ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 62

ATHLETICS.

Australasian Championship Meeting.— December 26 and 27. D.A.A.C. Annual Sports M-ooting—January 6. NOTES liS AMATEUR. The harrier season having concluded, preparations for the opening of the flat racing season will be made shortly. The D.A.A.C. will resume its popular evening meetings in November, and in January will hold its annual sports meeting, at which it is anticipated that some of the Australian champions, over for the Aus'tralasian championships, will take part. It was a good idea of the D.A.A.C. to arrange for the holding of its sports meeting in January with the object of securing the presence of the Victorian and Ta-s----manian champions on their return home. If the D.A.A.C. had not taken this matter up no doubt the local centre would have arranged a meeting at which the Australian champions would- have competed. However, the D.A.A.C, having arranged the date of their meetings to suit, it is for the Otago Centre to give the premier club every support. ■». Mr Arthur Marryatt, one : time president of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, .and 'formerly delegate of the. Otago Centre, lias, been elected delegate by the Southland Centre, vice Mr E. C. Levvy (resigned). The annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, to be hekl on November 6, will be unusually interesting. The sequel to past events will develop at the gathering, and matters relating to important events —Australasian championships, New Zealand championships, and representation at Olympic Games at Stockholm —will be discussed. For this year it might be wise that the New Zealand championships be decided in conjunction with the Australasian championships at Wellington. The prospects of success would be greater and the meeting would have a more representative character than held in some other centre later in the season.

At a special meeting; of the Wellington Centre last week Mr F. Ross, one of tho centre delegates on the New Zealand Council, forwarded his resignation, which was accepted with regret.. Dr A. K. Newman was elected to the vacancy.

"If there was ever a farce so far as management was concerned it was the Festival of Empire sports," said Ronald Opie on his return from England the other day, "There is no mistake," he continued, "wo fell in over it. Nobody knew of the festival sports. They know cf the Festival of Empire just a© they do of the Whit© City, but not a whisper was heard about the sports, and nobody oared. I suppose that there were about 300 people at the meeting altogether. Our amateur athletic meetings are .immeasurably superior in management, and in every other way, to the average amateur meetings at Home. Of course, the English Amateur Athletic Association's championship meeting is a good one, and the crowds tuuin up pretty well, but at ordinary meetings, say tho Blackheath Harriers'' sports, they only get a few friends and. admirers of the competitors. Tho English people do not seem to care about it. Just fancy the world's champions gathered together on the finest track in the world and nobody to watch them perform!" The New Zealanders and Australians who competed at the Festival of Emoire Sports, London, in June last, and who were unfortunate through injuries, are referred to by "Strephon," of the Athletic News, as <"a set of badly-trained and halfcrooked Australians." Could anything be more sweeping. That the Australasian team had the bad luck to be half-crocked, we know, but that they were badly trained we have yet to hear more about. Guy Haskins spent five weeks, in America going through a special preparation, under the prince of trainers, Mike Murphy, and arrived in England, we are told, at the top of his form. No bad training there, surely. Opio arrived fit and well, as his v run of 10 l-ssec for tho 100yds before the sports. would show. Woodger was in form until stricken with pneumonia, and Champion, the swimmer, developed a leg.' All the New Zealanders, with tho exception of Haskins, proved themselves on recovering from tho ailments which they suffered, so that the suggestion that they wore badly trained is not borne out by after results.

Mr R. Coombes, representative for Australia and New Zealand on the International Olympic Committee, has received a letter from Mr Kristian HeJlstrom,, .secretary to the Fifth Olympiad (Stockholm, 1912). Mr Hollstrom asks for a list of competitors from Australia and New Zealand likely to be sent in each department of sport at the Fifth Olympiad, and what lodging accommodation is required for them. For lodging in barracks or schools (about 10 beds in each room) the price will be Is Id per man per day, whilst for lodging in hotels, boarding-houses, etc., the price will be 3s 3d per man per day. These charges are for lodging only. Mr Coombes hopes, if his "Empire" scheme is adopted, to have the teams from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa all quartered together—on a specially chartered steamer, if possible. Not everyone is sharing this Imperial idea with the Australian and New Zealand representative on the International Olympic Committee. For instance, " Strephon," of the Athletic News, says: "'Fiddlesticks!' to the suggestion that in furtherance of the notion of Imperial development the English athletes and those of the colonies should train together and travel together, and, I sup pose, share in the triumphs of tho_ British Empire. As men of our own kith and kin we shall be glad to see Canadians (the keenest of all our colonial cousins), Australasians, and South Africans successful, just as some of them were when, they came to Shepherd's Bush, and Robert Kerr and R. E. Walker triumphed in furlong and sprint respectively. But we want -England—the United Kingdom—to take her own part. Surely to troodness we of the Motherland are not so played out a people that we cannot nroduce yet one more 10 seconds man—a sound 10 seconds man will not bo far from win ning the 100 metres— : a decent 200 metres runner, a man who can ran a half-mile as Edgar Chichester Bredin or Mr Tindall used to run it. a tip-top miler or a 400 metres man. We have had men on the track second to none that have succeeded them, and I am certain that if we

