NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION ATHLETES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 24, 14 June 1890, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION ATHLETES.

(See iUmtrativHt, page S.)

H E splendid success of the team of New • Zealand amateur athletes in Sydney has been the theme of conversation during the past week, not only for athletes and those closely interested in athletics, but for the public generally. It is a matter of pride that in one branch of sport our young New Zealanders are able to excel their Australian brethren. Healthy rivalry is the life of sport. We must give way to Australia in cricket, rowing, and perhaps in horse-racing. But in football formerly, and now in amateur athletics, our men have shown themselves too good for the best Australia ean produce. Both sides will find the advantage of these friendly contests. That they are friendly is shown by the splendid treatment ac. corded our men in Sydney, treatment which is not likely to be forgotten by the athletes of this colony. We sent over to Sydney eight representatives, Messrs Cuff (manager), Hempton, Lusk, D. Wood, P. Morrison. H. AL Reeves, F. White, and E. J. M’Kelvey, and out of eleven ehampionships they are now the holders of seven. Mr P. Morrison, of Timaru, won the One Mile and Three Mile Running Championships. Mr E. J. M’Kelvey is champion for the One Mile and Three Mile Walks, and made an Australian record of 6min. 59sec. for the mile. He is a Dunedin man. Mr H. J. Hempton, of Invercargill, who has been a resident of most of our New Zealand centres, holds the Hundred Yanis Championship. MrR. B. Lusk, of Auckland, is Champion for the Hundred and Twenty Yanis Hnniles; another New Zealander, Mr Fred White, an Auckland lx>y, now of Napier, being second. Mr AYhite was also second in the High Jump. AIrL. A. Cuff, of Christchurch, is Champion in Long-Jumping, and tied Mr White for second place in the High Jump. MrD. Wood, of Christchurch, was a close second in the Half-Mile Championship. Mr H. Al. Reeves got third in Hundred Yards race. Thus two of our men won doubles, three others won single championships, two got seconds, and the other got a third, t »nly four championships were lost, two to Queensland, and two to New South M ales. Of such a record we may we feel proud. Messrs Morrison and Hempton are the oldest members of the team, being 28 and 27 years of age, respectively. Mr W bite is 24, Alessrs D. AA ood and Lusk 23, Air M’Kelvey 22 and Mr Reeves 21—the youngest. Mr Morrison is theshortest and lightest of all. He is oft. Bin. in height, and 9st. 21b. in weight. Mr Lusk is the tallest, being 6ft. in his stockings, while he is also the heaviest—about 12st. 21b. Air M’Kelvey is sft. lOJin. high, and weighs lOst. 101 b. Air Hempton is sft. lOin. high, weighing list. 21b. His running record is a remarkable one. He has now started about 51 times, has been first 32 times, second 11, third 2, and unplaced 6.