ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 63

ATHLETICS.

Southland Championships, at Riverton. January 24. , . _ , New Zealand Championships —February -a. - at Invercargill.

NOTES BY AMATHCB.

A new but quite undcsiraole record was established at tho D.A.A.C. sports on Saturday, December 30. when the lowest attendance in th© history of the duo was recorded. This is a.l the surprising’ -considering the fact that several of the Victorian and iasmanian athletes who had been - competing at the Australasian championships wore taking part in the local meeting. 1 no weather was ideal, and as there were few counter attractions the lack of public support can only be put down to the season of the Tear and failure on the part ot tho officials' to adequately bocm the meeting, which will result in a loss of about ±<ls. The standard of tho sport was fair, tho contests interesting, and the finishes for the most part good, though the times recorded suffered bv reason of the heavy going. The 100yds Handicap saw Austin off lOvds win the final from Egglestons (3yds) in' lOsec. Troup (Victoria) rad Hart (iasmania) ran nowhere, and failcd_ to qua.ify. Tho winner ws also successful in annexing fhe 220vds off tho 18yds mark in 23 2-ssec. Mitchell looked to have a good chance in this event, but could not get through in the run up the straight, and finished third. Chambers off 20yds won the quarto, and the luilf off 25vds in promising style. Hart and Gourlay (Tasmania), who were on the scratch mark in the quarter, made little or no impression on the rest of the field. Young W. J- Burk (scratch) made his run to soon in the mile, and could not sustain the challenge thrown out to him bv Fry© (45yds), the ultimate winner. Burk’s' time for the mile was 4min 44 3-ssec. In the three-mile Frye was liberally treated by the handicap par with 130yds, and ran in an easy winner from his nearest opponent, Burk (sQyds), by about 90 yards. Beatson, who was 30yds behind scratch, finished third. W. A. Low, the ex-Ncw Zealand quartermile champion, who also won Australasian quarter-mile championship as far back in 1896, was an interested spectator at the Dunedin Amateur Athletio Club’s sports on Saturday. Another old’-timo Otago athlete present was Graham Turton, who has been in Calcutta for the past 19 years. In tho amateur events at the Caledonian Society’s sports R. Egglestone again demonstrated that he is the best in Otago at the present time. He won tho 220yds off scratch in 25eec—fair going wn- j sidering the heavy course, and better time] than the professionals for the same dis- ! tance R, Mitchell, off 2yds, was second in a very close finish. Austin, who won the lOOvds and 220yds at the D.A.A.C. j meeting'on Saturday, was third off) 14yds. W. J Burk put up a gcod run in the | amateur half-mUo on tho second win- j ning from scratch in 2min 14see. For a i youngster he shows wonderful promise, and ! may yet emulate tho deeds of his brother j Hector and his worthy father. There is nothing like variety, evidently ! think R. Mitchell and R. Egglestons, for, j recognised as sprinters and quarter-mile I runners, on© finds them running half-miles. Mitchell off 25yds finished third in the half at tho Caledonian sports on the second day, but Egglestone retired. D. Lane, of New South Wales, who competed in tho Running Broad Jump and Rutting the Weight events at tho lute Australasian athletic championship meeting at Wellington, was seized with illness shortly after the departure of the team from New Zealand, and on arrival was removed to the Sydney Hospital. He is suffering Loin an internal complaint. 1 A meeting of importance in the near future is the Southland championships, to bo ihekl at Riverton on Wednesday, January 24. Arrangements are borng made for the appearance of Ronald Opie, the New Zealand and Australasian sprint champion, at the meeting, who with G. P. Keddcll and an Otago contingent, including Egglestone, Mitchell, Burk. Beatson, Frye, and Notxriian, .should give it quite a distinguished air. All last year’s winners are expected to defend their title. The championship events include; —100 Yards Flat (Southland standard. 10 2-ssec). New Zealand record 9 4-ssec): 220 Yards Flat. 2350c—22 see ; 440 Yards Flat. 52 2-ssec --50 2-sscc; Halfmile Flat, 2min 3sec—linin sfUsec ; One Mite Flat, 4rnin 35*ec—4min 22-eo; Three-mile Flat, ISrnin 30sec —14min 49-ec; One-mi’o Walk. 7min —6mi.n 26scc ; 120 Yards Hurdles (10 flights 3ft 6in), 16 4-ssee—ls 3-10foc; 440 Yards Hurdles (10 flights 7ft 6in), 63sec—58 4-s'ec; Pole Vault. 10ft—lift Oiin ; High Jump. sft 6in —sft 94in ; Long Jump, 20 f t 6in —23ft Sin; Hop. Bteo. and Jumn, 45ft—46ffc Hin : Putting 161 b Shot (from 7ft circle), 57ft—40ft Sin; Throwing 161 b Hammer (from 7ft circle). 120ft—122ft. The fourth evening meeting of the Otaut.au Amateur Athletic Club as set down for Wednesday, January 17. a week before the provincial chamomnships. which will lie held on the 2hth. Then on February 21 the New Zealand chsm.pion.shiM will be held at Invercargll', so that Southland is in for an active time with amateur athletics. If South-

