AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1928, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CLARKE WINS STEEPLECHASE. A DEAD HEAT IN THE SPRINT. tne series of competitions arranged for the winter by the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club wafs continued on Saturday, at Onehunga under tbe auspices of the Onehunga Amateur Athletic Club. The programme consisted of four events, and everything was conducted on the best lines by the officials present. The Anal of the 75yds sprint produced a fine finish, the first four men flashing past together. The judge gave the decision as a dead heat. The race looked a good thing for Savidan ten yards from home, but he slowed up, and Barker, finishing very fast, just got up in time to divide the verdict, the veteran Alf Clark gained a very easy victory in the two-mile steeplechase, winning by over fifty yards. Many would be of the opinion that Clark, who is now liearing 50 years of age, would tire badly, but he ran on very determinedly on Saturday, and never gave the others a chance. The backmarkers, Savidan, Kells and Cooper were never near enough to have a chance, the one to finish nearest being Cooper, who was in fifth position at the tape. The results are as follow:—

75 YARDS HANDICAP. First Heat.—T. Henry 1, A.' Clarke 2, N. Nllsen 3. Time, Bs. Second Heat.—A. Butler 1, L. C. Barker 2, J. W, Savidan 3. Time, Bs. Final. J. W. Savidan t L. C. Barker ♦ A. Clarke 3 fDead-heat for first place. Time, 7 4-ss. PUTTING THE SHOT. L. C. Barker, 35ft 4Jin '1 J. Crum, 34ft 4in 2 J. Tipping, 33ft 7}ln 3 THROWINO THE DISCUS. W. Watt, 107 ft l|in 1 J. Tipping, 105 ft lOJln 2 T. Henry, 103 ft Sin 3 TWO MILES STEEPLECHASE. A. Clarke 1 K. P. Hensball 2 J. Crum 3 Thirteen faced the starter, and from the dispatch Clarke led for the first round, followed by McNeil, Horan, C. Wilson and Green, with the backmarkera the best part of a mile behind. Clarke was still showing the way taking the second lap with a lead of over 150 yards, with McNeil 200 yards ahead of Horan, Watt and Crum. The backmarkers—Savidan, Kelts and Cooper—were not gaining much, the trio making hard work of It. Entering upon the last lap Clarke had a lead of over 300 yards, and although Henshnll made a determined effort to reduce the gap he found it too much, and Clarke ran home nn easy winner by 50 yards, with Crum 75 yards away in third Slaee, followed by C. Wilson, Cooper, Mis, and Green. Time, 10.54 3-5.