PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 63

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

By Sport. FIXTURES. April 13. —Otautau Athletic Society. .WORLD'S SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP. Ever since the cable brought the news of th«> victory of Jack Donaldson, the wellknown Victorian sprinter and middleJistance runner, in the race for the world's eprint championship, followers of athletics have been anxiouslv awaiting the arrival & the South African mail. The mail

brought full particulars, and many newspaper reports, but the following graphic pen picture from a Johannesburg correspondent to Sydney Referee tells the race story as interesting as any : "In accordance with my previous communications herewith a short account of the most remarkable run. the world has ever seen over 100 yards. The champion of cnarnpions has arrived. It sounds a wild, extravagant statement, doesn't it? But it is true. Donaldson is the runner of the age, without any reservations. But let us go back to a week before the race. " Of course, all Johannesburg and South Africa were talking of nothing else but the doings of and the meeting of the champions. The three men were training with as much earnestness and strictness a 6. if their livas were at stake. They were running faster and faster every day, and trials and re-trials were taking place. Donaldson and Postle were making no secret of their doings—Holway's could be had for the asking. "Postle was running better than he had ever run previously in South Africa, and was confident that he would win, or that his conqueror would set up a new record. I saw him two days before the race, just after his final'watch' run, and he reckoned that Donaldson would have to be all that was claimed for him, to win.

"Donaldson was announced by his party as a dead-sure 'snip.' His runs against the watch had. astounded ' Mick' Terry. The latter could hardly believe his eyes, -and was almost afraid to mention the lesulting times, which, a 6hort while back, would have been regarded as ridiculous. But there, they were correct —not merely for one run. but through being repeatedly confirmed. Donaldson's greatest improvement was in the first half of the hundred. When he first came here Terry and he were about level over 50 yards; but last week he was giving Terry four in 60 and a beating. That's rather a good improvement.

•"Hoiway was also breaking watches, and was so confident of winning that he arranged to have his Qwn checks on the gate in addition to Naylor's. " The afternoon of the race witnessed a terrific . thunderstorm. The Stadium, which is practically a pit, was quickjy flooded, but the short duration of the storm allowed the ground staff to get to work to rectify matters and all attention was given to the cinder championship tracic. Bags and sawdust were utilised most freely, and by-10 pm. the track, was comparatively dry and firm. "Proof of its firmness was evidenced by the energetic manner in which the niggers used the hard stable brooms to sweep off the sawdust. Such energy would have left nothing of a crumbly or a slushy track. In addition, the spikes were coming out cleanlv. It was .not, perhaps, in its pink of condition, but was still faster than most. - "The Trial Spins.—Donaldson came out for a trial about 9.30 p.m., accompanied by Terry. They put in a couple of good spins, and Donaldson was apparently trained to the hour. Body seemingly thrown back and legs reaching out in front, he was simply bouncing down the track. \\ hen travelling he seems to drop his height and let -cut hi' stride. He looked like a splendidly-trained racehorse fighting for his head Absolutely full of himself. Ins fatness was a great feather in Terry's cap. "Postle appeared later on, and he was also seemingly in fine fettle. Jack OConnell has had him in hand, so between them there was nothing left undone. ... " Holway appeared for a trial spin later, and after watching the other two free steppers he seemed pinched and stift in his action. Still, his word was that he was fit to win. He did not indulge in any fast " All tlw men were received by cheers from the packed 'house.' "They then, undarwcnt their final rubbings. _ . "The Positions.— Holway drew th* centre track; Donaldson on his right. No time was lost when the men, reappeared on th;e track. Starter O'Conaell explained his method of starting, and after the exchange of pre-arranged signals with the officials at the finishing tape, the bell was rung and the men were 'set.' „ " The. Race.— Bang ! and Postle- jumped away in the lead, closely followed by Donaldson and Holway, each man putting it all in. Up at 40yds Donaldson was almost level with Postie, Holway a yard behind. Postle shoved on more steam, and at 60vds was a clear half-yard to the good. ' Po=tle wins!' yelled the crowd, when suddenly Donaldson shot out with a paralysing burst that seemed to leave Postle momentarily fixed to the track, and maintaining his meteoric speed, dashed through the taoe a winner bv two yards. Everyone m-esent was astound«d. and all agreed that it was a never-to-be-forgotten sight. It was a most decisive beating, and the beaten wew> amongst the first to acknowledge it. "■Gossip of the Race—Ho!way ran w*»ll. I but was not in the same class as the winI nev. being beaten b- a srood and aI half from Postle. Holwav is quite satisI fied. and reckons. Donaldson is a freak. ! Postle also reckons DonakWm is the best the world has ever seen, and does not want any more of him over 100 yards. ( Postle ran a great race —a real champion's race. Tn fact, as I hoard one nan deserve the situation: ' Postle is still a world's chnrnnion, but Donaldson is world's marvel.' " 1 -r 1 In iM account of the race the ■ burs' Star describes it as a "terrific I struggle." Says the writer:—" This day I .and o-eoeration h«ve n«?ver «*> ""''•acnlous a finish as Donaldson's." The Transvaal leader goes into extensive and exhaustive detai'. It alludes to 5000 spectators and a £IOOO " srate." _ Various opinions are given oy tlitterent writers about the state of the track, some <iayini? it was soft and holding, and others (inHudiu* Mr Rufe V a vW\ that «* was in iv»«I eood ojder, with 'deal weather conditions—a clear atmosphere and not a hmath of wind. One writer says that at 50vds Postl« was 3vdsi to the good, but that SOvdis further on Donaldson went past tho Oueensla.nder as if h« was stand'ner still winnino- bv 2Avds Watches recorded W follow*:—Mr Ttufe Navhn-. 91«*c; Mr P. Gannon. 9 2-ssec: an*l Mr W. T. Seccombe. 9Jsoc. Some 'inofficial tim«keeners took it at 9 s>-ss-°c. official verdict, was: —■ WORLD'S 100 YARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. ,T. Dona'dson (Australia.) 1 A. B. Postle (Australia) 2 C. E. Wolway (U.S.A.) 3 ; Time. 9|sec. | Donaldson won by 2£vds. Postle finishI ing second, a yard ahead of Hok-aw

