ATHLETIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10106, 18 March 1911, Page 5

ATHLETIC.

AMATEUR. The Festival of Empire Committee requires a further amount of money to finance the New Zealand representatives, and in view of Haskins's selection it appeals to Canterbury for assistance. This appeal should receive the hearty support of all local enthusiasts, and I hope that they will come forward and show their appreciation of Haskins's selection'in a practical manner. Subscriptions will be thankfully received at the office of this paper, and it is my intention to acknowledge them in this column. Please address communications to " Sprinter," " Canterbury Times."

I am pleased to see that my suggestion of sending Haskins Home via America has been adopted.' Haskins, who left Christchurch last Monday, leaves Auckland for Suva to-day. From there he will join the Makura, and will land in America in time to 1 ave a full two months' tuition and care under the hands of Mike Murphy. Holway tells me that Haskins will get to Philadelphia just at the time when *.he universities will be training for the inter-collegiate contests, so we can rest assured that our representative will get as good a preparation as it would be possible to imagine. That he will receive a hearty welcome from his old school is a foregone conclusion, while we can picture the delight of veteran Mike Murphy in the confidence thus reposed in him by far-off New Zealand.

I notice the P.A.B.A.C. at a recent meeting discussed the matter of Lancaster Park being taken over by the municipal authorities. This is a move in the right direction. Amateur events at the annual sports meeting of the Temuka Bicycle Club, to be held on Easter Monday, April 17, are:—22oyds handicap, £2 and £1; 440 yds handicap, £3, £2 and £1; one mile handicap, £4, £2 and £l. The entrance fees are 2s, 3s and 4s respectively. Special train arrangements will allow for arrival and departure on the same day. Entries, accompanied by entry fees, close with the honorary secretary, Mr W. Spillane, Temuka, on April 8.

W J. O'Reilly, of New South Wales, the Australasian hammer and shot champion, has informed " Prodigal " of the Sydney " Referee " that he has gone 'nto retirement and consequently will not compete at the next championships. I have received the following letter from C. E. Holway, the world's champion sprinter, which explains itself:— My attention has been drawn to some remarks by " Oritic " in Friday's Wellington '"Post," in which he takes exception to the inclusion of Haskins in the Festival of Empire team. " Critic" says:— " The Festival of Empire Committee met yesterday and decided that G. Haskins, of Chris tckurch, ehoiild be sent Home to contest the half-mile and mile events at the Festival of Empire gathering. The expedition used by the committee in coming to this decision is a little curious. Haskins's trials on Wednesday night were, to say the least, very ordinary. The decision to' send Haskins is still more curious when it is known that G. A. Wheatley, of Victoria, is to be sent, and that Australasia can have only one representative in each event. At Melbourne in 19Qfi Wheatlej ran a half-mile in Imin

56sec. Haskins's time on Wednesday night was 2min 2 3-ssec. As far as can be gathered he never equalled Wheatley's record. Then, as to the mile, Wheatley won the Australasian championship in 1905 in 4min 23see. Haskins's time on Wednesday night \vas 4min 46 2-ssec. Further, Wheatley is running better this year than ever. What chance has Haskins with Wheatley on recorded times? And again, why was Haskins not required to run a trial with Hill, of Auckland, after the latter's urgent request, at the championship meeting next Saturday wee-kP Hill asked for pel-mission to challenge Haskins, but the committee decided that the time was too short."

" The expedition used by the committee in coming to the decision of sending Haskins is curious," says "Critic." I cannot in that light. I know this much, they are sending a man who only three years ago ran 4min 20sec for the one-mile, and lmin 57sec for Uie half-miio, at the Harvard Stadium, U.S.A., both races being run inside half an hour. Now "Critic" says G. A. Wheatley, of Victoria, ran half a mile in lmin 56sec at Melbourne in 1906, and in 1905 a mile in 4min 23sec. If you are going to compare one man's times of five or six years ago, why not compare both? Not one man's times last week with another man's five or six years ago. Is " Critic "aware of the fact, when Wheatley is said to have done these times in Australia, that when it came to international competition he was not there, for at Athens in 1906 he was only fourth to Lightbody in the 1500 metres, which is 120 yds Ift 9in short of one mile, Lightbody's time being 4min 19sec. So Ido not think he would do 4rnin 23sec for one mile that day. Now, aftcr_ Lightbody returns to America Melvin I'fneppard defeats him every time they start. Haskins has raced Sheppard five times over distances from half a mile to a mile and has defeated him on every occasion. , Sheppard won the 800 and 1500 metres at the Olympic Games held in London in 1908. So see what New Zealand missed by not having Haskins to represent her there, for on form Haskins would have won both events. With regard to Hill, he may be a good runner and all that is claimed for him by his supporters. But lam sure he falls far short of Haskins's international standard. And, moreover, it is not Haskins's fault that he has not competed against Hill. And, again, in Dunedin two years ago Haakins easily beat Harding, who recently proved too good for Hill over 1000 yds, so I think that this effectively deals with " Critic's " claim for Hill. So on form shown I think I have proved to "Critic" that Haskins has a better record than W T heatley, and after Haskins has had eight weeks with Mike Murphy in Philadelphia I think he will beat all your Wheatleys, or else I am a poor judge, and I consider New Zealand very fortunate in having a man like Haskins, so full of determination, which is a huge factor in winning races.—l am, etc., CHARLES E. HOLWAY. CASH. The cash events at Temuka on Easter Monday are:—l2oyds cash handicap, £2, £1 and 10s; 220 yds cash handicap, £2 10s, £1 10s and 10s; 440 yds cash handicap, £3, £2 and £l. The entrance fees are 2s, 2s 6d and 3s respectively. Entries close on April 8. i A conference of Auckland provincial athletic societies was held last week to discuss the athletic affairs of the province. Mr T. D. Gilfedder, who presided, traversed' the formation and career of the*-various- governing bodies throughout the dominion for the past twelve years And strongly urged the formation or a centre under the New Zealand Athletic and .Cycling Union. This evoked considerable discussion, but was ultimately carried unanimously. The following executive was elected: —President; Mr Gilfedder; vice-presidents, Messrs Bain (Rangiriri) and Woolley (Auckland); secretary, Mr J. H. Trinnear.