ATHLETICS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21721, 2 March 1936, Page 16

ATHLETICS

NATIONAL MEETING AT DUNEDIN OTAGO TRIUMPHS OVER CANTERBURY ■ - r RACING ON HEAVY TRACKS [From Our Own Reporter.! DUNEDIN, February 29. Otago won the amateur athletic Championship of New Zealand at Carisbrook to-day for the first time Sn 30 years. At home- on a track very heavy after morning rain the Otago athletes excelled themselves. They concluded the day 11 points ahead of Canterbury after an exciting contest for the honours. The meeting was certainly the best Otago has seen in many years. There was some memorable racing, with thrilling finishes and some brilliant times. The heavy tracks and cold atmosphere played a large part in the defeat of the northern teams, especially the Aucklanders, holders of the title, who scored in only one event. Considering the handicaps the runners faced many of the performances were good. The outstanding Performance was V. P. Boot’s great palf-mile run in Imin 55 2-ssec. Having already won the mile in brilliant time Boot thrilled the 6000 spectators With the best half-mile run ever seen in Dunedin and the fastest ever rejcorded at a national championship ■meeting. Entering the straight he fewept past T. G. Broadway, the Empire Games representative, and travel-

ling at an amazing pace went on to win by a good seven yards. His devastating finish was the most remarkable effort at the meeting, and one that will long be remembered. His time must have been quite equivalent to the New Zealand record of Imin 54 4-ssec on a dry track. Boot’s run even overshadowed the performances of the Canterbury relay team, who won the relay in New Zealand record time, and P. F, Sharpley, Hawke’s Bay, who equalled two New Zealand hurdle records. Boot’s halfmile in Imin 55 2-ssec and mile in 4min 22 4-ssec on the heavy track so impressed Canterbury officials at the meeting that they are beginning to think of higher honours for him, and he may make a run against time over the 1500 metres, an Olympic distance, early in March. Impressive Ceremony A ceremony modelled on the plans for the 1936 Olympic Games at Berlin made an impressive opening to the meeting. After a parade of the teams led by Auckland, the titleholder. the athletes assembled in formation to take the oath after the

Olympic tradition. Each competitor raised his right hand in salute as W. E. Creeser, the Otago javelin thrower, recited the text of the oath. The national flag was then broken at the masthead and 1000 pigeons liberated from a huge hamper. As the pigeons circled and left the ground the Dominion’s four leading hurdlers, P. F. Sharpley (Hawke’s Bay), P. Bowie (Wellington), H. W. Miller (Otago), and C. R. Bradwell (Canterbury) went down to their marks for the 120 yards hurdles. Sharpley, Bowie, and Milner raced hurdle for hurdle over the first 60 yards, then Sharpley jumped ahead and established a clear lead, which he

held to the finish, to win by three yards. Bowie finished two yards ahead of Milner, who knocked the last hurdle. Bradwell was fourth. The time, 15 l-ssec, equalled the New Zealand record, but the track was slightly downhill at the finish, and it is not likely that the performance will be recognised. Tapley Excels Himself Then followed Boot’s great half-mile, and next the 100 yards. A strong field, consisting of J. B. MacFarlane. and J. D. Carmichael (Canterbury), G. Quinn (Hawke’s Bay), W. S. Bainbridge (Auckland), W. J. Fitzsimmons (Wellington). and B. L. Tapley (Otago), went down to the start in the sprint. Tapley jumped ahead early, and had charge all the way. He finished a clear yard ahead of Quinn, who beat MacFarlane by inches. Tapley’s run was received with tremendous enthusiasm, which his time, lOsec, warranted. He is a short, stolidly-built sprinter, who has developed beyond recognition this season. On such a track, even though it was slightly downhill, his lOsec was exceptional time.

The 22fi yards hurdles found Sharper again in brilliant form, but it was ♦lugedy for E. P. Newburgh, the fast-

improving Canterbury hurdler. Sharpley entered the straight with a slight advantage over Newburgh, but appeared to be tiring a little as they neared the finish. Newburgh was going well about two feet behind the Hawke’s Bay man, but in his haste to clear the last hurdle he misjudged his jump, and fell. Sharpley went on to win comfortably from J. D. Nelligan, who came in past Newburgh for second place. The Auckland hurdler and 1935 champion, F. A. Finlayson, ran a disappointing race into third place. Sharpley’s time was 25 2-ssec, another performance equalling the New Zealand record.

