V, P. BOOT BEATEN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21733, 16 March 1936, Page 18

V, P. BOOT BEATEN

INTERPROVINCIAL Athletics CANTERBURY AND WELLINGTON draw [THE PRESS Special Sendee.] WELLINGTON, March 15. In an excellent exhibition of athletic prowess Canterbury and Wellington drew with nine points each in the second annual inter-provincial athletic contest at Basin Reserve yesterday. It was one of the most important amateur athletic gatherings held in Wellington since the national championships in 1934. The Canterbury team was a particularly strong one, although without the services of C. H. Matthews., the long-distance champion.

The sensation of the day was the defeat of V. P. Boot, who won the halfmile and mile titles at the national meeting. He was beaten by A. R. Wilson, who ran second to Boot at Dunedin, in the last stride after a most exciting race. Conditions for fast times were not good, a strong northerly wind being a definite handicap. It was generally thought that Canterbury would have no great difficulty in defeating Wellington, but due to some surprise results Canterbury had to fight hard, and this was reflected by the fact that had Canterbury lost the one''mile relay, the concluding

event, Wellington would have- won by 9- points to 7. As it was, the two teams finished all-square with eight wins each.

' When W., J. Fitzsimmons triumphed over the Canterbury sprinters and gave Wellington two somewhat unexpected wins, the prospects of the local team were considerably enhanced. The competition, far from .being a one-sided affair, became an intensely interestmg : one with never more than a point or two between the two teams. The meeting- provided some first-class finishes. The mile was expected to be the event of llie day and the public were not disappointed. AH eyes were on Boot, who drew the inside. At the gun he allowed P. Wilson-and A. R. Wilson to lead him for a Jap, when, after a glance at his stop-watch, he went into second place. After a lap and a half he took the lead from P. Wilson, A. R. Wilson moving , up and following him in second placed These two'drew 1 right awajrfroni.the other Competitors their

order remaining unchanged until final lap. ... ~,. , Boot, with Wilson right on his heels, commenced to increase his pace 200 yards from home and momentarily drew away from the Wellington champion. The race appeared to be in Boot’s keeping at this stage, but Wilson, once the runners turned into the straight, responded gamely and gradually reduced Boot's lead to win a most exciting race in the last stride. The time, 4min 25sec, must rank the performance, in view of the strong wind, as perhaps the best ever made on the Basin Reserve for the distance.' Boot, who has a fine, springy stride, was reminiscent in style of Randolph Hose. He is well made, having a fine chest and shoulder development. His. lap times were 64 4-ssec, 66 3-ssec, 72 3-3 sec, 61sec. Wilson throughput the season has shown fine form in Wellington.. Results are;— 100 YARDS W. J Fitzsimmons (W.) . • • j W. D. Redpath (C.) 2 J, B. MacFarlane (C.) .. -.3 Time, 10 4-ssec. Fitzsimmons led all the way and won by three-quarters of a yard. 220 YARDS W. J. Fitzsimmons (W.) .. ..1 J. D. Carmichael (C.) .. .. ..3 J. B. MacFarlane (C.) .. ..2 Fitzsimmons gave another splendid performance. He won by about 2ft. Time, 22 2-ssec. 440 YARDS H. C. McCaskey (C.) .. .. .. 1 E. D. Clarke (W.) .. .. .. 2 P. Phillips (W.) .. .. .. 3 A close finish. Time, 52 3-ssec. 880 YARDS T. G. Broadway (C.) .. .. ..1 W. Ogg (W.) 2 L. McEwen (W.) .. .. ..3 The only starters Broadway led all the way. Ogg challenged him entering the straight, but the Canterbury runner came away with a powerful sprint to win easily by five yards. Time, 2min 3 2-ssec. ONE MILE A. R. Wilson (W.) .. .. .. 1 V. P. Boot (C.) .. .. V.. 2 P. Wilson (W.) .. ~ ..’ 3 The only other starter was T. A. Rafter (W.); Boot and A. R. Wilson provided a grandstand finish, the Wellington man Winning'in the last stride. P Wilson was well back, third. Rafter did not complete the distance: Time, 4min 25sec. THREE MILES A, J. Mackay (W) .. k .. ..1 J. Rlddington (W.) .. .. ..2 P. Wilson (W.) ~ .. .. 3 With two laps to go Mackay had opened up a gap on the others; He - finished strongly to win by 30 yards from. Riddington. Wilson was about 100 yards back, and the Canterbury starter,. K. .Robinson, was a similar distance behind him, fourth. Time. 16min 3 T-ssec. 120 YARDS HURDLES P. Bowie (W.) ..1 G. McGregor (W.) .. .. .. 2 C. Bradwell (C.) .. .. .. 3 Time. 16 2-ssec. Bowie led all the way, finishing up three yards ahead of McGregor. 220 YARDS HURDLES J. Phillips (W.) .. .. .. 1 E. Newburgh (C.) .. .. ; .. 2 H. Abraham (W.) .. .. .. 3 J. D. Nelligan (C.) fell at the bend at the top of the straight, where he was leading narrowly, Phillips, who was close up on the inside, gave a strong performance and won well from Newburgh. The latter was pressing F Sharpley when he fell at the last hurdle in the 220 yards hurdles event at the. New Zealand championship meeting at Dunedin recently. Time. 26sec. 440 YARDS HURDLES A/T Anderson (C.) .. .. .. 1 J.. D. Nelligan (C.) .. . . .. 2 P. McDonald (W.) .. .. . .. 3 J. Phillips (W.) struck the first hurdle, injuring himself, and he retired. The issue., was between the two Canterbury representatives. Time, 58 l-ssec. ' ONE MILE WALK W. R. Birks (W.) .. ..1 F, W. Dukes (C.) .. .. *2 D. R, Currie (W) .. . . 3 The Canterbury man tried hard to push In. front of Birks 200 yards from the finish, but Birks kept the lead. Dukes came agafn in the straight, but found Birks equal to the occasion, the Wellington man .winning. Time, 7mln 23sec. • HIGH JUMP H. N. Wilkins (C.). sft 91n .. .. i E. Orbell (W,), sft 81n .. . o L. Vernon (W.). sft Sin 3 POLE VAULT M. V. Blake (C ). lift Sin. 1 Gv McGregor; ljU

:: j 1 ? J/.- " LONG * JUMP ■ H. Mclntosh (W.), 19ft Win .. N Burris (W.). 19ft ..' .. ' H. W. Wilkins (C.), 17ft Bin . .. PUTTING THE SHOT . fSW K. Guy (W.), 39ft .. .. N. J. McPhail (C.). 36ft .. - D. Herman (C.), 35ft 6in .. THROWING THE DISGUS.-»| J. D. Morgan (Wanganui). 118ft/l||«| f D. Herman (C,), 101 ft Un ' £|| For the purposes of the interpro®||| 3 contest, the point went to Canter| . THROWING THE D. Herman (C.), 130 ft 6in j.. •: r<B I N. J.’ McPhail (C ). 98ft ~ - I WOMEN’S 100 YARDS X®' 1 Miss B. Stewart (C.V .. .. Miss E, Crgmpton (W.) Miss T. Kench (W.) .. ••' Won by a good yard. Time, ONE MILE HRLAX. (440 yards’ 220 220 yards, 880 yards.),. - Canterbury (H. C. McCaskey',; Jvjsl MacFarlane-, J. Carmichael,' Broadway) .. . Wellington (C. Robinson, F. H. StepltetaMM son, W. J. Fitzsimmons, Won by 20 yards. Time, 3min 42 1-jWefi; g r '