LAN DREW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 18

LAN DREW.

ENGLISH ATHLETE.

ON VISIT TO DOMINION. NOTABLE CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNER. (By SAMUEL J. GUDSELL.)

Tall, fair, well-built and typical]} English, lan S. Drew, of the Manchestei Amateur Athletic Club, arrived on the Mariposa yesterday on a short business trip to this Dominion. Only 24, he is just reaching the top of his career on the track, and this year was awarded his English international col outs by being one of the three crosscountry men selected to represent Great Britain against France. When one learns that his team-mates were none other than Bailey, for many years English champion steeplechase and distance star, and Evenson, who is another champion over rough country, one must respect Drew's ability. Incidentally this trio succeeded in defeating the French champions. When Auckland's Billy Savidan won the 6-mile British Empire championship at Hamilton, Ontario, it will be remembered that Bailey, of England, was the Britishers' hope. In 1930, lan Drew, then a student of Manchester University, where he was taking a textile course, competed in arid won the cross-country championship of the English Universities. Ho later linked up with the Manchester Athletic Club, which, is the leading organisation in the North of England, and commenced hard training. He competed in the English A.A. championships at Stanford Bridge in 1930, at which the writer was a spectator, and gained fourth place, Bailey winning this event. It was in 1932, however, that lie began to etrike his best track form, and ho commenced his season by winning the Northern Counties mile championship. He journeyed down to compete jit the

White City Ground, in tlio Englis championships, and in his heat of tli mile, Cornes and he dead-heated for firs position. The final was eagerly awaite bv the huge crowd, and intense excitt rnent prevailed. Just a short wliil before, the now famous New Zealande Lovelock had established a new Britis mile record of 4.12, and in the final o the race this day Lovelock was meetin his old rival, Jimmy Cornes, and ; special attempt was to be made to reduc the new record. To lan Drew was given the task o setting a hard pace, for, as Drew mod estly stated, "I had no chance myself but I wanted to be in a record-breakinj race." He went right out from the gun but during the third lap he candidlj admitted that he was "shot," and Comes took the lead. Time was lost in this lap, however, and although Lovelock and Cornes ran a slashing last quarter, in which the New Zealander was beaten right on the tape, the time was given as 4.15. Which was disappointing," remarked Mi. Drew. Disappointing, I thought, for a Lovelock, but a mighty fine performance for any runner in any part of the world. Drew's time in this race was well under 4-20.

No later than July of this year our I visitor ran third in the English steeplechase championship, in which he was only defeated by the 1932 Olympic champion and Finnish athlete, Isso Hollo, with G. W. Bailey, the previous year's champion, second.

The Olympic titleholder is a marvel, in the opinion of Mr. Drew, and went right out from the gun to set a fast pace. He succeededed, and set up a new record of 10m 6s for the two miles, •which is mighty fast considering the many obstacles. When Hollo approaches a jump, and especially a water one, he makes two stages of the leap over. His first spring takes him up to the .top of the rail surmounting the obstacle, and then he balances for a

moment and leaps clear over the other ! side well out from the jump. The old way of simply hurdling or scrambling over the obstacle landed the competitor almost invariably in the water on the other side, and on one occasion Drew fell flat on his face in the water. This naturally slows down any runner, and the effect of water in his shoes and with his costume clinging to him, mitigates against his success. The Finn certainly taught the Englishmen a lesson, and it will be a well-remem-bered one.

"I am glad to hear that you are adopting scratch racing in New Zealand, and I can state that in my opinion it is the only way to s get down to good times." The handicap system kills incentive to real racing, and England is now trying to abolish it wherever possible," remarked the visitor.

Another interesting view expressed "was that a really good hard grass track ■was as fast as cinders, but the cinder track had the great advantage that it was always in excellent condition.

"I intend competing in New Zealand and Australia whenever I have the opportunity, and hope that athletes will not mind if I am not in top form, as this is really a business trip," were the parting words of this very likeable English athlete.

Wherever ho competes I am confident that this international runner will receive a hearty welcome from Australasian sportsmen. 4