WELLINGTON CLUB'S MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 58

WELLINGTON CLUB'S MEETING.

WELLINGTON, March 25. The local athletic club enjoyed splendid weather to-day for its meeting, at which the presences of Shrubb (England), Duffey (America), and the two Australians (Wheatley and Widmer) v.-ere the chief attractions. During the morning the. wind changed to all points of the compass, and at times dark clouds threatened, but, fortunately, before noon those had rolled by, and left the weather all that could b© desired; there being a light southerly breeze blowing during the afternoon, not sufficiently strong to interfere with the competitors, but enough to temper the sun's rays. Betwe-en 6000 and 7000 were present, and some £300 was taken at the gates and stand, exclusive of large .sales of tickets in town during the week. The track was in capital order, and Duffey spoke in high praise of the springing ground. In the cycling events there were some rather awkward spills, but these were the fault of the riders rather than from any defect in the ground. Kniell. who came down in the two-mile event, had his elbow dislocated, but none of the other riders sustained more than a shaking. Duffey only started in events up to 100 yds. and, though he had only one win out of his three starts, he gave a very fine display, and had he run in the final of the 100 yds up to his heat form he should have won. In the Dash Handicap over 50yds he was ahead a couple of yards before reaching the tape, but young Goodbeh&re, a most promising pedestrian, and student at Wellington College, caught him, and just won. Goodbehere's win was immensely popular, and he was carried off the field shoulder-high. This lad also won both the inter-college championships, and gives every promise of developing into a claimant for championship honours. Shrubb's efforts in the Mile and Three-mile Handicaps showed that he had not yet shaken off the illness that overtook him in Melbourne. He ran with great pluck in each of his essays, but was at the finish beaten rather easily. Bradbury and Prenderville, who finished in front of him in the respective handicaps, will -jset be heard of in races over distances. Bradfeuw won by about his handicap, but in the three-mile event Shrubb considerably reduced the gap between him and the ultimate winner. In the 75yds Handicap there was slight trouble with Duffey and Widmer in th-eir heat. Both repeatedly attempted to beat the pistol, and finally Mr Watson, the starter, ordered them off. The committee, however, decided to allow them to start in the second and third heat respectively, but Mr Watson declined to act as starter, and the services of another starter had to b© called on for that race. Duffey eventually won the final. J. Arnst, the wellknown cyclist, was in rare form, and he won the whole of the cycling events on the programme without really being pushed, and in good time too. Lambert should have won the Half-mile Walk, b\-.t he lifted when near the tape and well ahead of the field, the result being his disqualification. In the Two-mile Walk Boss, who finished third, was disqualified for lifting. The followingare the results : —

440 Yards Handicap — R. W. Laughlan, 35yds, 1; H. W. King, 18yds, 2; L. W. Cozens, 35yds, 3. A large field started, but Widmer^ Wheatley, and Pollock were scratched. Won by 5 yards. Time, 52sec. 100 Yards Public School Championship. — J. Forbes (Clyde Quay). Time, 11 4-53ec.

100 Yards Inter-college Championship. — F. W. Goodbehere (Wellington College). 1; BQuill (St. Patrick's College), 2; H. Seymour (St. Patrick's College), 3. Won easily. Time, 10 l-ssec.

Long Jumo. — F. G. Brace (lft 6in handicap), 18ft llinj 1; G. Mathews (6in), 18ft 9in), 2; P. M'Naniara (lit), 18ft 3in, 3.

Mile .Handicap. — J. Bradbury (Wairarapa), 60yds, 1; G-. A. Wheatley (Victoria), 4oyds, 2; F. A. Delamere (Wellington), 90yds, 3. Pollock did not start. Bradbury soon began to thread his way through the leaders, and Wheatley, too, gained ground, but Shrubb never reduced the gap of the leaders. Bradbury won by about 12 yards from. "Wheatley. Shrubb finished fifth, quite 50 yards behind the winner,

whose time was 4min 25 2-3 se c; Shrubb's, 4 nun 36spc.

