AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 18, 29 November 1890, Page 1

AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

The above Club held their twenty-second athletic carnival on Saturday last at the Domain Cricket Ground. As the Champion Meeting is to be held there next February, it will be better for our readers at a distance to know the kind of ground this meeting is to be held on before describing what took place last Saturday. The Cricket Ground, as its name signifies, is situated in the Domain, within an easy walk of the centre of the city. It consists of about twelve acres, of an oval shape, and perfectly level. The surrounding slopes form a natural stand, and, being well wooded, afford abundance of shade for the general public, also plenty of room for picnics, etc. At least ten thousand people might view the sports without the slightest inconvenience. There is a commodious grandstand, with all the appurtenances required. A more charming spot could not be found in the whole of the Australasian Colonies. The turf is all that can be desired, and in summertime the tracks are almost, if not quite, equal to cinder ones for making fast time. One thing the Domain Trustees should do before the great carnival comes off, and that is, to do away with the “Nut Cracker,” or, as it is called in some places in the old country, the “ Kissing Gates.” There is not much inconvenience in them on entering the ground, but they are a perfect nuisance when the mass are leaving. Ladies can only pass one at a time. At meetings of all kinds m Auckland there are always a number of larrikins and roughs who find admittance, pushing their way through ladies regardless of the consequence, therefore many ladies are compelled, in self-preservation, to either crawl through or under the wires that surround the grounds, however detrimental it may be to their elegant toilets, on purpose to avoid the nuisance these gates occasion. The paths, etc., might be put into better shape before next February, thus affording the ladies when they are walking round a sure foothold, as in dry weather the grass is very slippery. The arrangements last Saturday were all that could be desired—in fact, they could hardly be excelled. The President, Mr. J. H. B. Coates, and all the Committee, as well as the officials, worked in unison—especial credit is due to the secretary, Mr. J. Hallyday, jun. and one could not have spent a pleasanter afternoon or seen better races in the old country. I have been a competitor and an onlooker at Eton, Oxford, Lillie Bridge and Princes Ground, and must say, as an old athlete, I never was better satisfied. Messrs. Coates, Garrett, and Logan, the judges, satisfactorily performed their duties, and in no case did I hear of their decision being disputed. Messrs. Coupland and Cook acted as timekeepers, and well did they perform their duties, anFoniy in one or two events did our time differ, and then only by a fraction of a second, and this was occasioned by the new system of timing. Formerly it was from the flash of the pistol, now it is from the bend of the knee. One thing calls for admiration, and it would be well if some of the race committees took a lesson from the A.A.C.C. officials—that is. the punctuality with which each race was started. Though there were twenty-seven events on the

card, the last event was run to the exact time. In some of the events, especially the first, .several of the competitors were left, not being at their marks at the appointed time. The great fault, if it may be called one, was the framing of the handicaps. The distance that some of the scratch men were called upon to concede, especially in the Three and Fivemile Bicycle Races, were absurd, and heartbreaking to a man who attempted to catch the limit’man. However, some tried to do it, especially Buchanan, who deserves great credit. Who made the handicaps I do not know, but the idea of giving men ten, eleven, and twelve yards in one hundred and twenty is absurd. A man that requires more than six yards out of one hundred and twenty had better stop at home or run with the boys. Twelve yards in two hundred and fifty is quite sufficient, while forty yards in half-a-mile is ample. Time will not permit me to go further into this matter. The running ground was beautifully arranged, a space being fenced off in front of the grandstand, and a course of a quarter of a mile round being flagged out. This space was kept clear of everyone except the officials and reporters, thus enabling everyone to have a good view. The 120 yards was perfectly straight and taped out. For a large meeting this space might be made twice as large, with 300 yards straight, and only two easy bends for the longer races. They were in firstrate condition, and the times in some instances were decidedly fast, but in most of the races the scratch man had a tremendous lot of ground to make up. The sports commenced with the Maiden Race, 150 yards. This was run in three heats. The first was a walk-over for Collins, the others not being on their marks in time. For the second heat six came out, and it resulted in a close finish between Hales, Burgess, and Hesketh, the former winning by half a yard. Time 16 l-sth secs. J. Burgess ought to have won, but he looked back, thereby losing a little. I noticed this great fault in several of the competitors during the day. The four placed men started in the final heat, Collins, getting the worst of the start, won rather easily by a yard, Hales second, Burgess third. Time, ,15 4-sth secs. Only four came to the post for the Maiden Bicycle Handicap, one mile. Reynolds, the scratch man, made it pretty warm from the start, and won easily by 20 yards from Gilbert (100 yards), Hazard (100 yards) a bad third. McCallum fell. Time, 3 min. 35 secs. The Long Jump was a walk-over for T. F. Upfiill, who easily cleared 16ft. 6in. The Mile Bicycle Handicap brought out a field of ten, and proved a very pretty race, resulting in a win for L. E. Hoffman (50 yards), T. M. Hammond (80 yards) second, R. Reynolds (80 yards) third. Time, 3 min. 10 4-sth secs. Shortt fell. The 120 yards Handicap produced a very large entry, so it had to be run in five heats, the two first men in each heat running in the final. First heat: Nine started, and after a very close contest resulted, T. Whiteside (6yds.) Ist, D. F. Lundon (11yds.) 2nd, C. V. Langsford (Byds.) 3rd. Won by about 2 inches, the next five being all close together. Owen, the scratch man, ran well, but the handicap was too much for him. Time, 12 l-sth secs. Second heat: nine again came to the post.. In this heat there was a good deal of “ fiddling ”