land can hold a .provincial championship meeting, there is no reason why Otago should not do so. It is time the Otago Centro gave this subject good heed. The most promising of all the “ weight men at the Australasian championships was undoubtedly A. >S. Reid—the youngest championship competitor at the meeting. Well, on to 6ft in height, and scaling over 13st, the Otago youth has the makings of an undoubted champion. His style was the 'best of all the shot-putters. In another five or six years, when, he has reached ifie maturity of his strength, it will take more than a 40ft putt to settle him. 1 am very pleased of hear of Reid s success, for on the visit to Mr Arthur Marryatt to Dunedin, 1 strongly advocated to that gentleman the >'airns of the Otago university athlete for the shot putt at the classic meeting in Wellington. Keddellls hurdling is the best that we have seen in Wellington (says* Mercury ), and when one looks back on Harold Hatger, Arthur Holder, and George Smith, this looks a big thing .to say. And yet it is true For one thing, it is so thoroughly up to date. It is the hurdling that has won for the American “ leppers ” the top place which thev have hold since the time of the famous Rlraenzlein. the inventor of the system in which Keddoll is eo skilled an exponent. To the majority of those present the now style seemed rather bewildering. In place of the bent knee and the ourled-up back leg, they saw the new straight-legged method, and wondered. However, Koddol! had gone but a little way on his journey before the efficacy of hia system became apparent, and h;e experiences over the fences and his pace on the flat proved too strong a combination for the opposition. It was intimated some time hack that a gentleman in England had presented a cuip for the best style of walking at the , Australasian championship meeting. The j cup hes not yet arrived, and for this : reason a decision was not given imrnedi- j atcly after the Australasian meeting. It j is understood, however, that the recipient will be W. Murray (Victoria). Murray was second to Kerr in the mile event. I note that copies of the recently-revised “Handbook of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association” have been sent officially to persons outside the Dominion. There is really nothing wrong with this save that it is hard to understand why it should bo so, and the writers of athletics on the leading jounals in New Zealand ignored altogether. It may he that this phase of it has been overlooked by the responsible authorities in Wellington, in which case, having had the matter brought before them, a speedy rectification will be made. The world’s record hammer throw, held so long by J. J. Flanagan, of the IrishAmerican A.C., was beaten recently, in New York, by M. M'Grath, who threw the implement 187 ft 4in, exceeding by 3ft the previous best. The American A.A. Union is meeting shortly to review the season’s performances. Three of these up for consideration are world’s records, and as the conditions have 'been certified to as being in order it may be taken for granted that they will receive official endorsement. There are J. P. Jones’s mile run of 4min 15 2-ssec on 27th May. Dan. Ahearn’a hop, step, and jump of 50ft llin on 31st May, and Matt. M'Grath’s great hammer throw of 187 ft 4in. One other performance that equals the. world’s best, and for which inclusion on the record book is being asked, is R. C. Craig’s 21 l-ssec for 220 yards. Of all the Australian competitors at the Australasian championships the Victorian jumpers—Kelly and Russell —created most, interest (says “Mercury”). In practice both had been clearing sft lOin with ease, but in the championship, Russell; the meat likely-looking jumper of the two, altogether failed to perform up to his reputation. The dead ground on the first day was all against record-breaking, 'but one 'certainly expected something more than sft siin from a jumper who has cleared 6ft. Kelly was easily the best man on the field, and had he boon pressed he might have done better than his winning effort of sft B£in. Winkloman jumped far better than expected. 1 On the second day in the Handicap High i Jump—in which, in view of his comparatively poor display on the first day, a pair of considerate handicappers had brought j the limit men back 2in and the rest of the j field lin—Kelly gave a display of high ! jumping which will not be forgotten for I many a day. As he cleared each succesI sivo ’height’up to sft lOin with ease it j was generally recognised tn-at he had i struck his true form. When he flow over j the bar at 6ft (with a couple of inches fo ! spare) the crowd was simmering with ex I citemont which burst into a roar of apI plauso o-s he rose when over the bar at 6ft 1 3-16 in. Tliis will in due course find ■ its way into the Australasian record book, j Contrasting the two utterly different styles of the Victorian cracks, one unhesi- | tatingly declares in favour of Kelly. Rus- | sell conics irr from the right with a long run, and glides over the bar swinging the ! left leg over after the right. Kelly, on i the other hand, runs up slowly from about 10 yards in front, of the bar. takers off in ! the approved American fashion, turns in 1 crossing the bar. with both feet tucked together under him, and lands facing the | bar. His style is rpt altogether perfect of I its kind, for his body is slightly too up- | right when above the bar. The Yankee j cracks are (when at the ton of their flight) ! almost parallel to the bar, and. when Kelly i can acquire their mechanical skill. 6ft 4in at i least should bo within his compass. That i ho will prove equal to reaching M. F. I Sweeney's 6fc s§in may be too much to ! hope, but, at. the same time, it does not seem impossible, for It was only the touch j of his spikes that made Kelly shift the bar at 6ft 3in the other day. and this at a time when ho has assuredly nqj, reached the limit of his powers. The Board of Control, which mot recently. had before it. on two occasions, amended definitions of an amateur. One was submitted bv the British Olympic j Council, which desired the support of the , Australasian Union in having its suggested , definition made general for all future Olym- ! pic games. The definition did not meet ! with general approval, and it was decided j to refer in to the affiliated associations for consideration. [ The board also referred to the various j associations a matter relating to the defmition of an amateur, which is of much more | importance. It refers to the status of an ! amateur who, in Australia or New Zealand, plays football (league or Australian 1 ! game) in the governing rules of which proi 1 vision is made for payment of players. It ; I is admitted that every player in these ; “professional"’ games does not receive pav- ■ 1 ment, but it is quite open for him to do-

