ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S SPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1889, 23 March 1874, Page 2

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S SPORTS.

. A -series of athletic sports originating from a match recently made between J. W. Davis, one of the Christchurch interprovincial crew, and -P. Bradley, a -member of the Westland crew, came off on the Agricultural Grounds on Saturday afternoon.- The private match was looked forward to with considerable interest, for the merits of Davis as a pedestrian have' lone: been very favourably known, and Bradley, "about whose performances nothing definite could be ascertained, was looked upon as a " dark horse," ' who must possess good qualifications to justify the gage being thrown down against all Canterbury so confidently as ifc was. These considerations, together with the fact of tbe general programme being such as to warrant the assumption that some good sport, independent of the match, would accrue, proved sufficient, notwithstanding the distance fco the grounds, to attract an attendance of be* tween 500 and 600 persons. Unfortunately, the piece de resistance of the programme proved a very hollow affair, Davis winning with the greatest ease; but all the other events produced good contests, thus the desire for sport was satisfactorily met, and the weather being delightfully fine, a pleasant afternoon was spent. The ground was in good order, and Inspector Pender, supported by a small detachment of police, rendered excellent service in keeping the public outside the boundary line of the course. The officers of the Athletio Association —under the auspices of which the sports were held — entered con amore into their respective duties, and the re-

•ult was that everything went smoothly and vreU. The proceedings were announced to commence at two o'clock, bufc as there were not many entries by that time for the first event, it was decided to open the ball with the match between Davis and Bradley, wbich had been fixed for half past two. Davis was the first to appear on the course, and the first glance showed him to be in splendid condition. One or two professed experts in such matters would have ifc that he was trained too fine, but his splendid running gave an unmistakeable denial to this. Bradley, who was unknown to nearly all those present, was not long in following his opponent, and his appearance created anything but a favourable impression. Not only iB he very diminutive — being only about 5 ft 3 in in height— but he was also very far from being in condition. He appeared to have been hastily prepared, and he certainly carried too much flesh. Davis, who had been the favourite all through, afc once found a host of supporters, who offered good odds, but could find no takers. The result of the race showed that this confidence was fully justified, Davis eclipsing all his previous performances, and making the best time yet known in Canterbury— r4 mm 34^ sec At the last anniversary sports the time for the mile race was put down at 4mm 15 sec, but this was an error, as subsequent circumstances -proved, and the quickest time on record here, previous to Saturday, was 4min 47£ sec, which was the time of Monck when he beat. Davis by about three yards, at the Athletic Association's sports in December last. Davis, it may be said, has covered the mile in 4 mm. 28 sees, on a hard road, and the quickest professional time in England on a properly made running course, is 4 mm. 17 sees. Tlie 100 yds race followed the match, and this was remarkably well contested, the whole of tho men being in a clump from start to finish. A. M. Ollivier's performance was a very creditable one, the more so that he got the worst start of any. Brunsden ifl an old competitor at Canterbury sports, as also is Gough, bufc Cornish and Buchanan are new fco fchem. The former is fche bow oar in the Stella (Wellington) crew, and is remarkably well made, alike for running and rowing, but more especially the latter. He had the misfortune to burst one of his pumps directly after starting, and he waß somewhat hemmed in towards the latter part of the race, or be would doubtless have done better. Buchanan hails from Hobart Town, and is not only an adept at getting away, but