ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1004, 3 June 1909, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

GOTCH WINS WRESTLING BOUT.

Frank Gotch, the American, who relieved Hackenschmidt, the Russian Lion, of the world’s championship in the wrestling line, has just defended his title successfully in a mat contest with “ Yussiff Mahmout of Bulgaria,” at Chicago. The match took place on the night of April 14, and Gotch won with two straight falls. There was a wrangle before the affair started. Yussiff wanted to wrestle in his bare feet, and Gotch insisted that the ’Garian wear shoes. Finally Yussiff offered to pay 500dol. out of his end of the purse for the privilege of going bare-footed, and Gotch agreed. They say Yussiff was as a child in the hands of the big American. Gotch won each fall with a crotch and halfNelson, the first in eight minutes, and the second in 9min. lOsec. It is said that Gotch did not try for his dreaded toe hold once during the match. If all that has been published about Gotch recently is to be believed, he has received some alluring offers from different parties in Melbourne who are anxious to arrange a Gotch-Hack-enschmidt match for Melbourne Cup time. It is understood that it is Gotch’s intention to take in the AlaskaYukon Exposition at Seattle, and then go on to Australia.

R. E. Walker and V. Duncker were the stars at the Maritzburg sports on April 17, in a special 120yds hurdles event. Duncker was timed to do 15-l-ssec- which ties the world’s record — if correctly taken, and everything else was in order. Apparently it was not a competition, merely an attempt on record (with a pacemaker), and thus it would not count as a record in Australasia, although it may be in accordance with S.A. rules. R. E. Walker won his heat in the 100yds handicap from scratch in 9 4-5 sec, but through a bad start he could only manage fourth place in the final (inches separated the quartette). In the 220yds handicap V. Duncker, 12s yds, beat R. E. Walker, scr., by a yard in 22 3-ssec. In the final of the 100 metres handicap Duncker, 7yds, again beat Walker, scr, Duncker won by a yard in 10 4-ssec.

In the final of the Second Johannesburg 100yds Handicap on April 10 the placings were: W. Routledge, 12*6 yds, 1; R. Munro, 12yds, 2; G. Thompson, yds, 3; A. R. Postle, scr., 4. Time, 9% sec. Routledge left the others at the start, and won by one and a half yards. In the finish Postle was three and a half yards behind the winner; yard between second and third. In his heat in the semi-finals Postle won by inches in 9 4-ssec. On the same night B. R. Day won his heat in the 250yds from scratch in 27 4-ssec, but was unplaced in the final.

From particulars to hand of the race between Postle and Day for the 440yds Championship at Johannesburg on April 17, it would appear the Irishman was not in form—he was not running well, and did not fancy his chance. There were 6000 people present.

Writing to the Sydney “ Referee ” from New York, Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh says he is seriously contemplating running a ‘ ‘ Marathon ” race (26 miles 385 yards) in Australia, during the coming Summer —this evidently prompted by the success of the big “ Marathons ” in the United States. Mr. Mclntosh, if he goes on with the scheme, will bring with him Dorando Pietri (Italy), T. Longboat (Canada), and J. J. Hayes (U-5.A.)., and they will be pitted against a picked squad of the best distance runners Austra-

lia can produce. Mr. Mclntosh adds: “ And I have every confidence in my fellow-Australians to lower the colors of the redoubtable trio, if they make up their minds to do so.’

A Marathon Race for professionals, promoted by the “ Evening News,” was won by Gardiner, of England, in 2hrs. 53min. 23sec. Labry (France) was second, and Morris (England), third. The course was from Windsor to the Stadium at Shepherd’s Bush, in London. There were ninety-eight competitors.

The Middlesex Walking Club’s annual walking race from Marble Arch to Martyrs’ Memorial, Oxford (distance 54 miles), resulted thus: B. H. Warden, lOhr. 25min., 1; W. Brown, lOhr. 35min-, 2; C. D. King, llhr. 23min., 3; E. C. Hayes, llhr. 25min., 4; J. J. Lynch, 12hr. lOmin., 5.

The French runner St. Yves, at Providence (Rhode Island), beat the ex-amateur Matt Maloney by threefifths of a mile in a twenty mile race. His time was 2hr. 2min. 2sec.

The balance-sheet of the New Zealand Championship Meeting held in Dunedin was presented at the last meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. and showed a credit of £62 Ils lid. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the secretary, Mr. W. Millett, for his efforts in connection with the meeting.

On April 3rd a fatality attended one of the many “Marathon” footraces that have become so popular in England. P. Rumsley, of the Hull and East Riding Harriers, collapsing near the finish of the 20-mile contest, and dying on the following day without having recovered consciousness. Rumsley, who. won the same race last year, had complained several times to his attendant during Saturday’s r ace that he felt dizzy, but he continued running.

The well-known runners, Albert Aldridge and Louis Bouchard, of France, met in a fifteen mile race at Stamford Bridge on April 7th. An attempt was also made on the fifteenmile professional record, held by J. Howitt, of Norwich, viz., lhr. 22min.. accomplished at Islington on March 22nd, 1852. Aldridge won the race by nearly a lap in lhr. 23min. 33% seconds.