AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

DUNEDIN'S BUDDING, ...' CHAMPION. FAST TIMES BY McLACHLAN. DIRT TRACK RACING POPULAR. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, this day. Though Otago lost the services of C. M. Olsen, its star middle distance runner, last season, ,it has one who is already looked upon as being likely to he a foremost contender for New Zea-. land honours this; season. He is L. C. McLachlan, a son of the famous Old World record-holder, who died a few years >• ago. Young McLachlan >as fourth in the New Zealand half-mile championship last season, and. second to Olsen in the New Zealand champion-, pfship. He'has run better than ever this - 'season, and in 'his last three starts, has - put up some fine performances. -Mc-' ; ' Lachlan won the 1000 yds handicap a 'i fortnight ago off scratch oh a slow track 'in 2.27 3-5, but last Saturday, at Forbury.Park, giving away starts up to ■ 100 yds, he won. the 1000 yds handicap % on a fast track from 10yds behind scratch in 2.20, which, is only 1 2-5s outside the' New Zealand record, established by Lloyd Hahn, the American, ' in 192 G. McLachlan would probably -have bettered the time had he. not been running from behind scratch, but he i:an a great, race, and showed splendid style. Last Thursday night, how- ; ever, he followed this up with a great effort in the 880 yds. handicap, in which 'he was running from scratch and giving ' away starts up to 70yds. Conditions - were good, and the track was in nice • order, but the Caledonian track is ''.regarded by '.that great athletic judge and New Zealand selector, Charlie Taylor, as being one of the slowest in New Zealand, which makes McLaehlan's. win • by.syds in 2.0 1-5 all the more meritorious. He had the race in hand at - the entrance to the straight, and had lie been pushed would have beaten 2m. McLachlan has.a lovely stride and .an effortless action, and, his finishing powers are rather remarkable, for often at the end of the fast race he is able call up;a dash that many* a' good sprinter would not mind possessing. His performance on Thursday night, was the 5 fastest half-mile run on the Caledonian f. round for 20 years, since the days of i. Billy Trembath and Hector Burk,'and ' in the interim many New Zealand championships have been;held on that' v ground. ,' ' . . - •; : The Otago Centre of. the New Zealand i Amateur Athletic Association is likely 'i to be on a - sounder footing in future '■■ from a financial point of view/ as the. t result of the' very successful' meeting 7. held at Forbury Park last week. Dirt ,'. track motor, cycle races were included '•'•■ on the programme' and: these -.proved a : ; great attraction to '•'the; public, 'some ; ; 5000 spectators being present. . The pro- * fits of the meeting shbuld'run well into \ three,-figures. The,centre has a very '■'! active programme ahead this , season, --and is holding evening meetings .every -'Thursday night, when six. or seven '/events are decided. Some of the clubs i will also be: holding evening, meetings ■j shortly. '"":'"'■-.- '•",- ':! Ladies' athletics are booming in the Southland at. last week's, big meeting no fewer than 10 faced the starter in '-■'. the' ladies' 100 yds, which is a big! field "i for Dunediri. The winner, Miss M. Pet't tet, the scratch girl, is the makings of, '-• a <reat sprinter. Last-week she did ■v 12s°inher Beat and 12 l-5s in the final, \ and'then she. won easily.. ■* :,..!-•',.