AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 16

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

SATURDAY'S STEEPLECHASE

dowle again

(By " SI'IiINTER.")

Owing to the Great Northern at Wlei*lt, no steeplechase was held on June 1, but this gave the athletes in training a not, and those not in training a chance to get

flt The eround on Saturday was ideal for steeplechnsing, although rather heavy lor snrintiug, this accounting for the slow time in ?he 75 yards dash. As is sußtomuy. some of the competitors broke, but tncj paid the penalty, for the starter brought ?hem back one yard. Mr. W Morton,, lie president of the club, presented mo cups, one for the winner of the sprint and the other for the steeplechase. They were won respectively by V. Adams and J. Dowlo. After displaying great J. Dowle crossed the finishing line first lot the second time this season, lie is of athletic build and should be back with l>aittel ind Crum before very long. Kunmug past the grandstand in a manner worthy or his more experienced rivals, Dowle burst into a full sprint Which gave him a substantial lead ou his co-markers. He went on to wm bj ten yards from N. P. Cooper, who beat t. Hcown by live yards. Cooper ran an excellent race to gain second place, especially as he had to do hut own pacing, for his co-marker, u Kells, was a non-starter, owing to a slight injury. N F Cooper gained local representation m 1927 when the New Zealand cross-country championship was held over the Cashmere Hills. He was really sent there for experience, but he finished ninth, lie being second of the Auckland team. As he 'raced up the hill for the last time he appeared a sure winner, but J. Dowle had too much in reserve, for Cooper had to make up. a large handicap. T n For the first time this season L. t. Barker was seen amongst the ranks of the competitors. Last Saturday was his initial run, and, judging by the form he displayed, he is going to be very hard to beat when he gets fit. He finished second to Olsen in the SSO-yard championship, after leading to the straight. He has had a rest ot over three months, and his constitution should be able to take the strain of racing once again. „ In spite of the fact that he is re:...;- n distance man, F. Adams won the spnnt final in very convincing style. Through a bad start he finished third in his heat, but in the final he started in a manner worthy of L. Williams. In the 1027 junior Auckland cross-country championship he finished second to J. K. Green, after extending the winner the whole way. As J. \V. Savidan won the first heat ot the sprint dn fine style, many of tiie spectators thought that he would win the final, but they were slightly disappointed, for he finished second. Only a touch separated first and second, so the reader can see that' it is very difficult judging this race. It is interesting to notice that first and second are both distance men. The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will hold the meeting at the Domain next Saturday. Probably the next meeting will be held at Hendersou, which lias a cross-country course equal to any in New Zealand.