ATHLETIC TOUR.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 15 September 1930, Page 16

ATHLETIC TOUR.

SIMPSON AVAILABLE. The American sprinter, George Simpson, of Ohio, is definitely Available for » tour of New Zealand during the coming traok season. This advioe has been received by the New Zealand Amateur Athletio Association from ite American representative, Mr 0. G. Krogness. In making the announce* ment on Saturday, the secretary of the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. (Mr L. A. Tracy) said that there was no definite information as to whether the other athlete invited by the N.Z.A.A.A., George Bullwinkle, half-mile and one mile runner of the College of the City of Now York, would be able to come. It is understood that Harlow Rothert, of California, a noted field events exponent, is available if required, but the five athletio centres of the Dominion when asked to con. sider recently his inclusion in the team favoured an athlete of the type of Bullwinkle. Doubltless if Bullwinkle is unable to make the trip to New Zealand efforts will be made by the N.Z.A.A.A., through Mr Krogness, to secure, if possible, another top-notcli track runner likely to prove a draw-card in this country. The fact that Simpson is available is regarded as very satisfactory. Be is a runner with fine performances to his oredit. There are no better sprinters, from all accounts, in the United States to-day, than Simpson, Ed. Tolan (a coloured man), and Frank Wykoff. Over 100 yards the winner might be any of the three; it would depend probably on who vas feeling most like the race and who got away from the "holes" best. In the latest list of world's records approved by the International Amateur Athletio Federation at its Berlin Congress, Tolan is credited with having made a new world's record of 9Jseo for 100 yards at Evanston (U.S.A.) on May 25th last year. Simpson has also been credited with that time, but as far as is known it has not been officially recognised. Although Simpson, Tolan, ..and Wykoff appear to be on a par over 100 yards, Simpson apparently is the best of the three over 220 yards; in fact, there does not appear to be anyone better than him in America over that distance. In 220 yards events he has clocked 20 8-sseo and 20 4-5 sec. The former time equals the world's record made by K. A. Lock, U.S.A., in 1926 ; He is 20 joars of age, and should be a big attraction in New Zealand. Bullwinkle is also a young runner with fine performances. He has run the mile in 4min 18 4-ssec, and the half-mile in lmin 54 7-10 sec. Bullwinkle haa beaten Leo Lermond, the American athlete, who toured New Zealand last eeason, over three-quarters of a mile in 3min 5 3-lOseo. The itinerary that has been mapped out by the NIZ.A.A.A. for two athletes provides for their arrival in New Zealand early in January. They (ire to make their first appearance at n sports meeting at Masterton on January 22nd, and are to compete at Wellington on February 21st; Motueka, on March 11th; Palmerston North on March 14th; and at Wellington again on M&roh 21st. The dates of meetings in other centres are not available at present.

Lions are getting cheaper, a good specimen now fetching about £l5O. One can ■buy a hippopotamus for £SOO or an elephant for £6OO, but a good pair of giraffes will cost over £IOOO.