ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 723, 14 January 1904, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. On Saturday afternoon, the 15th Annual Championship Meeting of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association was held in the Basin Reserve, Wellington. The weather proving fine, there was a large attendance of the publil, the gate receipts totalling VS23O. The meeting was chiefly remarkable for the fine form shownF by George Smith, of Auckland, and W. H. Poflock, of Wellington. Both these runners did exceedingly well, and the triple victory of the latter rea.ly won the banner for his district. Auckland with but two men' registered a somewhat remarkable performance in scoring 27 points, but the contest for the Championship really lay between Canterbury and Wellington, the issue being in doubt till the very last moment. Ultimately Wellington won by the narrow margin of two points, the total being Wellington 59, Canterbury 57. The results were as follows :— _ HALF-MILE FLAT CHAMPIONSHIP. W. H. Pollock (Wellington) 1 W. C. Harb (Canterbury) 2 A. S. Henderson (Wellington) 3 Won comfortably by some yards. Time, 2min 1 l-ssec. 100YDS FLAT CHAMPIONSHIP. First Heat : L. B. Webster (Wellington), 1 ; P. H. Hartland (Canterbury), 2. Second Heat : G. W. Smith (Auckland), 1 ; W. Anderson (Canterbury), 2. Final Heat. G. W. Smith (Auckland) ff L. B. Webster (Wellington) 2 W. Anderson (Canterbury) 3 Won by about a yard and a-half. Time, io 2-ssee. HIGH JUMP CHAMPIONSHIP. C. S. Harper (Canterbury), sft 1 C. 0. Laurie (Auckland), sft 4£in 2 M. E. Wood (Canterbury), sft 2in 3 ONE MILE WALK CHAMPIONSHIP. H. Goodwin (Wellington) 1 H. Stubberfield (Canterbury) 2 L. A. Rich (Canterbury) 3 Won rather easily by by 30yds. Time, Train 23sec. PUTTING THE 16LB WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (from 7ft circle). W. O. Bradley (Canterbury), 38ft 1 W. Rhodes (Wellington), 34ft 10£in 2 F. M. Fisher (Canterbury), 34ft 7|in... 3 Won easily. POLE JUMP CHAMPIONSHIP. C. C. Laurie (Auckland), 10ft 1 H. C. Kingsley (Wellington), 9ft 6in 2 C. H. Manson (Wellington), 9ft Sin 3 120YDS HURDLES CHAMPIONSHIP. G. W. Smith (Auckland) 1 T. Craig (Wellington) 2 W. G. O’Kane (Otago) 3 Won by 3yds. Time, 16 2-ssec. THROWING THE HAMMER CHAMPIONSHIP. S. Baird (Canterbury) 103 ft 9in ......... 1 W. O. Bradley (Canterbury), 97ft 11in... 2 W. Rhodes (Wellington), 79ft 6in 3 220YDS FLAT CHAMPIONSHIP. W. Anderson (Canterbury) 1 T. Stubbs (Wellington) 2 H. S. Williams (Canterbury) 3 Won by a yard or two. Time, 23 4-ssrc. ONE MILE FLAT CHAMPIONSHIP. W. H. Pollock (Wellington) 1 W. C. Flewellyn (Canterbury) 2 F. W. Vosseler (Wellington) 3 Won by about six or seven yards. Time, 4min 49sec.

LONG JUMP CHAMPIONSHIP. M. B. Wood (Canterbury), 19ft 7|in...... 1 J. H. C. Kingsley (Wellington), 16ft lin 2 THREE MILES WALK CHAMPIONSHIP. F. Ross (Wellington) 1 H. Stubblesfield (Canterbury) 2 Won by 20yds. Time, 23min 20 4-ssec. 440YDS CHAMPIONSHIP. W. H. Pollock (Wellington) 1 T. Stubbs (Wellington) • 2 Won by a yard. Time, 52 4-ssec. THREE MILES FLAT CHAMPIONSHIP. W. F. Simpson (Canterbury) ‘ 1 P. Murray (Otago) 2 W. C. Flewellyn (Canterbury) Won very easily by 200yds. Time, Ismin 27 2-ssec. 440YDS HURDLES CHAMPIONSHIP. G. W. Smith (Auckland) 1 T. Craig (Wellington) 2 A. S. Henderson (Wellington) 3 Won very easily. Time, 63 2-ssec. TWO WORLD’S CHAMPION WRESTLERS. The two principals in the big wrestling match which last month caused such a stir in London are remarkable men. Pierri is 41 years old. He was born at Syra, near Athens, in 1862, stands sft 9in, and scales about 16st. Questioned as to his condition, the Greek replied : “ Though I may look a little big, I am always in good shape. I do not drink either wine, spirits, or beer; nothing stronger than black coffee and a little tea, and my smoke, why it is nothing more than an occasional cigarette.” Pierri informed the interviewer recently that though his career extended over twenty-four years, he never felt better in his life. The Greek has earned the sobriquet of globe trotter, and justly so, for, perhaps, no man has followed the profession in so many parts of the world. Pierri’s father was a sea captain, and at the age of eighteen Antonio began his career proper in San Francisco. He subsequently visited South America, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Honolulu, etc., while there is hardly a place of note on the Continent in which the Greek has not exhibited his prowess. In all. he has won about 1000 matches. Hackerschmidt was born at Turfew, in Russia, in 1877. He stands sft Bin high, and scales in the vicinity of 15st. H'ackenschmidt began his athletic career as a bicycle rider, at which he soon beckme proficient. Then, having filled out, he turned his attention to weight-lifting, and quickly placed eleven records to his credit. It was at wrestling, however, that he made his bright particular mark, and, after throwing all the men in his locality, he flew at higher game, and met in St. Petersburg the celebrated Frenchman, Paul Pons. A determined struggle took place beiore some 6000 spectators, but at the end of 46 minutes Pons was fairly and squarely beaten. Hackenschmidt had now made a great name for himself, and three years ago he landed in England, and commenced what up to tbe present has been nothing but a long string of successes.