ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 54

ATHLETICS.

November.—Australasian Amateur Athletic Championships at Melbourne. NOTES 15Y A3IATECR. With tho conclusion of the championship meetings in New Zealand and Australia one has naturally to turn from home for news, and one of the most important items is that published in Sydney through the independent cable service. The cable is dated San Francisco, April 13, and is jus follows:—“The All-American track team which will visit New Zealand and Australia in November, returning in the following April, will consist of four men. William Unmack, an Australian writer on the San Francisco Call, who is organising the tour, says the team will incliide a sprinter capable of a good performance over any distance from 100 to 400 yards, a distance man able to make a good race over half-mile to five-mile distances, and an all-round athlete who can throw tho javelin and discus, and put the shot Three men, and possibly the four, will come from the Eastern States.” This wero more fiction were it not for the fact that tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is in communication with tho American Athletic Union for a team of American athlete® to tour ' Australasia. This fact has possibly fired the imagination of tho Frisco writers who have got into touch with Mr William Unmack, the gentleman who had practically arranged such a team as suggested, but which did not come owing to the dropping out of Smithson, the hurdle champion. So' far tho New Zealand authorities have received no reply to their communication respecting the team, but that a team of American athletes will tour Australia and New Zealand in the near future there is no denying. The English mail has brought to hand the reports of the historic battle of the Blues, the Oxford and Cambridge University Championships. Keen interest was taken in the meeting of the famous rivals. The result was a tic, five events each. The feature of tho meeting was the performance of 11. S. 0. Ashington, of Cambridge, who won the hurdles in 16 1-osec, the long jump with a new varsity record of 23ft and tho half-mile in 2min 0 l-ssec. The sports opened with a thrilling race in the 100yds, which MTntosh won for Cambridge in 10 2-ssoc. Then Ashington won tho hurdles for Cambridge in 16 l-sscc, though ho is said, by the critics, to he capable of improving on this time. Oxford secured its first win in tho weight with Zoigler, who throw the missile 43ft Sin. The next event, tho high jump, also went to Oxford, Crosslcy winning with sft Biin. A. N. S. Jackson then put up a good performance for Oxford by winning the mile in 4min 24 l-ssec. Last year Jackson won in 4min 21 2-ssec. Ashington then won the broad jump for Cambridge, and Zeiglcr the hammer for Oxford with 142 ft Tin. Cambridge secured the next event, the 440yds. with GordonDavics in 51.«0c. and Gausson won tho throe miles for Oxford in 14min 47scc. The last event, tho half-mile, went to Cambridge with Ashington in 2rnin 0 l-ssoc. Royalty honoured tho meeting with its presence, his Majesty the Kensr being present with the Prince of Wales and the Royal suite. Tho attendance, despite tho unsatisfactory climatic conditions, numbered between 6000 and 7000. At last Monday’s meeting of the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. an application was received from tho Auckland Centre for the registration as a record of A. W. Dormer’s time of 2min 16 3-ssec. put. up on March 1. The usual certificates came to hand testifying that the track was properly surveyed, and that Dormer was not assisted by the wind; also that the time reported was correct, and that the watches had been tested —in fact, everything was in order except that there was no certificate that the testing of the watches had been done within the limit of time after tho race set down by the council. The matter was therefore referred by the centre for the, missing certificate, and when this comes to hand the new figures will go on to'the book as a ‘‘best on record.” It will not figure on the official list of records, as the distance. 1000yds. is not a championship event. This, however, as

“Mercury” says, does not detract either from the merit of the performance or the honour of holding it. “ Harrier,” of the Australasian, is responsible tor the statement that Pender, of Adelaide, is r!he best hurdler in Australasia to-day; albeit that writer states that J. L. Davis, of Victoria, and Kcddell, of New Zealand have to be reckoned with.

The South African Amateur Athletic Association is naturally indignant. After two years’ negotiations the S.A.A.A. had succeeded in arranging with the Polytechnic Harriers, of London, for ia tour of South Africa from April 8 to May 31, and had obtained guarantees for 12 meetings amounting to £1100; then the English A.A.A. stepped in and refused to sanction the tour.