Quinn’s Triumph The crowd looked forward to another great race as the field went down for the final of the 220 yards. Here, Canterbury hoped to see MacFarlane do better, but he and the rest of the field were clearly beaten by the Hawke’s Bay sprinter, Quinn, who had command practically all the way. W. S. Bainbridge (Auckland), the New Zealand title and record holder!! finished in third place, and MacFarlane was second.

Canterbury suffered defeat again in the women’s 100 yards. Miss K. Callinan, Canterbury, who was expected to win the title, was beaten by both Miss I. Campbell (Auckland) and Miss A. Gibbs (Wellington). The Canterbury champion was, in fact, nearly beaten out of a place. Miss D. Strachan, the Timaru champion, was one of those who challenged her to a great finish. Miss Campbell, the new champion, is a tall, stronglybuilt runner, who should before long equal the New Zealand record. She won this race easily in 11 3-ssec, twofifths of a second outside the record. In the one mile walk, the next track event, I. Driscoll, of Hawke’s Bay, outclassed the rest of the field. He led all the way, and finished an easy winner in 6min 46 4-ssec. Anderson Falls A much better race was the 440 yards hurdles, in which A. T. Anderson and J. D. Nelligan (Canterbury) took the leading parts. Anderson, on the outside lane, led up the straight from Nelligan, and looked an easy winner until he fell at the last hurdle but one. Nelligan passed him, but he got to his feet soon enough to take second place. Finlayson, the title holder, was fourth. The bigger. surprise of the day awaited followers of form in the quar-ter-mile. It was thought that the race would rest with W. S. Bainbridge and M. C. Baker (Auckland), and T. G. Broadway (Canterbury), but this was not to be. The field entered the straight practically together, Broadway, in the inside lane, having made hard work of it all the way. Coming up the straight the two Otago representatives, H. J. Tyrie and A. L. Price, running probably better than even pushed their way into the lead, and breasted the tape in first and second places. Tyrie was first home, a foot in front of Price, with Broadway a similar distance away third. Matthews Again Had the track and the weather been good the three miles would undoubtedly have produced a New Zealand record, with C. H. Matthews at the head of the field. With conditions as they were, it was impossible for the

Canterbury champion to make really fast time. He ran an easy race, with his usual even stride and steady pace, to win by half a lap from W. A. C. Pullar (Otago) in 14min 41 2-ssec. Pullar managed to stay with Matthews for the first mile, but no farther. The lap times recorded by Matthews were, in seconds, 67, 71, 73, 72, 72, 74, 76, 76, 76, 78, 73 2-5. The first mile was done in 4min 44sec, and the two in 9min 38sec. A true indication of the merit of the performance could be gained from the state of Matthews’ shoes after the race. He had gathered so much turf and mud that it completely covered his spikes. Canterbury won the relay championship in record time, and owed success chiefly to V. P. Boot, who ran another brilliant half-mile. The time was 3min 34sec, one and two-fifths of a second inside the New Zealand record, held by Wellington. C amenta's Four Titles The outstanding field athlete was A, Cameron, the tall Otavo man, who won four titles. He won the hop, step, and jump at 48ft 3Jin, the long jump at 22ft 6iin, the discus throw at 139 ft 3iin, and the shot putt at 39ft OJin. These four wins formed the basis of the Otago team’s big score of 53 in the championship, Cameron was in great form in every event, and his performances roused great enthusiasm among the spectators. T. J. Crowe (Wellington) won the high jump at sft 6in. The jumpers were greatly affected by the state of the ground. The take-off was exceedingly slippery. Crowe, W. Borrie (Otago), and F. R. Askin (Canterbury) all failed at sft 7in. In the jump-off Crowe won. Borrie and Askin were engaged in an interesting contest for second place, Borrie winning with the bar up to sft 7in. C. P. Clegg (Auckland) demonstrated the value of the training he has received from the well-known javelin thrower, S. A. Lay, of Wanganui, when he won the javelin throw from a strong field. Clegg’s best effort was 195 ft lljin, one of the best with which a New Zealand title has been won. W. R. Creeser (Otago) was second with 170 ft lin.

