In the Open Air.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13846, 6 March 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

In the Open Air.

, The " Otngo Daily Times " says that '.progress is "the -keynote struck; by the South Canterbury Jockey. Club in connection with the programme l : or. its autumn meeting, to be held on March 2-1 and 25, and the lmancial strength of tlie prize list should, prove the foundation of the best meeting ever held at Tiiiiaru. The ■ Timaru Cup is'raised from 150 soys to'2oo sovs, and the distance is still to be a 10-furong journey. The Autumn i Handicap is raised: fropi 110 sovs' to 150 sovs, and is to be run over the same'distance as the Cup. Oh last year's programme the two principal events were the only races endowed to the extent of 100 sovs or niorc, but this year the Waslidyke' Welter, of 100 sovs, one mile; Seadown Welter of 100 sovs, one; and Farewell Handicap, ]OO sovs, seven furlongs, find a place on the list, • '

.Tims the Johannesburg "Sunday Times " of a recent issue. "Mr Thife Naylor is what the Americans would call a. 'hustler.' All his life lie has been connected with sport. . . , ' He was chiefly instrumental in forming (a Johannesburg''Athletic Club. This new institution, encouraged by the success of-the £SO Christmas Handicap, is.out with a programme including a £IOO handicap. The venue, for the meeting is'thc 'Stadium,' the name to.be-given to the ground just acquired and en-, closed by Main, End, Marshall, and Phillip streets. The ground is to; bo fitted up on the most approved modern, lilies. There will, be a straight cinder path—dead level—for , the: running ol' sprint - races, and a cycling track of 250"'yards circuit. The arena will, be; surrounded by stands and tiers of seats tliat will accommodate a' huge crowd of people. All - foot races at.; the '' Stn - dium ' will be judged;by Rufe Nnylor's patent electric judging machine, which has. been a great success in other countries." ' •. V i I

The Australian team to . visit England consists of Mi- A.i Noble, V. Triiim pfe'r, \Y. Bnrdsley, K., E. A, Cotter, 11. Carter and C.. G. Alaeart-. ncv (N.SAV.). W. }V,,- Armstrong, A. Ale A lister, V. Rnnsforclr. and W. Cat-keek (Victoria), .J. A. O'Connor and W. .1. Whitty (S.A.), and R. Hartigau (Q.). There- are seven from Now Smith Wales and ten who are essentially New South Wales cricketers, for O'Connor, Whitty, and Hartigan came under that category. Alembers of, the team who are (says the Sydney Referee) in the ■ opinion of many, 011 their trial, so to say, 011 this tour, are V.-Trumpet-, R. Carter, S. E. Gregory, and l\ A. AleA lister. One. has no doubt as to Triitnper's success, - Judged by the ordinary and not the standard Trnmperian; "and very little, as. 'to Carter's, though he will not be able to stand the wear and tear of regular match play as J. J. Kelly did.' I'arkeek will be needed to play as often as Carter, for the latter's form to .be. kept at its best. S. 10. Gregory is 011 his trial more ..perhaps, than anyone else. His two last visits to England were not marked by the cricket expected from such a master. His form in Australia in the last, three or four years has been superb. He has wonderlul skill and. wonderful pluck, and is highly skilled 011 bowlers' wickets, and,it 110w remains to be seen how far these, gifts will carry him 011 his seventh visit to England, following two others which he lias a disappointment. S.E.G. is still' a good, but not the great lield he was in 1800. - Alick .Banuenuan will follow "Little Tieh's" career, and il he repeat history of years ago and make a-century or two against England, there will be no man in Australia more elated than A.C.B. On form Sydney Gregory could hardly be omitted from the team, for on form he is the greatest of players.

Tlie career of Dorando l'ietri, 111 <' Italian who defeated Haves, the American. and lost to Tom .Longboat, and Shrubb, provides interesting reading. He holds the championships of Italy for five, ten, fifteen, and twenty kilometres, and also the Italian "Maiathon " championship. He had been engaged as a pastrycook by one master in*ltnly since jie 'was seven years ol age, and as an errand boy enjoyed the run about the streets of Carpi, delivering his wares. He never tired, and often entered races with boys older and bin-ger than himself, invariably beating them. Five years v ago an Italian athletic, society sent him to \ orcein, Italy, to compete with the Italian champion, Volpati, and a number or other crack runners l'or the championship of Italy. Nobody thought he had a chance at the distance, twenty-five kilometres, or eighteen miles, and the odds were about 20 to 1 against him. It was a great race, and. when the competitors had travelled about fifteen miles Volpati was tiring fast, and, being as fresh almost as at the start, Dorando Pietri hurriedly overtook him and won by a two-minute margin. He lias raced thirty-eight times, winning thirty-two, taking second place twice, and losing four times. Whilst in the Italian army, where he served two years lie won the army and navy running championships. He considers that be owes his success to his strong heart, regular habits, and mode of living. He rises every morning at 5 o'clock, takes a long walk, and lias' breakfast. After.:

