ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2017, 28 February 1907, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

AMATEURS IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24. The first day’s results showed that it was practically impossible for Wellington to loso tho championship, and though to-day’s competitions did not show such a marked superiority as was evidenced on Thursday, there was no mistaking the fact that all round AVolington had much tho best team at the meeting. The first championship event decided was tlio high jump. In this Orbell (Canterbury) showed somethin"- like his true form, and succeeded in clearing sft S-Jin. Thomassen, too, jumped very well, and registered only an inch lower. AA’itli Cook (AVellington) and Davies (Canterbury) tieing at an inch lower than this, Wellington secured 3.1 points. Tlio Tliree-milcs Flat Championship was generally regarded as lying between Prendeville (AVellington) and Murray (Otago), and so the result proved. This pair, attended byMoore (Canterbury) soon drew away from tho rest of tlie field, and they had the race to themselves. Murray stuck to Prendeville very well, but when it came to the finish, the AA’ellington representative liad altogether too much pace and ran homo an easy winner. His time was 4 2-5 see. over the standard, but liad lie been really pressed lie could have done a lot bettor, as lie finished in great style After Thursday’s incident, Kerr’s appearance iu tlie One Mile AValk was looked forward to with considerable interest. Unfortunately', he again failed to satisfy tlie judges, and was in consequence disqualified. Kerr and Rowlands soon drew away from Stubberlield, and they- walked together for practically tlio whole journey. In his anxiety to pass Rowlands in the last lap, Kerr did not keep to the style which he had followedc. in the earlier stages of tlie race, and after being cautioned, lie was ordered off. However, in the excitement of the struggle, lie did not hear the judge’s order, and battled out every inch of the way, only to find after getting home six inches in front of his opponent that he had had no chance hi the race. It was not a pleasant experience for Kerr, and tho judges admitted that they should have made sure that lie had heen made to understand that he liad been called off. Kerr, according to at least one of tlio judges, made a gallant effort to conform to the orthodox styde, hilt under pressure he reverted to his original method. The Half-mile Championship was rather disappointing. Murray (Canterbury) liad heen expected to push Burk to some purpose, but Canterbury’s first string had had enough at the end of a lap, and Burk won' as lie pleased from Bradbury, who was followed homo by 11 is (Canterbury). Burk’s time, 2min 0 2-ssec was accomplished in the easiest possible manner, and under pressure ho could have reduced it materially. The mission of AVilliams (AVellington) was evidently to make the pace warm in tlie early stages, and lie accomplished it well, but it liad no effect on tho ultimate result. Henderson’s form on the first day had pointed to him as tho likely winner of tlio 220yds Championship, and this opinion was further strengthened by tlie manner in which he won his heat, which lie secured very comfortably in 23 l-ssec. Tlie second heat saw Wellington again in the ascendant, for Webster and Fisher filled first and second places. In the final Henderson appeared to he well placed in the straigiit, but on this occasion Fisher showed himself a strong finisher, and he won by' a yard in time which was one-fifth of a second slower than Henderson’s beat. That the lioat form was not an infallible guide was shown by the fact that Webster failed to gain a place in the final.

McKay had not much difficulty in winning the pole vault, and tlio remaining field event, the hammerthrowing, was chiefly remarkable for the fact that in it Auckland gained their first and only point. In the Club’s Relay Race AVellington avenged Thursday’s defeat, and for to-day’s victory they have chiefly to thank Fisher,' who Van very well in the last quarter.