ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 55

ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES. Australasian Championships, at Melbourne. —Proposed dates, January 31 and February 2, 1914. NOTES lIV AMATEUR The Australasian championship meeting is now set down for January 24 and 26, instead of January 31 and February 2, as originally decided. The alteration docs not suit New Zealand, and the council has advised the Victorian Association to that effect, suggesting a date in the middle of February. Victoria has since stated that it is impossible to alter the dates. New Zealand has now replied by cable that it will bo impossible to send over a new Zealand team for the dates suggested. Probably, now faced with the thought of no New Zealand team competing at the Australasian championships, Victoria will find it possible to alter the dates.

While Woodger a-nd Opio, New Zealand champion sprinters, were being asked to “come back” in view of the American team’s visit, the Australians Nigel Barker (sprinter) and Colin Stewart (hurdler) are also being asked to, do the revival business. It is good news to hoar that the tour of the proposed American team of athletes i« assured so far as the arrangements in Australia and New Zealand can assure the visit of the American oracles. The guarantees are all forthcoming, and a cable has been sent to Mr Urmiack advising that everything is complete at this end. Wo may expect to bear shortly that the American team has been selected.

At the last meeting of the Otago Centre it, was agreed to hold a sports meeting similar to the one hold last year. A committee has been formed to make all arrangements, and also fix the date (probably October 4). A suggestion has also been nHule to leave a teams tug-of-war, and, from reports, it seems very likely that this will be ixlaced on the programme. The Port Road Race will bo held on Saturday week. The centre trusts that members will give their support, as the entry fee ks only Is. All entries close on Monday. September 1. The Otago Centre has resolved to make application to the New Zealand Council to donate a badge to the fifth man in the winning cross-country tram, who happens to be C W. Frye. This is the third time he has filled the fifth place. Mr M'Kernan. who applied for reinstatement, has been advised to stand down three years from the date of his last professional performance. AlsoX Mr Forster is advised to apply again two years hence. Writing to Mr RA Coombs, president of the A.A.U. of Australasia, from San Francisco, Mr Will iam bnmack, the managerelect of the American team to tour Australasia. discusses the team, and provides the following instructive details: “I am onclosini/ you a copy of a letter received by Mr John Elliott." president of the local branch' of the A.A. IT., which I think speaks for itself. Everything in connection with the tour will be done throng’d the local branch of the A.A.U. Mr Sullivan’s head body in New York has sanctioned the tour in everv way. The A.A.U. will stand behind anything your governing bodies in New Zealand and Australia do, and Mr Sullivan is willing to do everything possible to make the trip a success. Ho is very enthusiastic about the tour, and will send you over four really high-class atiiletes. I am doing all the work at present through the local association in the matter of finding out just what men the country over would bo able to make such an extended tour. I am writing to all the best men, and when I got all these replies will place the names before Mr Sullivan. The latter is in personal communication with Abel Tviviat and Piatt Adams. I am enclosing yon a cutting on Kiviat that will no doubt interest you If these two boys can make the trip, they are sure of being selected. “John R. Case, the hurdler, who took fourth place at Stockholm, is one high-class man who has notified us that ho will be able to go if selected. Case is a good allround athlete. He can got up to 6ft in the running high jump, can hurdle splendidly, can sprint, and has done a fair running broad jump. Another good hurdler who will bo able to go if selected is Eddie Beeson, of the University of California. This is the lad who forced Kelly to acma! the world’s record of 15sec flat a short time ago. lie is a great athlete, and good for 15 l-ssec. He, also, on the same day that ho ran Kelly to the 15sec mark, high jumped 6ft s|in. Ho can also put the shot to about 40ft, and broad jumps better than 22ft.

“Jack Nelson, of the Olympic Club, of the city, is a sprinter who has stated his willingness to go on the tour. He won the A.A.U. 220 yards championship at Pittsburg in 1911 in 21 4-ssec. Shortly after that ho lost his wife, and waa out of competition

until this season. During the season recently dosed ho boat even time for the 100 yards, getting 9 4-ssoc against Santa Clara. He ran lOsec flat against California, and has done the 220 yards in practice in 21 4-sscc this year but was unfortunate to have to run on tracks in every meet after rain had deadened them the night before. On these heavy tracks ho ran 22 2-sscc. Ho is a great sprinter, and has cut the 440 yards out in 49 3-sscc.

