GENERAL ATHLETICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 9

GENERAL ATHLETICS.

tßy "The Scout.") Henry Sullivan abandoned his fourth attempt to swim the Channel at'tjr being in the water -for nine hours. Sullivan, wiio is the American longdistance champion, is 2 I J years of aye. Eight years ago' he made his fiTsL attempt to swim tlie Channel, getting to within six miles of the French coast in 10 hours before leaving the water Last year he came even nearer to success in each of his two attempts. On the llrst occasion he swam to within three miles of Cape Oris iNez, on the French coast, having been in the water li).V hours, lie made a second attempt a fortnight later, but was beaten alter swimming 18 hours and getting to within 2-i miles of the French coast. • "1 found that the light at Bisley was different from what 1 had been used to in New Zealand, and the visibility was not, nearly so good," slated Rifleman 10. Vennell, the New Zealand champion shot, on returning to Masterton after competing at Bisley. "The shooting continued tilt late in the evening, and was against the setting sun. The method of three men going down ul once was also new to mc Practice shots were sold at id each, and cacti competitor was allowed two, but couid i.oi eounl the value of these shots. Shooting was so slow thai practically every shot was a sighter. In New Zealand up lo (500 yards 10 shots have to be tired in 10 minutes, but it took three men .j."> minutes at one range at Bisley. t have gained a lot of experience, and if a man goes from New Zealand next year I can give him a lot of useful information."

li. Spears, the Australian cyclist, has again won the IS rand Prix for the second year in succession. This race, which is held over a distance of 2000 metres (1-1 miles), is the most, important cycle race in France. Gerald ilalpin, another Australian rider, who lurncd professional nol Ion? ago, was not placed. There were 11 starters. Spears is in splendid form, lie has lately returned from Italy, where he has won several races. George Horder, another Australian rider, 'has not -et heen permitted lo face, owing to his having omitted lo obtain a clearance from Uistralia, for which he has sent. ~ cahle message. . Meanwhile he is training, and expects 1" win several faces before participating in Hi" world's championship race ul Copenhagen. AI latest advices I.udy Langer won the mile and the I'lOyds swimming championships of the United Stales. In Mm 220yds event, however, both he and Norman Ross \v<>nl. down before a n-w star of anM;. ; n: brillianr". This x.--. .inhri Wi>sinul|*r. 1 9-yc*r--.ilrJ '".hi■--;cm b 1"- who '■'■'''o " 1 "v nh^noni 1 ' ihi time of :mm. ASsec. Just prevj-

ously Wiesmuller had swum 100 yards in 52 1-5 see, unoffleially breaking the world’s record. Thirty-six members of the Public Service tested their powers of endurance in an eight-mile road walk, the first, of its kind held in the service ! n New Zealand, from Lower Hull to the Thorndon Baths. Wilson, the winner, covered the distance in ihr. 171 min. Returning from a six months’ big game shooting expedition in what was formerly German East Africa, f.n American woman, Mrs Frederick Dalzicl, of New York, has .just reached Paris. She shot one elephant, 2 rhinoceroses, one buffalo, seven lions, three hippos, one leopard, and one cheetah, and had the experience of being knocked down by a wounded rhinoceros. Mrs Dalziel shot by night from a tree, with a dead zebra as bait. The elephant for Which she accounted had tusks of 721 b and 751 b respectively, and stood lift Sin high at the shoulder. After eating two plates of roast beef, new potatoes and peas, a meal which would be surely classified by trainers as damning to chances of success in athletics, A. R. Mills, an English Midlands farmer, ran in, and won a 26-milc 285 yards Marathon. There is a savour of romance attached to this race which is an annual event, starting from Windsor Castle and finishing at Stamford Bridge Ground, Fulham. Every year it brings the best distance runners of the world to England— Canadians, Swedes, Italians, Greeks. Mills, who is a demobilised sergeant, and holds the D.G.M., won the race last year. Reverting to the meal of hcct and new potatoes*, Mills stated Hint lie certainly suffered for his indiscretion, having had agonies of “stitch” during tile early stages of the race, hut he won, and the good old Roast Beef of England has risen even more in popular esteem. Unique conditions were associated with a contest between Matt Crcevy, of St. Helens, and Billy Barker, of Openshaw, for £SO, on flic ground of tlie local football club at Pendlcbury on Saturday, says the Sporting Chronicle of August isf. The articles f, i agreement stipulated that the hrstnamed should run 100 yards during the period that the champion jumper, with 50lb weights, was hopping 71 yards. Odds wore laid on Creevy, who had no fear of being penalised on the mark, with the result that the St. Helens crack got a flying start, and ultimately won an exciting - race by a yard and ahalf. The victor. Who won the £K)O sprint handicap at Lower Broughton (Manchester) on Boxing Day, iOJo, covered the distance in iOAsce. The loser eomptelcd the course in 22 hops in a fraction inside 11 sec.