go about it and train them, that we can mid others. 1 detest this word "Imperial" in some ways. I think it is almost synonymous with funk. " One thing more must not be forgotten. It will be impossible to go straight from the steamship to the Stadium and run races with effect. It will be essential to travel fit, but it will also be essential to have a few days wherein to Ret used to the place. And another great thimr will be tire proper feeding of the men. They will require to be systematically dieted until their work is over.

"All this is already being thought out by the Americans. Time is taken by the forelock by our Yankee cousins, and I see the Boston A.C. have already promised a larger sum towards the expenses of the national team than they provided in 1908. This is most satisfactory. What is being done in England? It is high time a move was being made; such should not be left to the springtime of 1912. Every Englishman who cherishes the sport of his country should do something in this matter —should help provide the necessary funds, interest himself in the young men, hope for their success, and rejoice in their victories; or, if these happen not, work hard for future triumphs. "Let something be done to waken up England. The colonics will look after themselves. We are told, with painful reiteration, that the Festival of Empire did much for sport. Let us have one instance of practical benefit this glorified side-show did. It did as much as a joywheel or a switchback; it provided entertainment for a passing handful of the people. It was ignored by Englishmen, it was not considered worthy of the attention of South Africa, it was participated in by a set of badly-trained and halfcrocked Australians, and by a fair, yet lucky, team of Canadians. Yet it was a success! It also provided a theme for sloppy sentimental dissertations, upon the subject of Imperialism—of funk. In that it was successful. Let us think more of England and less of Imperialism. The results will bo more satisfactory."

At the annual sports gathering of the Melbourne and Sydney Training Colleges afc the University Oval, Melbourne, A. Doust (Sydney) secured the 440yds and lQOyds races, in the time* of 52sec and 10 l-ssec respectively. The high jump and long jump went to L. Brooks (Melbourne). In the former he cleared sft sin. and in the latter the distance jumped was 18ft llin. The flag race was won by the Sydney team, composed of Davis, Doust, Murray, and Bourke. The mile race was won by G. Langley (Melbourne), the time being 4min 49aec. .. The finals of the 220 Yards and 100 Yards Championships, at the combined meeting of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales, was won by E. R. Cox (T.S.C.); time, 23 7-lOsec and 10 4-ssec respectively. Th© 440 Yards final was won by M. R. Smith (S-.G.5.). - A capable young athlete attending, the Church of England Grammar School at North Sydney is named F. W. M. Busby, who won the 100 Yards Championship, 120 Yards Hurdle Race, 220 Yards Championship, and tied for the running high jump at sft 4in.

W. J. M-- Newborn, the- first athlete in the world to clear 24ft in the running broad jump, has taken to throwing- the hammer, and, from hiis height and reach, should have a great advantage over the ordinary man. He stands 6ft 4in; so, if he should learn the finer i>oyit» ©f the game he should be heard from.. For a while Newburn held the world's record with a leap of £4ft 4in, and he had 24ft Bin to his credit in a contest, but it was never officially accepted. He won two English and several Irish championships at the running broad jump. It is an old, old theory (says an American writer) that roost star amateurs who turn professional have had very little luck. There are numerous instances to be quoted, such as Walter "G. George, Tommy Conneu. A. R. Downer, Sidney Thomas, and Len Myers. In fact, Myers never did anything worth while after he tunned "pro." He went to Australia, and his fame having preceded him, he had the hardest sort of a task to win anything at all, as he was forced to give away big handicaps. The end was that he went broke. When he got back to America his career ended, for he never ran again in competition. The latest ex-amateur to suffer is Reggie Walker, the Olympic champion of 1908, who is now in South Africa.

