ATHLETIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20090, 20 November 1930, Page 9

ATHLETIC NOTES.

| THE CANTERBURY CLUB. I | FINE BELAY RACE#?. | j [By Relay, j Tho cycle of athletic supremacy among Canterbury clubs, which for the past two years has turned in favour of the old-established Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club, appears this season to be tending towards a. change, for after a spell of unbroken successes, the ! C.A.A.C. are now finding that many of their best men are retiring from tho sport, and promising new material is not in sight at the present time. The Canterbury Club were the second to be established in New Zealand, celebrating I their fiftieth anniversary in February of 1929, when tho occasion was marked by tho club regaining the supremacy in Canterbury which they have held frequently since the war. Last year C.A.A.C. were again in a strong position, but of their champions, only li. Cordery and A. Bullivant have so far been on the track this season, though G. F. Hart and M. Blackmore are improving fast, and with the first two will comprise the mainstays of the club. After Christmas officials hope that N. J. Suckling and G. Li. Nicoll will be turning out, so that by the timo the Canterbury championships are held a determined effort may be made to retain the Watson Cup for the clubs' premiership. Others likely to perform well for them are K. Edmonds, J. R. Nelson, J. W. Batstone, and P. C. Ensor. The Canterbury Club have been fortunate in their managing officials for many years past, and when after the war, athletics were at a low ebb in the province, these were the men who revived the sport and helped other clubs which were either very weak or nonexistent. Among the names of old members of the C.A.A.C. are many who, later, ran for different Christchurcli clubs', bringing to mind the fact that whero a distribution of members was deemed necessary no attempt was made to keep the Canterbury Club at its best strength at the expense of the rest. Mr A. E. Flower, tho present patron, has been one of those who have taken the greatest interest in athletics generally for many years, and he has done an immense amount of work both for this club and for others. Other hard-working officials of the C.A.A.C. are Mr C. IT. Taylor, jun., tho president; Mr K. Edmonds, club captain; Mr R. Cordery, vice-captain; and Mr J. A. Gasson, secretary. With these men and a membership of over 100, the club should be well ablo to maintain its record, and if this season is not as successful as the last, the cycle will turn again in their favour, as it has turned in. the past. Evening Meeting. If relay races continue in the way they ! commenced on Tuesday there will be some of tho finest racing seen for many years. In both grades the winners wero not decided until the last few yards after really splendid runs. There was still a disappointing entry, however, three in the A grade, and five, one of which did not finish, in the B grade; and tho Technical Club, unable to find a half-miler, could not field a team. Sumner were a long distance behind C.A.A.C. and 'Varsity, but their entry in the senior race was pleasing, and added considerable interest to the junior event, in which the first three teams were on practically even terms. As points | for the Thomas Baton aro to bo counted from Tuesday's races, those of a fortnight ago are cancelled, and the points stand as follows: — A Grade —C.A.A.C. 10, 'Varsity 8, Sumner 8. B Grade —New Brighton 10, Old Boy 3' 9, Sydenham 8, 'Varsity B 7. In other events the absence of backmarkers was again noticeable, particularly so in the 440 yards, and limit men were the winners, G. H. Mills ('Varsity), R. A. Jorgensen (New Brighton), H. McCaskey (Sumner), and L. Doherty, | impressing the most. Mills and Jorgensen should both develop into good sprinters, Jorgensen showing better stylo on Tuesday than on his first appearance. R. Cordery, who is running in quarter miles this season, found the distance too far, and was passed in tho straight by A. Bullivant, who, though he was labouring when he reached the tape, ran a better-judged race than the other back-marker. 'Relays gave other middle-distance men an opportunity of a run, and it should not be long now before fields are at their full strength. M. Blackmore (C.A.A.C.) and O. C. Harlcy ('Varsity) both ran solid quarter miles, but neither is yet fit. Evans Accepts Invitation.

D. Evans, of Taihape, who -won the New Zealand half-mile and mile championships last year, and defeated L. Lermond off the scratch mark in an invitation race over 1000 yards at Wanganui, has accepted the invitation or the Canterbury Centre to run here on March 7th, when the American athletes will be in Christchurch. Evans will also run at Waimate on March 4th. Tho times which Evans recorded for his wins at the Dominion Championships were the best ever done in those events, and when he meets R. Kiser there should be great races over both distances. Stray Comments. L. C. McLachlan and B. B. McKerman, two members of the Civil Service Club, Dunedin, will be in Christchurch for the Christmas meetings, and other Otago runners are expected to accompany them. McLachlan won the , Now Zealand 880 yards title two seasons j ago, and although he did little running last year, is training again this season, j and should be among the best middle j distance men in the country. A number of moving pictures of local runners will bo shown next Wednesday evening at the Pioneer Sports Club's rooms, by Mr L. Ij. Cordery, who, in the course of the last two or three sea j sons has been taking pictures at various meetings in Canterbury. They should prove of interest to athletes, and & general invitation is being extended by the C.A.A.C. to attend the evening The fame of J. W. Savidan is earning for him laurels of which he, among others, would be surprised to hear. A writer, hoping for a successful gathering when the American athletes appear in his centre, states that the only requirement necessary to complete the bill of faTe is the presence of J. W. Savidan, "the meteoric Auckland sprinter!'' There are five centres and 130 clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. This information is contained in a report to be forwardeJ to the International Amateur Athletic Federation, which has requested similar particulars from all other associations affiliated to it, so that a complete list of members can be included in the new hand-book to b« prepared by the federation. The Wellington Centre has arranged dates and programmes for five "twilight'' meetings, the first of which was held on Monday, when J. T. Fleming, off 3yds, won the 100 yards in 10 1-5 sec, and tho three miles was covered in 15min 23 2-ssec, by A Baiclay, off 150 yards. The programmes provide for running, cycling, and field events, races for women being included. F. S. Ramson, the Wellington hurdler, i and holder o£ the New Zealand titles

over the 320 yards and 440 yards hurdles, has not yet commenced training, and a northern writer states that it will be some time before he competes. E. G. Sutherland, the veteran fields eventa exponent, is out again this season, and threw the javelin 160£t 7sin on Monday evening The 'Varsity CluS will be controlling the evening meeting at Lancaster Park next Tuesday, the programme being an follows: 220 yards first class, 220 yards second clas3, one mile, shot put, women's 75 yards, and relay (440, 440, 440, 440). Fixtures. November 25th—Evening "\leeting nt 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.