also possesses fleetness, and if he had been in good condition he would have obtained a better position at (be finish. Throwing the weight was an easy victory for Hodge, nn employe at the Canterbury foundry, Cashel street, though A. Reese, one of the Christchurch Interprovincial crew was strongly fancied, and acquitted himself very well. • Dawson evidently entered for amusement, for he only had one throw, and iv that he did not appear to exert himself much. Norgate was evidently au fait at the work, but watt deficient in muscular power. Philpott was wanting both in power and skill. The quarter-mile raco was a very exciting one, and though Jiewin won, Gough's performance was almost equally creditable, inasmuch as he ran most pluckily, and lost only by a trifle. Lewin is a new arrival in the province, having been- a passenger by the ship Crusader. He has an immense stride, and though his time (573 sees) was very good, it is 4f sees more than his University time. After thiß event, W. Macfarlane, an old competitor at Canterbury sports, ran a mile against time, to decide a wager made on the ground that he would not cover the distance in five and a half minutes. Mr D. Reese backed time and lost — Macfarlane finishing his task in 5 mm 14i sees, which, in the absence of all training, was highly creditable. The high jump was won rather easily by H. V. Anson, who has so frequently distinguished himself at this sport. Baker, who was second, is stroke oar in the Christohurch Interprovincial crew, and for a man of his weight jumped well. Cornish, of the Stella crew, jumped prettily, but seemed to be at fault in taking • off, for he generally rose afc the bar aboutfourfeefcinfrontof it, thus heooon fell out of the contest. The half mile race was a great disappointment to all on the ground. Lewin, from his performance in the quarter-mile event, was looked upon as certain to make fche pace hot, indeed, so much was he feared that ene or two who had entered for the half-mile before the quarter-mile waß run, did not come to the scratch. Odds were freely laid upon him, and when ho suddenly stopped at the end of the first lap there was a blank look on many faces. The two-mile walking race was from the first regarded as a moral for Jacobsen, who was in capital form. Bowley, however, looked like pressing him hard towards the, latter end of the race, and there can be no doubt fchafc hod be. been in better condition and worn fche orthodox pumps, he would have dono so. He showed very great improvement upon fcho style he displayed at the Oddfellows' sports on Boxing Day, which was his maiden appearance, and if he only tabes proper care in. training for his next effort, there will be a hard tussle if .Jacobsen should be in the list of competitors. Prebble, who is quite a boy, walked pluckily, but Baker evidently went in more for the sake of a training spin for the interprovincial than with auy intention of competing for the prize. Putting the weight was very fairly contested. O'Connell evidently had a better acquaintance with the sport than any of the others, and won somewhat cosily. After the programme had been finished, a milo race was got up between T. S. Baker, stroke of the Christchurch Interprovincial crew, and A. Reese, who is No. 3 in the same. Considerable amusement was caused by it, und both men ran pluckily throughout. Baker won in smin 16secs, wbich, under tho : circumstances, is not bad time. results of the various competitions 'are appended. Private Mateh — One Mile. J. W. Davis 1 P. Bradley 0 Bradley gained an advantage of two yards

at the start, but Davis evidently did not intend to occupy second place any longer than he could help, and made the pace hot. Rounding the first corner, he went up to his opponent and a smart struggle took place for about forty yards, when Davis took up the running, and continued to improve his position all the way round, finishing the firsfc lap ten or twelve yards ahead. Continuing to improve upon this, he had a lead of forty yards at the end of the second lap, and though Bradley made one or two efforts to lessen the gap in the third round, it was of no avail. Davis completed the mile in 4min 34J sees, while Bradley's time was smin ssecs. 100 YABDS BACE. A. M. Ollivier ... ... ... 1 A. Brunsden ... 