ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1121, 5 October 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

WORLD’S SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP DONALDSON BEATS HOLWAYIt was recognised that the race on the 23rd ult. for the world’s sprint championship, between the holder, Jack Donaldson, of Victoria, and C. E. Holway, of America, would |be productive of Something sensational in the way of “clocking.” and, in very truth, it was. The outcome was the establishment of the sensational time of 12sec. “dead” as the new 130yds. record (says “Mercury” in the “Dominion.”) Think of it! Ten seconds inside even time. Truly a magnificent run —granted that everything connected with the achievement proves to be in order. The ca'ble messages announced it as a record, so, while awaiting details by mail, we must assume that the usual requirements were complied with. The figures are the more surprising from the fact that they were made on a grass track, and in the open. Even in an indoor cinder path such a performance would be phenomenal, albeit we live in these days of record-breaking. The previous best appears to have been put up in England ’way back in 1867, when one W. Johnson was credited with 12 l-Bsec- for the distance, but this performance has always been looked at sideways by the old-timers. If the present performance of Jack Donaldson’s is substantiated by compliance with all the necessary record conditions then he must be a marvel and, undoubtedly, the fastest sprint runner of this or any other time. That he is a great sprinter he has proved before. His previous best time was hoisted in the great triangular test race at Johannesburg on February 12 of last year, when he met his fellow-Australian, A. B. Postle, and his challenger of last Saturday, C. E. Holway. This was also for the world’s championship, and in addition a purse of £SOO and a sweepstake of £2OO per man —truly a race worth winning. The result was: Donaldson, 1; Postle, 2; Hol way, 3. The timing was in the hands of three expert watch-holders —not, as the account before “Mercury” as he writes) states “a trio of ancient ‘peds’ with fatty fingers,” and the figures returned stood at 9 4-16 sec. twice, and 9 6-16 sec. once.

This last, as the slowest was officially recognised and thus the world’s record for 100yds. of 9 3-Bsec. became tacked on to “Jack” Donaldson’s name. The peculiar fraction is accounted for by the fact that what are known as “dog watches” were used —that is watches that are used in England for timing lurcher races. These are split into sixteenths instead of the usual tenths. This 100yds performance works out at 6% yards “inside,” and so is eclipsed by the present run which, as stated above, is 10 yards “inside.” Donaldson is aptly named the “Blue Streak.” On the same day that Donaldson was record-breaking in Sydney, his oldrtime. opponent, A. B. Post’e — yclept “The Crimson Flash” —was doing likewise in Queensland. According to the cable messages he beat his own world’s best for 70yds., covering the journey in 7sec., as against his previous 7 l-ssec-, put up at Johannesburg on Boxing Day of 1908. This looks as though the next tussle for the title will again be between the two Australians, as Post’e must be getting back to his old-time form again. But it is the last 40 yards or so of the 130 yards runs that finds Postle out —he is not the finisher that Donaldson is. The two have arranged a match over 100 yards arranged for October 21, but whether Donaldson

will allow the title to be involved in this remains to be seen. Apparently he can please himself, as the 130 yards journey is now general .y recognised as the championship sprint, distance. The record for the 130yds. had stood to the credit of W. Johnson for many years, he having got over the distance in England on February 9, 1867, in 12 1-8 seconds. Other fine performances for this distance are: —l2 l by T. M. Malone, April 12, 1884, Stawell (Vic.), and H. M. Johnson, July 12, 1886, America; and 12 3-ssec, by R. E- Walker (amateur), January 5,1909, at Johannesburg, South Africa. A. B. Postle, the Queensland flyer, was credited with running the distance in 12sec. on Easter Monday, 1906, at Menzies, West Australia, but it does not stand by a record, there having been a fall of 2ft o%in. in the track.