OTHER SPORTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 8

OTHER SPORTS.

(By “Recreation.”)

The following are the principal rifl» shooting meetings to be held this season : Dec! 27 and 28—North Island Championship Meeting, at AA’anganui. Jan. 1 and 2—Auckland Rifle Association’s Meeting at Penrose. Jan. 1 and 2—Wellington Rifle Association’s Meeting at Trentham. Feb. 28 and following days—New Zealand Championship Meeting, at Trentham. AV. A. AVoodger has written to “Mercury” in The Dominion expressing his great disappointment at having to withdraw from the New Zealand team. Fortunately it is not through'ill-health this time that the popular sprinter is prevented from defending his Australasian championship titles, but through the exigencies of his official duties. Since his return from England AVoodger has been relieving at Kaitoko (he is in tlie railway service), and has now been notified that he is to go from there to Shannon. The result is that- ho cannot find time to train even if he were able to got down to run, and hence his defection. He writes, however, that he will he all the better for tho season’s rest, and will bo at the game again next year.

In London on October 21 an Association football match was played between England and Denmark, There were about 3000 present, who witnessed a fine exposition of the game. England won by 3 goals to nil. Dick Arnst, who will be remembered for his Sydney Thousand win in 1906, besides his victory in the 50 miles road championship of New South AVales in 1905, besides several meritorious performances in long-distance road events in Australia and Now Zealand, has decided to resume racing (says the Referee), and intends to compete in the six days’ race, with R. J. M‘Naraara as partner. Dick is, of course, ■well known in various parts of the world as the sculling champion, and ho 1 is also a pigeon-shot of high reputation. If anyone in Australia may bo considered, by the light of past performances, to be adapted for six days races it is Dick Arnst, whose remarkable stamina and pluck made him a favourite wherever ho competed. Several unsuccessful efforts have recently been made in England to cover 400 miles unpaced on a push bicycle in 24 hours. Tho existing record—to tho credit of H. Grech (England)—has stood at 394 miles for ten years. The Australian 24 hours’ road record is 304 miles, established by E. A. Pearson during the first 24 hours of Ids wonderful ride' of 49 hours from Sydney to Melbourne (575 miles). It would bo interesting to see what a really firstclass Australian road rider such as E. A. Pearson, D. Kirkham, or T. Larcombe could accomplish on a picked course on the western district roads of A r ictoria, which are the fastest in tho Commonwealth. Probably something like 450 miles would be covered—behind pace. Light is thrown upon-the times in the recent Donaldson-Postle contests by the reports appearing in the papers. The Australasian says;—The races were over distances of 100 yards, 80 yards and 110 wards, for £IOO a sidp and a purse of £2OO, the winner to take £350, and the loser £SO. For tho 100 yards Postlc was faster off the mark, and at 50 wards ho 1 held a lead of half a yard, hut Donaldson ,overhauled him at about 80 yards, and then drew away and won by 6in. Tho official time was 95-sec, but private watches made it lOscc. The track was not fast, and there was a slight wind blowing against the runners. Considerable interest was attached to the race over 80 yards. Postle took the lead and reached tho tape a foot ahead. The official watches ipade tho time 7jsec, which would be a new world’s record for tho distance. Private watches, however, made the time 8 1-lOsec. Tho 110 yards race became the deeding event. Postle, at tho half-way mark, was a yard to the good. He was still ahead twenty yards from tho post, but Donaldson made fine spurt and broke the tape 4in. ahead of his opponent. The time, according to the official watches, was lOlsco, but again private watches differed, making tho time Usee dead.