Charles E. Holway, who will be well remembered on account of his tour of the dominion while champion sprinter of the world, writes as follows to a Sydney friend :

“No doubt you will be surprised 1 to hoar from me. I have been going to write you for a long time, but kept putting it off, as 1 have been very busy. I have been Director of Athletics hero at the University of Nevada since January 1, and have about 200 athletes on my hands—basket-ball players, baseball-players, and track and field event men, —and I have some fairly good material. This is the first year of basket ball at this university. We have played loirr games, and won throe, including our big game with Santa Ciara College, of California, whom wo defeated laot Saturday night by 58 to 18. That was jQpr last game. New I am devoting all my time to baseball and track work. A few of the good men cannot compete as they are behind in their studies —and they are very strict on that point at this col’egc. You will, perhaps, ask, ‘ Where did Holway learn anything about basket-ball and baseball?' Well, I will tell you. Before I ever put on a running shoe I was a champion baseball player, and I have not forgotten those games, ns I was a natural-born baseball and basket-ball player, and only when I hurt my knee did I give those sports up. “ I suppose you have been interested in the Jim Thorpe case. Someone must have been ‘sore’ on him, and given him away;' but, believe mo, he is not half as bad as fully 26 per cent, supposed-to-be amateurs that I have known—only they, are shrewd enough to ’ got away with it.’ “I am of the opinion that at the_ next Olympic Games amateurs and professionals should be allowed to compete, as a whole number of people think that the men who competed at Stockholm were the best in the world. They don’t understand that, no matter how good a man is, if ho bo a pro. he cannot compete. I don’t say pay the pros.. but if a pro. wants to compete and is 1 good enough,-’ that ho .should be allowed to. And he should be treated the same as the amateurs in regard to expenses, etc. I think Australia would make a better showing if that were the case, don’t you? “Tile climate here in Reno is beautiful. We are 4500 ft above sta-lcvcl, and we have one of the finest athletic fields in the West —a 440 yards cinder track and a 220 yards straight, also a fine football field. I was here when the Warn tabs played, and thev said it was the finest football field they had {flayed on in this country. “ I expect to turn out a fair track team, although most of the boys are green; but I have a man w'.io will do 49sco for 440 yards, a. shot-putter who will put the 161 b shot 47ft, a couple of 10 l-3sec men for 100 yards, and a bread-jumper who will clear 22ft. The distance men don’t seem very " classy.’ I am trying to develop a hammer-thrower, but find it hard to get a man big .enough.” The Pacific Club held its weekly run from the Forbury School. There was a good attendance. The trail laid by 6. Swanson and W. Cormaek led along Oxford street to Forbury Park on to the Beach to Lawyer’s Hoad, returning by way of the pumping station and the Bav road. The Caversham Harriers held their weekly run from Port Chalmers, starting from the Sailing Club’s shed as the guests of Mr N. Watson. There was a muster of about 32 under the control of the captain (Gr. Crimp). W. King, N. Caddie, and D. Jack laid an excellent trail along the. road to Ceborah Bay, where they took to the hills. After a long steep climb the Purakanui road was reached, and it was followed as far as Heyward’s Point. After a rough descent flats were reached, and a long fast run along the beach to the Spit ended a most enjoyable run. After the run the club was entertained bv Mr Watson.

Tho Cargill Road Methodist Harriers had a good muster for their run from the Woodhaugh Methodist schoolroom. Simpson and Holman took charge of the paper, starting off up tho bank opposite tho schoolroom on to Pino Hill, where, after crossing some good country, tho trail led into a locality composed chiefly of barb-wire fences. Some dense bush was also met with, after which the paper turned toward the Leith Valley road, striking it about a mile and a-half above the schoolroom. From this point the pack had a fast run home, G. Kitchin being the first to finish. Tho St. Kikla Harriers ran from tho Presbyterian Church Hall, Marion street, Cavotsham. There was a good attendance of members. The trail was laid by F. Graham and J. Edgar, and led from the hall up Sidey's Hill to tho golf links, coming out on the Main road at Burnside. Then it came homeward—along the road to the tunnel at tho cattle yards, over the hill and through Caversharn, ending in a fine sprint home. The Y.M.C.A. Harriers hold their weekly run from Ravonsbourne. There was a very good muster,and a number of new members were present. An excellent trail was laid by 11. M'Pherson and W. Beadle up over Stonv Hill, above tho butts, and then round to iSignal Hill, past the trig station, and down into Burkes. From here the pack had a good fast run homo along the road to Ravonsbourne. Tho South Dunedin Presbyterian Harriers ran on Saturday from the manse, there being a good attendance. The course, which was rather a long one, followed tho road to Tomahawk, skirted the back of the lagoon traversed tho Peninsula as far as Half-way Rock, and returned on the near side of the lagoon. After the run tho members were entertained by the Rev. R. Fairmaid. and a very pleasant evening was spent.