2 J.B.Buchanan ... ... ... 0 J. F. Gough and C. A. Cornish also ran. AU the men got well away at the word "off" except Ollivier, who lost quite a yard. Buchanan cut out the running at a smart pace, with Brunsden second, but within thirty yards Ollivier had recovered what he lost at the start, and soon after showed to the fore. At half distance Brunsden passed Buchanan, and for ten or fifteen yards appeared in front, but Ollivier then caught him again and breasted fche tape about three feet ahead, Buchanan a very close third, Cornish and Gough also well up. Time, lli sees. THBOWTNG THE WEIGHT — 16 lbs. H. Hodge, 71ft lin 1 A. Reese, 66ft 2 Charles Norgate, 64ft sin, G. Philpotfc, 46f fc Bin, and Joseph Dawson, 38ffc 6in, also competed. I QUARTER MILB BACB. M. Lewin 1 J. F. Gough 2 M. Davie and G. A. Clark also ran. Gough J seized an advantage of two yards at fche start, but Lewin caught him up at the corner, and going round the bend Clark, with a rush, took the lead, Lewin second, Gough third, and Davie an indifferent fourth. At the second corner Lewin forced the pace, and went ahead of Clark who, being pumped, was also passed by Gough when half round the course. By this time Lewin had gained a lead of ten or twelve yards, but nearing the third corner Gough put on a spurt and closed rapidly on him. The gap was, however, too great, and J Lewin won a good race by nine or ten feet. Nearing the post Davie, who had been acting tbe part of whipper-in all round fche course, collared Clark, and after a game struggle beat hira by about a foot for third place. Time : 57£seca. ONE MILE BACE AGAINST TIMB. j W. Macfarlane — smin. 14£seo. The time for the respective laps was, firet, lmin. 15^sec. ; second, lmin. 22fsec. .third, lmin. 19isec. ; fourth, lmin. 17seo, RUNNING HIGH JUMP. H. V. Anson, 5 ft 1 T. S. Baker, 4ft lOJin 2 C. A. Cornish fell out at 4ft Bin, and W. Tosswill and M. Davie at 4ft 6in. HALF MILE RACE. J.R.Buchanan ... 1 M. Lewin ... ... .._ ; 0 Buchanan cut out the running, but Lewin caught him up at the corner, and the two ran almost togothor until coming up the straight at the end of the first lap, when Buchanan got a couple of yards in front and took inside Elace. Entering the second lap, he increased is lead a trifle, and Lewin then ran off. the course. Buchanan completed fche distance in 2 mm 29£ sec. TWO MILB "WALKING BAOB. T. Jacobsen ... ... ... I C. Bowley 2 C. Prebble and T. S. Baker also competed. Prebble was firat to show in front, but Jacobsen quickly caught him up, and Bowley passed him directly afterwards. Baker walked in very bad style, and rapidly fell to the rear. Half round the firsfc lap Howley spurted up to Jacobsen, and the two led alternately by a few inches, until reaching the third corner, when Jacobsen got four or five feet ahead. Prebble then challenged Bowley for second place, and a smart struggle ensued, both competitors walking in good style. Entering the straight Bowley left Prebble astern but the latter stuck gamely to his men. Jacobsen finished the first lap ten yards ahead of Bowley, who was about two in front of Prebble, Baker being nowhere. In the Becond lap, Jacobsen increased the pace, and finished ifc with a lead of fifteen or eighteen yards ; Bowley second, with Prebble a close third. During the next two circuits of the course, Jacobsen continued to go still further away, and the first mile was finished as follows -. — Jocobsen, Bmin 9£secs ; Bowley, Bmin 21secs ; Prebble, Bmin 30}secs. In the firsfc lap of the second mile, Bowley commenced to force the pace, and quickly distanced Prebble, who, finding his chance hopeless, 'shortly after retired from the contest. Bowley continued fco gain on Jacobsen until the final lap when the race became very exciting, and some ventured to prophesy that he would win. He got up to within about ten yards of Jacobsen, but the latter put on a spurt in the last round, and thohgh Bowley stuck most plnckily to his work, Jacobsen finished the two mOes 16secs ahead. The winner's time waß .Sarin 37secs. PUTTING THE STONE. R. O'Connell, 33ffc 3in 1 T. S. Baker, 30ffc Bin 2 R. Hodge, 29ft 7in; A. Beese, 2Sft; B. O'Hara, 29ft 9in ; F. W. Moore, and Norgate also competed. MILE BACE. T.S.Baker ... ... ... 1 :A. Reeße ... 0 The time was s_nin 16secs.