AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 208, 2 September 1932, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

AUCKLAND'S QUIET WEEK. N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. DUEL OF BARNES AND COOPER. Although all athletes' thoughts were at Christchurch, following the great contest for the Dominion championships, runs were held all over the city, and thoroughly enjoyed. The warm sunshine and even going makes this perhaps the most pleasant time of the year for running, and a fine sense of comradeship is fostered. Lynndale wound up its season with a seven-mile run over its Titirangi course. They will have a football match later, but harrierism is finished and members will rest for the summer events. The club is to be congratulated, not only on account of its success in creating longdistance running at New Lynn, but on the splendid executive officers it possesses. You will go a long way before you find men prepared to work as Jack Dolan has done, and Jack Crum ifi an increasing enthusiast. The run-in resulted in another win for G. Heron, with J. Dolan second, and T. McGregor third. R. McGregor is now the proud possessor of a cup donated by that most reliable and popular sportsman, Mr. A. Kolin. Men who have been showing up in run-ins should think seriously of sprint events in the coming track season. The province needs these men badly. Papatoetoe are still very active, and P. Gerniann keeps his men together, and has laid the foundations of a successful club very well. Small in numbers as yet, the country suburb possesses several promising men, and more will be heard of them. It supplies a long-felt want, and Otahuhu should now profit by its example and form a club. Technical College Old Boys have still two runs before they wind up the season. Next Saturday will be an invitation from the home of the president, Mr. A. G. Kirkwood, whilst the following one will be a field day to wind up the season. An innovation will be the "snapping" of the whole club at Schmidt s Studio on Sunday morning. Alf Clark and Norry Furlong turned out for a run, and were welcomed. Furlong is one of the best sprinters in \Vellington, and is the head of the Kiwi Club there.

Cheers greeted the return of A. Moon, R. Eton and It. Kirkwood, who plodded in the rear, but managed to fall in ; all the ditches on the way home. There's a lot of mud left in Lake St. John, judging by their appearance. Calliope had a regular sports meeting from 100 yards to a mile. Turner ran a nice century, to win off syds in 10 4-ss, whilst Armour ran a sterling quartermile. We hope to hear of these men later on in the summer. Clayton threw the javelin 10£»ft sin, which is fair, and shows that he will improve with coaching. It is to be hoped that he will concentrate on this event, and bring our field event section up to a decent level. He also won the mile in slow time, but he is a very fit man and will improve. Headland and McCombie are the makings of good distance men, and have a good track style. Down in Christchurch there was tense excitement as team after team arrived and were welcomed. All agree that the Canterbury people were pre-eminent in their hospitality, and visitors were even taken for aeroplane rides. The weather was beautifully fine, and the course in great order. Cooper was favourite, with Bayne next, followed by Barnes, who was quietly confident. At the gun the excited crowd of many hundreds, saw Barker jump rapidly to the lead, to set a terrific pace. Stitch, was his downfall, however, and from that moment it was a battle royal between Cooper and Barnes, with Bayne finding the pace heart-breaking. Neck and neck they raccd, leaving the field well behind, and each man trying to gain a break from the other. So fast was the pafe that several collapsed on the way, and when the leaders hit the hills after five miles, they were running mechanically. Barnes got to the summit first, and gained a break by a guick descent, and Cooper was too exhausted to regain his position. Over the last quarter mile both men were done and could only keep their pace going by great will power. At the tape Barnes went right out, and Cooper had to be held up. Barnes deserved his victory, and the Auckland man was the first to eay that he was beaten by a better man. Brown, of Otago, finished well, and over the hills ran faster than any of the field. Bayne was disappointing, though he ran well. When all is said and done he is really a miler. Otafr* again showed the rest of New Zealand its strength as a team, and many believe that they could pick two teams and each would win. It was wonderful packing, and we still have much to learn. Our own team disappointed, but were triers all the way, and missed Savidan.