ATHLETIC REMINISCENCES

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1928, Page 7

ATHLETIC REMINISCENCES

CAR3INE WATTS. STORIES OF GOOD OLD DAYS. (By ’’Physical Culturist.”—Special to News), What is in a name, from an athlete’s point of view ? A good deal when that name is A. W, Watts, "Carbine" of that ilk. In the News of January 26, 1928, in recording some of Geo, Wareham’s performances, I put on record the fact that when in Sydney he entered a 250 yards hurdle race, being allotted 12yds, A, Francis, a fellow N. Zedder, 14yds and A. W. Watts, 20yds. Knowing that our A W. W. was in N.S.W. somewhere around that time, X took it for granted it was the N.Z. athlete, and stated that it was quite an unusual mark for Carbine Watts on 20yds. A copy of tue Now’s ultimately reached friend Billy, who, in a chatty letter of reminiscences, states the A. W. Watts was not .he of Maoriland but another of the same pame. Wareham was in Sydney a year before "Carbine,” who ran second In a RiXlyds hurdle race, but not from quite Buch a soft mark as 20yds, so please, Billy, accept the “amende honourable.” "Carbine” met the other Watts in this race, which was won by Byrne, to whom the N. Zedder was conceding Borne yards start. There was a Byrne, pne of Australia’s best hurdlers, and I assume the latter was the same man.

Carbine would probably have won this race had not his namesake accidentally , bumped him badly at a critical part, afterwards apologising and stating he did not know it was Billy he was bumping. lifter all, what’s in a name? Methinks it depends on the man. A. W. was really over on a health (trip, and only ran in that hurdle race at Rosehill. He had caught a bad chill and was doing light work only out at Carrington, the famous running grounds, where he met some of the best professionals of that period. Amongst them was M’Couray, who had cleared the bar at 6ft sin in the high Jump, then a world’s record high jump, to be soon after beaten by half an inch in America, from memory, I think at New York. Two great sprint runners he met in training were Marsh, an aborigi„al, whom he described as a little gentleman •to talk to; also Wally Williams, the ‘White Champion.” The latter I have Beard various Aussie peds describe as a wonder sprint runner. This is the runner who used to stand the late J. Hempton tip 4 and syds in a hundred in training. This was after the latter had been credited with the world’s record, 9 4-5 sec-

onds at Napier. If Hempton could run

under evens, Williams must have been a flier, so must have J. M. King, Alf Cummings, Wally Joy, and the Marsh brothers, as there was not considered to be much difference in pace in any of these men over the century distance. SOME SLIM TRICKS. The bare mention of "Carbine” Watts Recalls to mind many incidents, some humourous and others of a more serious nature. There was in his day, a runner who frequented this coast, who was full of slim tricks, one of the "fly by night” Bort. I have known men who were guilty of what is termed ringing In, high spirited fellows, who laid themBelves out to catch some one of the “fly brigade”; and others who omitted B'ome of their performances, perhaps to get a lighter handicap; others whom necessity urged—but usually they were loyal to those they associated with. On the other hand, there were those who knew no gratitude, and whose very nature was to thieve. Of the latter class Was the one I have in mind who, in crossing "Carbine” with his tricky tricks, struck a snag. One year Watts, who had entered at Kimbolton, arrived pn the sports ground, where he found ft runner whom we will call “Bluff Daylight,” practically on limits. Of course, Watts told him he couldn’t compete oft those marks. This entry must be out of Order. “Bluff” made the lame excuse — when he entered he did not know or think that Billy would be there. After Borne discussion, Billy said he was on his own roost, and would not let “Daylight” crow from it. The committee was’ requested to decide who was to start, “Bluff" or Watts. It ended up in "Daylight” being disqualified for the meeting. A peculiar coincidence was the fact that during his absence from the dressing tent a pair of Watt's running shoes went missing, and he never saw them again, but he knew they fitted “Bluff,” as he had wanted to buy them. As Billy said, he was as full of tricks as a seive is full of holes. I always felt sympathy for Watts in the loss of his shoes. SHARP OFF-THE MARK It so happened the self same “Daylight” stayed for some weeks in Wanganui, and entered at a small meeting near the town. In between training he ■used to frequent the place where 1 Worked at my trade. 1 had one pair of shoes specially fitted with spikes and a heel spike for hurdling. These he borrowed with which to train over the jumps, and wore to win with at the meeting, stating his intention of returning them the next day, to which I replied “rigfif. oh.” At the end of the Week I thought I might as well collect my shoes and to this end went to the hotel at which he had stayed for some weeks. On enquiring his whereabouts the landlord replied, “that is what I wish to know. I think he may have worn your shoes, as he got sharp off the mark.” At a sports not a hundred miles from New Plymouth, Billy Watts was entered, also "Bluff Daylight.” "Bluff” won the hurdles, A. W. W. being 3rd.-1 forget for the moment just who was 2nd, but, acting on the principle of "Tit for Tat,” Watts put that “ped” wise to the fact that “Bluff” must be in crook to get those starts, and that he would give evidence that his list of performances was wrong. At the enquiry Watts was asked to look at the list, and noticed that where “Bluff” had started off 3, 5 and 7 yards, it read as 13, 15, 17. This is how “Bluff” was bowled out. As the secretary had received nominations they were stamped with the club's stamp. ‘'Bluff” was called in. and denied that be was in the wrong. “Let me read them over,” he said. After a pause, and a little side talk, he slapped his hand on the table, exclaiming, “these performances are all right, I will stand by them.” “BLUFF DAYLIGHT'S” CUNNING. The committee later again called Carbine in, and handing him a list, asked him to look at, it, and be sure if h : s previous statement was correct. W- n lie looked at the performances Old Billy couldn’t believe his own eyes,

