AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 223, 20 September 1935, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CLOSE OF HARRIER SEASON.

OLYMPIC GAMES STANDARD,

The cross-country season is now almost over and athletes are sharpening up their spikes and mournfully regarding thendirty, torn and well-worn sandshoes. It is seldom that canvas shoes will last more than one season, whereas a good pair of leather "spikes" will last for years. It is a good plan to oil these regularly and to clcan

and nugget the soles every week,

Cross-country work is a difficult thing for tlio average shoe wearer, as the ground is so mixed. There are the long stretches of grass and hillside where one feels that with the aid of spiked shoes one could attain top speed. However, spon one meets hard concrete roads or side walks, and here tlio rubber shoe man simply walks away.

In New South Wales recently the track was so hard that although it was grass the members of the New Zealand team were doubtful which type of shoe to wear. The spiked men found that their feet were raw after the race, while the sandshoe runners slipped all over the track. A compromise may be obtained by the wearing of short studs in the shoes. This is dono by the American indoor track men who compete on boards.

The Olympic Harrier Club, of Wellington, is holding its annual 20-mile road race on October 12. This draws long-distance men from all over New Zealand, and the gold cup for the winner, besides numerous other lino trophies, are splendid inducements to the competitors. This race is the nearest fixture to a marathon this country regularly stages, and the form displayed in this race is an excellent criterion for judges of Olympic standard.

The Olympic Council of New Zealand lias decided that only athletes capable of finishing within the last ebc according to world's standard will be considered for the 1936 trip. This is a wise and sensible proviso, as in the past too uiany men have been sent abroad, who, although good performers, have not been near the world's standard. Consequently all the benefit they or the sport ever gained was the joy of travel.

At the present time there arc few who can liopo for the honour. Lovelock is in England, and, of course, first choice. Savidan is the only man wo can safely name as being in international class. Cambridge and Finlayson are excellent men, but then so are many others around the world.

Brainsby, in the hop, step and jump, is well up, and if lie can improve next year, .should be knocking at the door. In the field sections we arc well below the accepted standards. Steer, in the javelin throw, if he displays the same rapid increase as he did in his first season last summer, is a real hope. To do 180 ft in his first year is wonderful. Stan Lay was three years before he bettered 140 ft and then went on to rccord 220 ft and the British rccord.

Athletes in Auckland will join in congratulating Frank Grose, the Canterbury and Empire Games star cyclist, upon his recent marriage. Grose has competed in Auckland quite often and is one of the finest riders and sportsmen in tiiis country. A few days after the wedding he won the 50-mile South Island road championship in rccord time.

The harrier sub-committee will be holding its annual meeting earlier next season in order to fix the big centre fixtures before clubs arrange their itineraries. This will be much better for all concerned and obviate the clashing of dates, which lias sometimes occurred in the past.

The New Zealand cross-country championships are down for Auckland next winter, and it is very probable the New Zealand University cross-country championships will also bo held tip here. This makes for a wonderful year to come, and as the sport is so well established there is every reason to believe that all visitors will enjoy both good racing and northern hospitality.

TECHNICAL OLD BOYS' CLUB.

Mr. S. .T. Gudsell presided over a good attendance of members at the tenth annual meeting of the Technical College Old Boys' Athletic Club, held on Wednesday evening. The report and balance-sheet show oil the past year to have been a successful one, tho club retaining the honour of the champion summer club of the province. W. S. Bainbridge achieved the distinction of creating a New Zealand record for the 220 yds, while N. F. Cooper gained selection in the New Zealand cross-country team. The senior points shield was won by W. S. Bainbridge, and the junior shield by L. 11. Clark. The Christchurch Technical Old Boys' Club wrote advising that a team would be visiting Auckland early in the New Year. It was resolved to recommend to the Auckland Centre that endeavours be made to stage a meeting for this team, which would include C. H. Matthews, L. C. Woodward and G. B. R. Giles.

It was resolved to invite the Hamilton Club to travel through at the end of November for the annual inter-club competition, the return visit to be a fortnight later. Messrs. L. C. Barker, N. F. Cooper, K. D. Gillespie and <T. Lynch were appointed as tho club coaching committee, and it was resolved to ask the Auckland Centre to endeavour to arrange better facilities for training at the Domain. Messrs. Jv. Williams, J. Collins, E. Keenan and J. Reid were elccted as members. The opportunity was taken of bidding farewell to Mr. S. Gudsell, who leaves to-day for a business trip to Japan. odicers elected for the season 1935-36:— Patron, Mr. G. G. Chambers; president, Mr. A. Warren; vice-presidents, as previously, with Messrs. S. J. Gudsell, C. Robinson, L. Benjamin and J. Park; secretary, Mr. Alwyn Moon; treasurer, Mr. AV. J. Murray; club captain, Mr. L. C. Barker; vice-captain, Mr. N. F. Cooper; harrier captain, Mr. A. W. White; harrier vice-captain, Mr. .1. Mortimer; committee, Messrs. 8. J. Gudsell, E. .T. Laird, C. Dawson and N. Brierl.v; delegates to the Auckland Centre, N.Z.A.A.A., Messrs. A. Moon, A. Warren and L. C. Barker.