ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 108, 18 August 1892, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

The final of the three matches between F. Bowen and Joe Scott was commenced at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on August 6th, when the men were despatched on their twenty-four hours’ journey. Bowen had won the fifty-mile contest, and Scott the twelve hours, and the winner of the present event was to take the £IOO a side deposited. Both men started punctually at ten o’clock, and at the end of the first hour each had covered five miles, nineteen laps. At midnight the tally was — Scott, ten miles nineteen laps; Bowen, ten miles fourteen laps. Shortly after midnight, when Scott had travelled thirteen miles sixteen laps, Bowen gave up the contest, owing to ill-health. Foot racing is still a dead branch of sport so far as Sydney is concerned (says the Sydney Referee}. After a while a handicap will be tried at Botany, probably in September. Mr. Frank Smith is about again, after his late accident, and if anything in the pedestrian line is put forward it will probably emanate from him. The Carrington ground shareholders have a particularly bad bargain

at present, and nothing prospers there but the grass. The only interest shown in foot-racing matti rs is an occasional discussion as to what were the chief causes of its collapse On this subject opinions vary, as might be expected. Several distance events of considerable interest were held about the middle of June, in England. On June 18th, at the Essex. Beagles’ meeting the most interesting item was a two miles match between Sid Thomas (the ten miles amateur champion") and C. E. Willers (the one and ten miles amateur champion of Essex). Never more than a few yards separated the two men, first one and then the other holding a slight advantage. Willers eventually winning in the good time of ginin. 47sec. On the same day, at the London and North-Western Railway A.C. Sports, the chief item of the afternoon was the Three Miles Invitation Scratch race. There were fifteen starters, including Kibblewhite and E. Willers, who must not be confused with the Essex champion. The pace was excellent from the start, and, entering the last lap, Strange, who had moved wonderfully well, dashed to the front, and, momentarily, fairly I the champion for speed. Kibblewhite, however, putting in some grand work, overhauled, and won by ten yards. Willers could not go the pace set by Strange at the finish, but was a good third. The time for the first mile was 4min. 49 4'sth sec. ; second, gmin. 58 4.5 th sec.; third, 14mm. 52 4*sth secs. Kibblewhite’s record for the distance is i4min. 29 j-sth sec., made at Stamford Bridge, August 21, 1889. After Bowen had retired from the track he appeared with his trainer, and intimated that he gave in to Scott, and that he would not require the latter to complete the specified time. It was explained that though Bowen’s condition was all that could be desired, he had been under medical treatment during the past week, and that he had not yet recovered from the illness which caused him to retire from the track in the 12 hours’ contest. He stated himself that if he had had an addi- , tional month in which to prepare for the match, he might have been able to win, in the present state of his health he do so.

the present state of his health he was held at the British night, with the object Auckland Sports Protection Association, the purpose of which will be to assist the various clubs in collecting fees due to them. There was an attendance of 17 gentlemen, representing the undermentioned clubs : —Messrs. A. G. Buchanan, St. George’s Rowing Club ; E. Edwards, West End Rowing Club; C. H. McKinney, Cricket Association; -I C. E. MacCormick, United Cricket Ctub ; ff R. Neil, Auckland Cricket Club ; R G. Hosken, Olympic Lawn Tennis Club ; ' Wallace, Auckland Rowing Club ;J. A. Morrison, Belmont Cricket Club ; A. It. Grigg, Rangers Association Football Club ; M. Keesing, Waitemata Boating Club; McLean, Mount Eden Lawn Tennis Club ; Ross, Auckland Lawn Tennis Club; J. Haliday, Auckland Amateur Athletic Club; T. Henderson, Grafton Football Club ; E. W. Burgess, AuckRawing -Association Rowing Club ; J. Webster, Norur Shore Football Club. It was resolved—- “ That it is desirable an Auckland Sports Protection Association.” “ That a provisional committee of the following gentlemen be appointed to draw up rules for submission to a meeting on the 2nd September, 1892; such committee to consist of Messrs. Haliday, McKinney, Ross, Bankart and Webster’; and further, that the committee be empowered to print their report and proposed rules.”