PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

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

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

By Sport. Betwepn five and sax thousand persons witnessed the Marathon race of 26 miles 385yds run. at the Johannesburg Stedium. accordinir to the Transvaal LearW of March 14. It was a track raco of 183 A laps (seven laps to the mile) between C. Hefferon and H. Wilson. The finish of the race was as stirring as the commencement had been unexciting. Hefferon, who led the whole _ of the distance, romping home in solend.id style over a lap in front of Wilson. the time occupied being 3hr 7min 40sec. He finished much the same as if ha were

running a quarter-mile sprint, and he received an extraordinary ovation at conclusion. It was a decisive victory, but the time was not fast for a track-run Marathon, compared with the road runs of Hayes (2hr 45min), Hefferon (previously —2hr 56min), and Wilson (2hr 59min). The first mile was covered in 7min 15sec. Mr Rufe Naylor and Mr T. Greenwood held the watches. A great many blamed Wilson for not taking a turn, at pace-making. Had he done so, and set' a solid gait all through, his chances would have been improved. Waiting behind as he did settled him. He at his best is simply a "plugger"—he can stay for ever, but cannot sprint. And that is where the whole thing came in. Wilson should have plugged along at a solid gait, and tried to run Hefferon off his legs—if possible. Hefferon." pulled tip quite fresh, his face wreathed in smiles, and after being carried shoulder-high halfway around the arena finally broke loose from the crowd and ran to his dressing room. Here he met his trainer, and, clasping him around the neck, the pair retired for the rub down, Wilson, finished the course, but be was jaded and l a well-beaten man. Experts recognise that Donaldson must be a wonder to beat Postle by and Holway by nearly 3iyds. Holway ran 127iyds in 12 2-ssec when winning the Welsh sprint at Pontypridd in 1908, and this ' represents 3iyds better than even time (even "time is 10yds a second). Mere recently (October 23, 1909) he just beat Postle in a 120yds race at Wigan (England), and did a shade better than 11 4-ssec on a heavy, holding track. This clearly shows how well Postle and Holway were running in England, and both would surely show at least one-fifth of a. second faster for a hundred yards in the light, buoyant atmosphere of Johannesburg than they would in Britain. Actually, then, a performance of three yards inside evens for 100yds should not be beyond Holway in Johannesburg, and as he was a good 3yds behind Donaldson, the. latter s 9 3-bsec commences to look more reasonable. All this makes one regret that there is no professional Records Association to o°n*"* er fast performances and nwiard oertinc&tes when satisfied they are genuine.

NEW WORLD'S RECORD. MELBOURNE, April 22. L. Davis has put up a new world's record in a 440vds hurdle race, reducing his own record of 58is.ee to 57 2-sseo.

OTAGO CENTRE N.Z.A.U

PROPOSAL TO SEND W. F TREMBATH HOME.

4.t a special meeting of the Executive Council of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Athletic Union. ;ield on the 19th. it was unanimously resolved that a tuna bi initiated for the •purpose of enabling Mr W. F. Trembath, of Gore, champion 220 440, and 880 yards runner, to proceed to England to challenge Davies, the present holder of the world's professional hall-mile championshio. The meeting was attended by the president (Mr C. E. Keast), Messrs D. F. M'Kay (secretary), P. Brady, D. Duncan, and A. Campbell The sum of £5 was voted from the centre funds as a first donation towards the amount required, and it was resolved to issue circulars to all ■ bodies affiliated with the centre asking their financial co-operation in the matter. The President explained the steps that had been taken by a number of friends to induce Trembath to take the step proposed, and he read a lettar from him, dated 12th mst.. stating that he had obtained the consent of his parents and "had obtained the necessary leave from business, providing the amount required to finance the trip was forthcoming. The letter further stated that, apart from any monetary gain he (Trembath) might hope to make from- the trip, the honour of bringing to New Zealand the championship of the world would certainly be uppermost with him. The amount required, it was stated, would be about £2OO, and this would enable a competent trainer to accompany Trembath, who stated that under a thorough system of training he was positive he could reduce any previous records he had made. Speaking of the fitness of Trembath as a representative athlete to send Home. Mr Keast stated that at the Greymouth Hibernian sports he had timed Trembath in the half-mile event, when he defeated Campbell, the then champion. The time was lmin 58sec, and had he been pushed by Campbell he could have knocked off two or three seconds from that record. From what he had seen of this athlete he was satisfied he was the best in New Zealand from 220yds to 880yds, and the executive would only be doing its duty as sports officials in enabling him to try conclusions with the bast athletes in England. Mr M'Kay said he thought at the distances named Trembath was not only the best in New Zealand, but the best in Australasia. It was decided that the president and secretary be a spsctial committee, with power to add to their number, to take such- steps as were necessary to raise the necessarv funds for the purpose. The President unpacked and exhibited a handsome silver entree dish, to be presented by the centre to Mr G. W. Woods, and paid a high tribute to the services rendered to athletics by that official.—lt was resolved to forward the mark of esteem to the Southland Centre for presentation to Mr Woods.