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[[newsprint photograph]] 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 [[/newsprint photograph]] [[caption]] 1—CAMPFIRE. 2—DARIO RESTA. 3—THE COUNTESS. 4—WALTER KINSELLA. 5—GEORGE MOORE. 6—GROVER C. ALEXANDER. 7—FRANK KRAMER. 8—VILAR KYRONEN. 9—MISS ALEXA STIRLING. 10—CHARLES EVANS. 11—WILLIAM HOPPE. 12—LEE AXWORTHY. 13—VICTOR CARLSTROM. 14—WILLIAM M. JOHNSTON. 15—"TRIS" SPEAKER. 16—MATFORD VIC. 17—AVERY BRUNADE. 18—THE NAHMA. 19—GEORGE GOULDING. 20—JOHN W. OVERTON. 21—"BABE" RUTH. 22—LIEUTENANT R. C. SAUFLEY. 23—LUDY LANGER. 24—JOHN F. WULF. [[/caption]]

WHILE the athletes of Europe were spending another year in the gentle pastime of killing one another the Americans who are proficient in the various lines of sport were setting up new records and enjoying a year of remarkable activity. As the years slip past one thinks that the limit of human endeavor has been reached, yet there is not a twelvemonth goes by but marks that seemed impossible to beat are upset. In most of the sports there was some outstanding achievement during 1916, but the feat that must be blazoned as the most sensational and spectacular of all was that preformed by a woman. When Miss Ruth Bancroft Law piloted her aeroplane 512 miles without a stop, on November 19, she did something that no American of the sterner sex had ever been able to accomplish. What made her accomplishment all the more noteworthy was the fact that she did not have a specially constructed machine. 
To another woman, too, must go a great deal of credit as one looks back at what was one in American sports during the year. She is Miss Molla Bjurstedt, the Norwegian tennis player, who duplicated the record she made a year ago by winning every national tennis championship that it was possible to win. No man made such a conclusive sweep as this Norse girl. She was practically invincible, and only once in this year was she forced to bow to another player. 

Some Sensational Athletics.

That which stood out most prominently to other branches of sport were the performances of the track athletes. Never in this country—or any other, for that matter—were there seen such lightninglike performances as were witnessed in the leading meets of the year. To "Ted" Meredith, of the University of Pennsylvania, go the chief honors. On May 13 in a dual meet with Cornell he made a new world's record of 1m. 52 1-5s. for the half mile. What was undoubtedly a much greater performance than this, though, was what he did a couple of weeks later, at the intercollegiate championships, when he won the half mile race in 1m. 53., and the quarter mile in 47 2-5s. These two great races were run within an hour of each other, and both times were better than anything ever done before by a collegian.
Outside of Meredith's middle distance running, hurdle racing loomed up among the best performances of the year. It is not so long ago that athletic followers felt that fifteen seconds never would be beaten for the 120-yard high hurdles. Robert Simpson, of the University of Missouri, did this no fewer than fiver times. Most Easterners felt that the records he made in the West should be taken with a grain of salt, but he came East to the national championships at Newark and did 14 3-5s. Earl J. Thompson, of the University of Southern California, also beat fifteen seconds, and Fred Kelly and Fred Murray both did even time. This quartet proved to be the greatest aggregation of timebertopppers ever seen in the world at one time.
Champions Who Remain. 
Champions come and champions go, but there is one who seems destined to go on forever, He is Frank Kramer, of Orange, N.J., who for the sixteenth year in succession has won the national professional bicycling title. 
Another leader in his favorite sport who seems to be unconquerable is William Hoppe, the king of billiardists. He again proved himself the master of all the cue wielders, and he is now in the position where he can find no one to give him any sort of contest on an even basis. 
One of the chief upsets of the year in sport was the deposing of the Meadow Brook polo team as the champion of the country when a quartet from Great Neck took the measure of the players of international fame. 
Taking everything into consideration, there was a general advance in proficiency in nearly ever branch of sport. Many new stars were developed in competition and the outlook for another year is very bright. 

ATHLETICS.

