ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 62

ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES. /uiy 2.—English Amateur Athletic Championships, London. . HARRIER FIXTURES. Saturday, April 30. Jsunedin Harriers.—Run from George Street School. "Dunedin Anglican Harriers.—Run from Green Island School. Bt Joseph's Harriers.—Run from Santa Sabina School, North-East Valley (guests of the ladies of St. Vincent de Paul Society).

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Apropos of the one-time world's amateur sprinter Arthur Duffey and starting, a corespondent writes me: "Dear Amateur, — I noticed in your column of the 13th in6t. mention ot the disqualification of Arthur Duffey ir a 75yds sprint. That race wa=. run in Wellington, and the starter was MiGeorge Watson, or 'Old George Wateon, as we called him, who for many years was one of the best starters and handicappers throughout the North Island. During my time as a runner J never met a starter to equal him in New Zealand." Last week acknowledgment was made of a copy of the syllabus of the Dunedin Harriers. In this issue I am pleased also to acknowledge those of the Dunedin Anglican Harriers. St. Joseph's, and St. Andrew's. The Angiicans as usual nave arranged an interesting programme for their members, extending to July 2. In addition to the invitation runs this club has arranged for two races —A No vice Mile at Tahuna Park on May 28, and an Open Mile on the same track on .lune 25. The St. Andrew Harriers (Wednesday club) is out with a syllabus which spells pleasurable outings right on until June 29, on which date the rur is from St. Kilda. A novice race of a mile and a-half on May 18 and a three-mile flat on June 15 covers the racing foT the first half of the season. - As previously stated, I should like to see a combined harriers sports meeting arranged. St. Joseph's Harrierc quaintly eet off its colours—white with green facings—on its syllabus, which is as interesting as the outings of this club are. I notice that while St. Joseph's is again well served with invitation run?, the racing has been to a certain extent eliminated, save for a crosscountry handicap race in June. At a special meeting of the Wellington Centre i letter was received from Mr J. 08. Pollock declining to reconsider his decision to resign his seat as representative of the Wellington Centre on the New Zealand Council. He also mentioned that ne had accepted a seat on the council as the representative of the Otago Centre. Our latest and most severe loss in amateur athletics' is that of Gerald P. Keddell, New Zealand record broad jumper and ' Australasian hurdles (120yds and 440yds) champion. Keddell, who has spoken of retiring, has commenced practice as a solicitor in the Otautau and Winton districts, where it is hoped he will not drop out of amateur athletics altogether. Following closely on his Victorian record ©f 16 l-10sec, created at the "Victorian championship meeting the other day, comes word by cable that J. L. Davis has put up a new world's record in a 440yds Jiurdle race, reducing his own record of 58 l-ssec to 57 2-ssec. Our old friend A. E- M. Rowland, the ex-New Zealand walking chaimpion, after iwo or three years in England, has accepted an appointment in Bombay. . He showed good ability at Home, putting up a Scottish three-mile record last August, and coming second to E. J. Webb in the two-mile English championship in July. At the final meeting of the Tasmanian [Amateur Athletic Council for this year, "(the' records of 22ft 4m in broad jump by iH. M'Cabe (Queensland) and 6ft in high jump by E. Russell (Victoria) were passed, and the certificates in connection with fthe latter were authorised to be sent on to A.A. Union for recognition as an Australasian record. Martin Sheridan, the all-round amateur athletic champion of America, has just announced that he will not again compete in public, except, possibly at, some future Olympic games in Europe, if he could so •far retain his form. Sheridan has been .prominently identified with athletics since «e went to America from Ireland over 10 years ago, and undoubtedly was a, fine all-round man, weight-throwing, the discus, pole-vaulting, jumping, and hurdling being his specialties. He competed successfully in Athens and London, and has been a member of the Irish-American A.C. —one of the few genuine members, so far as nationality is concerned. Ho is a policeman, and has a quiet job at the City Matrimonial Bureau, and of course is interested in politics. In athletic circles Sheridan is popular, and his retirement from the lanks will be received .with regret. In some interesting advice to athletes the Chicago Tribune say 6 that plenty of sleep plays a big part in the training of most of the successful athletes of to-day. While a few of the great performers we see competing in the different events get along with a short allowance of slumber, at is clearly noticeable that the ones who insist on passing a goodly part of their time in the feathers are in the large majority. Sleep has more to do with the showing" the men make than anything else. There is no rule governing what the men shall eat, .ach man using his own judgment, but with sleep—every trainer insists on his men getting p full portion of that. Jumpers especially benefit by long sessions of slumber. It is a scientific fact that a man lengthens or grows bv staying in bed. A boy living in bed with typhoid fever has been known to add 6in to his height in a few weeks. Jumpers find that the cartilages in the knees and the cushions of the heels e,xpand and become more springy if given' a long rest. They take advantage of every opportunity to take the weight off their feet. Ray Ewry and Prinstein. the Erreatest iumpers we ever had, both formed the habit of putting their feet at an elevation whenever the chance offered. Both are men who insist on having an abundance of sleep. The night before Prinstein was to jump in the championships at Athens he went to bed at 6 o'clock. For several hours he kept imoving his legs beneath the quilte with the object in view of keeping them limber without putting his weight upon the cartilage pads of his knees. When Mike Sweenov established -a new world's record for tho" high jump it was said that he had fce-en ; bed for threo days iu*t talons

