ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 14

ATHLETICS

N.Z. PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. BRANSON PERFORMS WELL. WILLIAMS WINS SHEFFIELD The New Zealand professional athletic championship meeting opened at Frankton Junction on Saturday, the weather being perfect for the gathering, ’which was attended by some 2000 persons. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Waikato Caledonian Society’s carnival and was continued on Monday, its great success exceeding the most sanguine expectations. The liberal prizes offered attracted runners from all parts of the Dominion, and the keen competition that ensued in many of the events caused much enthusiasm among the spectators. FIRST DAY. On Saturday four New Zealand championship events came up for decision, these being the 100yds, One Mile, High Jump, and Long Jump. The handicap events which figured on the first day’s programme were characterised by large fields, while the close finishes were productive of the greatest excitement. In addition to the athletic contests, the Highland dancing and bag-pipe competitions contributed largely to the enjoyable nature of the programme, the entries including some of the very best Highland performers in the Dominion. The 100yds New Zealand championship resulted in an exciting race between three of the five competitors, V. C. Branson, the well-known Auckland sprinter, breasting the tape a yard in front of J. D. Forbes, of Gore, who defeated G. Kinsey for second honours by half a yard. Branson’s time was 10 l-ssec, and the brilliant manner in which he finished was decidedly praiseworthy. The Mile championship attracted a quartette of starters, victory going to Alick Campbell, of Tikokino, Hawke’s Bay, who won without much effort by a dozen yards from G. Hall, of Auckland, the time registered being 4m 40s. Campbell put in a. well-sus-tained sprint over the last furlong, and never once appeared in danger of being defeated for the title. In the High Jump championship, a keen contest for supremacy was witnessed between G. Campbell, of Timaru, and W. R. Nicholls, of Te Kuiti, the former, who cleared sft. 7%in., proving victorious by half an inch. Five contestants competed in the Long Jump championship, winning honours being carried off by S. J. Tully, of Temuka, with a jump of 21ft. Ilin., T. Shannan occupying second position with a leap of 21ft 3%in to his credit. Of the championship events, principal interest on the first day was centred in the Caledonian 75 yards, which was decided in five heats, two semi-finals and a final. The race in question was annexed by W. Edwards (8% yds) who won the final by inches amid great excitement in 7 l-ss. The cycle events (half mile and mile) drew large fields, included among the riders being several of Auckland’s crack cyclists. [The half mile Rototuna Cycle Handicap was won by J. Adlam, who registered a good performance bv winning from scratch, another Auckland rider in E. W. Burton (10yds.) filling second place. The One Mile Invitation Cycle Handicap witnessed a sterling finish between M. L. Hayes (40yds.) and J. Clarke (50yds.) who rode a dead-heat in a field of nine. In the ride-off Clarke gained a victory after another close race.

Particulars of the principa l events decided on the first day are as follows:—

100yds. New Zealand Championship.—V. C. Branson 1, J. D. Forbes 2, G. Kinsey 3. Also started: C. J. Morris and W. Hogg. Morris held the advantage after three-quarters of the distance had been covered, but collapsed at this stage. Branson coming on strongly won by a yard from Forbes, who beat Kinsey by half-a-yard. Time, 10 l-ssec. One Mile New Zealand Championship.—A. Campbell 1, G. Hall 2, D. Flynn 3. Also started: E. Hall. G. Hall led for the greater part of the journey, but Campbell mustered up a good sprint a furlong from home, and succeeded in winning easily by 10yds from Hall, who put in an ineffective challenge over the concluding 100yds. Time 4m 40s. New Zealand Championship High Jump. —G. Campbell, sft 7%in, 1; Nicholls, sft 7in 2; E. Ticklepenny, sft lin, 3.

