ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 13 (Supplement)

ATHLETICS

(By “0.M.”). THE CHRISTMAS CIRCUIT. December 19.—Tahakoupa. December 22.—Drummond. December 25.—Edendale. December 26.—Balfour and Ryal Bush. December 27.—Limehills. December 28.—Winton. January I—Tuatapere, Dipton and Waikaia. January 2.—Riversdale. January 3.—Mat aura. Tuatapere nominations close Tuesday next. Tahakopa sports on Wednesday. Special train connects with Invercargill express. Nominations for Sheffield at Dipton close Thursday. The official calendar of the New Zealand Athletic Union records the disqualification of three axemen, D. Pretty, and the Nicholas Bros. Mat aura entries close on Friday, and Limehills on Saturday. There is a movement afoot locally to stage a contest between Dave Pretty' and Bill Peck somewhere about Christmas time, over 5 chops, two underhand and two standing and toss for the fifth. Pretty had to call off his match with Peck at Wellington owing to dislocating a thumb. • Trembath is back on the tracks again after a fortnight off with a strained muscle. It was looking serious at one stage and the veteran had to stop training, but he is fortunately able to do light work again. He will, however, have to have both ankles bandaged to brace up the muscles—the other one had to recgive that attention years ago—and Trembath reckons he will have to make this his last season. A three-mile cycle race was held on Wednesday evening, on the Athletic and Cycling Club’s track on the Gore Caledonian Grounds. There were twelve starters, the result being Frank Hoffman (scr), 1;’ H. Insall ( 235yds 1,2; Gus Hoffman (50yds), 3. Won by half a wheel, after a fast race, the time being "mins 45 4-ssecs. It is stated that D. Pretty’s supporters Wrongly contend that the holder of many world’s championships should not have been disqualified. ITiey contend that the worst offence of which he can be convicted' was failing to reply to a letter from the New Zealand Axemens’ Association, which asked Pretty to return the prize money won in a chop, in which the first man home, after being disqualified by the Society concerned, later lodged a protest to the New Zealand Axemens’ Association which took the steps mentioned. It is also alleged that ±ere is more in the disqualification than meets the eye. If Pretty’s supporters can substantiate their contentions, they would be well advised to endeavour to have the whole matter re-opened and come forward with their evidence, as it is a serious matter to be placed on the disqualification list of the governing cash athletic body in this country. Ideal conditions favoured the revival of the Melbourne Bicycle Club’s one-time world-famous Austral Wheel Race on the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Saturday week when the 12 qualifying heats were held. Although it is some 13 years since cyclists have raced on this gfrass track, they quickly adapted themselves to the running which was fast and interesting. The final of the race, which is decided over 1A miles, was held last Saturday, with results as already cabled. Christchurch has a lady sprinter which the city is anxious to have measure strides with Miss Dawson, the Wellington champion. This young lady, Florence Maxwell, won all three events open to feminine competitors at the recent amateur meeting in Christchurch, and put up the very good time of 12 seconds for the hundred, starting two yards behind scratch. Dave Pretty says that W. Johnston of Catlins is the toughest proposition he has struck in the South Island. The death of Gerald Keddell on Show Day removes one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes of all time. Although in his early athletic career he had been resident in Oamaru and Dunedin, it was as a representative of Southland that he achieved his most brilliant successes as hurdler and long jumper. Looking back over the years, what a great array of athletes old Murihiku has turned out, runners like D. Fale, the two Kanes, F. Wallis, W. Baker, 0. T. Reidy( runner and jumper together), the two Campbells, who could cut out the mile round about 4.25; W. and C. Robinson (no relations) ; K. Cameron, W. Black (New Zealand champion sprinter); G. Me-, Kitterick, winner of two Irish Athletic* Society Sheffields; the'lwo Coulings, Frank Forde, world’s record holder at hammerthrowing; and last but by no means least,

W'. Trembath, still in the game. One might also have included J. H. Hempton, one of the first men in the world to run a hundred in 9.4-ssecs, who ran many good races as a representative of Southland. And in all those names that of Gerald Keddell looms large. Away back at the beginning of the present century’ hurdling was revolutionised by the brilliant Kranzlein, and Keddell. following shortly after him, was one of the most brilliant exponents of this new style of shooting the front leg straight out in clearing the hurdle. Reckoned at one stage of his career to be the fastest hurdler in the world, it was never known how really fast he was, owing to having no one in this part of the world to challenge his supremacy. His best recognised time was 15 3-10 seconds, which was beaten a year or so back by H. E. Wilson or M ellington, who it may be mentioned is an exponent of a different style to what Keddell practised viz “the straight<leggeG” method which has Earl Thompson of Canada, present world's record holder as its greatest demonstrator, and which unquestionably is a big improvement on any of the old' systems. Kfddell was also a very fine long jumper, being good for an average of 23 feet. Old hands will always argue as to the respective merits ** of George Smith, H. E. Wilson, and Keddell. The trio were each exponents of entirely different systems, each one of which was a big improvement on' the last. Nowadays it is safe to say that several hurdlers could be found to do faster time than Keddell could do at his best, just as in Reddell's day the All Black, George Smith, would have been well beaten if he could have been resurrected at the top of his form under "curled leg” conditions. It may be mentioned that when on active service, after retirement from championship hurdling. Keddell was able to give Wilson, then just starting his career, some tips about the game. The old champion was never iff robust health since his return from war service, and some time ago removed to Central Otago, but the malady from which he suffered proved too strong for him and the end came last Wednesday.