ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 63

ATHLETICS.

September S-— Port Chalmers to Dunedin Jtoad Race (under auspices Dunedin Hazxieza). XaiTsS 3T IHATEU*. H. E. Kerr, the New Zealand walking champion who went Home to compete at the Olympic games, writing to Mr H. Henderson from London, under date Bth July, gives some facts about his effort in the Two Miles Championship of England, in .which he was placed fourth.' He mentions that his "heels were soft" m consequence.of the. sea voyage, and that 'he had only seven walks before the big event was' decided. A. E. M. Rowlands was placed seventh in the event in question. Larger, the English walker, who defeated all competitors in the Olympic contests, is described by Kerr as "a .terribly good man." " All the athletes in training here," he continues, "are in the "pink of condition. I should have been in London two months earlier to get into form, but, never mind, I will do my best at the stadium. I *m stopping with Lynch (Australia), Murray, and George Smith, and training at the stadium, which is only five minutes' .walk from where I am living. I have not seen much of London t< yet, but what I have seen does not suit me." The Sporting Times, in a reference to Kerr's performance at the -lish championship meeting, says tha. defeated, he was by no means disgraced. The Dunedin Anglican Harriers held ■their tirree-miie ohib championship and 6ealed handicap at Tahuna Park on Saturday. Eleven runners started. Ohpnant made "the running for ebout two miles and a-half, closely followed by Wood, Randle, and Rutherford. Entering the straight Randle and Rutfberford drew dear of the field, and ran together till well down the straight, when" Rutherford won an interesting race by a. yard from Beadle, with Bundle lErrd and Oliphant fourth. The scaled 1 handicap was won by K. Bundle, with Ttt Wood) second. By *c club's rule no member can take more than one prise m this race; Bundle therefore takes the medal for the sealed handicap,, and Oliphant takes third place mihe championship. The club's energetic secretary, Mi Arthur Smith, had all 'eOTangements well in ha-' T and tibera was no delay in getting thi .ace off. Mt Smith certainly sacrificed his chances in the race by laying the trail beforehand, and he Tan a, plucky race right through. ... „, Hf The Three-mfle Championship of tf« »t. Kilda Harriers was held at Tatoupa Pa « on Saturday. A large field started, and the raoewswonby W Burk 1 G. Wtfson 2, J. Morris 3. Time, 18min 58sec. The sealed handicap resulted as follows: tr. Wilson L J- Morris 2. # The one-mile mmjo for the junior memlters of the St. Kilda Harriers resulted 1 as follows: J. MUburn 1, E. Scott 2, G. Black 3 The winner of the St. Kilda. Championship, W. Burfc, is » brother to Hector Bu-rk, the well-known runner, and his action is very similar to his brother s. Jie w only 14 years of «ge, and there. is no doubt but that he will be a champion m a few years. He managed to P«fuade hw father to allow him to start, but he will r.ot be allowed to race for a few years vet He ran with grand judgment in Saturday's race, and finished up with a long eprint very reminiscent of his br P2*f r - Hk moO*er thinks he will be even better than Hector, and die ought to know^ . Ol<i Bili Burk and Hector and a brother better than Hector are a pretty good trio to be under one roof. , , Ihe following team will represent the Casersham Harriers in the wm** o ™*** .race at Timaru:— G. M'Knight, F. Frew, J M'Lauchlan, J. A. Turnbull, F. Frye, W. Newlands, J. Beatson. A. Frew ; emergencies—White, Conroy, Westwood. Partksulare have come to hand by the last mail of some performances of Irishmen in field events. At the Cork sports on June 2? C. Leahy;, jumped 6ft 3m, and O. Walsh threw a 16U> hammer/ from a 9ft eirde 170 ft Tin. The Gaelic Athletic Championships «ko produced some fine • performences. P. Kirwan won the Long Jump* with 22ft 7in ; J. Burke the High J""?P». sft lOin; W. Bennett the 161b shot, 40ft 3m; P Ryan thro wing, the 161b hammer I*9". The 440 yards in 52sec, the half-mile in Cmin lsec, and tnree standing jumps 54ft 3in <M. Creedon) were the best of the other performancesMr R. Coombes, of Sydney, has received a number of letters dealing with athletic affairs in England, more espeoially in connection with tbe English championships and Olympic Games. One of them, writtea by an old-time English athlete, epnlains the following references to the Aew Zealand walker, H. Kerr:— "We are all asixious to see his style, as it was known hews that you had stated that it .would pass muster anywhere. Well, no mAa could have walked iairer than Kerr did on Saturday. But be met some (remarkably good walkers, and ha. gave me tihe impression that he was not quite fit. I thought he would get third, but he tired somewhat, and finished fourth, wiA A. E. M. Rowland, another New Zealander,. sixth. The St. Kilda Harriers held their Threemils Championship and Sealed Handicap at Tahuna Paxk on Saturday. There were 11 starters. The following is the result: — Ohampionshap.— W. Burk 1, G. Wileon 2, J. Morris 3. Bark, the winner, r*n a great race {his tiw '-eing 18min 58sec), and should in a few yeans be as good an athlete as his brother -(H. G- Burk), 1 as he ran wkh good judgment. Wilson, the second xnaa, also showed good form, and should be a valuable Acquisition to the olub next year. The Sealed Handicap resulted as follows : G. Wilson 1, J. Morris 2, W. Shrimpton 3. The Junior dub also competed in a Dud-mild Handicap, which resulted as fol-