While Europe was practically stagnant in the field of track athletics America made strides that were of an unusual nature. In many respects the work of the college trained athletes surpassed the feats of the men in the clubs. Of course, the collegians have much more time to train than the men in the clubs and it is only natural that they should do much better. As you look back over the athletic doings of the year the thing that stands out most is the work of "Ted" Meredith, the University of Pennsylvania runner. No athlete ever performed any better than he when at the intercollegiate championships last May he broke the records both in the quarter and half-mile runs.
Meredith's work that May afternoon was the feat of a superman. He did the quarter in 47 2/5s. and a little less than half an hour later he turned the half for a victory in 1m 53s. Both of these times were better than anything done during the year in this country. Within the space of an hour he had bettered two records, and two of the hardest of the calendar. At the same meeting Fred Murray, of Leland Stanford University, won the high hurdle race of 120 yards in 15s even, which beat the old time mark held by A. B. Shaw, of Dartmouth. Good as this record was, though, it was not good enough to stamp Murray as the best hurdle racer in the country. Earl J. Thomsom, of the University of California, did the same more than once and so did Fred Kelly, of the Los Angeles A.C. Robert Simpson, of the University of Missouri, however, was a consistent 14 4-5s. man.
George H. Goulding, of Toronto, Can., again proved the best walker in North America and he set up a new two mile standard indoors of 13m 37s. In relay racing the one and two mile records were equalled, but in the field events there were no new marks, although new American figures were established at Weequabic Park, Newark, at the national championships, when George T. Bronder, Jr. of the Irish-American A.C., threw the jayelin 190 feet 6 inches.
Avery Brundage, Chicago A.A., again won the all around championship by a big margin, and Fred W. Kelly, of the Los Angeles A.C., was the victor in the pentathlon event. 

AUTOMOBILING

For the first time in the history of automobile racing in America there can be no differences of opinion regarding the relative ranking of the various contenders of the year, for the American Automobile Association now picks a champion driver under a point system. The championship for 1916 was won by Dario Resta, the Peugeot driver, after a season of brilliant victories in which he was always hard pressed by "Johnny" Aitken, also driving a Peugeot, who finished second. "Eddie" Rickenbacher, driving a Maxwell, took third place and Ralph De Palma was forth.
Most notable of the trends of the season was the decline of road racing. The Elgin races, usually among the first of the contests in point of interest and entries, were abandoned, and the only road events of importance were the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prize races, in both of which new records were established on the Santa Monica course.
An unfortunate feature of the year's racing was the large number of accidents. Leading drivers who lost their lives in practice or in contests during the year were "Bob" Burman, Carl Limberg, "Hughie" Hughes and Frank Galvin.

AVIATION.

This has been a year of remarkable activity in the sphere of aviation, and the great war abroad, as well as out own trouble along the Mexican boarder, have had their decided influence on the sport and science in this country in developing better and speedier machines.
Several new records were established chief among them being that for a cross-country distance flight, in which Miss Ruth Bancroft Law set the new American distance record at 512.123 miles in her flight from Chicago to this city, closely following the flight of Victor Carlstrom from the same place, which bettered the old record by a comfortable margin, but fell far short of Miss Law's.
However, Mr. Carlstrom added other records to his credit, including that for altitude, with one passenger, in which he attained an altitude of 15,235 feet, the old record being 11,690 feet. Corporal A. D. Smith; U. S. A., established a new American duration record by remaining in the air for eight hours and forty-two minutes while Lieutenant R. C. Saufley flew to an altitude of 16,010 feet in a hydro-aeroplane, which is a new record.

BASEBALL.

With the elimination of the Federal League, which was absorbed by the two major leagues, baseball conditions took a turn for the better. The atmosphere was cleared of a good deal of undesirable politics, and interest in the races of the National and American leagues at any rate increased. It was several big league clubs, though some of the lesser leagues had a hard time. 
The championship of the National League was won by the Brooklyn club, this bringing a new contender into the big post season series of games. The American League championship was won by the Boston Red Sox for the second year in succession, and in the world's series the championship was again won by the Red Sox easily. The National League standard bearer was decidedly outmatched, and there was a deal of dissatisfaction in the National League circles over one more failure of its champion to make a creditable showing against the American League contender.
The 1916 season was notable for two reasons. One was the long, close race in each big league for pennant honors, the like of which never was experienced before and which kept interest at fever heat for weeks and weeks. The other was the wonderful feat of the New York Giants in winning twenty-six games in succession, which achievement eclipsed anything of the kind that had gone before in a big league. That stupendous spurt took in one or more victories over every rival.

BICYCLING.