M. R. Spillane won his fourth title in the hammer throw. His distance was 150 ft IJin, The contest for the interprovincial championship was exciting during the first half of the afternoon, with Canterbury. Otago, and Hawke’s Bay running fairly even in every event. The success of Tyrie and Price, of Otago, in the quarter mile put Otago well fn the lead, and from then forward the Otago team held a strong lead. This is the first year Otago has won the championship since 1906. In that year also the meeting was held in Dunedin.

Championship Points Points scored in the interprovincial championship were as follows: Otago .. .. 53 Canterbury .. .. 42 Hawke’s Bay .. ..27 Wellington .. ..11 Auckland .. .. 5 West Coast (North Island) 2 Queensland Shield Points for the Queensland jubilee memorial shield, given for standards and records, cannot be determined

until the records have been approved. Provided approval is given to all performances, the points for the shield will be as follows: — Canterbury .. .. 15 Otago . . .. 14 Hawke’s Bay .. .. 8 Wellington .. 3 Auckland .. .. 1 West Coast (North Island) 0 DETAILED RESULTS 100 YARDS • World’s record, 9 2-ssec, F. Wykoff (United States); New Zealand record, 9 4-ssec, W. T. Macpherson (New South Wales), 1891, J. H. Hempton (Hawke’s Bay), 1892, J. V. Scholz (United States), 1926, M. Leadbetter (Canterbury), 1927, G. S. Simpson (United States), 1931, A. J. Elliott (Auckland), 1933; New Zealand standard, 10 l-ssec; 1935 champion, J. B. MacFarlane (Canterbury), lOsec. Final B. L. Tapley (Otago) .. 1 G. Quinn (Hawke’s Bay) .. 2 J. B. MacFarlane (Canterbury) 3 Time, lOsec. Won by a yard. Inches separated second and third. 220 YARDS World’s record, 20 3-ssec tl R. A. Locke (United States): New Zealand record, straight track, 21 l-ssec, G. S. Simpson (United States), 1931; circular track, 21 3-ssec, W. S. Bainbridge (Auckland), 1935; New Zealand standard, 22 2-ssec; 1935 champion, W. S. Bainbridge (Auckland). 21 3-sseb. Final G. Quinn. (Hawke’s Bay) .. 1 J. B. MacFarlane (Canterbury) 2 W, S, Bainbridge (Auckland) 3

Time, 22 l-ssec. Quinn . was clearly superior in an interesting race. He fin-

Ished half a yard ahead of MacFarlane, who beat Bainbridge by Inches. 440 YARDS World’s record, 46 2-ssec, B. Eastman (United States): New Zealand record, 48 4-ssec, S. A. Black (Wanganui), 1932; New Zealand standard, 51 l-ssec; 1935 champion, W. S. Bainbridge, 49 l-ssec.

Final H. J. Tyrie (Otago) ..1 A. L. Price (Otago) .. 2 T. G. Broadway (Canterbury) 3 Time, 50 3-ssec. Won by a foot, with a similar distance between second and third. 880 YARDS World’s record, Imin 49 4-ssec, B. Eastman (United States), 1934; New Zealand record, Imin 54 4-ssec, C, V. Evans (Wanganui), 1931, D. F. Anderson (Canterbury), 1933; New Zealand standard. 2min; 1935 champion. C. V. Evans (Wanganui), Imin 57 l-ssec. V. P. Boot (Canterbury) ..1 T. G. Broadway (Canterbury) 2 T. Allen (Otago) .. 3 Time, Imin 55 2-ssec. Allen and L. C. McLachlan (Otago) led the field round the first lap, which was covered in 55sec. Allen still lead into the last lap, but down the back straight he was overhauled by Broadway and Boot. Boot passed Broadway after the turn for home, and went on to win by seven yards. Allen was well back in third place. THREE MILES World’s record, 13min 50 3-ssec, L. Lehtinen (Finland); New Zealand record. 14min 27 l-ssec, J. W. Savidan (Auckland), 1934; New Zealand standard. 15min 20sec; 1935 champion, N. F. Cooper (Auckland). 14min 41 l-ssec. C. H. Matthews (Canterbury) 1 W. A. C. Pullar (Otago) .. 2 A. R. Geddes (Otago) .. 3 Time, 14min 41 2-ssec. Pullar clung to Matthews for the first mile, but fell away gradually over the last two and was beaten by half a lap.