“I am delighted to see the comparison of times, heights, etc., of the different championships of New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. There are one or two performances in that comparison table that it will take the coming Americans all their time to beat. “The lOsec flat for the hundred is a good performance in Victoria and New South Wales, and any man who can do even, time will give the best I can bring over a groat big argument. This will serve to put our men on their mettle, and I am not failing to let the athletes of this country know just what we have to expect over with vour bovs.

“The 220 yards time is poor, but it may bo that with a good man against them thosa 2oscc boys in Victoria and New Zealand will bo able to cut that down considerably, and give the American representative a good race at that. “Your 440 yards time in New South Wales and Tasmania is not too good, but, like the 220 yards, I expect this can bo improved on in competition against a good man. The New Zealand and Victorian times arc fair, and quite good enough to give an all-round American sprinter a big fight. If I wore bringing along a man who ran. nothing else but the quarter I would not bo at all afraid of 51 l-ssec for the quarter, as our regular quartcr-mildrs are not considered of Ingh class unless they can show at least 50scc flat. With a man, however, who lias to sprint the 100yds and 229yds and 440yds, it is a hard matter to get one who can negotiate much better than 51sec. Nelson has not run the 440yds for two years; but will got in form for it if ho is select -V ( and he expects to be able to show 50sec flat in Australia and New Zealand after he lias had a couple of hard races. “The Victorian Imin 53sc for the * half ’ is good class, while the New South Wales 2min OAsrc is not to be laughed at at all. Abel Kiviat, of course, if he comes, will not have much trouble with either of these times, as he can get down to Imin 55scc. Three miles is a sort of odd distance with us. It is occasionally run in-doors in the East, but. is not a regular out-door distance. Kiviat, however, should bo able to give your men a good race; but I would like i'o sec two miles substituted for .the three if possible.

“Your times in the hurdles arc all poor. No matter what man 1 bring over he wii! be able to do 15 3-ssco without any trouble. The 440yds hurdles and the walks are out of our class entirely. I hone that you will be able to have a 220yds low hurdles put on at some of the meets at least.

“The high jumps of New South Wales and Victoria are both worthy performances, and will give my. high jumper trouble. From all I read it is quite possible that S. Bcven (N.S.W.) will bo able to do better than 6ft by the time we get there, and 1 hope ho dors. If Beeson is selected for the lour ho will show a stylo of jumping entirely now to you down there —the Ilorino form. Beeson some weeks ago cleared 6ft 5 3-Bin. and is good for 6ft 2ijin at every meet when in condition.

“As compared with this country, all your other field events arc poor; but still some of them will be good enough to give some .<{ my boys a big argument. Tn pole-vault-ing I hope to have a man (Plait Adams) who will bo able to better lift without trouble; and he can also put' the shot about 40ft.

“In the running broad jump I will have two men who will bo able to boat 22ft. In the hammer-throw 1 do not expect to have a man who can really throw, fhello'll Platt Adams may be able to get it out to 130 ft to 135 ft. Of course, he is not considered ns a hammer man.

"1 am glad that your men will be able to give ns such competition, and I am of the opinion that, pitted against these I am to bring to yon, your boys will bo drawn out and give better times and performances than they have done up to the present —in some cases.

