ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2444, 8 March 1909, Page 5

ATHLETICS.

PUBLIC SCHOOL SPORTS. A meeting of the Public Schools Sports Association was held in the Gisborne School on Saturday, when, after some discussion, it was deckled to hold the sports on Thursday next at Waihirerc. It was thought unfortunate that the election or the'licensing bench occurred in the same Aveek, but as the sports had already been postponed twice, it Avas feared that were they delayed longer unfavorable weather might come on. Over 700 entries ha»e been received,, and the sports promise to be even more successful than those of previous years.

NEW ZEALAND MARATHON RACE. AN EXCITING" CONTEST. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND ,March 7. Tlie New Zealand Marathon race; from Howick to Auckland, a distance of 13 .miles, run under tlio auspices of tlio Auckland Amateur Athletic 'Club, was decided hero yesterday in ithe hottest of weather.. ihe event •created tremendous interest, and should do much to .revive, amateur •athletics in Auckland. . Or the 42 nominated 22 started, including M. •Dickson and E. W. Shanahan (Christchurch), M. Mulcahy and F.Wilton (Wellington), S. W. Moore (Rakaia), W. Keay (Ballarat, Victoria), and W.' Wilsiiaiv (Manchester, England). The road was dusty, with numbers of loose stones, and the presence, of numerous vehicles made the. running unpleasant. The road was lined with thousands of. people, while at the Domain, where the raco finished, About 5000 wore present. Dickson, after I loading for seven miles, lay down

when still leading, finally finishing, eighth. Moore, at about this stage, was replaced by Hill, an All College youth of 18, who went on and won by less than 100 yards from Moore, .villi L. J. Ornstein (Auckland) third, Rogers (Auckland) fourth. Other southern competitors to finish were Shanahan fifth, Mulcahy tenth, Wilton fifteenth. Hill covered tho distance in 1 hour 18 minutes, while the sixteenth man, the last to finish, came in 32 minutes later than Hill The scene- on the Domain when Hil and Moore were finishing was one ol indescribable excitement. In consequence of this race all cricket matches were postponed."