AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 19

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

! PROMISING PERFORMERS. 1 I • ■ | RECENT EVENTS REVIEWED. THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Some smart athletic performances were witnessed during the past week when the, improved weather made it possible-for-the various clubs to conduct their meetings as usual. Improved form was seen generally and there was a definite indication thift the leading athletes anyway will be in top form for the championships which are now only a little over a fortnight off Two New Zealand champions in E, A. Finlayson and W. S. Bainbridge were defeated 011 Saturday at the Centre's scratch meeting at the Grammar School grounds, where some excellent .sport was witnessed. Einlayson's conqueror- was A. D. Benham. of llotorua, the provincial high hurdles champion, who in two very fine races •gave a beautiful display of fast hurdling. In the 120 yards he is definitely a better man than Einlayson, as he is much faster over the jumps, but over the 220 yards he will have to defeat Einlayson again before he proves he is superior. The latter certainly did not give his usual, polished display of fencing on Saturday, and he lost fully three yards in the first hundred to Benham, who went off at a very fast clip. Einlayson recovered his poise and started making up leeway from this point, but although he made a fine effort Benham retained his lead to win by a yard in the fast time of 20 2-ss. Three-foot hurdles were used for this event instead of the usual two foot six inches and the extra six inches niay have had a more detrimental effect 011 Einlayson who does not possess the length of leg of his opponent. Both runners should provide a stirring contest on February S.

. The defeat -of W. S. Bainbridge in the A grade 100 yards-by W. Roberts did not come as a real surprise, as the Technical champion has not been worrying about this distance this season and is unlikely to defend his title at the championships. Roberts, ou the other hand, is at his best over this distance, and he now appears to be the strongest contender for this year's title.

In the A grade quai'ter-mile Alan Sayers registered a good performance in winning comfortably from Laurie Johnson in 52 2-ss. Bainbridge led the field at a full 220 yards pace for half the distance, but then retired, being content with tlie fast workout. The mile was Ansell Browne's rae« all the way, for after allowing Gordon Hill to set the pace for the first lap and a half lie went out and' drew away to eventually win easily from Pinson, who just beat Frank Watt 111 the sprint down the straight for second place.

Joe Lynch accomplished 30ft 6in in the shot put, but this was the only performance in the field events that was up Lo standard.

The B and C grade events did not produce any performances of outstanding merit, although the actual contests drew larger tields than the A grade and provided bunched finishes that were most interesting to watch. D. Ball won the B grade 440 yards in one of the best raccs of the day and appears to be developing into a good middle-distance runner. He is sacrificing his hurdling for the flat events, but is certainly making a success of the latter.

Rodger Cameron and M. McCarthy are again out on their own in the walking division this season and are providing some good exhibitions. At Otahuhu iaet week they walked a thrilling half mile dead-heat in fast time, but on Saturday Cameron showed his superiority in the three miles event, which he won eas icy in 24m Bs. He looks a certainty "for the New Zealand University championships at Easter- time.

Events at the Grammar Club's meeting last week also proved interesting and good performances were the order. A. J. Sayers beat F. A. Finlayson over the 220 yards, done in 23s- dead, and then Phil Hackett cleared sft lOin to easily 'aCC6mpiifih'"ths beet* jump of the season.

- At the Domain meeting of the Auckland Club A. E. Sutton made a good throw of 102 ft with the discus and showed he is retaining the form that has made him one of the best in Auckland for tiie last few years. S. A. Prevett, Gordon Hill and H. McNiel staged a good finish to the 880 yards handicap and only inches separated them when they finished, to be placed in the above order.

As a result of the Australian championships recently contested at Hobart the only athlete who has really enhanced hi* prospects of Olympic nomination is Gerakl Backhouse, the Victorian, who won the one mile and then the half mjle in the Australian record time of 1.55. There is nothing sensational about this time, but it is fast and he would be almost certain to improve on it on a cinder track. This, added to the fact that he ha.s- done the mile in 4.18, must give him a good chance of nomination for the 800 metres and 1500 metres events at Berlin.

Ted Hampson improved his chances by winnirfg the lOO.vds in even time from Howard Yates, the Empire Games representative, but' liis defeat in the 220 yds, w-on in 22s_ by R. Moflitt, of Victoria, would certainly affect him. Jack Sheave's chances can be considered nil. as his time in winning the three miles was only 14.54 4-5, which is over, a minute outside the world's best. Conditions must have been favourable, otherwise Backhouse would not have done the time he did. Sid. Stenner, the' find of last year, was brought from Newcastle by the Manley Club, and given a position in Sydney, and he justified the confidence placed in him by brilliantly winning the high hurdles in 15 2-ss. but in the 440 yds hurdles he lost his title by being beaten into third place, being a dozen yards behind the winner. A.' J. Watson, of Victoria, who recorded 54s for the distance, or 1 3-5s faster than the New Zealand record, held by Finlayson.