things easy. Dan Ahearn is another jumper who believes in always getting all the sleep" possible, while Martin Sheridan, who is also a craok at the hop, step, and jump, did 47ft after being forced by Trainer Lawson Robertson to take a 12hour nap. Sheridan and Shepyard both get along without more than a few hours of sleep. Sometimes Sheridan goes for days with only a couple of hours' rest at night, making up for lost time by putting in 15 to 20 hours straight. It is a wonderful thing the way the greatest athletes in the world get along so well with such utter irregularity of sleeping hours. John Flanagan goes to bed early, and fails to arise before, noon on the day of a trial of his world's hammer-throwing records. Ralph Rose, the Californian shot-putter, lived so long in the balmy climate of the Napa foothills that he formed the habit of long siestas during his kid days. Arthur Duffey and Harry -Hillman both believe strongly in sleep. Before every race it was the regular thing for Duffey to take a 10-minutes' nap. Hillman, on the other hand, would rest up during the afternoons before competing in the armories at night. The Pacific Harriers ran on Saturday from the St. Clair baths. Messrs Ferguson and Nicol were despatched with the bags, and laid a trail along the beach till tne sandhills at the back of Tahuna were reached. The paper then led' over the hills, passing through Bayfield township. Turning home, the route led along the low road, down Queen's drive, New and Driver streets, finishing on the Beach road. On Saturday the Congregational Harriers ran from St. Clair as the guests of Messrs Lodge, Laurenson, and H. G. "Wilson. The weather was gloriously fine, with scarcely any wind. Messrs Wilson (captain) anrl Laurenson acted as hares, and laid a good trail from the baths around the second beach, up the hill past Cargill's, then along the cliffs to near Black Rock. Here a turn was taken inland over the paddocks, till the trail struck the Cliffs road, which was followed home. A pack »of nearly 20, under the vice-captain (0. Begg), shaped well, and at one point had the hares in full view, but a deep gully intervened, and the hares got clear away. After the run the whole party adjourned to the Greencliff Tea Rooms, where, after refreshments, several musical items were rendered by the members. The Civil Service Harriers held their run from the St. Clair baths. Paper was dispensed with, and the pack proceeded -along the beach to Lawyer's Head, and then to Miller's Point, where some excitement was experienced by members trying to round the point at high tide. The pack returned home via the beach. The Cargill Road Methodist Harriers had a muster of 14 at their run oa Saturday. The members met at Macandrew road and walked to Tomahawk Beach. From there they ran over the hills at the back of the lagoon and finished in along the beach. The members are showing a good' deal of enthusiasm, and the club is looking for a successful season. Mr W. A. Rainsford (late of the Dunedin Club) is captain. The Caversha-m Harriers held their weekly run from the Musselburgh School. There was a good attendance, with a sprinkling of new members. The trail, which was laid by Denford and Allen, led round the back of Tahuna Park, and on round the edge of Tomahawk Lagoon. After climbing a few stiff hills the top road to Portobelio was reached, and the trail, then led over towards the quarry and on to the Bay road, from where a good straight run home ensued. On Saturday afternoon the Dunedin Anglican Harriers ran from 90 Clyde street as the guests of Mr James Allen, M.P., one of the club's vice-presidents. A. C. M'Lachlan and S. M. Aitken were sent out as hares, and laid the trail along Clyde street and up the Cemetery road on to the Opoho Cricket Kound. Striking across the bottom of the ground, the trail led down through the bush, and, after some climbing, came out on the Signal Hill road near the fish hatcheries. After- following the road for some distance, the trail took to cropscountry, and brought the pack out at the crest of Signal Hill. From here was obtained a splenid panoramic view extending right over the town and suburbs, with Saddle Hill in the background and the harbour and Peninsula hills on the rieht. The homeward trail law down the harbour side of Signal Hill, and, striking to the right, came down at the Fever Hospital, on the side of Lake Logan. Continuing round the lake, it finished, via Dundas and Clyde streets, at Mr Allen's house. There w.as a large attendance of members, and, it being an ideal afternoon for harriers, the run proved most enjoyable. After the run the members were hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Allen. The Oostorphine Harriers ran from the North End Boating Club's shed on Saturday. Tho trail led across the reclaimed ground, over the hills behind the rifle range, and down through Ravensbourne to the Port road. The road was in good condition, and a most eniovable run home wns indulged in. The kindness of the North End Club in allowing them to use its dressing rooms was much appreciated by the .runners. Tfw opening run of St. Joseph's Harriers was held on Saturday from the residence of the Hon. J. B. Callan. Roslyn, there hein? a good attendance of members. O. Swanson and L. Coiighlan were despatched with the basrs. and laid an excentionallv good trail, which struck up Fraser's Gully for about half a mile; and then took a turn to the risrht. oomincr out near Ashburn Hall. Here the trail lf>d over some two miles of beautiful harrier country, til' a circuit was made te th« left, and after crossing oaddocks the trail eventually came out at Brockville. vvnere a turn was made for home. A number of new members were present, and showed surprisinerlv <rood form. After the run members wer* kindly entertainer! bt the Hon. J. B Oal'sn The North End Harriers will hold their run on afternoon from the North-East "Vnllev Gymnasium.