120 YARDS HURDLES World’s record, 14 l-ssec, P. Beard (United States); New Zealand record, 15 1-5 sec, H. E. Wilson (Wellington), 1922, R. W. Lander (Otago), 1927; New Zealand standard, 15 4-ssec; 1935 champion, P. Bowie (Wellington), 15 4-5 sec.

Pinal P. F. Sharpley (Hawke’s Bay) 1 P. Bowie (Wellington) ..2 H. W. Milner (Otago) .. 3 Time, 15 l-ssec, equalling the New Zealand record.

Won by three yards, with two yards between second and third.

220 YARDS HURDLES World’s record, 23sec, C. Brookins (United States). 1924, and N. Paul (United States), 1933; New Zealand record, 25 3-ssec, J. D. Nelligan (Canterbury), and F. A. Finlayson (Auckland), 1935: New Zealand standard, 26sec; 1935 champion, F. A, Finlayson (Auckland), 26sec.

Final P. F. Sharpley (Hawke’s Bay) 1 J. D. Nelligan (Canterbury) .. 2 F. A. Finlayson (Auckland) .. 3

Time, 25 3-ssec—equalling the New Zealand record. Sharpley had an advantage of no more than two feet over Newburgh at the last hurdle. Newburgh missed his jump and fell, leaving,,second place to Nelligan.

„ 440 YARDS HURDLES World’s record, 52 3-ssec, J. A. Gibson (United States); New Zealand record, 55 3-ssec, F. A. Finlayson (Auckland): New Zealand standard, 58sec; 193 ii champion, F. A. Finlayson (Auckland), 55 3-ssec. ~ Final J. D. Nelligan (Canterbury) .. 1 A. T. Anderson (Canterbury) ~ 2 J. Gerken (Otago) ~ 3

Time, 57sec. Anderson, in the outside lane, fell when he was leading the field at the last hurdle but one. Nelligan passed him to win easily, but he got to his feet In time to finish second.

ONE MILE WALK World’s record, 6min 25 4-ssec, G. G. Goulding (Canada): New Zealand record, 6min 27 2-ssec, F. H. Creamer (Auckland): New Zealand standard. 6min 50sec; 1935 champion, 1. Driscoll (Hawke’s Bay), 7mln 5 l-ssec. 1. Driscoll (Hawke’s Bay) ..1 R. J. Watson . . .. . . 2 R. Cameron (Auckland) .. 3 Time, 6min 46 4-ssec. Driscoll went away at the end of the first lap and gradually increased his lead. He finished before Watson entered the straight. Cameron was well back, with F. W. Dukes (Canterbury) fourth. RELAY (440 Yards, 220 Yards, 22Q yards, 880 Yards) World’s record, 3min 22 3-Ssec, British Empire team, 1928: New Zealand record, 3mln 35 2-ssec, Wellington, 1930; 1935 champion. Hawke’s Bay. 3min 37 l-ssec. Canterbury (G. H. Geddes, J. D. Carmichael, J. B. MacFarlane, V. P. Boot) .. 1 Otago .. .. .. 2 Wellington .. .. .. 3 Time, Smin 34sec—a Hew Zealand record. G. Quinn gave Hawke’s Bay a slight advantage over Otago and Canterbury at the end of the quarter mile. Over the sprints Otago gained a slight lead, but as soon as Boot took over to run the half-mile the result was beyond doubt. He took the lead from T. Allen. (OtagO) at the beginning of the Journey, and increased his advantage all the way, winning with ease, HIGH JUMP World’s record, 6ft 9Jln, Walter Marty (United' States); New Zealand record, 6ft Sin, Veikko Perasalo (Finland), 1935; best New Zealander’s performance, 6ft IJln, P. J. Hackett (Auckland), 1934; New Zealand standard, sft 9in; 1935 champion, T. J. Crowe (Wellington), sft llin. T. J. Crowe (Wellington) ... 1 W. D. Borrie (Otago) .. 2 F. R. Askin (Canterbury) .. 3 Height, sft 6in. All three placed competitors failed with the bar at sft 7in. In the Jump-off Crowe won. There was a great contest between Borrie and Askin for second place. Borrie had to clear sft 7in to beat Askin. HOP, STEP, AND JUMP