“I have suggested to New Zealand that wo leave here about the middle of November, arriving at Wellington or Auckland— I forget which —December 16. This would be in nice time for the first meet on Boxing Day, if you hold meets on that day, and this would give the American lads an opportunity to get their condition and train n little.” SCOTTISH ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS. 100 Yds—H. M. Macintosh (C.U.A.C.), 10 l-ssec. 220Yds—W. R. Sutherland (H.F.C.), 24 2-ssec. 440Yds—R. A. Lindsay (8.H.). 53sce. 880Yds—D. F. Mac Nicol (W.S.H.), 2min 4 3-ssoc. Mile—D. M'Phee (C.H.), 4min 34see. Four Miles —O. C. L. Wallach (G.IE), 20rnin 44see. Three-mile Walk —A. Justice (C.IL), 24min Iscc. 120Yds Hurdles—R. W. Patteson (G.U.A.C ), 18 5-ssec. High Jump—D. Campbell (E.U.C.A.), sft Sin. Broad Jump —A. M'Lean (G.U.A.C.), 20ft llin. Hammer T. S. Nicolson (W.S.IT.), 156 ft Sin. Wcight-T. R. Nicolson (W. 5.11.), 40ft 6in. ENGLISH AMATEUR ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS. NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED. The weather was threatening for the English Amateur Athletic Championships decided at Stamford Bridge. London, on Saturday, July 5, but such the interest in the big classic gathering tliat there was an attendance of 17.000. and the sum of £7OO was taken at the gate. The feature of a memorable meeting was the form of W. R. Applegarth, the British sprinter, who sucoeeded in raising a new British record in the 220yds by cutting out the distance in 21 3-ssce. Applegarth also won the lOOvds in lOsec, in which race the Tasmanian, W. A. Stewart, ran third Applegarth was i.n rare form, and, though he was not overburdened with the best of luck, lie succeeded in improving upon the British lecord for the furlong in the final of that race, which was the lo«t item on the programme. lie might have equalled the sprint

record put up by tlie South African, G. H. Patching-, in winning last year’s championship, but for a slight mishap—the hack of his starting hole gave way. This might have been disastrous for him, for the Tasmanian, W. A. Stewart, made the most oi! a good start, and led for nearly half tho distance. Applcgarth travelled magnificently from tins point, the result neverbeing in doubt. The greatest event of the day was the Four Aides, where one of the finest finishes on record to a long-distance race was witnessed. At tho end of three and threequarter miles, covered at a very fast pace, to run the quarter in 60scc is a performance that speaks for itself. Following are the results:— 100 YARDS. W. R. Applcgarth Polytechnic Harriers 1 J. J. Ba river, Polytechnic Harriers 1 W. A. Stewart, L.A.C ... ... t Stewart was very quickly into his running, and at 20 yards natl put daylight between himself and the rest, Applcgarth and Taylor being- slowest away. At halt-distance Applegarth had caught Stewart, who was soon afterwards collared by Barker, the lirstnamed finishing with groat power and. winning by four feet, though tho margin seemed larger. The Tasmanian was a foot behind the Midland champion, with Taylot well up. Time, XOscc. 220 YARDS. V\. R. AppiCgartn, Polytechnic Harriers (holder; ... ... j V. 11. A. D’Arcy, Polytechnic Harriers a R. Ran, Germany 3 \\ . Taylor, Polytechnic Harriers ... 4 Ran was favoured with the ins.de station, with D Arcy and '.laylor next, and Applegarth on lop of the banking. They ail got away together, and Applcgarth "rook ms awkward bend in brilliant style, basing a useful lead of the German on entering the straight. Tin’s he-increased to five yards at the finish, while D’Arcy, running in great style, beat Ran for second place by a aid. J une, 21 3-sstc. QUARTER. G. Nicol, Polytechnic Harriers ... 1 D. H. Jacobs, Herne Hill Harriers 2 E. W. Haley,- Herne Hill Harriers ... 3 Micol drew the inside berth, with Haley on the outside, and the Polytechn c runner managed to retain ins advantage round the first bend. in the back straight Jacobs made a big effort to get by, but failed, and he tried again at the furlong start. 110 made a last desperate attempt to get on terms in the final stretch, but Nicol ran too strongly for him, and the Welshman, who did not persevere in the hist few yards, was beaten by four yards, Haley being a similar d stance further behind. Time, 49 2-sscc. HALF-MILE. E. Wide, Swedish Athletic Team ' 1 C. 11. Erisby, Polytechnic Harriers ... ••• 2 J. M. Hill, Queen's Park Harriers 3 With a furlong to go Hill went out, with Wide after him, and the Swede had tiie advantage on entering tho homo straight, when Frisby came round on tho outside at a rare pace. He could not, however, get up to Wide, who won by five yards, there being a yard between second and third. Time, 2min G 3-sscc. ONE MILE. J. Zander, Swedish Athletic Team 1 G. U. Gorringo llighgate Harriers ..._ ... 2 E. Micklcr, Charlottenborg S.C., Germany 3 Down tho back straight Zander began to make up a lot of ground, and he had it rare struggle for supremacy with Micklcr, which resulted in favour of the Swede by eight yards. The German did not persevere in the last 10 yards, and Gorringo, who showed surprising pace over tho last furlong, got up on the post and boat him for second place by inches. Time, 4 min 25 4-sscc. FOUR MILES. G. W. Hutson, Surrey A.C. (holdci) ... 1 E. Glover, Hallamshiro Harriers 2 M. Karlsson, Swedish Athletic learn 3 At the bell Hutson dashed by at a remarkable rate, and m the next ICO yards Had secured a lead of 30 .yards. Ho kept tip this wonderful effort to tho last bond, and came again in the straight, winning a great race by 100 yards. Karlsson had recovered third position in the later stages, being a furlong behind Glover. Time, iGmm 52sec. Intermediate times: One imio, 4mm 47 l-ssec; two miles, Omin 36scc; tmoe n.i.cs, 14min 43 2-sscc. TWO-MILE WALK. R. Bridge, Lancashire W.C. (holder) ... 1 H. V. L. Ross Uxbridge and West Middlesex A.C " J. J. Lynch, Polytechnic II Time, 13niin 51 4-sscc. 120 YARDS HURDLES. G. H. Gray, Salford II f K. Powell, L.A.C. and O.U.A.C 2 G. Holmor, (Swedish Athletic Team ... 3 P. Zerling, Swedish Athletic Team ... 4Gray was fastest up to the hurdles, followed bv Holmor but at the half-distance tho old Cantab was well in tho running. The Salfordinn hurdled well, and despite a fine effort by Powell the latter was beaten, by half a yard, there being a yard between the second and third. Time, 16scc. The holder, G. L. L. Anderson. Oxford University A.C., did not compete. HIGH JUMP. B. IT. Raker, Li verpool 11. and A.S. (holder), Oft 1 A Pettersson, Swedish Athletic Team, * sft lOin ... ••• 2 I. Lindholrn, Swedish Athletic Team, sft Bin 3 LONG JUMP. S. S, Abrams, C.U.A.C., 22ft 6ln 1 I Lindholrn, Swedish Athletic Team, ‘2lft Biin 2 A. Campana. Societc Sportive du Parc Pommery, France, 21ft 7gin 3 POLE JUMP. C. Gitlo, Swedish Athletic Team, 12ft lin 1 C. Harlo nunn (Swedish Athletic Team. lift 9in ... ' ... ... ... ... . v ... ... 2 F. Gondcr, Stadc Bordelais Universito Club, Franco, lift 6in 3 PUTTING THE WEIGHT. E. Nilsson, Swedish Athletic Team, 47ft 4gin ... ... .. _ ••• T A. Tison. Universito Club, Paris, 43 : 2 in 2 J. Barrett, unattached, 42ft Gin 3 THROWING THE HAMMER. C Lind Swedish Athletic Team, 155 ft 7iin .’. ;■ 1 N. Linde, Swedish Athletic Team, 151 ft Ogin 3 A. E. Flaxman, L.A.C. and S.L.H., 137 ft 4iin 5

