Athletics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 199, 17 May 1894, Page 3

Athletics.

The Sydney Referee to hand contains a well written and interesting biography of the celebrated aboriginal sprinter, Charlie Samuels. I cull the following from the article : — Samuels, according to “ Cinders,’ weighed gst 41b out of training, but scaled lost ylb when in his best form. His height was sft BJin. His average stride was 7ft sin, but he has been known to put in two or three 9ft strides when making a special effort in reaching for the tape. The writer considers that Samuels was " the best and one of the gamest runners that have been seen on an Australian track, and could have beaten Hutchens from the mark when both men were at their best. Of the four matches which Samuels run with Hutchens the former won three, but “ Cinders ” avers that one was not a genuine race. Samuels has been repeatedly clocked to run 9 yards inside evens, and on one Occasion he is credited with having done 11 yards better than even time over 300 yards. The author considers, however, that pn a level track, with pistol starting and actual timing 5 yards better than even was about the extent of his powers by the time test. Samuels was the winner of several hurdle races, but never attained much fame over the sticks.

M. Dillon, a Sydney constable, was to have made an attempt on the 9th instant to lower the professional record for the high jump. No news is yet to hand concerning the result of his attempt.