For the sixteenth year in succession Frank L. Kramer, or Orange, N. J., won the professional bicycling championship of the country. He was engaged in active competition when most of his opponents of the present time were in knickerbockers. John L. Staehle, of the Bayview Wheelmen of Newark, was the best amateur in the United States. The only record maker of the year was "Reg" McNamara, an Australian, who has been riding in this country several years. He established new marks for one mile, ten and fifteen miles.

BILLIARDS.

Although all the balkline billiard championships have lapsed because William F. Hoppe has acquired the trophies, Hoppe is still entitled to eminence among the balkline experts of the world. The only balkline match during the year was between Hoppe and George Butler Sutton, it was at 18.2 played in St. Louis, October 30-31 and November 1, and Sutton made 508 while Hoppe was accumulating 1,500. Hoppe averaged 28 16-53; Sutton, 9 40-52.
George W. Moore closed the year with the title of champion at three cushion caroms. Alfred De Oro was the champion at the beginning of the year. Subsequently Charles Ellis, Charles McCourt and Hugh Heal held the title. Moore took the emblem from Heal at Toledo, November 6, 7 and 8. Challenged by De Oro, he defeated the latter on December 19, 20 and 21.
Charles McCourt, of Pittsburg, won the championship of the Interstate Three Cushion League. Frank Taberski, of Schenectady, is the champion at pocket billiards.
Edward W. Gardner, of Montclair, N. J., is national amateur champion at 18.2 balkline. He gained that distinction at the annual class A tournament of the National Association of Amateur Billiard Players, held at the Arion Society's home, February 28 to March 10. Francis S. Appleby won first prize in the class B tournament, which began at the Brooklyn Billiard Academy January 24 and ended February 9. Dr. H. W. Hawley, of Danbury, Conn. won the class C amateur championship. For the third time in succession J. Howard Shoemaker, of the Amateur Billiard Club, finished first in the annual amateur tournament at pocket billiards.

BOXING.

Even the most enthusiastic boxing lover can hardly go into rhapsodies over what has happened in the roped arena in the last year. There has not been a sensation. In fact, it has been a very mediocre year, and the best reason that can be assigned for it is that the boxers think more of the box office than they do of the boxing gloves. Each year finds them becoming more adept in the art of Wall Street than in the art of Queensberry. Possibly the "no decision" law is why we are not developing the real giants of the ring that used to hold forth in the day of Sullivan, Corbett, Sharkey, Jeffrie, Fitzsimmons, McCoy and the grand collection of lightweights such as Lavigne, Erne, Gans and others. We have with us now the experts in the dance step. They have all been trained to stay the ten rounds, and it seems that the better runner you are the longer you can last.

CHESS.

Conditions due to the world war affected the fortunes of chess players to a considerable degree during the past year, and, naturally, tournaments on a large international scale were out of the question. New York did its full share to keep up the interest in the game in this country by promoting the Rice Memorial Masters' Capablanca early in the year. A number of important matches were contested between experts of master rank, the one commanding the most attention being the encounter between F. J. Marshall, United States champion, and D. Janowski, the French champion, which was won by Marshall. Edward Lasker, of Chicago, was the winner of the annual tournament of the Western Chess Association, held in Chicago. At Washington, in April, Marshall set up a new world's record for simultaneous play by opposing 105 players at as many boards in one performance.

CRICKET.

With an eleven representing all New York in the Halifax Cup competition, which is the American cricket classic, and participated in by the leading Philadelphia clubs, in addition to the annual championship series of the Metropolitan District Cricket League and the New York and New Jersey Cricket Association, followers of cricket had their heads full during the season of 1916. The Germantown Cricket Club, of Philadelphia, won the Halifax Cup, and therefore again takes the position of premier cricket organization in the United States. The New York team made a splendid showing, being placed second, one point behind Germantown, with Merion, Frankford and Philadelphia following in the order named. B. Kortlang, of the Richmond, County Field Club, playing for New York, had the distinction of heading the Halifax Cup batting averages for the second year in succession.

DOGS.

There was no sign of waning interest in the dog shows during the year. More regular A. K. C. events were held than ever, and there was an increase in the number of specialty club competitions and matches. Although the toys were very popular, largely through the support given sport by women, terriers seemed to be the sort that took the judges' eyes for best on show on the majority of occasions. Matford Vic, a wire haired fox terrier owned by George W. Quintard, of Auburndale, L. I., was crowned the champion at the Westminster show, and htat gives her the top honors for the year. This was her second successive victory at the big event. This is a feat that was accomplished only once before in all the history of the New York exhibition. A pointer, John Proctor, owned by A. L. Curtis, of Belton, Texas, was the field champion.

