ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 227, 29 November 1894, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

The Amateur Athletic Club’s Spring Carnival of Saturday last will linger long in our memories as One of the most successful meeting ever held under the auspices of that popular body. Ason past occasions Captain Edwin favoured the meeting with Queen’s weather, and as a consequence the attendance reached to between six and seven thousand, the Cricket ground presenting a most animated and festive appearance, with the manyhued costumes of the fair sex, who were as usual greatly en evidence. The track was in grand order and in several cases fast times were recorded, the most notable being the breaking of the One Mile Walk record for New Zealand by Brady, who covered the distance in the splendid time of 6.41. Mr Austin Smith made his first appearance as starter, and on the whole may be said to have scored a success, though, on one or two occasions, trouble was caused by runners trying to take advantage of bis inexperience in this department, but the firm manner in which he dealt with Such cases will doubtless prove a lesson to them. The events were despatches with promptitude and the club’s officials conducted the duties allotted them in a most satisfactory manner, leaving no room for complaint. As the results of ’ the various events are already known to my readers, I will content myself with a few comments on the features of the day’s doings. The favourite in the 150yds Maiden, Pilkington, gave place to Roper, who hails from the Waikato. By the way, the event seldom falls to the favourite.

The Mile Walk was one of the most interesting events ever witnessed on the Domain, Brady, who I selected to win,-walking in great style, though I hardly thought he would have knocked such a hole-'in the N.Z. record. I should have liked to have seen Burton out in this event, though I feel afraid he would have met his Waterloo:

McCarthy, the winner of the 100yds Handicap and second in the 250yds Handicap on Saturday is the makings of a great sprinter, though I believe his time (9 3-ssec) never would have been had he not got away with such a flyer. Alf. Jones is undoubtedly the fastest sprinter we have, and beat “Buch” on his merits. His running in the 250 final was full of merit. He should certainly represent us in the sprints at the forthcoming championship meeting at Napier, and, if chosen, will uphold the credit of his province right worthily.

I should have liked to have seen the hurdles placed a little closer in the 440 event, won by Martin in such creditable time, as two of the competitors were simply skipping the side of the sticks with one leg, hence the fast time. Francis well deserved his win in the Quarter Mile —a better finish than his I never saw. We shall hear more of him anon.

Sutherland, who annexed the Half Mile in such fine style, will be heard’of again in other distance events. The same applies to O’Connor, who ran in such great style in the mile. He was certainly too far away from Scotty Farquahar in the start.

The start for the 120yds Hurdles was, without doubt, the worst start I have ever witnessed, and practically gave the race to Martin, who. must have benefitted to the extent of fully 7 or 8 yards. How the starter came to fire the pistol when Martin was so much in advance of his mark,-few can understand, I was surprised not to see him disqualified from starting* as fie repeatedly broke away. : ’■ '• ■ ' Creamer fully upheld his title of champion in the three mile walk’he had Brady fairly done when the latter retired. That great spurt home wakyvorthraeeing. . ' Bull ran a fine race in the Quarter Mile Hurdles, and showed great improvement in bis jumping, •• ■■ ’ T. Roberts seemed to be completely out of

-form.' • • . Scotty Farquhar ran well in the Mile until he saw it was useless to, chase O’Connor. What . show had at the .North Shore Sports when he was giving this runner 40yds more start ? ' T. Symons had hard luck in the Hurdles, falling when in a good position. G. Bradburn ; ran a game second in the Mile. The run-off for the final.of the 250yds Handicap, on j;he Domain on Tuesday evening at 5.30, was witnessed by something like 400 spectators. : 'Diversity..of 1 opinion- was rife as to who would prove the correct pea, though thg majority were with Jones, (who reached the post first on Saturday), and the result proved that their confidence was not misplaced. The start was an excellent one, and the finish clo.se and interesting, Jones coming through his men in a most business-like manner about. 30yds from home, and won by about a yard and a half, after a great struggle with Bullock, who fought out pvery inch of the ground most manfully, Poland running third, whilst McCarthy, who was next in favour, failed to get near the first flight. The time, 27 3-ssec, was very fair considering the state of the ground. Teddy Reynolds rides better every time he comes out; and a meeting between our old champion and Wilmptt should prove very interesting. By the way, Surman stuck to Reynolds in a most spirited manner throughout the day’s racing, making the champion look to his laurels. ’ The handicapper in the “Bike” events let Wilkinson down rather lightly when making the adjustments. However, he is a rattling good rider for a young ’un, and must be heard of in tfie near future. On the other hand, they seem to have over-estimated P. A. Smith. J. B. Beere, the well-known distance runner, is back in Auckland, and will probably be- seen on the track at the A.A.A. and C.C’s. meeting of March next.

I hear A. A. Davis, who met with the accident on the Domain recently, is going in for distance running. He should make a good man. Pressure on our space prevents the appearance of my usual budget of rowing and cycling notes.

Sammy Goodman has every reason to congratulate himself on the successes scored by the representatives of his stable at both the North Shore Athletic Club’s gathering and at the local club’s meeting on the Domain last Saturday. If my memory serves me aright, this well known trainer handled four of the winners at the Shore carnival, whilst with the four brought to the post on Saturday last he secured three wins, a second, and a third. Judging by this, I should say that Goodman understands his business, and should not be forgotten by am one requiring the services of an experienced and capable trainer. During the time he has been training Sammy has handled such well performed men as G. B. Beere, F. Gaudin, W. H. Martin, White, and the Creamer brothers ; and if I mistake not, he has a rattling good distance man in O’Connor. Calling on Mr McDermott list week re the accident to Mr A. A. Davis, I was shown the many trophies he (Mr McDermott) has won during his sixteen years on the track, and was, to say the least, somewhat staggered to find that nearly the whole of the household furniture represented one event or another which Jimmy has put to his credit. In addition to furniture of every conceivable description, I was shown some twenty one medals, several cups, some halfdozen albums, and eight or nine clocks, and on venturing an expression of surprise at the quantity and variety of the prizes which have fallen to his lot, I was informed by friend McDermott that should I. care to step out into the woodshed I might see a few more things, for which he could find no room in the house. On reaching the gate I made bold to ask him in what races he had won the house and allotment, and was somewhat disappointed to find that they were not included amongst the multifarious items for which Jimmy has done battle. The above hints on furnishing a house I give gratis to any of my readers who may be on the verge of matrimony. Our Wellington correspondent writes : —For the benefit of athletes in training, the City Council have erected in the Basin Reserve a tworoomed building. The Wellington A.A.C. are to have one room, which they intend fitting up with lockers for the convenience of members; and the other apartment will be occupied by professionals. Half a loaf is better than none, and this is the maxim the Wellington Amateurs are consoling themselves with now. There are about 200 active members in Wellington A.A.C., and a room 13 x 10 is all they have for accommodation.

A brother of Norman Gurr, the ex-champion 440 and 880 amateur runner, took part in the old boys’race at the College sports at Wellington on November 16, but was sadly beaten. The application of Mr J. Young, of Auckland, to the New Zealand Cyclist Alliance for reinstatement was handed in at the recent meeting of that body. The chairman (Mr Eyre) explained that the re-instatement committee had dealt with the application and had decided to hold it over for the present.