to get away, as there was a good deal of interest displayed, for Madigan, who was a great favorite, and Laird were in it. C. E. Chatfield, the limit man with 12 yards start, came right away and won by rather more than a yard, M. H. Laird (Ijyds.) second, Madigan (syds.) third. Time, 12secs. Third heat: This was not an interesting race as J. C. Hutchinson (2yds.) and A. Kilfoyle (6yds.) came away from their field finishing close together a couple yards in front of the others, neither appearing to be run out. Time, 12 l-sth secs. Fourth heat: This was another small field, Collins (3iyds.) winning pretty earsily, H. P. Barnes (11yds.) second, T. Impey (9yds.) third. Time, 12 2-sth secs. Fifth heat: this was similar to the others. J. Burgess (10yds.) coming right away from his men and winning by a yard, W. H. Hales (Byds.) second, C. Hesketh (4yds.) third. Time, 12secs. Final heat: all ten came to the scratch and a most interesting race ensued. 8. C. Chatfield (12yds.) just getting home in front of H. 0. Barnes (11yds.) second, W. H. Hales (Byds.) third. Time, 11 3-sth secs., official; I made it 12secs. dead. For the One Mile Walk Handicap thirteen started, resulting in a win by 20 yards for G. Peace, the scratch man, who had all his men beaten the third lap, A. W. Creamer (15yds.) second, J. Croker (65yds.) third, O’Dowd fourth. It was an interesting race for third place. Time, 7min. 19secs. The walking was not of a first class order, several having to be cautioned, and two or three ordered out. The winner was about the fairest of the lot but he sprung once or twice each round on the far side of the track, when the judge was watching others. It is impossible for one man to keep his eye on all. Fifteen started for the Half-mile Handicap Race. G. H. Nixon (55yds.) won easily, L. E. Myers (50yds.) second, and T. E. Shortt (30yds.) third. Time, 2min. 1 3-sth secs. The handicap in this race was too heavy for amateurs. The Bicycle Handicap, two miles, was won by H. Shortt (150yds.) L. E. Hoffman (80yds.) second, E. Reynolds (140yds.) third. Won easily by 20 yards. After a mile had been traversed the race took the form of a match between Hoffman and Shortt, the latter eventually wearing down Hoffman and winning. The Hurdle Race, a quarter of a mile, is generally an interesting race, but this year only six came to the post, and with the exception of Owen, the scratch man, who. unfortunately fell at the last hurdle when running well, striking his knee heavily, none of them are likely to make a mark for themselves, as they all dwell at their hurdles. The race resulted in an easy win for W. H. Martin (20 yds.) T. F. Upfill (20yds.) second, G. H. Nixon (35yds.) third. Time, lmin. 3secs. The Ladies’ Bracelet was run in five heats, the final being won by S. E. Chatfield (18yds.) J. Burgess (1 Byds.) second, T. Roberts (12yds.) third. Time, 25 3-sth secs. Won'all out by two yards. » The One Mile Handicap was another uninteresting race, as A. S. Clarke, with 25 yards start won easily, P. C. Lynch (120yds.) second, J. W. Winks (scratch) third. Time, 4min. 42-£ secs. Winks ran gamely, doing the mile in 4min. 46secs. The Bicycle Handicap, three miles, was won by H. Shortt (230yds.), E. Reynolds (220yds.) second, L. E. Hoffmann (180yds.) third. A

good finish between the two first. The ridiculous handicap in this race precluded the scratch man from having any show of winning. Time, 9min. 46 2-sth secs. The Steeplechase created great amusement among 1 the ladies, but was not viewed with • much interest by athletes, as there was no clean jumping, it being got over as you like. A. A. Davies (45secs.) first, A. S. Clarke (lOsecs.) second, G. H. Nixon (35secs.) third. Eight started. Won easily. The Quarter Mile Handicap brought fourteen to the post, and furnished a splendid race, the men being all well together at the finish. J. Hill (25yds.) first, J. 0. Hutchinson (scratch), second, R. A. Christie (25yds.) third. Won by a yard. Time, 51 l-sth secs. Hutchinsons time was 51 2-sth secs., the fastest amateur time for the distance in New Zealand. The Bicycle Handicap, five miles, was a most interesting race to look at. Buchanan, the scratch man, was asked to do too much m giving away 360 yards to H. Shortt, who came in first, and E. Reynolds, the second man, 350 yards. If it had been a quarter of mile further Buchanan would have won. Time, 16min. 44secs. , This race concluded a pleasant afternoon s amusement, all being well pleased and greatly delighted at getting home in ample time for dinner and tea.

Duncan C. Ross and Harry Dunn, champion of New Zealand, met in Dunedin on the 17th inst., to wrestle in five styles for a purse of 50 sovs. and a certificate of championship. The contest took place in Olympic Hall, the largest building in Dunedin. Dunn won the toss and chose the American side-hold for the first style. After a great deal of good play Dunn cross-buttocked Ross and gained the ' first fall in 37mm. After a quarter of an hour’s interval Ross chose the catch-as-can style. This was a splendid bout, for an hour and three minutes neither gained much advantage, until Ross got a leg-hold of Dunn and just brought his shoulders to the ground, but only momentarily, as Dunn nuggled out, the judges, however, observed the touch and gave the fall to Ross. The collar-and-elbow was the next. For three-quarters of an hour neither could gain a fall, and then being 12 o’clock the Referee stated that the men would have to meet another night.