D. Sutcliffe. of Sydney, who commenced his training in early August, and gave some exhibitions to members of the New Zealand - cross-country team, retained his high jump title, with a lean of Gft 2%in. He is a protege of Jack Metcalfe's, and lie uses an eastern cut-off style that is very similar to the latter's. . Sam Gudsell is now on his way hack to New Zealand, and will arrive here in the first week in February. During his visit to flip East he met many of the leading athletes and swimmers of both Japan and the Philippines, and in a letter stated that lie -was considerably impressed with their great ability. He has several nronositions to nlace before the New Zealand Council that mav nrove of great value to the athletes of this country.

OLD GRAMMARIANS' CLUB. The following events will be held at t*he • weekly points meeting of the Old Gramrmnrians' Athletic Club, which .will take place oil .Monday evening:—soyds, SSOyds, 440 yds. hurdles, Mi rowing the discus, hop, step and jump. THAMES CLUB. Results at the Thames Amateur Athletic Club's meeting on Thursday:— 440 Yards.—Senior: M. Rowe (50yds) and M. C. Baker Oscr) 1. Time, 53 2-ss. Junior: A. .McMillan («er) 1, L. Ilays (10yds) 2. Time. 58 2-Ss. ' Mile.—'Senior: Ij. C. Barker (scr) 1. C. Billing (scr) 2. Time, 4.5-1 4-5. Junior: R. Fisher (loOyds) 1, J. Death (scr) 2. Time. 5.1S 3-5. 100 Yards, L/adies.—Miss P. McMillan (scr) 1, Miss M. Thorpe (Syds) 2. Time, l'2s. •High Jump, Ladies. —'Miss P.- McMillan, 4ft lin,. l; Miss M. Thorpe, 3ft llin, 2. PAPATOETOE CLUB. The postponed evening meeting- of the Papatoetoe Amateur Athletic Club will be , held next. Tuesday, January 2S, the original programme and handicaps to stand. It was intended to postpone the meeting until Tuesday week. February 4, owing to the late King's funeral, but as January 2-S is not to be a day of mourning the sports will be held that evening.

MATTKIT ANNEAL SPORTS. HANDICAPS FOR WEDNESDAY. Adjustments made by Mr. P. T. Mi: Aneny for the Mauku annual sports 011 January 29 :— !■ 100 Yards. —G. A. Baker, 3yds; C. Fox 35yds ;. C. Anderson. A. H. Griffiths, syds; W. li. Adam, C. F. Dowlsett, D. Gordon, E." Plowman, oyds: G. E. Funnel, 7Jyds ; G, F. Foote, A. Cawdron, B. H. I'assou, Byds: C. R. C. Jones, oyds; S .P. Thorpe, 10yds; IC. Sharp, 12yds. 120 Yards Cup.—C. Fox. 4iJ - ds ; Baker, • 3yds ; Griffiths, 6yds; Adam, Anderson, Dowsett, Gordon, Plowman, 7,vds ; Foote, Cawdron, Funnel, Oyds; I'assou, 10yds; Jones, 11yds; Thorpe, H. Leg g, H.- E. Flanagan, 12yds; Sharp, G. N. Edwards 13yds. 220 Yards.—Fox, 11yds ) Griffiths, 12yds ; Gordon, 15yds ; Anderson, Plowman, ICyds; Adam, H. C. Preston, 17yds; Funnel, 18yds; Passou, Dowsett, Cawdron, 19yds; Jones, 20yds; Foote, E. Miller, 22yds; Thorpe, Legg, Sharp, 23yds. .. 440 Yards.—Fox, 17yds; Griffiths, 22yds; Anderson. 24yds ; Preston, Plowman, 25yds ; Gordon, 28yds; E. Fausett, 34yds; Adam, 35yds; Cawdron, 36yds; J. R. Milieu, 37yds; Thorpe, H. Legg, 38yds; • Funnel, Flanagan. Jones, 40yds; S. Revell, Miller, L. F. McGuire, 42yds. 880 Yards.—W. C. Preston.- 10yds;Millen, 35yds; Revell, 36yds; K. Munro, 50yds; Griffiths, 52yds; J. L. McGuire, | 56yds ; D. Gordon, 58yds; Fausett, 60yds; Miller, C. Howie, J. B. Haycock, 65yds; C. K. Stokes, E. N. Rainger, Eric Clark, G. A. Barker, 70yds; Flanagan, 72yds; A. C. Peterson, 75yds; J. McKean, 160 yds. One Mile.—Preston, 20yds; Revell, 40yds; Millen, 55yds; Howie, 100 yds; Munro, 105 yds; H. Tahu, 110 yds; L. J. McGuire, 120 yds; Barker, Stokes, Rainger, Clark, 130 yds; Peterson, 150 yds; J. McKean, 300 yds. WOOD-CHOPPING. Handicaps declared by Mr. Cam Beloe for the <clioi>ping event at the Mauku sports at Patilmahoe* on Anniversary Day;—J. McFadden, J. Wilson, E. Clark, M. Clark, F. Jakciuan, 225; G. McAlplne, M. Irwin, L. Carter, H. Carter, I). Jakonan, It. Howe, G. MeClune, Max Hunter, A. Pierce, It. Woodman, L. Clark. 20s; L. McAlplne, 18s; H. Havard, It. IJonavan, M. Guran, 15s; C. Carter, N. Guran, 14s; 1!. Wilks, 4s; C. Dazely, 2s ; H. Tahu, withheld.