ATHLETIC.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13331, 21 March 1911, Page 8

ATHLETIC.

/ . by “VICTOR.” R. ' Opie’s brilliant running at Christchurch on Saturday roused a lot of enthusiasm', and JoO was collected on the gepund in aid of the fund for sending him to'-the Festival of Empire sports. This means that Opie is now certain of making the trip, which will be pleasing news to his manv Wanganui friends. In the 100 yards final Opie Was slow to begin, and was lying last for over half the distance, but then he came with a tremendous rush, and left the other three as if they were standing still, winning by four yards in 10 l-ssec. Commenting on the meeting, the Christchurch correspondent of the New Zealand Times says Opie came like a whirlwind in his heat in the last half of the 220 yards championship, and knocked l-ssec off the New Zealand record. In the final, amidst a scene of great enthusiasm, the Canterbury crack again made the other two competitors. look like common hacks, and established a fresh New Zealand record of 22sec for the distance. Opie’s win in the 440 yards championship was the signal for a great popular demonstration. He took the lead halfway round and was never afterwards troubled. Harding (Wellington) ran a good race, and had bad luck in striking Opie at the too of his form. The 440 yards hurdles championship was the most exciting race of the afternum. McKenzie (Wellington) soon' got a Hg break on the field, Hamilton (Canterbury) running next, and Keddell (Southland) fourth. McKenzie led up to the last hurdle, but he was tiring very much, and the field had closed up on him. Keddell came with a magnificent late run, and just got homo from Hamilton, who was incites in front of Cook (Canterbury). A hundred and fifty yards from the tape Keddell appeared to have no chance, but thereafter he showed tremendous pace. Keddell got away very badly in bis

heat in the 120 yard* Lurdles. Nevertheless, "lie made hacks of the field, winning by several yards. In the final, from a splendid start, he repeated the performance, and won looking round in the last time of 15 3-ssec, In the mile championship, Hill (Auckland), who has a very fine free stride, led the field for the whole distance, Baxter (Wellington) and Bugh (Canterbury) being his closest attendants. Hill finished with a great sprint over the last hundred and fifty yards, which drew forth rounds of applause from the spectators, Ba.xtm (Wellington) being about three yards bohind Hill most of the way, but the final effort of the Auckland man paralysed him. The three mile championship resolved itself into a ding-dong race between Hill (Auckland) and Dickson (Canterbury), Beatson (Otago), the only other competitor who kept on the track, being left behind after two miles had been covered. The leading pair kept almost shoulder and shoulder together until the last lap, when Hill, with a magnificent stride, drew away and finished up with a marvellous sprint over the last two hundred yards, winning by about thirty yards. It was a very fine performance, and was greeted with round after round of applause.