ATHLETICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1146, 28 March 1912, Page 15

ATHLETICS

By running the 200yds in 19secs. at the Sc. Patrick’s Day. sports at the Auckland Domain, Arthur Postle lowered a world’s record that had stood for over half a century. Prior to Postle’s great effort over -he 200yds’ course, the world’s record was 19% secs, established by George Seward in England as far back as March 22, 1847.

Two athletic championships of N.S.W. were among the events decided on March 16 at St. Patrick’s Day sports at the Sydney Showground. J. W. Frazer had an easy win in the 440 yards hurdle race in 62 l-ssec, with M. M’Carthy second, while, in the mile T. J. Wood won by 20 yards from F. Flowers in 4min 38 l-ssec.

- The defeat of the world’s champion sprinter, Jack Donaldson, by A. B. Postle at Auckland, certainly came as a surprise to his Victorian admirers (says the Melbourne correspondent of the “Referee.”) It was thought that Postle was fairly certain to win over 75 yards; but the other distances should certainly have been Ao Donaldten s liking. The champion was, no we ver, completely routed. He won xiGtiiing. rosue was running in great form when in Melbourne a month or so ago, and it was proved in the matches between the men at the Exhibition Oval that there was not more tnan half a yard between them in a hundred, but that at shorter distances Postle was Donaldson’s master. It was the general idea that Donaldson was much superior to the ex-champion over the recognised Sheffield Handicap oisia.ice of 130 yards, and the further they went the greater was Donaldson s certainty to win. “Mick” Terry some time ago declared that Donaldson, in his best form, would beat every world’s record from 100 to 600 yards. Now it is up to the genml Mick to get his charge well enough to make, good that declaration. Terry did not accompany Donaldson to Auckland.

The arrival of Charles Edward Holway, the famous sprinter, last Sunday, when he was met by a strong contingent of Durban sportsmen, including several of the guarantors—although the mail steamer for once in a way was over three hours late, and some of those- who waited had left the Point to fulfil other engagements up town —was an event that in a way marks an era in Natal sport (says a Durban paper of February 17). It was the first time a professional runner had been received here with what might be described rs eclat. Hitherto some notable visitors had arrived, as it were, without any flourish of trumpets, and no intimation, official or otherwise, to herald their coming

A request for financial assistance towards the expenses of G. N. Hill’s trip to Stockholm as New Zealand’s representative at the Olympia Games was considered at a meeting of the Otago Centre the other evening, when it was decided to reply that “owing to frequent calls and depleted finances it could not see its way to act in the matter.”

Though the 1912 New Zealand amateur championships are now a matter of history the remarks made by G. N. Hill, the long-distance champion, on his return to Auckland, to the effect that the gathering was conducted on anything but satisfactory lines, has raised a storm of protest

from the South. Mr R. Mitchell, manager of the Otago team of athletes, contradicts the Aucklander’s statement in the following remarks (which are supported by Mr C. E. Bridge* manager of the Wellington team): — ‘ln justice to the Southland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, I take strong exception to Mr Hill’s remarks anent the running of? the New Zealand championship meeting held at Invercargill on February 21. It was one of the best (and infinitely superior to one or two) meetings that I have attended during the- last six years. Far from keeping the competitors waiting in the cold for ten or fifteen minutes the officials, to my personal knowledge, started one or two races slightly before the advertised time, and generally did all in their power to inconvenience the competitors as little as possible. The last race was timed to start at 4.55, and it speaks volumes for the officials that they were able to conclude the meeting almost sharp on five o’clock. Quite a number have spoken to me of the businesslike manner in which the sports were run.”

Continuing, Mr Bridge says: “In regard to Mr Hill’s statement that Egglestone won the 100yds championship by beating the gun, this is contrary to fact. In the first heat I was standing beside the competitors at the start. No one beat the pistol, but Egglestone was easily a yard ahead of the field at ten yards. In the final he again showed his superiority over Opie in getting off the mark. I questioned the starter after the race and he said it was an absolutely fair start, and that Egglestone was too fast off the mark for the rest of them. The starter (Mr Bain) has been starting all the big races in Invercargill, including Sheffields, for a number of years, and his capabilities for the position are beyond question. Just a word of praise to the secretary, Mr A. S. Cookson. To his courtesy and untiring efforts the success of the meeting was to a great extent due.”

Commenting on the regrettable lack of enthusiasm on the part of New Zealanders with regard to having the Dominion represented at the Olympic Games at Stockholm, the “Otago Witness” says:—Auckland, which promised to do so much for Hill, has hung fire in its subscription list, and the dhances are that unless the Government is prepared to vote a sum towards 'New Zealand representation a special effort will have to be made at the eleventh hour to send our one representative to Stockholm. It is a disgraceful state of affairs, but . it shows at least where the governing bodies of athletics stand with the public.

A. B. Postle, the famous Queensland sprinter will be a competitor at the Waihi Athletic and Cycling Club’s Sports on Saturday (March 3 0.). Postle has entered for two events as follows: —Sheffield Handicap, 130yds —A. B. Postle owes oyds, V. C. Branson on Syds, G. Kinsey 4yds, W. R. Hogg 7yds, W. J. Campney 9yds, M. Harrison 9yds, W. Edwards 10yds, H. Crowe 11yds, L. Kingston 11yds, G. B. Mann 12yds, R. Hyde 14yds, A. Parkes 14yds, K. Gibbons 15yds, L. Robinson 15yds, J. Tobin 15yds, A. Bromwich 15yds, T. Parker 16yds, 440 Yards. — A. B. Postle scratch, V. C. Branson 20yds, M. Harrison 2 syds, G. Kinsey 2 syds, W. Hogg 3 oyds, H. Crowe 3 5 -’•ds, L. Kingston 3 syds, R. Hyde 4 0 yds, T. J. Gavin 40yds, K. Gibbons 4 5 ”ds, J. Tobin 45yds, C. Burt 50yds, T. Parker 50yds.