ATHLETIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 13 November 1930, Page 9

ATHLETIC NOTES.

the pentathlon.

dominion championships.

ißy Rilat

With t^ e inclusion in the American of H. Kothert, whose performgnees in pentathlon and decathlon competitions have gained for him a reputation for all-round ability in athletics, jt will not be surprising if there is a ggiiea increase in popularity in that tgggeh of the sport in New Zealand, ffcere " n0 reaaon should v t hj« the ease, and any move either w tie controlling bodies or by one or fjro slobs in_ the direction of promoting «. will be received. The pentathcomprises the following events:— jgjjung broad jump, throwing the fevelia, 200 metres flat race, throwing discus, and 1500 metres flat race. Qeie events follow each other in the above order, and the winner is the com«etitor who has obtained the "highest aßgher of points in the five divisions—mxbU being awarded on the basis of the Mgtathlon and decathlon table. For sport, the above propyiwma would be a great attraction for enopetitors and public, and would do g ]st towards developing our runners in a2 branches of athletics. If some club a Chiistchurch wero to take the matter m, it would be doing a worth-while series, Scoring in the pentathlon is based M tie winning performances at the JJJ2 Olympic Games, and for an equivalett performance. 1000 points are awarded, -diminishing as the performing* becomes less meritorious. In the naming broad jump, for example, a jaap of 24.9 ft would score full points, mi » jump of 20ft 632.5 points. Similarly, foil points in the 200 metres are j gireß for a time of 21 3-ssec, in the tfcroiruig the javelin 200.1 ft, in the throwing the discus 14S.3ft, and in tie 1500 metres race Smin 56 4-ssoc. These standards are of course considerably in advance of what would be recorded in New Zealand, but the competition should be worth a trial. Besting the Starter.

With the object of improving the railing of country meetings so far as tte starting of races is concerned, the Outerbnry Centre last week discussed aethods of preventing the tendency i&ieli has been too apparent during past years of runners beating N the starter aad getting a "break" on the rest of tit field. The practice was becoming H freqnent one, said a member, and Here appeared to be some town runners vlo when they competed at country meetings made a point of getting a lying start. Country starters in the

Mia were inexperienced, and it was a regrettable fact that there were athmes who were prepared to take advantage of that. The president, Mr E. H. Ckoai, said that he thought the question wa» being attacked from the wrong aspect. The trouble lay not is the fact tttt runners deliberately "worked a joint,*® but that owing to the terrible (tarting at some meetings, the liability of "breaks" being obtained was, eonddarably increased. If experienced Barters from the city were to act at amatry meetings he thought that much f t ; «f the trouble would be avoided. It , wm due to a great extent to the inex- ' jerience of country men, caused through their acting as starters only on.ce ' a Jttr when their district meetings were held. The Centre eventually decided to . tinail&rue country dabs drawing' their attention to the rules of starting, in i the hope that conditions wouiit improve. If the club* so derired, the Centre would, provide a starfer from town to act at the meetingß. Execntive members will 1 alio pay attention in future to any breaking that .' occurs at meetings at which tiey are present. tanr BraJand Championships.

&a the Otago Centre has agreed to tie dates suggested by the New Zea--I*»4 Council for the next Dominion Championships, these 'will now be held St Dnaedin on February 27th and 28th. Otago had previously wished to hold ttan on March 6th and 7th, but as nan days clashed with the time tho Aoeriean athletes would be in Christjkweh, the alteration has been made. The Americana will, however, be in wjedia when the championships aro 100, and the two meetings will be run "Conjunction. It is not improbable *• wsa the case last year, tiie visiwill be allowed to compete in the wnpiombip events, though they ®ot ba able to hold any titles. At it has been decided that the. vnterbniy titles will be run on Febru*7 7th or 14th, and endeavours are be»g made to obtain a suitable ground «*■ tho purpose. Comments. received by the Canterbury tP?."* lB A. Bose, whom it was | to have running at Waimate and yyehnrch on March 4th and 7th reJlWjvely, when the American athletes r?~, m these districts, is that the Pt* wwtance runner has been forced a. ***** training for a time owing to '• ®o®e has conveyed his intenhOWOver, of considering the posW ™ competing in the South jy* * ko able to commence train--2 ~ e to reach the iiecessary stand•W of fitness. jJ§!?i?k Mon has been granted the ferai" run a series of meetat Lancaster Patk on Thursday races for club members J? , neld. Last season this club considerable promise, and is en- \ m P rove its strength this , hanging handicap and chamevents among its members; fcfa* n gh ness baa prevented A. ■w, Canterbury cross-country chamSSII r 1 tnrnin l? out, the club should 22*2? 111 numbers before the season is 25^T h There are several runners *to Z?ni winning races for Sydenthe next two or three meet■L * ?* v elock, the Otago mile cham--3K-«ilC^2 to *>e approaching good •' season, and he will southern critics if he still ■| M^_.yP roY 68 on the fast times ho Willi . ' season - Lovelock ran k.t Particularly fine races on the In* "cross country during the an d will be one of Otago's a S a inst the" American miler, Otago miler, J. ,T. Morris, Canterbury in New Zea 111 hr^* ttCe ,®' iain Pi ons^iPß ' w ho Hum; Proniinent in Duncdin for now - is likely to be out fcr- He is at present rest--1 str enuous cross-country ItteSri tte winter. ®b|^° g . meetil, g will be run by Bft. » clnba on December 6th, D °main. A full proftjbr »«,_ ®*®nts includes a scratch Itfc..- » Points to count for the Nbflt i .j 0 ?: Other events are £ B Krade, 220 yds, 440 yds 11 ' 880 yds, one mile, two !S * l »rtin e thJt ng J £™ p ' hieb iump ' ilia h. t, - Flv ° cycle races ' b « deluded. i^^lrtth Teainß meetin S s resume next I by tho es for tho eventfl, which

include 75yds, 440 yds, first and second class, high jump, relay (880 yds, 440 yds, 220 yds, 220 yds), and women's 100 yds, 'close' with Mr G. L. Austin on Saturday ai noon. Americans aro still in the forefront in jumping, and during tho past season five high jumpers cleared 6ft sin or better, and three long jumpers went more than 25ft.

F. H. Stephenson, of "Wellington College, won the 100 yds at the secondary school sports in "Wellington last week in 10 l-ssec,, l-ssec better than the previous record. He won easily in fine style, says a report of the meeting. W. McHolm, the popular hammerthrower, who' competed for Canterbury for many years, and who now gives his points at the New Zealand championships to "Wellington, is said to be steadily improving his style, and is in conRtant training. A Wellington writer predicts that he will win another Dominion title yet.

Fixtures. November 13th—Primary school sports at Lancaster Park. November 18th —Evening meeting at Lancaster Park (C.A.A.C.). November 25th —Evening meeting at Lancaster Park ('Varsity). December 2nd—Evening meeting at Lancaster Park (Sydenham). December 6th —Combined Clubs' meeting at Papanui Domain.

Entries Close. Evening Meetings—Saturday before each meeting. Combined Clubs' Meeting—November 28th.

ARBITRATION COURT.