New Zealand Championship Long Jump.-S. J. Tully, 21ft Ilin, 1; T. Shannon, 21ft 3% in, 2; G‘. Bradley, 20ft sin, 3. Also competed: G. Campbell, W. V. Quane. Claudelands Amateur Handicap, 300yds. —J. Qualtrough, 16yds, 1; J. R. Simpson, scr., 2; L. C. Castleton, 15yds, 3. Eight starters. Won by a yard. Time, 34 l-ssec. Caledonian Handicap, 75yds.—First Heat: W. Hogg, 7%yds, 1; H. Baxter, Byds, 2. Time 7s. Secon'd Heat: W. Edwards, B%yds, 1; A. Williams, Byds, 2. Time 7 1-55. Third Heat: E. Bust, 8 % yds, 1; V. C. Branson, 4%yds, 2. Time, 7 3-ss. Fourth Heat: R. McAlley, 9yds, 1; R. Johnson, B%yds, 2. Time, 7 l-ss. Fifth Heat: T. McGeehan, 7yds, and J. W. Anderton, 8% yds (dead heat), 1. Time, 7 2-ss. First Semi-Final: E. Bust, 1; Edwards, 2. Time, 7 l-ss. Second Semi-Final: T. McGeehan, 1; A. Williams, 2. Time, 7 l-ss. Final: W. Edwards, B%yds, 1; E. Bust, 8% yds. 2; T. M. McGeehan, 7yds, 3. Also started: A. Williams. Won by inches after a splendid race. Time, 7 l-ss. Half-Mile Handicap. —H. Terry, 1; H. G. Haswell, 65yds, 2; S. Barnes, 20yds, 3. Thirteen starters. A close finish resulted. Time, Im. 56 4-ss. Tuhikaramea Amateur Handicap, one mile. —F. Jones, scr., 1; C. Reid, • scr., 2; A. Gee, 70yds, 3. Six starters.

An exciting finish was witnessed between the scratch men. Time, 4m. 56 2-ss.

Koromatua Hurdle Handicap, 120yds.—First Heat: W. R. Nicholls, owes 4yds, 1; K. Gibbons, owes Syds, 2. Four starters. Time, 18s. Second Heat: B. T. Murray, owes 4yds, 1; R. M. Alley, owes syds, 2. Time 20s. Final: K. Gibbons, owes Syds, 1; W. R. Nicholls, owes 4yds, 2; B. T. Murray, owes 4yds, 3. Won by a yard. Time, 17 4-ss. Half-Mile Rototuna Cycle Handicap. —First Heat: W. A. Mason, 50yds, 1; J. Adlam, scr., 2. Time, Im 15s. Second Heat: J. Clark, 30yds, 1; E. W. Burton, 10yds, 2. Time lm 17s. Final: J. Adlam, 1; E. W. Burton, 2; W. A. Mason, 3. Time lm. 16 4-ss. Invitation Cycle Handicap, one mile. —M. L. Hayes (40yds), and J. Clarke (50yds), (dead heat), 1; W. A. Mason, 85yds, 3. Nine starters. Time, 2m. 445. The ride-off resulted in favour of Clarke after a great set-to up the straight. 1 SECOND DAY, Fine weather again prevailed on the concluding day of the New Zealand professional athletic championships, and the attendance at Frankton Junction was estimated at 4000, included among whom was a large percentage of visitors. The sports programme offered was even more attractive than

on the first day, the inclusion of several bicycle races adding to the general excellence of the sports provided. Three New Zealand professional championships —22oyds, 440yds and Half-Mile —were decided, while the “Waikato Hundred” (120yds. Sheffield Handicap), and Waikato One Mile Bicycle Championship were also brought off, interest in these events running very high. Exciting finishes were the order of the day, the Sheffield Handicap, which was run in six heats, two semi-finals, and a final, being particularly noteworthy in this respect. A word in praise of the management of the sports is due ■o those who had charge of the arrangements, for the despatch with which the various events., and competitions were brought off would do credit to any sports officials.

The 220yds New Zealand championship resulted in another triumph for the Aucland runner, V. C Branson, who won a good race by a couple of yards from the Gore sprinter, J. D. Forbes, in 23 3-ss. The 440yds New Zealand championship saw five competitors face the starter, and the race resolved itself into a struggle between R. Johnson, of Auckland, and G. D. Doleman, of Gisborne, the former winning by a yard after a brilliant run up the straight. Only two contested the Half-Mile championship of New Zealand, in which the Hawke’s Bay long

distance runner, Aick Campbell gained further laurels by winning fairly easily from S. Barnes, of Auckland in 2 m 7 1-5 s.

