SPORTS AND PASTIMES. CONTINUED FROM PAGE SIX

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2772, 30 March 1910, Page 7

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. CONTINUED FROM PAGE SIX

TENNIS. WHATAUPOKO CLUB. The follouyrig are the results of the tennis match played on the Whataupoko courts during last week: —Mrs Carmichael beat Mrs Matthews 50—20; Miss Pyke beat Miss Lewis 50—18; Miss H. Watkins beat Miss H. Nolan 50 —28; Miss C. Watkins beat Miss H. Nolan 50 —13. The Committee has decided to extend the date for the completion of the American tournament for a fortnight, when the season will be .finally closed with an assembly .at which .the trophies won during the year will be presented. MAORI TENNIS TOURNAMENT. rPun Pmcss Association. I PALMERSTON N., March 29. The Maori tennis touimament was concluded this afternoon, when Hawke’s Bay won the Marumaru Cup for the district championship held last year by Wanganui, Friday Tomoana fed Hawke’s Bay. The Mayor (Mr. Nash) made the presentation. The Hon. Jas. Carroll was present to-day. BOWLING. PALMERSTON NORTH TOURNAMENT. FPeh Press Association. | PALMERSTON N., March 29. In till© bowling tournament Webb and Thompson (Wellington) defeated Abrahams and' Tasker in the final of the pairs by 23 to 11. WRESTLING. MO ANA PARATENE v. HARRY GROTH. In consequence to the challenge issued in yesterday morning’s “Times” from Groth to Paratene, the principals met in Mr C. Ferris’ office last night, and signed articles to meet at an early date in His Majesty’s Theatre. The match is for £lO a side in catch-as-catch-can style, the best two out of three falls. In all probability Dr J. Clive Collins will be masked to referee the contest. The exact date of ‘the match has not yet been decided, but it will be on either Monday or Tuesday night, according to when the Theatre will be available. ATHLETICS. THE WOrtLU'o FASTEST HOW DONALDSON BEAT POSTLE.

South African mails bring particulars of the great race in which J. Donaldson, of Victoria, defeated Arthur 'Postle, a fellow-Australian, and Charles Holway, the American, in one of the greatest sprint races recorded in modern athletic history. The race took ■place at Johannesburg in the presence of 5000 people. “The afternoon of the race witnessed a terrific thunderstorm.. The Stadium, which is- practically a pit, was quickly flooded, but the short duration of the storm allowed the ground staff to get to work to rectify matters, and all attention was given to the cinder championship track. Bags and sawdust were utilised most freely, and by 10 p.m. the track was comparatively dry and firm. “Proof of its firmness was evidenced by the energetic manner in which the niggers used tlie hard stable brooms to sweep off the sawdust. Such energy would have left nothing of a crumbly or a slushy track. In addition, the spikes were coming out cleanly. It was not, perhaps, in its pink of condition, but was still faster than most. —The Trial Spins.—

“Donaldson came out for a trial about- 9.30 a.m. accompanied by Terry. They put in a couple of good spins, and Donaldson was apparently trained to the hour. Body seemingly thrown back and legs reaching out in front, he was simply bouncing down the track. When travelling he seems to- drop his height and- let out his- stride. He looked like a splendidly trained l racehorse fighting for his head. Absolutely full of himself, his fitness was a great feather in Terry’s cap. “Postle -appeared later on, and he was also seemingly in fine fettle. Jack O’Conell has had him m hand, so between them there was nothing left undone.

“Holway appeared for a trial spin later, and after watching the other two fre© steppers,, he seemed pinched and stiff in his action. Still, his word was that he was fit to win. He did) not indulge in any fast work. “All the men were received by cheers from the packed ‘house.’ They then underwent their* final rubbings:' 1 —The Positions.— “Holway drew th 0 centre track; Donaldson on liis right. “No time was lost when the men reappeared on the track. . Starter O’Connell explained his* method of starting, and after the exchange of pre-arranged signals with the officials at the finishing tape, the bell was rung and the men were ‘set.’ —The Race. — “Bang! and' Postle jumped away in the lead, closely followed by Donaldson and Holway, each man putting it all in. Up at 40 yards Donaldson was almost level with Postle, Holway a yard behind. Postle shoved on more steam, and at 60 yards was a clear half-yard to the good. ‘Postle wins!’ yelled the crowd, when suddenly Donaldson shot out with a paralysing hurst that seemed to leave Postle momentarily fixed to the track, and, maintaining his meteoric speed, dashed through the tape a winner by two yards. Everyone present was astounded, and all agree'd that it was a never-to-be:f.or-gotten sight. “It was a most decisive heating, and the beaten were amongst *the first to acknowledge it.” —Gossip of tli© Race. —

“Holway ran well, but was not in the same class as the winner, being ■beaten by a good yard and a-half from Postle. . Holway is quite satisfied, and reckons Donaldson is a freak. Postle also reckons Donaldson is the best the world has ever.seen, and does not want any more of him-over 100 yards. “Postle ran a great race—a real champion’s race. Jn fact, it is, as I heard o ne man describe the situation: ‘Postle is still a world’s champion, but Donaldson is a world’s marvel.’ ”