SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10806, 29 December 1926, Page 7

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

BOXING. PABKER DEFEATS THURN. AUCKLAND, December 28., ' In a professional middle-weight bout of fifteen rounds Eddie Parker, list 131 b, ex-New Zealand champion, beat Marcel Thurn (list 81b), of France. Parker won on points by a fair margin, the contest being hard, but with little variety.

' COOK DEFEATS PAYNE, SYDNEY, December 27. At the Stadium, in: a 20-rounds match, George Cook, ex-heavy-weight champion, defeated "Tiger" Payne on points after a tame fight. The winner's in-fighting gave him the advantage.

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By " Onlooker.") : The. inclemency of the weather prevented several'members of the Ashburton Amateur Cycling and' Athletic Club from competing in outside events on Boxing Day. A party of cyclists, including "Bill" Parkes, one of Ashburton's short distance riders,/intended going to Hals-well to compete at the meeting there, but was forced to abandon the trip owing to bad weather. Several Ash burton competitors will be competing at the various sports, meetings om New Year's Day.

It is expected that road races run under the auspices of the Ashburton Amateur Cycling. and Athletic Club will be commenced in Ashburton toward the middle of next month.

With so many young people now turning their attention to running, perhaps a.t the present time the following hints will be of some assistance. 0 An important part of training which is too often forgotten is the necessary slow work to tune up the body and tone the muscles. Slow work lays a foundation for the faster work which will come later.

Whether a man is a sprinter or a distance runner, he should do plenty of slow work to begin with Three weeks' slow work is not too much. More in some cases would not hurt. The man who lays this foundation to his training is usually a consistent runner. His muscles have been gradually worked into condition and prepared for the strain that goes with big efforts. JNo weight lifter would walk into' a gymnasium and attempt a record without preliminary work of a l progressive nature. So it should be with the runi ner.

The first week of training should be confined to very quiet jogging eay a mile five nights a week. The runner should not run high, en the toes for the first three: days, but neither should lie'be flat-footed. Strike the medium. The legs will likely get a, little stiff, but not nearly so stiff as if he had run high on the toes. He can get up higher on the last two days of the week. The leg muscles should! be massaged soft after each nightte exercise. Feel deep for little, hard lumps of muscle, and try and soften them out.

In the second week the runner can | trot on the toes and begin to pay some i regard to style. Travel only at halt pace, but step along daintily, swing the arms freely and naturally, and raise the knees. In the third week the runner should vary his pace. Run a slow Tap to begin with, then lengthen out the second, slow the third, and stride out the fourth. Always start with a slow lap to warm up the muscles; then will be no likelihood! of strain.

After the third week the runner may start working for his particular distance. If he is a sprinter, he will have some striding through, followed by practice sprints. If he is competing over a longer distance lie will be | striding round the track at a fair pace or running through.