The twentieth annual 10-milo Crosscountry Championship of Victoria took place on the Caulfield Racecourse, and beyond—teams of 12, first six to count. The.ro wore no fewer than 32 teams entered for the race, including the champion crosscountry club of New South Wales (Botany Harriers), and two clubs from Tasmania. For the individual championship- T. J. Wood (East Sydney A.A.C.), one and five miles New South Wales champion, R. J. (South Sydnoy H.), 10 miles New South Wales champion, H. G. Bell Marrickville H.), and C. Seott (New Town H., Tasmania)* 10 miles orces-ooaimfery champion of Tasmania, and others, competed. The field, thus had a decided Australian appearance. Last year A. J. Lufon (Tocwonsr, Q.) won by a yaird from F. R. Kerr (Melbourne University). Essendon Harriers, on that occasion, easily won the teams championship. There was- then a record field of 252 starters. The field on Saturday was much forger, no fewer than 390 being entered, of which 340 started. There was an attendance of several thousands.

Prior to the race there was a grand jiaradc of harriers, making a most efrectivo display. The coursft began from a point where- the Caulfield Oup starts, once round the track, thence into eastern country and back, six miles being run across country, and four on the course. D. Turnball (East Melbourne) won easily. Results : D. Turnbnll (E.M.H.). 60min 22sec, 1; T. Vines (St. Col.), 36sec, 2; W. Murray (Melbourne), • 60min 50see, 3; A. C. Ryan (East Melbourne Harrjensf, 60mm 4; E. Neate (Carlton;, 61mi.n, 5; T. J. Wood (East Sydney), 61min 2sec, 6; J. Chalmers (Botany), 61min 2-£&ec, 7; A. G. Pinkerton (Malvern), 61min 12Asec, 8; J. M. Stewart (Essendon), 61min 25sec, 9; J. Dalffleish (Botany), 61mi.n 4?.sec, 10; E. A. Butkir (Essendon). 61m?in 43sec, 11; C. Wevman (Botany). 61min 44sec, 12; F. H. Probatt (Hobart), 61min 54see. 13; C. Scott (New Town, Tas.), 61min 56sec, 14. J. Weyman (Botany) was twenty-fourth, and R. J. Fitzsimmons (South twentieth.

The position of the leading clubs was as follows: — Total Club. Places. Points. 1. Essen don A, 8, 10, 15, 17, 21, 22 .. 93. 2. Botany, 6,9, 11, 23, 30, 31 110 3. East Melbourne A, 1,4, 28, 40, 43, 46 161 4. Boba-rt, 12, 16, 24, 33, 39, 51 .. .. 175 5. Melbourne 3, 34, 42, 49, 54, 69 .. .. 251 ij. Carlton' A, 5, 18, 46, 60, 76, 82 .. .. 287

On Saturday afternoon the Y.M.C.A. Harriers held their final run of the season from Captain. Dawson's residence, Anderson's road, Kaikorai, as g-uests of the captain and committee. The pack set out across country for Flagstaff, and from there through Halfway Busih, home being reached at about 5.30 p.m. _ ~,•,,-. The Cavershom Harriers decided their series of sprints—loo, 220, and 440 yards—at Forbury Park on Saturday. The weather and the ground were all that could be desired. The club's .thanks are due to the following offioials:—Starter, Mr C. Frye; ti.meikeen.er, Mr T. A. Dawson; judgesMessrs J. Will, A. Mercer, J. List, and E. OaJverley. Results : 100yds.—First heat: W. King, 7yds, 1; 0. Stenhouse, syds, 2. Time, 10 2-ssee, Second heat: C. Simmons, 7yds, 1; O. Phillips, Iyd, 2. Time, 10 3-ssec. Third heat: W. Hooper, 6yds, 1; G. Crimp, 3yds, 2. Time, 10 3-sseo. Final: W. Hooper (6yds), 6 points, 1; C. Simmons (7yds), 3 points, 2; W. King (7yds), 1 point, 3. Time, Usee. 220yds.—First heat: W. King, 9yds, 1; N. Crimp, 6yds, 2. Time, 25sec. Second heat: G. G. Chambers, scr, 1-, O. Stenhouse, 7yds, 2. Time, 26seo. Third heat: W. Hooper, 7yde, 1; G- Crimp, 3yds, 2. Time, 25sec. Final: G. Chambers (scr)," 6 points, 1; G. Crimp (3yds), 3 points, 2; N. Crimp (6yds), 1 point, 3. TimW, 25sec. 440yds.—C. Simmons (20yds). 6 points., 1; J. Beatsott (sor), 3 points, 2; D. Jack (6yds), 1 point, 3. Time, 59sec. The points for the three events being worked, the following are the prize--winnens:—C. Simmons, 9 points, 1; G. Chambers and W. Hooper, 6 points each, 2.