mand it. The Amateur Sports Federation of Australia has taken -up the position that all amateurs who play in tho games mentioned lose their status. Some members of the board were of opinion that, provided a man can sign the amateur declaration,that ended the matter. It was suggested that tho English rule might be adopted, that if the controlling authorities of the codes of football referred to were to amend their rules and define their “amateur” and “professional'’ members, and provide a penalty for breaking the “amateur” status, there would be no objection to tho “amateur” members competing under A. A. Union rules. To the writer this latter suggestion apoc*a.rs to be the best way out of the difficulty. Tho matter is a most important one. and local interest (remarks “Eauitas,”' in the New Zealand Times) is heightened because a case which will shortly come before the local controlling bodies has just arisen. House, of Petone, who won the 100 Yards Amateur Handicap at the Wairarapa Caledonian Society’s meeting last Monday, was n member of the Nfew Zealand Rugby League team which toured Australia last, season. The question has been asked, and has not yet been answered officially, could House properly make the amateur declaration. This being the first case of the kind in New Zealand, the decision of the controlling bodies will bo awaited with interest. AUCKLAND MEETING. • AUCKLAND, January 7. The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club carnival was held in tho Domain yesterday. There was a large attendance of tho public, and some good running was seen. The meeting was made especially interesting by the presence of such athletes as (J>pie (champion sprinter of Australasia), Redmond (sprint champion of New South Wales), Kelly (champion high jumper), in addition to Q. N. Hill (the local crack). Most of the champions ran unplaced, but put up good performances. In tho Mil© liill attempted to break A. Shrubb’a Australasian record of 4min 22sec. The Aucklander, however, was not at his best, and could only manage to cover the distance in 4min 26 l-ssec. The results of the principal events are aa follow : 100 YARDS HANDICAP. —L. J. Mark, 6iyds, 1; M. Kalman, 11yds, ; C. N. Creeks, biyda, 3. Won by a yard. Opie, in his heat ran last all the way from scratch. Redmond, who qualified for the final, did not start. 75 YARUS INVITATION RACE.—This was a race between R. Opio (Australasian champion) and P. T. Redmond (champion of New South Wales). From a good start Redmond got well away, and won by two yards in 7 3-ssee. The winner, was loudly cheered for bis performance. * MILE HANDICAP.—A. A. Dormor, 65yds, 1; T. A. Sansbury, 190yds, 2; G. N. Hill, scratch, 3. Dormor put up a great race, and Hill failed to get level with the first two men. Time 4min 2i 2-ssee HIGH JUMP.—The jump resolved iteelf into a contest between L. H. Kelly (Victorian champion high jumper), Winkleman (6in), and Laurie (bin). Kelly, from the scratch mark, failed at 6ft, the other two failing at 6ft 6in. As this with the handicaps put the three men. equal, another trial was held with the bar raised half an inch above the heights at which the men succeeded, but all failed to clear it, and tho competitors named were consequently placed level for first place. 220 YARDS HANDICAP. —L. J. Marks, 9yds, 1; R. E. 22yds, 2; M. Kalman, 22yds, 3. Opio won his heat, but in the final was three yards behind the thiij.il man, in fifth position. Time, 21 3 sflcc 220 ' YARDS HURDLES.-J. D. Stewart, 5 yds, 1; L. W. Basley, 2yds, 2 ; W. H. Kaighan, owe® 10yds, 3. Won by three yards. Time, 30 4-ssoe. Dormor, who put up such a great race in the Milo, algo annexed the 880 Yards Handicap and the, 440 Yards. Opie, Redmond, Kelly, Carter, and Kaighan. scratched for "the latter event. Dormor is a very promising runner from Opotiki.