GENERAL ATHLETICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15061, 7 October 1922, Page 17 (Supplement)

GENERAL ATHLETICS.

(By “The Scout.”) The season is now rolling- round for the various track champions to gel out. - The cyclists are already getting into trim. J. Beresford, English amateur sculler, won Hie Wingfield Sculls on the Thames last month. It was his third success in that annual contest. This time he put up record time for the event.

Charlie Paddock, the world’s fastest runner, has a pupil who is good. He is Eddie Sudden, of Stanford University, California. “He will step into rny spiked shoes,” said Paddock recently. Well, if all goes well we will see Paddock out here in New Zealand.

Road-racing is making cyclists young again in Australia, even before ihe Warrnambool. The Referee and Arrow race was ridden over 130 miles from Bathurst to Sydney, the roads being heavy, and was won by L. L. Ppst, off a handicap of 40 minutes. And it is a strange thing that young Mackie won the Timaru-to-Ghristcshurch off ihe same mark. It was in August, 1905, that the Bathurst-to-Sydney was inaugurated by Hugh D. Mclntosh, and the race is generally regarded as the greatest test in the world for a road rider. Without a doubL it is severe, as the riders, for 80 out of the 120 miles, are continually climbing and descending mountains. “Study yourself!” is the advice of a famous English distance runner, A. G. Hill. He says: “This self-study is most important, because every runner is a law unto himself. Equally important, listen to Hie advice of men who know. True, there are very few of these desirable persons about, and n great many who do not. know, yet imagine they do; hut if you can lin'd a good coach, do what he advises, and you will find that lie is right. In Mil's direction I am glad to nole that many alhicfie clubs arc faking- ihe matter in hand and appointing men as coaches who know their business. Their action should prove Mie greatest benefit lo athletics, and help to fit England for the next Olympic games." Foolbali in Adelaide could hardly he more dramatic if arranged by a movie producer (says Ihe Bulletin). Norwood, West Torrens, and South Adelaide sal safe, for a place in Ihe finals. Pori, lasi year’s premiers, had started badly, but came with a late run; with two matches to go, it had only lo win cither of them, and if it lost belli might yet get into the four by a better goal average Ilian We,s|, Adelaide. It lost the first of I lie two. by Just two points, lo Norwood. Then it met Torrens in Ihe. oilier —and was six goals behind ai three-quarter time. Also news came through that West was having an amazing 13-goal win over Soulh, so the goal-average resource, was gone. Port held its opponents pointless in the last auai’Ur.

It got five goals. It kicked a sixth. Through tile wild enthusiasm the umpire’s whistle could be heard calling the ball back. The winning goal, which had been signalled and hoisted, was disallowed. Then the final beil went, and pandemonium set in. The rest has been appeals and recriminations, and even bitter talk of a Supreme Court injunction. Says “Winkle" in the Bulletin: — Diclc Lee, the greatest forward that ever played the Australian game, has kicked his last goal at Victoria Park. After helping Gollingwood in the coming finals, he will retire with 1 > years’ service to his credit. He was first picked with the Magpies in 1906 when but 16 years old, and, except when injured, has never been out of the team. During the period he has kicked 700 goals in premiership matches —easily the record —and is the only Victorian who has played m all the football carnivals since 1908. Though cool and calculating, he lights desperately for the ball, and for that reason has received more knocks, both fair and unfair, than any other player. During four years he carried on with on open sore and exposed bone on the shin: and l on another occasion, a s-rog'gy knee that interfered with his play for two seasons was only patched up by the removal of the cartilage. The cult of athletics apaong women to-day seems to be growing fast. One often "has inquiries as to the best, performances ever done in the athlche way by our girls. In view of this, the following comparisons of bests ever, men and women compared, may be ot interest: — „ „ „ 100yds, Paddock (U.S.), 9 3-asec. Miss Lines (Eng.), 11 4-sscc. 220vds Paddock (U.S.), 20 4-sson; Miss King (U.S.), 30 4-spcc. 4 4 oyds Long (U.S.), 47sec.; Mile Beard * (France 1, Irnin. 7 l-Osec. High Jump. Beeson (U.S.), Gft . 5-1 Gin.; .Mile Constant (France), 4ft 9 1-Sin. Hong .Tump, Gourdin (U.S.), 2.jU, Frau kiessling (Germany), 18ft 2in. Javelin Tflirow, Myiva (Finland), 21Gft 92in.; Mrne. Gouraud-Moriss, 13Gft Sin. Pole Jump, Foss (I’-F.), 13ft am, Miss Carl (U. 8.), 7ft Sin. Discus Tlirow. Taipale, 14 Bft 3 0-10lh in; Miss Bailey (U.S.), BUtt 8 I-Sin.