DEATH OF WILLIAM BUCKLER.

Wm. Buckler, a world's record holder, died recently in England. Deceased, who was in his sixty-first year, had been a life teetotaller. Our English exchangos refer to Buckler as being undoubtedly tne most remarkable long distance walker the world has ever produced. He won quite a number of go-as-you-please matches against Americans, Canadians, and champions from his own country. He set himself to walk 500 miles within a week, and actually covered 506 miles and three laps in the specified time.' On a previous occasion he traversed 50 miles a day in 12 hours' walking, for 6 consecutive days, and later on walked 53 miles a day under the same conditions, for 6 consecutive days, restricting the time to IQ£ hours a day. At Swansea, in 1896, he eclipsed William Gale's world's record by tramping 4000 quarter-miles in 4000 ' consecutive periods of 9g minutes, which sent the locals into transports of delight. But, like Alexander the Great, he sighed for other worlds to. conquor, and at Hunslet, in 1898, he succeeded in covering 4000 quarter-miles in periods of 9£ minutes for each quarter-mile, which was considered one of the most remarkable feats in the annals of walking. Buckler was not content to rest on his laurels, and at the Black Hill grounds, Leeds, on July 3, 1902, he began his sensational tramp of 4000 quarter-milfs in consecutive oeriods of 9 minutes. It was undoubtedly the most punishing tramp on record, the walker in several instances losing iis mental balance; but in the presence of a vast multitude of people he ultimately secured the emblem of superiority, and was the recipient of a handsome gold medal, valued at 3fr guineas, as a souvenir of the historic feat. Owing to unfavourable climatic conditions he failed to cover a mile and a-half and 50 yards in 1000 consecutive hours at Wigan in 1903. and was stopped at Blackpool in July, 1905, owing to being seized with cramp in the stomach; but at the third attempt in September of the same vear he succeeded in eclipsing W. Gale's record of 1500 miles in 1000 consecutive hours at Ashton-under-Lyne. The affair attracted 8000 spectatoi'3 on the final night. At Hunslet, in July. 1905, he ploughed his lonely furrow to the tune of 2000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours, and with the object of again placing new figures on the books he began his recordhunting walk at the Ardwick Athletic Grounds, Manchester, on the first day of A~ugust in,that year, and on September 11 completed the amazing task of walking 2028 miles 20 yards in 1000 cqnsecutive hours —thereby beating his own record of 2000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours at Leeds in June.