BRITAIN AT LAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 7

BRITAIN AT LAST.

VICTORIOUS TWICE.

Constable Wins Middleweight Wrestling.

LONG WALK TO H. WHITLOCK. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, August 5. The special representative of the Australian Associated Press says that while the British competitors at the Olympiad thus far have proved most disappointing, especially in field events, the first British victory has been achieved by a London police constable, Leslie Jeffers. He won the middle-weight wrestling championship.

H. Whitlock, in meritorious fashion, gained Britain's first track title. He led from 30 kilometres in the 31 miles walk. His time was excellent in view of the fact that the race in many places was over cobblv roads.

The Olympic track had fully recovered from the morning downpour, as Kownes* fast time in tlie hurdles indicated.

D. O. Finlay, the Britisli team's captain, who, ran third in the same event at Los Angeles in 1932, won i\ heat easilv. 4

In the semi-finals'* of the 200 metres both Robinson and Owens established early leads, and they won untroubled, each by over a yard.

Owens in the final added to his" existing glories, and again proved he is unapproachable. He was clear of his opponents in 50 metres, after an electrifying staH. Thereafter even his fellow-negro Robinson, whose prowess was established by equalling Owens' record in the semi-finals, was unable despite the most desperate efforts to get within two strides of the world champion. The vast crowd shouted themselves hoarse as Owens flew down the straight for his third Olympic title. Owens is the first modern athlete three times at one Olympiad to stand at the top level of the victors' platform and see the flag of his nation hoisted in honour of his victories. .

Many Olympic competitors regret that Herr Hitler has not met Owens—a real champion if ever there was one —as he has met German winners. They feel that there is a tendency to make the Games a vast patriotic demonstration.

For instance, all the German victories are greeted not only with the singing of "Deutschland Über Alles," but also the "Horstwessel" song. This helps to delay the programme. Other winning nations are content with one anthem, though negro spirituals might justifiably be added to the "Star Spangled Banner."