AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 16

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

HARRIER CHAMPIONSHIPS RUNNERS IN GOOD FORM TEAMS RACE NEXT SATURDAY Perfect conditions again prevailed last Saturday, when the harrier season was advanced another stage by the various clubs, which all carried out strenuous programmes. Lynndalo and Calliope decided their club championships over courses of 10.000 metres, Auckland had a 6000 yards steeplechase, while the remaining clubs held ordinary harrier runs. Technical and University held a combined meeting over tho hard course from Three Kings to Waikowbai. Of the eightythree starters L. Barker, Technical, and R. Hazard, University, were outstanding. Both stood n j> iu the fast pace set in the early stages by the leaders of the fast pack, and over the last few miles they drew right away. Hazard has improved so much of lato that he appears certain of gaining a place in this year's provincial team. A Ball is another runner from the same club who will cau.so sonic surprises. Cooper ran hard for five miles and made most of tho pace, but then eased up, as did Hill and Francis, who were also moving very freely. University had tho advantage in the run-in over 300 yards for tho slow pack, but Technical was better in both the events for the fast and medium packs. Papatoetoo, had sevoral new men in its pack, when a good run was held over about nine miles of country. This club is gradually gaining ground and' hopes to have a lull team in the field for the race next Saturday. 11. McNiel scored a popular victory at tho Domain and gave his best performance of tho season in the steeplechase over six laps of the usual course. lie • took the ''lead early in tho second lap, was never headed, and at the finish had 18 seconds to.spare over J. Nicholson, who had run another fino race from scratch to gain second place. Henshall showed improved form to defeat Dowlo, who has been outpacing him of late. G. Mitchell is keeping himself fit for the next track season, and on Saturday ran well in winning tho 75 yards sprint from a. back mark. As was expected, S. Andrews scored a comfortable victory iu tho Calliope Club championship of 10,000 metres. Rowlands made a gamo effort to hold him over the first four miles, but after that he gradually dropped back. W. Whitmore, who ran well in tho road raco, finished in third position and gave a good display. MeCombio had the misfortune to badly sprain his ankle during tho race, and Silvester and Gilfillan stopped to assist him lioinc Calliope will be most unlucky in being without the services of either Andrews or Whitmore in next Saturday's race. Tho club possesses a most promising young runner in A. Clow, who brilliantly won tho junior three miles championship in the fast time of 17m 525. The Lynn dale Club's championship served as another indication of the return to form of A. Browne. After breaking down last winter he was still off colour during the track season, but once again he is fit, and on Saturday won so well that he also was placed first in the sealed handicap. He and W. Briggs outpaced tho rest of the field and over the last two miles Briggs gradually dropped back to finish 39 seconds behind the winner. Tlie course was a most difficult one, although fairly fast in stretches, as shown by tho fast time of 35m 28s taken by Browne. This course will be used next Saturday for the teams championship. Except on the racecourse,., there arc no stretcher, of open country and the going in most parts will be sharply up and down. The surface will be fairly rough, particularly in the first portion of the course, while numerous obstacles in the shape of fences and ditches will be encountered. "Victory will go to those who can most quickly adapt themselves to tho conditions. Tho event will also see a record number of starters for a crosscountry race in Auckland. BOWLING NOTES EDWIN STARS RETAINED RAWHITI TOURNEY SUCCESSFUL ]IY SKIP Fine but cool weather last week greatly favoured a number of local bowling fixtures. The overhead conditions on Saturday were good, but the previous night's rain spoilt what would have been wonderful going for this period or the year. In spite of the absence oi C. E. Hard ley, of tho Edwin Stars holders, the West End team, with the aid of a substitute in A. Thomson, ono of tho club's, leading players, was successful in the match with the To Papapa team. PiLkington, who, it will bo remembered, performed well in tho last Easter tourney, played a splendid game, but the work put up by the solid West End combination was too great an obstacle for him to overcome. The next challenger is Letham. Ponsonby. Real success attended the fine effort made by the Rawhiti Club's tournament organiser, Mr. P. B. Thomson, to launch and try out his scheme of holding a tournament on successive days. Considering the time of the year and the general circumstances obtaining at present, it speaks volumes for the indefatigable work rendered by the organiser in obtaining an entry of 32 teams. With several gooll teams participating tho competition .was very keen and some fine play was seen. One of the section tics was played off on Saturday at Carlton, between Needham, West End, and Eraser, Mount Eden. Both skips had really good support and a feature of the contest, was the play of the West End skip, who held his side together in brilliant fashion in the first half of (bo game. Needham, who has been associated with the ox-Dominion champion skip, Bremner, for some years now, is playing fino bowls at present and, if ho reaches the final, will be, very hard to dispose of. The Ponsonby Club finished up its tourney covering two Saturday afternoons when tho final between Lincoln's local team and Knox, West End, was played. The latter team had really tho better of the gamo all through, but a complete failure on the second to last head allowed Ponsonby to scoro a four and so draw level. On the last head Knox made two good attempts to save tho game, but just failed, Ponsonby taking the honours by a single, point. Farland's Epsom rink removed the Donison Pins from the Oneluinga Club, where the trophies have remained all the winter season. A strong hand in tho Epsom victory was the part played by C. Lamb in the number two position. (JMMME'JTS GUILE TRICKY NEW DELIVERY A report from Adelaide says that C. V. Grimniett, the star Australian "googly" bowler, is believed to have mastered a new trick delivery which, instead of going on at normal pace when it hits the pitch, hangs and then goes through slowly. Grimniett is said to havo been experimenting for years with the now delivery, which experts thought impossible with a leather ball. "The ball seems to bo'delivered with remarkable fingey action, which makes it hang after striking tho pitch," sa'd one of the onlookers. "It is like a man snapping his fingers, but Grimniett has tho ball in his fingers when lie snaps therii, and his length and direct-on are splendid. It is practically impossible to pick as the. delivery is tho same as for the ball which goes straight through."