World’s record, Chuhel Nambu (Japan), 51ft 7in; New. Zealand record, 50ft lin,

J. P. Metcalfe (New South Wales); best- New Zealander’s performance, 49ft BJln, H. K. Brainsby (Auckland). 1934; New Zealand standard, 44ft 6in; 1935 champion, H. K. Brainsby (Auckland), 47ft 7iin. A. A. Cameron (Otago) ..1 T. C. Morrison (Canterbury) 2 H. W. Wilkins (Canterbury) 3 Distances. 48ft 3iin, 45ft Sin, 44ft 7iin, Cutting the shot World’s record, 57ft lin, J. Torrance (United States); New Zealand record, 51ft 63in, H, P, Rothert (United States): best New * Zealander’s performance, 46ft OJin, P. Munro (Wellington),. 1921; New Zealand standard, 39ft; 1935 champion, P. Munro (Wellington), 41ft 9in. A. A. Cameron (Otago) .. 1 J. M. Stewart (Otago) 2 A. D. Adlum (Wellington) .; 3 Distances, 39ft Oiin, 38ft llin, 37ft 4in. THROWING THE JAVELIN World’s record. 249 ft Bln, Matt! Jarvinen (Finland); New Zealand record, 218 ft Biin. Matti Bippala (Finland), 1935; best New Zealander's performance* , 206 ft 61n, S. A, Lay (Wanganui); New Zealand standard, 175 ft; 1935 champion. S. A. Lay (Wanganui), 187 ft lin. C. P. Clegg (Auckland) .. i W. R. Creeser (Otago) .. 2 V. Newall (Otago) .. ..3 Distances. 195 ft lliln. 170 ft lin, 157 ft xun.

THROWING THE HAMMER 1 World’s record. 189 ft 6Jin. P. Hyan (United States): New Zealand record. MMIS 9Jin, J. W. Merchant (United Statestei-Js best New Zealander’s performance. M£S| R. Spillane (Otago). ISStt Sin; Hew Zealand standard, ISQCt; 1935 champion, M. R. SpQlane (Otago). IStll 7iin. M. R. Spillane (Otago) ..1 J. G. Leckie (Otago) .. .. 3 A. D. Adlum (Wellington) .. 3 Distances, 150 ft litn. 14Tft Win. Uttt ' llin. WOMEN’S 1M YARDS New Zealand record. 11 l-ss«sc. K. Martya (Canterbury). 1929, T. Kench OW* ■ lington), 1932; 1935 champion. 7- Godsell (Canterbury). 11 '3-ssec. First Heat—G. Symes (Hawke’s Bay) \ B. Stewart (Canterbury) 2. B. Mettle . (West Coast. Nortb Island) 3. YbM. . 12sec. Second Heat—l. Campbell (Auckland) i 1. K. Callinan (Canterbury) 3, B. Udc 1 (Otago) 3. Time. 11 4-Ssec. J Third Heat—A. Gibbs (WrfHngton) S. D. Strachan (Canterbury) 2. F. OHphant (Canterbury) 3. Time. U 4-Ssec. ' Final . J. Campbell (Auckland} .. 2 A. Gibbs (Wellington) .. 2 K. Callinan (Canterbury) .. 3 Time, 11 3-Ssec. Miss Campbell’s, finish was far too good for the rest of the field. Sbe won easily. Miss Gibbs and Miss Callinan fought out a great race for second place, me Wellington runner getting me decision hf inches. WOMEN’S RELAY (Four distances of 110 Yards) Hawke’s Bay .. • ..I Canterbury .. .. ..2 Otago .. .. .. 3 Time, 52sec. Canterbury lost ground at me first change and was about 12 yards behind Hawke's Bay when Miss K. Callinan took the baton for the last distance. She ran a wonderful race. She gained half a yard in every five, and was within a foot of the Hawke’s Bay girl at me finish.