe," is also a passenger by the Barbarossa, under engagement to Mr Harry Rickards. He stands' over 6ft, and weighs 19st. He is a wrestler and weight-lifter. More programmes! The Roxburgh Athletic Sports Club forward their programme; for the annual sports meeting to be held! on Boxing Day. Of an interesting list of events, the Club Handicap (120 yds) is tho principal.' Entries close on December 10. Stamford Bridge running grounds', tha scene of many wonderful track performances by the present and past generation of athletes, is now (says an English writer), so far as sport is concerned, a thing of thfer past, for with the' conclusion of the L.A.C. autumn meeting on Saturday, September 24, it shut its gates to the funner in order to open them for the house-breaker and! builder's cart. The closing of the oldJ ground, for which London A.C. men had! quite a sentimental interest, had been staved! off for as long a period as possible. Indeed, after the death of the last proprietor, with which the lease expired as well, an extension of time was granted to the club irf order that they could finish their season or 1904. However, with that concluded, thef end has arrived, and now the L.A.C. will have to find a new home, but where that will be is at present a matter for conjecture. Rumour points to Quen's'Club, but, so far as that is concerned, nothing definite* has been settled. Happily for metropolitan, athletes, Queen's Club is at least safe from the tentacles of the rapacious builder, who during the past few years has made such havoo with our playing fields.

Mr Harry Pearce, the champion of Australia, who is to wrestle the local crack, Mick Powley, on Friday evening, has had! a wonderful career as a wrestler, and iti may not be out of place to give a few of his performances. Pearce made his fii'sfc appearance in public in 1887, when, at the? Melbourne Exhibition, he won the amateur middle and heavy-weight championship of Australia. In the same year Pearce defeated Morris E-wans and W. Hatwcod fon the middle-weight championship of Australia. In 1888 he met and defeated W. Seabright, champion middle-weight of Scotland, and drew with Martin M'Caffrey, who was middle-weight champion of America and! wrestling partner of the late Clarence Whistler. In the same year he drew with! Andre Christ 01, the masked man of Paris, for the Graceo-Roman middle-weight chamr pionship of the world. In this match Pearce and his opponent wrestled for one hour and! 20 minutes without a fall. January, 1889, saw Pearce defeat Christol for the middleweight championship of the woVld, and this after his opponent had wrestled a four ties draw with Whistler for the championship of the world. At Broken Hill, in 1890, Pearce won upwards of 26 matches in various styles. In Tasmania iv 1891 he again beat Morris Ewans, also J. M'Kenney, Casey, and Dam Leahy, of New Zealand. In 1892 he defeated Eugene Kneebono for the heavyweight championship of Australia. _ From Tasmania Pearce journeyed to Western. Australia, where he met and twice defeated! Paddy Roaohock for the five-style championship of Australia and £200 a-side. Roachock had previously beaten Donalcli Dinnie, Duncan C. Ross, M 'Hardy, andi several others. Als.op, the Afghan champion, also succumbed to Pearce. This match was for £400 a-side. In 1894 the subject of this sketch defeated Combo Singh, champion of Ceylon, and in 1895 George Leopold, Jack Pearn, and C. Watson, tho latter the champion of Canada, also fell victims. In 1896 Lucifer, the 12st champion of America, went under. Between tha years 1896 and 1900 Pearce, having gone into business, gave big wrestling a spell, but' he agavn came out in 1901, and wrestled Massa Singh (neck and arm holds barred tc Pearc-e) for five hours without a fall. Ik January, 1902, h© again met Singh, and this time defeated him in 2min 22sec. From th's time on to the present date Pearee betaken part in upwards of 400 contests, and has Only lost one. This was against Professor Miller's Unknown in the Melbourne Athletio Club. On this occasion Pearco was giving his opponent two falls in one hour. Mr Pearce states that he is prepared to wrestle any man in five styles.

The third annual contest for the ' championships of Victoria, inaugurate-, conducted by the Victorian Amateur Atui^tic Association, brought to light some promising young athletes, who in one or two instances put up remarkably good times ob a wet track. The senior events resulted! as follows: — Putting the Shot— F. Boynton (Wesley College), 33ft 7in; 100yds,— J.Prout (Wesley College), 18£ eec; Mile Walk —A. Hill (Christian Bros.), Bmm 7 4-ssec; High Jump— J. Brake (Hawthor; College). sft 2?in; One Mile— C. Silvester amilloa College), 4min 47sec; 440 yds— S. n-avenall (Wesley College'), 57sec; Pole Vault — J. -Brake (Hawthorn College), 9ft 2in ; 120 yds Hurdles— S. Gravenall (Wealey College), 18sec; Broad Jump — J. Brake (Hawthorn College), 20ft B^in.

The failure of American colleges to support the Olympic Gamee at St. Louis is: chargeable to the blundering International 1 Committee of the Olympic Society. Firs^ it blunderer by granting the event ' > Chicago vith the latter' s cirous-liko plans : it blundered r.S"am by endorsing change o£ date and place in favour of St. Louis, as suggested by the Chicago Committee, that' had fallen in dire funk when plans of at rival athletic hippodrome were put forth 1 by the Exposition. From first to last the International Committee showed little 0.0a 1

ception of the significance of the classic . event. -- " Both Chicago and St. Louis sought to told the games, not because of their tradition or desire to nourish and perpetuate them, but for strictly business purposes. .Chicago had planned an athletic "midway," iwith the games as excuse for the venture ;

- St. Louis thought them a profitable method ©f advertising the Exposition. The games .went to St. Louis, along with the airships and the merry-go-rounds, bttt despite much epistolary effort, university support Btob withdrawn in America, as in England. - jOn the last Olympiad the games were made ■ji side-show of the Paris Exposition, at the

Sacrifice of -much prestige and many entries. This occasion, in again making the .Olympian games a side-show, the support bf the university athletio world was lost. fThus of the three revivals of these ancient jeports, only one, the first, at Athens, was Sn sympathy with tradition. If these - ""games are to be held in the spirit which kuled the ancients, and the spirit which

aruled-the moderns at Athens, one or two

Alterations must be taken — either -the' In- - jfcernational Committee must change their fpirit or the Olympic Society must change - - its International Committee.

While the absence of college athletes from. St. Louis was rather hard on James " 93. Sullivan, who worked so diligently for > 'success, and whose management was all "' 'that could be desired, yet it was the re\*ult^of praiseworthy revulsion against using _.Jthis t classic event as an advertising side-show.