A Promising Miler.

In “Railways Magazine,” I recently made reference to the prowess of a New Zealand cash athlete, Albert Gilmore, who ran one mile (from a start of 40 yards) in 4min. 8 4–5sec. at the Stawell (Victoria) meeting last Easter. Before the article appeared in print I received this letter from L. J. Read, of Divisional Headquarters, Army Service Corps, Trentham. He wrote:

“Being in camp at present and therefore having limited opportunities, I am writing you in the hope that you may be able to make the necessary arrangements for an attack on the professional mile record by Albert Gilmore, a professional runner now in this camp. You will remember he did so well in athletic events in Victoria last Easter. On Easter Monday he won the Stawell mile in the record time of 4min. 8 4–5 sec., this being his fifth win in succession. Backed by the opinions of several good judges in Australia and having seen him in action in camp it is my firm belief he would lower the existing record. He may be going overseas shortly, and it seems a pity that this great athlete should not be given a chance at breaking the record and bringing honour to New Zealand.”

It is unfortu mate that Gilmore is not likely to be given an opportunity in New Zealand. As a cash athlete he cannot compete with or against amateur athletes except in events controlled by the military authorities, and there are few cash athletes in New Zealand capable of assisting him if a field could be secured. On February 16 and 17 the New Zealand cash championships will be contested by cyclists and athletes in Wellington—the first all-cash meeting in the Capital City for a generation—and it is possible that Gilmore, if not overseas with the first Echelon at that time, will be a competitor. He has the ability but needs the opportunity.

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