AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 20

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CENTRE'S COMBINED RUN. TWO HUNDRED HARRIERS OUT. Last Saturday -was great harrier weather and the eight of six clubs combining to form three packs, was one that delighted all athletic enthusiasts. Mr. George Chambers, in his opening speech, .mentioned the days, not so very long back, when the Calliope Club, then composed of only five men or so, set out on its opening run. Now there are over 200 harriers running and eight club 6 functioning actively. It was pleasing to note that the enjoyment of this sport is so inbred in its supporters that each member was a willing missionary and apostle of harrierism. . ' Lcs. Barker and his sub-committee had all arrangements well in hand, and the services of the lady helpers in preparing and serving afternoon tea to nearly 200 people cannot be too strongly praised. It was indeed a happy and profitable afternoon. In future pack leaders must either receive instructions more clearly or make sure of a correct interpretation re following the trail, as on Saturday a big number of men did not run the course proper, and so their mileage was actually small. The country was strange to many, however, and so there is a big possibility of an error occurring. Ferguson, one of the best handicap sprinters in Wellington some years back, and also a prominent Hastings performer, was out on Saturday. He intends joining the Auckland Club for the eummer season, and should be a very useful member.

The Wesley Club men struck an observer as being a very keen and active lot, and several runners stood out in the run. A. Graham, R. 8.. Vei'ry and J. Spooncr were well to the fore, and only require a little careful handling to be splendid team men. R. Skyrme is ■ also running •well, and looks to be a consistent performer. Wilf. F. Winstone is the progressive secretary of the club, and is out to put Wesley on the athletic map. A welcome reappearance was made by A. (Smiler) Bradley, who was out again for Technical, and is already training well. Jack Nicholson took the main whistle, and looks to be very well. Jack is not really on "old" man, but has been on the track so many years that to the average athlete he is really a veteran^. Haszard and Ball, of University, ran well for so early in the year. lii fact all the leading men of the various clubs seem to be -well and full of running, and there should be very keen competition for a place in the Auckland provincial team* The New Zealand championships are to be held at Wangariui this year, and the course is generally pretty flat country with about two miles of _ low undulating land. In fact it is in some ways similar to the Ellerslie course, and, as there, has a racecourse as its central point. Auckland Club had a splendid field of 24 starters for the 75 yards handicap, and three heats had to be run. The final resulted in J. A. Thompson winning off Byds, overhauling A. Bridle to win narrowly. Ray Willey li-as been off the track a lot for some years now, after having to forsake the game for some minor injury. He imade a -welcome retam to form when iie ran third in the

final. A. O. McLean is one of the best of the new sprinters, and has a promising future ahead of him if he sticks at it. J. A. Thompson again won the discus from I. Thompson, with Bill Stewart third. He was third also in the shot, so had a busy and. successful day. S. Allen and W. Mason were first and second in the shot respectively, there being onlyseven inches between first and third men. D. Mitchell followed on his summer successcs by winning the steeplechase from B. Batty and S. Allen. Bill Savidan ran well, but was merely out on an exercise run. Continuing our brief description of prominent club members we come to the Lynndale Club. Jack Crum was the early driving force, and he has put in much effective work in improving the present ground and putting the club on a sound basis. Although not an active runner now, he was a good distance man in his day, and was one of the first supporters of the harrier movement. He is now one of his club's delegates on the Auckland Centre. Jack Dolan, still a good distance man, commenced his running in Wellington, and has been an ardent worker to boost athletics in the New Lynn district. Ansel Broune has been another very fine active supporter, and when able to get in the requisite training was one of the best three milers in the province. Mr. Vallance has been an office-benrcr ever since the club's early days, and has also been a vice-president of the Auckland Centre. Mr. Rogers, father of Gus Rogers, the walker, has also been very active, and represented the club on the centi-e. In his day, Mr. Rogers was a very smart heel-and-toe man. and recorded times hard to attain by the average performer.

The Hamilton Harrier Club has an interesting way of deciding a points prize for the season. Points are awarded for attendance and placing in the runs, and at the end of the season a race is held and points given to each competitor according to hie place at the close of the event. For instance, if 20 started the first man home would receive 20 points, and the last man one, which are added to the other points gained throughout the season. Trophies are given for other races, and also attendance badges. The propose*! holding of the marathon race in Wellington this winter brings New Zealand into line with other countries, and properly managed it should become an event of national importance. The race is too far for the average runner, and special training will be necessary. The fact remains, however, that there are very big entries for .marathon races in other countries, and gradually there will develop a class of rnjiner in this Dominion who will specialise and become a marathon type. It is on the Olympic programme, and who knows but we may develop a world's champion. Good prizes are essential for this class of race. Over in California it is interesting to read that "Blazing Ben" Eastman is still on the track, and going better than ever. He recently set new world's figures for the 600 yards distance, beating the previous record held by that magnificent English athlete. D. G. A. Lowe.