FENCING.

Once again Sherman Hall stands at the head of the amateur fencers in America. While the New York Athletic Club swordsman did not repeat his previous feat of winning two national champonships, he did succeed in figuring in the finals of every division of the national tournament, winning the sabre title, finishing second with the duelling sword and third in the foils event. In all these competitions he faced the best that every section in the Amateur Fencers' League of America could send. Mr. Hall also was a member of several championship teams and a consistent winner during the season. All this entitled him to the distinction of being the best all-around fencer in competition.
For the first time in several seasons the West checked the East's monopoly on the national titles. The East had to relinquish the foils championship to A. E. Sauer, of the Illinois Athletic Club, who made his victory decisive by defeating three one-time title holders in the finals. Lieutenant Dickinson, of West Point, the 1915 champion, had to be content with second place. New York city supplied the winners of most of the team championships as well as the national woman champion. The latter was Mrs. C. H. Voorhees, of the Fencers' Club.
The intercollegiate tournament attracted a record field in both the individual and team events, the majority of the contestants surprising the officials with their efficiency as foilsmen. In fencing through a long programme, without loss of a bout, Louis Mouquin, of Columbia, scored an impressive triumph.

FOOTBALL.

Football in 1916 was marked by a tumbling of previous idols, by more stirring and harder fought games than one season