lows:—J. Milhurn 1, E. Scott 2, G. Black 3. On Saturday afternoon the Dunedin Anglican Harriers held their club's championship (three miles) with Sealed Handicap (combined) ac Tahuna Park. The afternoon, though somewhat windy, was very favourable to the runners, and some good finishes were witnessed. The course ' chosen was the same as in the Edmond Cup Race, held at Tahuna Park on June 3 last — namely, three times round the j Tahuna Park course, then a trail was laid for a mile across country, a further round of the course, and finished in front of the | grand stand. Eleven members faced the 1 starter (Mr W. J. Burk), and OHphant got clear away at the start, with Raawfie, Rutherford, and P. 3?. Breen following j close up. ,These four kept together until they left the course, when Randle and j Rutherford took the lead, which the maintained throughout. On entering the ground Rutherford was in the lead, with Recndle close upon, him, and P. W. Breen, Oliphant, and Bundle following in this order. After running the last lap -round the course, Rutherford,, finishing with a fine sprint, beat Barajlle by a yard, with Bundle finishing/ third and Oliphant fourth. The ' winner's actual time was 15min Bsec. The' Sealed Handicap run in connection with the race resulted in R. Bundle being first,, and N. Wood second. It being a rule of the club that ne member can take more than one prize in this race. Bundle takes the prize for the Sealed Handicap _ thus giving the third prize in the championship to Oliphant. 'file thanks of the dub are due to Messrs W. J. Burk and R. G. Anderson, who kindly acted as the officials for the race, and its thanks are also due to the Otago Rugby Football Union for the use of Tahuna Park. The Congregational Harriers ran from the Roslyn Institute Hall on Saturday at the invitation of Mr William Coull. One of the members supplied a football, and an impromptu game was got up during the run to the detriment of several jerseys. After the run an adjournment was made to the residence of Mr Coull, where an enjoyable evening was spent.' ■pie Southern Bible Class Harriers held a, very enjoyable run from Mr D. Calder's residence, North-Easfc Valley. Richardson and Roes took charge of the bags, and laid a trail- up to the top of Signal Hall, where a splendid view of the harbour and surrounding country was obtained. The course led over the hills towards the Upper Junction into Bethune's Gully. A fast run home on the road to Normanby ended a very pleasant outing. The members were then hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Calder and lady friends. THE OLYMPIC GAMES. LONDON, August 25. Subscriptions towards the cost of the receptioaa of the American athletes who participated at the Olympic Games realised only JSIOOO, or about one-third of the required sum. v The poor response is attributed to the exaggerated statements of the unfair treatment the visitors received when competing at the SBepherfl'p Bush Exhibition. a NEW YORK, August 30. A procession of 25,000 persons marched i to New York City Hall to welcome the returned Olympic athletes, each of whom wa6 presented with a gold medal. Hayee, Carpenter, and Bobbins were also^ given silver cups.