ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVII, 24 April 1897, Page 510

ATHLETICS.

A Melbourne paper is responsible for the subjoined par:—‘While Mr T. J. Comber was riding into Melbourne from Coburg one day last week, he had just reached the summit of a rise, when a big dog rushed out on the road and sprang at his leg, tearing the trousers from the knee downwards. The dog then made a second rush, and this time got his head through the frame, causing the machine and rider to turn a somersault. The rider lay stunned for 15 minutes ; when he came to, the dog had vanished, and a tram man was bathing the cyclist’s face, which had an ugly wound near the eye.’ Says the Australasian : — 1 The old cricketers of Warrn am bool endeavoured unsuccessfully on Saturday last to turn the tables on the ladies of the Forget-me-Nots Club at Allansford. About 1,000 people assembled to witness the match, which was played on Mr F. W. Gazzard’sland. The gentlemen were termed “ the belltopper brigade,” for each player appeared in a silk hat. The ladies were allowed to bat first, and they compiled 74 runs, of which Miss Ruby Gazzard made 25 by capital play, and Miss E. Dallimore contributed 10. The old cricketers fell easy victims to the “ lobs ” sent down by the ladies, and the last wicket fell when the score stood at 32 runs. The Forget-me-Nots thus defeated the “Belltopper Brigade ” by 42 runs. During the interval between the innings the visitors were entertained at Mr and Mrs Gazzard’s residence, and the lady cricketers, borrowing their opponents' headgear, took round “ the hat,” with the result that /7 8s was subscribed for the Allansford Mechanics’ Institute.’ At Newcastle (England) last month, the Scotch pedestrian (born in Jamaica), A. R. Downer, unexpectedlywon a big 120yds. handicap for /'5O and a sweepstake of 10 sovs. for each competitor. He was conceding starts in each heat, and odds of 2 to 1 and of 7 to 2 were laid against him. His time for the final (with is 4 yds. start) was 113 sth sec. The South Counties Senior and Junior Cross-country-Championships were decided at Wembley Park (England) on February 20th, when the weather was fine, but the going was somewhat heavy owing to rain having fallen during the morning. There were 102 competitors in the senior event, and the first man home was G. Martin (Essex Beagles), who covered the ten miles in 65mm. 37 2.5 th sec. He was followed home by T. Bartlett, of the same Club, who completed the distance in 66min. 4 1 -sth sec., J. G. Gibb(Ranelagh Harriers) and C. S. Sydenham ( Ranelagh Harriers) finishing third and fourth respectively. The Club Championship was won by the Finchley Harriers, who were also successful the two previous ■seasons, while the Ranelagh Harriers were second and the Essex Beagles and Bristol Harriers tied for third place. A field of 187 started for the Junior Championship over the same course and the first man home was C. S. Silsby, of the Hampstead Harriers, J. Webb, of the Bath and Somerset A. C., being second, and J. J. Mayhew, of the Tee-To Turn Club, third. The winner's time was 67min losec. The Club placings showed the Cavendish Harriers to lie easily first, the Tee-To-Tum Club second, and Bath and Somerset A C. third. • Sprinter,' in the Canterbury Timex, writing on the Canterbury A.A. Club’s recent meeting, says:—‘The 120yds. Hurdle Race was robbed of some of its interest by the fact that Harley was disqualified in his heat.

Moir and Harley were running neck and neck from the last obstacle, and the latter, making a dive at the worsted, missed it altogether and fell underneath it. As he did not breast the tape the judges very properly refused to place him, and I trust it will be a lesson to him to discontinue a habit which was never very beneficial to him. As matters eventuated Harley would not have won the final heat, as Moir, who was holding him in the preliminary heat, could not do better than finish second to Garsia, to whom he was conceding 15yds.’ The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association met at the City Hotel, Christchurch, on Tuesday, 6th April. Present:—Dr. Thomas (in the chair), and Messrs C. Hood Williams (Ashburton), W. G. Garrard (West Coast), H. Frost (Te Awamutu), F. S. Harley (Taranaki), G. P. Gully (Nelson), G. B. Ritchie (Auckland), and L. W. Harley (Wellington), hon. sec. The St. Andrew’s Caledonian Society, Kaiapoi ; Star Football Club, New Plymouth ; Foresters’ Sports Association, Thames; and Rissington Meeting, Hawke’s Bay, were permitted to include amateur events at their sports. The Auckland and Wanganui Clubs suggested that New Zealand should be represented at the athletic portion of the coming Royal celebrations at Home. The latter Club named Holder, and guaranteed towards his expenses. The same Club suggested that New Zealand should be represented at the next Australian Championship Meeting. The Council approved of Holder being sent Home, and it was decided to communicate with the various Clubs on the subject, and to meet on Tuesdaynext to receive reports. It was decided to grant the application provided all the members of the Club were amateurs according to the rule of the Association.