Athletics.

Owing to the Ellerslie races and other reasons, the Sports were held at the Domain on Easter Tuesday instead of Monday. The day was cloudy but calm; the track was still a trifle heavy from rain, and in places badly needed a roller. Under the circumstances the times recorded were excellent.

Our team was especially strong in the track events. As usual our field event men had the brute force without the necessary technique, while the jumps and walk had not attracted their fair share of talent. These events each count as much as the flat races, and if we are to regain the shield we must find aspirants for them, aspirants too who are keen enough to give time and serious thought to their training. They differ from the track races in that something short of a champion is still able to win points in them. The Athletic Club Committee, which is now in a strong financial position, should see that coaches and masseurs are obtainable by members of the Club. Further, a shot, a hammer, a high jump stand, and some hurdles should be purchased and kept near the College; and the strongest efforts should be made to procure a jumping pit somewhere—anywhere, so long as one is found. But the men themselves must do the work, and there can be no harm in acquiring the correct style by training a night or two a week throughout the winter.

Another factor that should be considered by our representatives is team work. It was most noticeable in the 880 yards and 440 yards hurdles and other races how Canterbury's second strings was under orders as to his method of running the race to the best advantage for his first string. A little indulgence by a first stringtoo might often win us second as well as first place. This would assist in no small degree if we are to win the shield.

However, our team was strong enough to have a considerable following. The Auckland papers openly prophesied that A.U.C. would win the shield after a strenuous Struggle with'Victoria. But the day proved to be a day of surprises, and, for us, disasters. Every crack, save Webber of Auckland, had his colours lowered; while a new star, by the name of Porritt from Otago, appeared in the firmament.

The first event, the shot, proved an easy win for O.U. The mile resulted in a victory for Webber by some 20 yards from Moore page 28 who ran his best track mile to date. The time equalled the record of the late Athol Hudson, established in 1914. Hudson's lap times (I speak from memory), were: 62 secs., 2 mins. 11secs., 3 mins. 23 secs., 4 mins. 32 secs.; Webber's, 65 secs., 2 mins. 19 secs., 3 mins. 33 secs., 4 mins. 32 secs.

The 220 was won by Tracy in what was,'for him, the slow time of 23 sees. Porritt was two feet away second, after getting a couple of yards lead near the start. He is phenomenally quick out of his holes, and got a similar lead in all his other raees. Whitehead (V.U.C.) was a good third.

The long jump produced the first surprise, when Perry the former champion was beaten. Buckhurst, the winner, passed 21 feet in all his six jumps, the best being 21 ft. 10½ ins. Perry did only one good leap, 21 ft. 3½ ins., which gained him second place. Harkness, Otago's high jumper, had the misfortune to sprain his ankle on the take off. He finished third.

At the luncheon adjournment each College had three points.

The afternoon commenced with the heats in the 120 hurdles. In the second heat Buckhurst, holder of the New Zealand Championship, won by six inches from Porritt, in 16-2/5 sees. Jackson, who was slower oft" the mark and struck the first hurdle, was a yard away third. The other heat, fought out by the second strings, was won by Flynn of A.U.C., in 17-2/5 secs.

The 880 yards provided an exciting race. Da vies, of Victoria, set a merry pace, covering the quarter in 57 secs. He was closely followed by the two Canterbury men and Grierson (A.U.C.), the present record holder. Griffin, further back, waited for the pace to slacken. In the second lap there was a good deal of fighting for the lead until 200 yards from the tape, when Griffin made a strong sprint and won comfortably. The time, 2 mins. 1-2/5 secs. was a University record. Grierson fell exhausted at the entrance to the straight, and Davies and Page had a great fight for second place, Page just getting home. Both must have fringed the previous record, and with a little track experience Davies must prove a particularly tough proposition next year. Griffin, who had been suffering from a severe cold, showed great wisdom in treating the mile as a mere pipeopener, and reserving himself for the half.

The hammer gave Otago her customary three points. Kingston threw 115 ft., and Gray 109 ft.—both good performances. It is to be regretted that Otago can always find men to practise in this event, while all the other Colleges treat it as a sideline.

The 100 yards saw Tracy beaten by six inches by Porritt. Tracy was gaining at the tape, but probably achieved nothing by jumping at it. Whitehead was a yard away third.

The mile walk produced a very fair walker in Wily of A.U.C., who won easily by 15 yards. McKegg (Otago) was not pushed for second place. A. W. Page who was leading when the bell went, and appeared to be going well, was disqualified and left Wily unopposed.

The high jump was the poorest performance of the day, probably due to a rather heavy takeoff. V.U.C. scored nothing.

In the quarter Tracy rejustified himself by leading throughout and winning by 8 or 10 yards. The record time (1/5secsbetter) might well have gone if Tracy had been pushed. Grierson just beat Black of Canterbury for second place.

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The final of the hurdles gave another victory to Porritt, who beat Buckhurst on the tape. With this, our chance of winning the shield vanished. Porritt was surrounded by the medicals and carried off the field—and well he deserved it.

In the three mile afairly slow two miles (10 mins. 34 secs.) found all the competitors still together, but Webber and Moore started to brighten the pace, and in the last lap sprinted together Webber had lasted better and won by 25 yards, with Moore a good second. Vallance, a young Aucklander of promise, was third. Before Moore can beat the Australasian champion he will have to develop a somewhat easier arm action, and be able to get on to his toes for a periodical sprint. He undoubtedly has the staying power.

There remained the event which we regarded as our own preserves, the quarter hurdles. Jackson as usual went for the inside running. He was drawn out over the earlier stages by Malfroy Canterbury's second string. Then a couple of hundred yards from home Calder drew alongside and a magnificent neck and neck struggle ensued. At the last hurdle Jackson faltered, and Calder won by five yards. Malfroy finished third. The time, 58—4/5secs, is the best yet registered in New Zealand over the low hurdles.

The relay race proved an easy thing for Victoria. The popular medley (880 yds, 440 yds, 220 yds., 220 yds.) was substituted for the old contest, and Griffin, Thomas, "Whitehead and Tracy won comfortably by 20 yards. C.U.C. was second. Time 3 mins. 45 secs. Our sprinters in particular ran well, and Whitehead is said to have equalled the record of 22—4/5 secs. He is a greatly improved runner, and next year will be a champion.

Otaigo, doubtless porridgefed, accounted for the tugofwar. The points at the finish were: O.U. 12. V.U.C. 10, C.U.C. 9, and A.U.C. 8.

Our Photograph of Easter Tournament Representatives, shows (from left to right):—

Back Row : J. M. Power, R. R. T. Young, H. E. Moore, H. McCorcnick, C. B. Thomas, A. D. McRae, A. W. White, H. G. Whitehead.

Second Row : W. H. Stainton, K. M. Griffin, Miss E. Madeley, N. M. Thompson, Miss I Thwaites, V. H. Conningham, Miss R. Gardner, C. W. Davies.

Third Row : Miss M Myers, L. A. Tracy, E. Evans, S. A. Wiren, Miss M. Pigou.

Fourth Row : W. P. HoUings, Miss A. Coull, N.J.Lewis, J. W. G. Davidson