ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 515, 7 June 1900, Page 6

ATHLETICS

[By

Vigilant.]

“ Harrier,” in the Australasian writes : —“ The A.A.U. of A. have accepted H. G. Whiting’s four miles in 21min as ‘ the best Australasian amateur record for four miles on the roads,’ but decline at present to recognise it for what it is—namely, the best for four miles either track or road, because they understand that the English and American bodies do not accept, except perhaps as road records, records not made on a perfectly level track. Neither, it is said, do the English Association recognise records made on grass. On both points the Union officials have decided to confer with the English and American bodies, and they add very reasonably:— ‘ . e think it is best that all three governing bodies should be in accord if possible However, there is no reason why we should be bound by the decisions of both or either bodies.’ Quite so. Nearly all Australasian records have been made on grass, aid the practice of the English body certainly fails to appeal to one’s common sense. Seeing that grass tracks are reputedly appreciably slower than cinders, a grass re. ord desmves double recognition, if that were possible, instead of being ignominiously thrust into the outer darkness. And if the ‘ perfectly level ’ rule is to be rigidly enforced, what track in Australasia is available to record makers in events of a quartcr-mile upwards ? Certainly not the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a rise of over Bft ; nor the Exhibition, which is a banked cycle track. And have the authoritative levels of the Sydney Cricket Ground and Auckland Domain been ascertained, or the American or English grounds themselves? Such grounds require to be drained and that, I take it, means some divergence from the ‘ perfectly level,’ either from the centre outwards or from top to bottom. Cafe in granting records is most desirable, and so is common sense. I ventu e to say a slight wind is of more assistance to a runner than a drop of a few inches in a hundred yards, and that races out and home or over an exact circle not only answer, but best answer the requirements as to track and wind affecting record performances.” I can only answer for the Sydney Cricket Ground. There is a fall of perhaps, a foot from north to south—from the cricket pitch to the fence —thus it is not “ perfectly level,” but is considered to be level, to all intents and purposes. Nearly all races are run from south to north, and consequently slightly up hill over a portion of the course. Perhaps “‘Harrier,” who, 1 think, was present, will remember an eventful afternoon in August, ’94, when, in a 120yds scratch race between the Melbourne and Sydney Harriers, S. J. Hill put up 12 l-ssec (a record at the time), over a course what we call “ the reverse way ” here, and had his figures disallowed on account of the fall in the ground. The 10-mile Scottish championship, whi h virtually opened the Scottish athletic season, was decided on April 6 at PowderhaU, Edinburgh, Eight competed, including the holder, W. M. Badenoch (Edinburgh H.), J. Paterson (Watson’s College, the cross-country champion), D. W« Mill (Clydesdale H.), and A. Forrester (Coatbridge H , the junior cross-country champion). Paterson was a strong favourite, but he was rot at his best, and Mill and McCafferty, another Western man, pushed him hard, Paterson only wiming after a rattling finish by four yards from Mill, who had a fcot advantage from McCafferty. The weather was highly favourable, but the time was in excess of the standard time of 57 minutes. Result: J. Paterson, 1; W. D. Mill, 2 ; J. J. McCafferty (West of Scotland H.), 3 ; A. Forrester, 4. Won by four yards; a foot between the second and third. Six finished. Time, 57 minutes 32 l-sseconds.

All hope of an international meeting between the English and American University teams this English summer has been practically abandoned. An extraordinary performance for a lad of 13 was accomplished at the South-Eastern College sports. S. Lloyd won the mile from scratch in 5 minutes 3 2-5 seconds. The course had been carefully measured by the committee, and the time was taken by tt e Rev T. F. H. Berwick, B.A„ St Catheiine’s College, Cambridge, and late captain of the games at Aldenham School. Another good periormance at the same sports by a 13-year old was the high jump ot 4ft s|in by A. H. Wheatley# THE AND WORLD'S .CHAMPION- •• - We are in a position to state that the Pennsylvania team will leave New York on June 20 for London as at present arranged (says Land and Water). Failing new and unexpected developments at the Collegiate meeting, Kraenzlein, Tewkesbury, W. P. Remington, A. Grant, and McCracken will be included in the team, and the first two alone should prove revelations at their respective distances. After the English championships they will visit Paris. * ..

The Princeton University athletic team will leave New York on June 13 for Paris, but they intend to enter some of their representatives for the London games. The intentions of Harvard, Yale, and the New York Athletic Club have not at present been announced, but if all the leading colleges send to Europe, the Mercury foot executive will find some difficulty in finding suitable athletes to try for championship honours. In America the athlete’s life on the path is a short one, and there are very few men across the water who do not retire after about three or four seasons at the outside. Wefers, Owen, Crum, Chase, etc., are instances in point. Myers was one of the few exceptions. Hence, after the American athlete leaves his University the New York Athletic Club cannot very long rely upon his actively representing them upon the path.

The path for the Paris Exhibition sports is not yet begun. Strange to say, it is the first cinder running track ever seen in France. M. Richiel, of the racing club, is superintending tho making of this important item of the fixture. The English representative, Mr Herbert, of the A.A.A'.,

has pointed out ti the Paris executive that, as afc Athens in 1896, some expert like C. Perry should be engaged ti lay down the foundation of tno track and see that the surface is properly constituted. Failing some such arrangement, th® path will be a failure, and in any ease world s records are not at all likely to be broken in Baria this year. The question as to whether the A.A.A. shall or shall not send an official team to Pans is likely to be hotly debated at the general meeting of that body on April 21. Unless this country is represented the Paris championships will be a walk-over for the Americans. It will be a great disappointment to Australian® if Stanley Rowley does not meet all the cracks of the world at Paris. His trip has been undertaken* to a large extent, at his own expanse, and, having been prepared to do so, it would be a misfortune if anything should happen to deprive him of any credit should he be successful. However, he will meet them in English championships, though possibly he might not then be quite fit.