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1916 American Champions

Aeronautics. - Aeroplane - Miss Ruth Law, New York city (distance); Victor Carlstrom (altitude with one passenger). Hydro-aeroplane - Lieuteuant R. C. Saufley (altitude); Corporal A. D. Smith (duration).
Angling. - Call J McCarthy, Chicago, Ill.
Archery. - Dr. Robert P. Elmer, Wayne, Pa; Miss Cynthia Wesson, Cotuit, Mass.
Athletics - Indoor Senior Team - New York Athletic Club. Indoor Junior Team - New York Athletic Club. Outdoor Senior Team - Irish-American Athletic Club. Outdoor Junior Team - New York Athletic Club. All Around - Avery Brundage, Chicago Athletic Association. Intercollegiate Team - Cornell.
Automobiling. - Dario Resta.
Baseball. - World's Champions - Boston Americans. National League - Brooklyn. American League - Boston. Batting - "Hal" Chase, Cincinnati, National League; "Tris" Speaker, Cleveland, American League. Pitching - Grover C. Alexander, Philadelphia, National League; "Babe" Ruth, Boston, American League.
Basketball. - A.A.U. Team - University of Utah. Intercollegiate Team - University of Pennsylvania.
Bicycling. - Professional - Frank L. Kramer, Orange, N. J. Amateur - John L. Staehle, Newark, N. J.
Billiards. - Professional, Balkline. - William Hoppe, New York city, Professional, Three Cushions - George Moore, New York city. Class A, Amateurs - Edward Gardner, Montclair, N. J.
Bowling. - "Jimmy" Smith, New York city.
Boxing. - Jess Willard, Kansas City (heavyweight); "Al" McCoy, Brooklyn (middleweight); "Jack" Britton, Chicago (welterweight); Fred Welsh, New York city (lightweight); "Johnny" Kilbane, Cleveland (featherweight); "Johnny" Ertle, St. Paul (bantamweight); Carlo Armstrong, Boston (amateur heavyweight).
Canoeing - Lee Friede (sailing); Aubrey Ireland (paddling).
Cat. - Greenwich Kennels' Creamery King.
Chess. - F. J. Marshall, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Court Tennis. - Jay Gould, Lakewood, N. J. (singles); Jay Gould and W. H. T. Huhn, Philadelphia (doubles).
Clay Court Tennis. - Willis E. Davis, San Francisco (singles); C. J. Griffin and W. M. Johnston (doubles); Miss Molla Bjurstedt (woman).
Cricket. - Germantown Cricket Club.
Cross-Country Running. - Junior - William Henigan, Dorchester Club, Junior Team - Dorchester Club. Senior - Vilar Kyronen, Millrose A.A. Senior Team - Millrose A.A.  Intercollegiate - John Overton, Yale. Intercollegiate Team - Cornell.
Diving. - Fancy - Arthur McAleenan, N.Y.A.C.; Mrs. Aileen Allen, Los Angeles. High - Albert E. Downes, N.Y.A.C.; Miss Evelyn Burnett, St. Louis. 
Dogs. - G. W. Quintard's wire haired fox terrier Matford Vic (show); A. L. Curtis' pointer John Proctor (field).
Fencing - Foils - A. E. Sauer, Illinois A.C. (senior); A. S. Lyon, Fencers' Club (junior). Sabres - Sherman Hall, N.Y.A.C.; A. Strauss, N.Y.T.V.(junior). Dueling Swords- William H. Russell, Boston; L. M. Schoonmaker, Fencers' Club (junior). Women's Foils - Mrs. C. H. Voorhees, Fencers' Club.
Fencing Teams - Foils - N.Y.A.C (L. Nunez, P. W. Allison and S. Hall). Dueling Swords - N.Y.A.C. (L. Nunez, V. P. Curti and W. Bowman) Sares - Fencers' Club (J. T. Shaw, A. S. Lyon and E. B. Myers).
Football. - East, Pittsburg; Middle West, Ohio State; Far West, Washington.
Golf. - Amateur - Charles W. Evans, Chicago. Open - Charles W. Evans, Chicago. Women's - Miss Alexa Stirling, Atlanta, Ga.
Gymnastics. - All Around - P. Hol, Norwegian T. and A.C. Team - Norwegian T. and A.C.
Hockey. - Boston A.A.
Horse Racing. - Colt-Campfire (two-year-old); Friar Rock (three-year-old). Filly - Yankee Witch (two-year-old).
Ice Skating. - Harry Cody, Toronto, Canada (outdoors); Anton O'Sickey, Cleveland (indoors).
Ice Yachting. - The Imp.
Indoor Tennis. - R. Lindley Murray (singles); Miss Molla Bjurstedt (women's singles); W. Rosenbaum and A. M. Lovibond (doubles); Miss Molla Bjurstedt and Miss Marie Wagner (women's doubles).
Lawn Tennis. - Singles - R. Norris Williams, 2d, Philadelphia. Doubles - W. M. Johnston and C. J. Griffin, San Francisco. Women's Singles - Miss Molla Bjurstedt, Norway. Mixed Doubles - Miss Eleonora Sears, Boston, and Willis E. Davis, San Francisco.
Motor Boating. - The Miss Minneapolis (hydroplane); the Countess (displacement).
Motorcycling. - Clarence Carman, Jamaica, N. Y.
Plunging. - D. V. A. Smith, Illinois A.C.
Pocket Billiards. - Professional - Frank Taberski, Schenectady, N. Y. Amateur - J. Howard Shoemaker, New York city.
Polo. - Meadow Brook, 3d (junior); Great Neck (senior).
Racquets. - Amateur - Stanley G. Mortimer, Tuxedo, N. Y. (singles); L. and J. C. Waterbury, New York city (doubles). Professional - Walter Kinsella, New York city.
Rifle Shooting - Kings Mills, Ohio, and Bridgeport, Conn. (tied); Michigan Agricultural College (intercollegiate).
Roller Skating. - Anton Eglington, Chicago, Ill.
Roque. - Edward Clark, Norwich, Conn.
Rowing. - Singles - T. J. Rooney, Ravenswood, L. I. Eights - Duluth Boat Club. Intercollegiate Eights - Syracuse.
Socker Football. - Bethlehem F.B.C.
Skat. - Charles A. Richenbacher, Milwaukee, Wis.
Skiing. - Henry Hall, Ishpeming, Minn.
Squash Tennis. - Amateur - Eric S. Winston, Harvard Club. Professional - Walter A. Kinsella, New York city.
Steeplechasing. - Weldship.
Swimming. - Middle Distances - Ludy Langer, Los Angeles A.C. Long Distances -Michael McDermott, Illinois A.C. Women - Miss Claire Galligan, New York city.
Trap Shooting. - R. L. Spotts, New York A.C.
Trotting. - The Real Lady; Lee Axworthy.
Walking. - George W. Goulding, Toronto, Canada.
Water Polo. - Illinois A.C.
Wrestling. - "Sam" Schwartz, New Haven A.A. (amateur heavyweight); Alexander Aberg (professional).
Yachting. - The Nahma (sloop); the Elena (schooner).