ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 105, 28 July 1892, Page 2

ATHLETICS.

“ Our Boys ” in England. The cable informs us that at the Chelmsford Meeting at the end of last week L. A. Cuff won the Quarter Mile Hurdles and gained third position in the 120 Yards Hurdles. The London correspondent of the Canterbury Times, writing under date June 11, thus describes the first appear ance of the New Zealand Athletic Team in England, which, as our readers are already aware, eventuated at Tufnell Park : —“ Our New Zealand visitors could scarcely have inaugurated their English campaign under happier circumstances, in so far as surroundings were concerned. The weather was perfect, and the attendance the largest ever known at this suburban meeting. Sir Julius and Lady Vogel were amongst the early arrivals, and occupied front seats in the pavilion. Mr. Perceval, the New Zealand Agent General, turned up a little later. The opening event was a Hundred Yards Handicap (open, twelve heats). L. A. Cuff Cunningham and Hempton (scr.) were in this, but Cuff alone ran. Cunningham considered he had no chance on the 4iyds mark, and Hempton preferred reserving himself for the Hundred Yards Scratch. Cuff ran in the sixth heat, which was won by Bell (7iyds), Baker being second. Time, 10 1-5 th sec. Cuff was simply not in it, and was evidently far from fit. Half Mile Scratch Race — Smith, Birchfield Harriers, 1 ; Jones, Essex Beagles,. 2 ; White, Tuffnell Park Athletic Club, 3 ; D. Wood, New Zealand Athletic Team, 4. W. J. Fowler (Finchley Harriers), A, R. Williams (Lea Harriers, Kent), W Hughes (Australian • Students’ Club), Cripps (Highgate Harriers), and Butnall (Highgate Harriers) also started. Time, 2min 4-sth sec. Wood went to the front after travelling a short distance, and passed the quarter mile winning post with a comfortable lead of perhaps ten or twelve yards. Some hundred yards further on, however, he seemed to stop suddenly and was easily caught, first by Jones and then by Smith. A capital race ensued between the last-named pair, Smith leading Jones opposite the pavilion and winning comfortably. The local man ran third; Wood, close up, fourth, but he seemed much distressed, and it afterwards transpired that a slight cold was the cause. The other results were : One Hundred Yards Scratch Race. Three prizes: first prize, silver cup; second prize, case cutlery (eighteen pieces); third prize, case carvers (three pieces)—the first two in each heat to run in the final. Hempton won the first heat easily in 10 2~sth sec, but was beaten by C. A. Bradley, of the Huddersfield County Club, in the final after a grand race in losec (dead). Four Hundred and Forty Yards Handicap (open)—ln the first heat Peter Wood (Nev/ Zealand) scr, H. Brown (Tuffnell Park Athletic Club) 15yds, Felby 22yds, Neck 25yds, Ball 27yds, Jones 30yds, Davies 35yds, Cronin 38yds, and Newlove 40yds competed. Peter Wood ran fast for three hundred yards, but failed to stay, and came in sixth. Felby, with 22yds start, won. Four Hundred and Forty Yards Hurdle Handicap (open)— A. R. Williams (London Athletic Club), 28yds, 1 ; H. W. Batger (New Zealand), scr, 2. 'The following also ran ;—Godfrey B. Shaw (London Athletic Club) scr, L. A. Cuff (New Zealand) 12yds, B. C. Green (London Athletic Club) 15yds, C. B. Waylen (London Athletic Club) 20yds, W. Kent Hughes (Australian Students’

Club) 30yds, Cecil Shaw (London Athletic club) 36yds, T. White 38yds and F. Denman (Blackheath Harriers) 45yds. Batger ran fairly well, but was beaten by five yards by Williams, whose time was 61 45th sec. Batger’s time was 62 1-sth sec.” The first of a series of three matches between Joe Scott, champion of the world, and Fred Bowen, champion of Australia, was commenced in Dunedin on Monday. The first match was one of 50 miles. Bowen went ahead from the start, and was half-a-mile to the good very soon. When Scott had completed 40 miles, which took him 6hrs 52mm 2osec, Bowen had smin sosec the better of him. Two laps later Scott retired. Bowen went on and completed the 50 miles in Bhrs 40mm 2sec. The next match, one of 12 hours, comes off on Monday next. P. Wood, Batger, and Cuff, went to the Derby, and the last named is reported to have had a stroke of luck in that he backed Sir Hugo. At the East Lancashire Cricket Club sports at Blackburn on May 28, Godfrey Shaw won the Northern Counties’ A.A. 440yds Hurdle Championship, the chief event of the meeting. In common with other champion contests, this event was this year, for the first time, closed to the north, the qualification to compete being either birth or residence in that very large part of England over which the .jurisdiction of the N.C.A.A. extends. Birth qualification let in the ex-New Zealander, who won anyhow in the moderate time of 62 2-ssec. Ihe hurdles were only 3ft.