Since the Fields Division of the Now Zealand Agricultural Department demonstrated About two years ago that a number of sand areas then lying unproductive could easily be made to produce valuable crops if proper methods were adopted, applications have been pouring into the department from All over New Zealand for advice and assist- I ance in the matter. Among those received are applications from Brighton, Marlborough, the West Coast, Otago, and Catting.

Whitebait were retailed in Hokitika last j Wednesday at 2a 6d a pint, but even at that ; price the demand could not be supplied, I probably owing to the bad weather avid • flooded state of the river. The price ruling I at Greymouth was 5s per pint. The valuation of the borough of Palmerston is now or/rtip'fcted, showing the capital value to be £87.343, of which property to | the value of £11,416 is not rateable. The’ last year’s valuation was £83,482, with cx- ! emptions amounting to £9BIO. [

■——3——MM—B j Koas are very numerous this season in ; tlio Rogerson Valley, near Hajuner Springs. I The birds liavo caused much trouble ■ amongst Mr J. E. Scott’s sheep, and during j the last few days lie has snot 32 keas, killing 12 on Saturday morning. The North Otago Times states that the Government’s intention in buying Mr John j Vernor’s 13 acres on Awamoa for work- ' men's homes is to give each oocupant ! enough land to fill in a good part or his [ time in tillage.