The chief event of the meeting, the “Waikato Hundred,” which was decided over 120yds, created the greatest enthusiasm, runners being present from all parts of New Zealand to fulfil their engagements in this important race. The event was won by A. Williams, of Auckland, who ran consistently, winning his heat, a semifinal, and the final in good style. In the final Williams won a magnificent race by a foot, his sterling finishing powers alone enabling him to secure the verdict from the other three competitors who were on even terms with him a dozen yards from the tape. The leading events on the second day resulted as follows: — 220yds New Zealand Championship.— V. C. Branson (Auckland), 1; J. D. Forbes (Gore), 2; G. S. Doleman (Gisborne), 3. Also started: G. Kinsey (Auckland), T. Shannon (South Canterbury), and W. Hogg (Hamilton). Won by 2yds, Doleman being 4yds away hird. Time, 23 3-ss. 440yds New Zealand Championship.— R. Johnson (Auckland), 1; G. S. Doleman (Gisborne), 2; A. H. Gyllies (Auckland), 3. Also started: V. C. Branson and A. Campbell. Won by a yard. Time, 545.

Half-Mile New Zealand Championship.—Alick Campbell (Hawke’s Bay),

1; S. Barnes (Auckland) 2. The only starters. (Campbell led throughout and won by 2yds, Time, 2m 7 l-ss. Waikato “Hundred,” 120yds Sheffield Handicap.—First prize, £6O; second, £l5; third, £5; fourth, £2 (the winners of preliminary heats received £2 each): First heat—W. J. Campney (12yds), 1; R. Johnson (13yds), 2. Won by half a yard. Time, 11 2-5. Second heat: T. M. McGeehan (10yds), 1 E. W. Sturm (12yds), 2. Won by a yard. Time, 12s. Third heat: A. Williams (13yds), 1; E. L. Donnelly (13yds), 2. Won by a foot. Time, 11 l-ss. Fourth heat: H. E. Stanton (14yds), 1; T. J. Randell (15%yds), 2. Won by 2yds. Time Ils. Fifth heat: H. J. Mills (14yds), 1; W. J. Burns (13% yds), 2. Won by inches. Time, 11 2-ss. Sixth heat: H. Baxter (13yds) and E. Bust (13yds), dead heat, 1. A great finish. Time, 11 3-ss. First semi-final: A. Williams (13yds), 1; H. J. Mills (14yds), 2. Time, 11 l-ss. Second semi-final: W. J. Burns (13%yds), 1; H. E. Stanton (14yds), 2. Won by inches. Time, 11 l-ss. Final heat: A. Williams (13yds), 1; H. J. Mills (14yds), 2; W. J. Burns (13%yds), 3. Won by a foot. Time 11s.

Governor’s Cup (Lord Islington presented a cup to be won by the best all-round athlete at the meeting, the trophy to be given to the competitor gaining most points): Two runners, V. C. Branson and Alick Campbell, tied with two wins each, and ran off for the prize over a 440yds course, a neutral distance, Branson having won the 100yds and 220yds championships and Campbell the halfmile and mile championships. Campbell won a fine race by half a yard, in -565.

One Mile Handicap.—E. C. Barnes (145yds), 1; H. Terry (57yds), 2; H. G. Haswell (scratch),3. Fourteen starters. Won by syds. Time, 4 255. Three-Mile Amateur Handicap.—F. Jones (scratch), 1; C. Reid (scratch), 2. Six starters. Won a good race by 10yds.

Two-mile Waikato Wheel Race. —J. Clarke (100yds), 1: W. A. Mason (125yds), 2; J. Adlam (scratch), 3. Ten starters. Won easily.

One-Mile Bicycle Waikato Championship.—J. Adlam. 1; E. W. Burton, 2; M. V. Hayes, 3. Five starters. The three placed men finished within half a-length of each other, Adlam gaining the verdict by a wheel.