for there was his performances as he (Watts) had stated they should have been when he first examined them. After cudgeling his brains, he sensed what had happened, and he said, “these are alright, gentlemen, but they are not the ones I was shown before." “Daylight” had, by slight of hand, got away with the crook ones and substituted a correct list, which was minus the club’s stamp. He had signed a statuary declaration, and duly received a sentence serving a term in prison. It. was only recently that the secretary of that meeting retold this story to me, thus endorsing all that friend Billy had told me years ago.

It happened not far from Auckland that where Carbine, the soul of good nature, fell for the confidence trick. A sprinter, who, for short we will call "Ped” won a 75 yards race from his tgark. Billy could not quite catch him. On the quiet Watts had a hint that "Ped's” performances were not correct, whereon he told him he was going to protest, when the latter pleaded being hard up, and said he would be content with a second prize if Billy did not protest, and suggested they meet at a certain time at the secretary’s office, when they would collect the prizes, and adjust the difference. Not wishing to rub it in, and feeling a certain amount of sympathy for the other fellow, Watts agreed to the proposition. However, when he arrived at the time appointed, he found "Ped” had got in early, collected first prize, and left the second for Watts. Thus “Ped” had won again, scoring two “wins” with one first. These two old opponents have often 'met since, but the statuary limitation has long since expired. "THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS.” In those good old days one never knew what one was up against. To hold one's own when travelling round, one required to form a mental photograph of every athlete he met in competition or otherwise. The scratch man of to-day in Australia would become literally the maiden of to-morrow in New Zealand, and visa versa. An old professional of my acquaintance used io take a snapshot photo at all Australian meetings in which he competed, of all placed men over distances he was likely to compete with in the future. He had a collection of many winners, which later served to expose numerous peds who had got in wrongly. A funny incident happened .when Watts was in Melbourne, The facts arc true though the names are now only a memory. The man he beat in the hurdles in that city was named “Bed Rock.” they were talking afterwards and Billy, who was a dry stick, and not in the habit of giving too much information away, while storing up knowledge likely to be useful at some later date, said that he thought of going to New Zealand for a holiday, and would run there if there were any meetings in that country, as though Bill did not know New Zealand from A to Z. Of course the Victorian did not know that Billy could tell him much more than he knew, and assured Watts that there were some real good meetings and good money to be hud. He added, “my brother has just gone over there, you may meet him.” Right enough Billy did. It was at Otaki. When Watts called him by his right name he said, "You have made a mistake.” However, old Carbine was not to be bluffed, and when he mentioned his brother he became more friendly. Watts advised him not to clash with him, and he never did again. I hate heard he did very well in this Dominion, and then went back to Aussie. But for that meeting in Melbourne between Watts and his brother he probably would have done even better. FOR AULD LANG SYNE. The Stratford Jubilee sports committee are to be commended for their endeavour to bring together old time athletes. They have decided to Include “an all aged stakes” race, minimum age fifty years, open to all those who have competed on Taranaki tracks since sports were first inaugurated. Invitations have already been sent out to some forty or so old athletes, a number of whom have expressed their Intention of taking part. Each invitation embodies a request to submit to the secretary names of any known competitors of the past who may be Invited to compete. Invitations have been sent to all whose names have come to mind, but doubtless there are numbers of old time athletes available of whom the committee have not the known address. I understand the intention is to have a photo taken of those old pioneers who helped to blaze the way. I believe the first sports ever held In Taranaki was held in Batea well over fifty years ago. Some of the earliest athletes to compete in Batea were Mr. William Williams, now of Mere Mere, Hawera, son of the late William Williams, Colonel Whitmore’s chief of scouts, who lived for many years in Manala and died there, Mr* George Broughton, now resident past Tawhiti, Hawera, and Mr. Adam Sargent, now a resident of New Blymouth. Of these four men I ofton heard my early mentors speak of In terms of praise. The evergreen Don Malone has been entrusted with rallying the old brigade. In addition to the all aged stakes there has been a request for a veteran's walking race, which, it is suggested, should be once around. A few names which occur to mind at the moment —Guin Bros., of Hawera, H. Kerr, Tariki, A. Coleman. Te Roti, A. Whiting, Eltham, R. G. MeNiven and A. B. Anderson, Wanganui, and R. C. McManus, Palmerston North.