a rest "of an hour or so, if ho . was nofc working in the, ' he used to -take a run' of about ten miles, then have lunch and another walk of. nb.out live miles; and then.rest nntil dinner,time. He never lises water -as a beverage, taking in its stead a largo glass'of Italian wine, :Chianti claret, f.three' times a. day, which lie linds to be - very beneficial. After -running ten 'miles, ■■ a physician, who iuade a. complete -examination. stated that his heart was normal, and that it had neither lost nor increased a beat alter running that distance. ;

Mr Frank Sknrry Hewitt, the oldtiriie champion, writes to a Sydney j?aper, iir connection with the times. attributed to A. H. Postle and Beg. E. talker in South Africa. He says; he desires to make it clear that he in ;no way wishes; to detract from the merits of these runners, for, says Mr Hewitt, "both have proved themselves'((champions; at. sprinting." He naturhlly has . something to say about a par in ■ a Johannesburg paper which said I'ostje was not lit when lie ran 70yds. in, time recorded as 7 l-16see., but this drily by the way. Mr Hewitt dwells on l the necessity of a good watch.and experience in the timetaker's outfit, v ;To take time properly, "entails lots bf practice, and takes pnrt of'adifetimp;" lie says—and we;all hgreo with the .veteran. He' also is of'-;the opinion that, the " "all fours " set means' a yard and a .halt" advantage ovei,- the upright (standing) set in vogiie when he was ■ running in the days, gone ' past. Ho wonders, whether, the who have been making Postlo and Walker run these fast times all necessary precautions, whether re experienced, and whether they bold good, reliable watches,; and did th'e starters see to' it that the men did'not anticipate the pistol! ■ ■ •

ROWING NOTES. •. A special;! general meeting of the .■local, club-will ; be held in the shod 011 tluv loth iiyst., to revise the rule.s.' As ■this: is a:-very important mutter, everybody slmjijd make it their business to attend. it is some time since ' the ruli's Ayero raised, an.v member having any. to make, 'should' do so t" tflfi before the meeting; Ute. l.trtijimig races in cohneetion with Mr G Ayn tson's aggregate medal, wen; inn dining the week. ' The men who uui kidinfc for c thY) medal were:—\V. l'cnios<,»..a rowing races, 3 points;, 0.. «, Avlen, 1 rowing and I swimming t.ue, 2 points; G, G. Priest, ,1. rowing uiid .1} swimming races, 'JA points;- K. Alayo, .2 rowing races, •> points. The lirst race was run on Friday night, and was wort by G. Bansford. G. Priest made a bokl hid for lirst place, but fell over about ten yards from the post, and took some time to rise. The hnish was a very good one, and shows great credit to tlic • handicapper, Air,.'. J. O'Leary, wlio compiled the handicap.** 'or this, race, and the 100 yds, which was run the following night. Ju this race the-limit was 12yds, G. G. Priest being on this mark;" 0. Knowles scr, G. Alanslord -yds, (). G. Ay len 7yds, Campbell,, Mayo and Glue also .started. G. G. .I'riest made a capital start, anil won all ■ the way by about a; yard. Through winning this' race Air I'riest wins the medal, and I take the opportunity of heartily congratulating, him 011 his success, as lie is a keen sport, and well deserves his win. • Tlie committee fours have all started training. 1 rim glad to welcome back Fruser aml Norrie to club racing. This is the lirst race they have heeu able, to enter .for, and I wish thorn luck. All the crows on paper look very even, and all crews are training well. i have not seen any of the crews outyet, as they train in the morning, and it is nearly dark when the rest of crews go out. 1 must, warn crews when going out in the dark to be careful of any floating wood or buoys that, might lie about. Ay leu's crew have lost their -number three, and tlie race committee replaced him by D. fjmith. Eraser's crew has Smily as'number two. This man, I sun loci to believe, lias a sore shoulder .having splintered the collarbone last week. Tf'this is so, itis hard luck for the crew, but 1 heathe is out training every night, so there cannot be very much wrong with hint. .