320 Vaids Handicap. — J. Carpenter (Auckland) 10\yds, 1, T. beddon. 7yds, 2, W. Wallace, 7yds, 3- None of the visitois staited. A Rood race. Yon by about a foot. Time, 1] 3-3*ec. _ r Half-mile Walk.— F. Ross, scr. 1 ; 11.I 1 . Meston, 110 yds, 2. Lambert was winning easily, but when Hearing the winning post, and no one near him, he spurted, and was disqualified for lifting, having previously been cautioned, lime, 3mm 15sec. 120 Yards Hurdles.— G. Smith (Auckland), 16yds behind, 1, b\ Oewes, scr, 2, X. Todd (Auckland), 10yds behind, 3. Won very easily. Time, 17 4-ssec. One-milo Bicycle Handicap — J . Arnst, scr, 1; F. Cramp. 120 yds, 2, W. Cameron, 120 yds, 3.' Wort easi'y. Time, 2mm 19 2-ss-ec. 75 Yrrds Handicap.— Duffey, scr, 1; Stubbs, 2',yds, 2 ; Widmer, lyd, 3. Won by inches. Time, 7 l-o^ec. 440 Yaids Inter-college Championship.— F. W. G-ooabehere, 3 , H. Seymour, 2; H. T. Shannon, 3. Won by 3, yaicb. Time, 58 Q-ssec. Hali-mile Hardicap.— G. A. Wheatley (Victoria), scr, 1; M. Burnett, 10yds, 2; L. W. Cozens, 40yds, 3. Pollock did not stait, but nine otheis ran. Wheatley ran a well-judged race, and though he won by only a yard and a-half, he crmld have increased the distance had he wished. Time, 2min 3sec. 220 lards l J ublic Schools Championship. — C. Kerr t-vlount Cook), 1; C. Greeks (Brooklyn), 2. Time, 27 l-ssec. 50 Yards Dash Invitation Handicap. — F. W. Gccdbehere, 2:lyds, 1; A. F. Duftey, scr, 2; G. A. Widmer, lyd, 3. After several breaks- away the men got away on good terms, and .uuffey appeared to be winning when near the tape, but the college lad finished mo«* determinedly and won by about 4 inches. Time. 5 l-ssec. .flitting the Shot. — G. -cioberts (3ft), 35ft 9in, 1; A. Wilson (lft), 32ft 7in, 2; F. Brace (4ft), 31ft 9iu, 3. Mile Wheel Race.— J. Arnst, scr, 1; ±5. Campion, 20yds. 2; W. Cameron, 80yds, 3. Fourteen started. Arnst ran up to his men early in the race, and won rather easily. Time, omiu 58sec.

Two-mile Walk.— x. Mcston, 500 yds, 1 ; Thos. .Lambert, 370 yds. 2; W. Bedell, 500 yds, 3. The leader was never caught, and won by 60 yards. Time, 14min 18 3-ssec. Ross finished third, but was disqualified for lifting. High Jump.— T. De la Mare (sin), sft 64in, 1 ; P. .M'-Namara (4in), sft sJin, 2 ; G-. Mathews (oin), sft 4m, 3.

Three-mile Wheel Race. — J. Arnst, scr, 1; E. Best, 150 yds, 2; F. Cramp. 300 yds, 3. Fourteen others started. Arnst joined the leaders after going a mile and a-half, and finished easily a couple of lengths in front of Best. Time, 7min 30 4-ssec. Three-mile Flat Handicap. — J. H. Prendeville (Wellington), 250 yds, 1; Slirubb (Engla.nd), scr, 2; N. Gordon ("Wellington), 430 yds, 3. Six others ran. Wheatley was amongst the starters, but gave up at the end cf two mile 3 when holdirg a good position. Young Prendevilie was in front at the end of two miles, and then had a- lead of about 70 yards from Shrubb, •\vhose time for the distancs was 9min 50s€C. Shrubb ran on gamely, but appeared to make no impression on the distance between him and "Prendeville, and the latter eventually ran in a winner by some 50 yards. Both the winner and Shmbb were loud.y cheerrd. The winner took 14min 46 l-ssec and Shrubb 14nim 56sec.

100 ifards Handicap. — T. E. Seddon, 7yds, 1 ; J. M. Carpenter (Auckland), 10yds. 2; Duffey, scr, 3. A capital start was effected, Seddon just breasting the tape 2in or 3in in front of Carpenter; Duffey about a yard and a-ha!f away. Time, 9 4-ssec. Steet)lechas*e, one mile and a-half. — M. Burnett, B~ovds, 1; J. Pollock, 80yds, 2; H. Marshall, 180 yds, -3. Neither Shrubb nor Wheat! ey started. Won by a cotiple of yards. Time, 6min 47 S-S'sec. This was the only race in which Pollock started during the day. The visitors were entertained in the evening