ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 62

ATHLETICS.

ROTES liY ABATERS ATHLETES AND THE WAR. W. A. Stewart, the young colonial athlete who went Homo some seasons ago and made a name for himself on the amateur sprint paths of England and Shetland, is listed among the wounded. Stewart won numerous classic races in Great Britain, including the Scottish 100 Yards and 220 Yards Championships, it w r as as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps operating in Franco that he received his wounds. William Cranstoun, the well-known Edcndale athlete, has been accepted for active, service. Cranstoun’s performances in the late season arc worth recalling. Of 54 races ho competed in he was placed in 28 —11 firsts, nine seconds, and cignt thirds. In the 220 yards distance he gained six firsts, his best time being 24sec. He did the 100 yards in 10 4-sscc (checked by three watches). He ran practically untrained. Of the active members of the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association no fewer than three-fifths have now enlisted, and naturally with such big casualty-lists there are many athletes included —in fact, hardly a list comes through without one or more. ESsendon Harriers lament three killed —viz., C. Buvdue, R. C. Balzin (a recent arrival from England), and L. Williamson, who_ won the Victorian Long Jump Championship in 1912 and 1914. Lieutenant J. R. Balfe (University), like Williamson, was first reported missing, then killed, and, like Williamson also, he shone as a long jumper, and was the winner of the championship at the first (and, so far, the only) military athletic championships. Among the killed is also R. G. Martin, who, if I mistake not (writes “Harrier”), was a useful member of the Richmond Harriers. The w-ounded are almost too numerous to mention. Eight of our lads were photographed together in Egypt. Fortunately, none ;s reported killed, but only one is left scathThe casualty-lists include many names of harriers, and quite a number of them were part of that “ race of athletes” in the.evermemorable landing at the Dardanelles. Lester Kelly, the Australasian high jump champion, was in the thick of it, but got through spakhless; Oscar Chilvers (Esscndon), who ranks as a quartermaster-sergeant, was among those early wounded, with a bullet in his side, but is reported progressing well, and likely soon to be convalescent. Freddy Davenport, the popular Hawthorn harrier, is another wounded hero. Sergeant Louis Sommerville Robertson Auckland Battalion, killed) at the age of 20 secured the light-weight amateur wrestling championship of Scotland, beating the then- holder, P. W. Macintosh, of Glasgow, who had held the title for three years. Robertson subsequently secured the titles to the middle-weight championship of Scotland, Ireland, and America, and middle and heavy-weight championship of Africa. In January, 1909, he arrived in Wellington, and shortly secured for himself the titles of light and middle weight champion of New Zealand, first boating Colledge, the New Zealand champion, at Stratford in 1909 for the light-weight championship, and afterwards L. D. MTvor for the middle-weight. Ho subsequently defeated Prechter, the feather-weight champion of the world, at Stratford in April, 1910. About five years ago Sergeant Robertson settled in Ohnra, where he followed the occupation of building contractor. On the outbreak of war ho was among the first to volunteer. He had

previously been on active service in North Africa with the French Legion, and had boon through the Boor war. As a clean sportsman, he had an unblemished reputation. He successfully conducted physical culture schools in various places. What wonderful things have happened in 12 months (writes “ Strophon ” in tho Athletic News)! In April, 1914, Jas. Duffy, the ex-Edinburgh harrier, had won the Great Marathon race of tho Boston Athletic Club; in April, 1915, Jas. Duffy was lying dead on a battlefield in Franco, killed while taking part in tho gallant work done by the Canadians. Tho Boston race was run oil April 19, a few days before the death of this bravo Scoto-Irishman, and the event, after many tests and disappointments, fell to the man who had run second to him in the previous year—Charles, or as ho is commonly called, “ Edouard ”, Fabre, tho Fronch-Canadian, of the Richmond' Athletic Club, Montreal. , Two instances of an excess of zeal on the part of patriotic individuals are related. A number of runners across country wore rudely taunted as to their duty to King and country. They happened to be soldiers with a few hours off from camp indulging in a. spin ! In the other case one of tho reprehensible “white feather” corns of girls badgered a‘ couple of fellows who should, they considered, have been serving in the forces, etc. They gave the fair one plenty of “rope,” and, having caused her to wax eloquent, one bared his head and displayed traces of a terrible wound, the other proceeded to remove his “dummy” right eye. Both had actually been invalided home from Flanders! The Amateur Athletic Association of England has abandoned its championships for this year, and has recommended its clubs to devote, as far as possible, their meetings to competitions confined to the armed force of tho Crown, and to those engaged in making the munitions of war.