AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

HOLIDAY MEETINGS. TE AWAMUTU PERFORMANCES CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATIONS. The last chances athletes had of a fast workout before the championships was at Papatoetoe and Te Awamutu. At the former meeting Valder further enhanced his chances by running a brilliant mile, and there is no doubt but that this athlete ie going to be right in the running on Saturday.

At Te Awamutu' the local club were most unfortunate with regard to the weather. Sunday was a beautiful day, and the energetic officials had put down a brand new track, which is as good as any in the province. For it to rain all clay on Monday was a grave disappointment, and it was only and the desire to keep faith with visiting athletes, that made the officials decide to continue the meeting in the steady rain.

Considering the weather some excellent performances were registered. C. C. Reilly created a fine impression in the maiden 100 yards and the Handicap 100 yards final. He has a fine build and looks as if eventually he will find the quarter-mile distance the most to his liking. All the long limit men filled the places in the short sprint.

0. Goosman is a fine all-rounder, and won his heat besides placing second in the final. J.. 1 ,, . Reid, off Byds,.won a heat from Rigdeu, who was on 11yds. J. Wilton and JS T . Rigden show sUins of future brilliance. Rigdeu is a more lad of 17 as yet, but has a fine turn ol speed all the same.

S. Carter, the Cambridge star jumper, is a good sprinter also. He was off 22yds in the furlong, and won both his neat and the final. " lie also placed third iu the hop, step and jump off scratch. He is competing on the Domain 911 Saturday, and as he has 21ft to hie credit this season in the long jump, lie should be hard to defeat. He is the ideal build for iield jump man. The local pride, F. Sherley, a diminutive 18-year-old athlete, lived'up to his reputation by making no race of the half-mile, winning it from the 40yd mark on a heavy wet track in 1.57 4-5. He has a lot 61 distance ability, and has a great running future if he is trained right. • . 0. J. Thompson, well known Hamilton athlete, was second, whilst George Wliye, of Auckland, was third. Whye does not appear to be running as well as three weeks back, but he is always to be considered iu a race. The mile handicap was won by the South Auckland three-mile champion H. E. Carter, off 100 yds, in 4.33. Carter has an easy style, and is better than the average runner. P. G. Lindsay, who won so well at the last Auckland championships, was second in the mile from virtual scratch, and is very fit. He will foot it again on the Domain this Saturday, and may beat his last year's performance. C. Goosmun, running off the good mark -of 35yds, won the 440 yds handicap right on the tape. George Mitchell, from virtual scratch (12yds), ran a great race, but was blocked badly at the entrance to ! the straight. He managed to get through half way down «it and made a desperate effort to catch Goosmau, but just failed. ! Mitchell is getting tit now and should have an excellent chance of'placing second to Jiainbridgc on Saturday. . 1 Miss Jean Armour was the heroine ot the day in the ladies' events, winning all races. She showed rare determination and her finishing effort was greatly admired. She should be a place-getter on Saturday. '■ ''.■_,. , Two To Awamutu girls, Miss Bloxham and Miss Culpan, filled most of the other places, and both girls only need racing and coaching to become very hard to defeat. They are strong, and, like many other country athletes, do not get enough firstclass competition. ; Everything Is In readiness for Saturday s meeting, and the afternoon should witness some of the best matched rating seen in Auckland for many years. All that is necessary now is fine weather to encourage all to do their best.