ATHLETICS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24857, 23 April 1946, Page 3

ATHLETICS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES On a track that had been affected by recent rains and was not in a condition for the breaking of records, competitors at the New Zealand University tournament, held at Lancaster Park yesterday, gave performances of the highest standard. Several records were broken and the close and exciting racing had a big crowd of spectators worked to a high pitch of excitement. Practically every race on the programme ended in a keen finish, and in the high jump every eye was on the lightly-built J. H. Borland, of Canterbury, and R. Mara, a splendid specimen of Fijian manhood, representing Otago University. When the bar was raised to sft Bin only the two remained, and gradually the height was raised to 6ft. Both missed at their first attempts and cleared it at the third, each breaking the previous record. In an attempt at 6ft lin, Borland just brushed the bar, which fell; but Mara did not look like going any higher. With both men clearing six feet, a count back was necessary and it was found that Borland had missed only twice on the lower heights and Mara had failed five times. Borland now holds the New Zealand University record of 6ft.

The 100 yards and 220 yards were races that created the greatest interest, and revealed two Canterbury runners in D. R. Batten and K. O. Plunkett who have steadily been coming into the limelight. Batten was the crack sprinter at Christchurch Boys’ High School, and Plunkett at Ashburton. In the 100 yards, Plunkett, beginning very quickly, had a lead of three and a half yards at 75 yards, but got home only a touch in front of Eustace (Auckland) and Batten. In the 220 yards Plunkett again established a handy lead, but Batten gradually wore him down and won on the tape. It was a splendid race. R. C. Brown, after doing the first halfmile in 3min 12sec, established a fresh record in the mile walk, when he did fimin 33 4-ssec against the previous record of 6min 46 2-ssec. Shortly after the start Brown left his field and had no assistance in pacemaking. The Auckland hurdler, A. R. P. Eustace, won the 220 yards hurdles in 25 2-ssec, displacing the record of 26sec made by H. D. Ramsay * (Otago) in 1939. and he also won the 120 yards hurdles in 16sec, a fifth of a second outside the record made by H. D. Morgan (Otago) in 1925.

J. M. Gray (Otago) won the half mile in 2min 1 2-ssec, and was mainly responsible for the brilliant win gained by Otago in the mile relay. After Canterbury had established what looked like a winning lead with Plunkett, Batten, and Kelly in the shorter distances. Gray showed rare determination in the half-mile allotted him. Only in the last 50 yards did he take the lead after one of the finest sustained efforts ever seen at Lancaster Park.

In the women’s events N. Gourlay (Canterbury) equalled her own record of 12 l-ssec for the 80 metres hurdles, and also won the 100 yards flat in 12sec. Otago scored 22J points, Canterbury 16, Auckland 15, and Victoria 3J. The following abbreviations are used in the details of the meeting:—A.U.C. (Auckland University College), C.U.C. (Canterbury University College), O.U. (tOago University), and V.U.C. (Victoria University College). Following are the results:— 100 Yards (Record, lOsec, R. L. Christie, O. 1924; M. Leadbetter, V.U.C., 1926, and J. Sutherland, V.U.C., 1941.)—K. O. Plunkett (C.U.C.) 1, A. R P Eustace (A.U.C.) 2, D. R. Batten (C.U.C.) 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Women’s 80 Metres Hurdles.—N. Gourlay (C.U.C.) 1, J. Harwood (A.U.C.) 5, V. Prestidge (A.U.C.) 3. Time, 12 l-ssec. 120 Yards Hurdles (Record, 15 4-ssec, H. D. Morgan, CXU., 1925).—A. R. P. Eustace (A.U.C.) 1,1.. R. Tailby (0.U.) 2, C. R. Bradwell (C.U.C.) 3. Time, 16sec. 880 Yards (Record, Imin 54 4-ssec; V. P. Boot, C.U.C., 1936.)—J. (O;U.). I, J. D. Sinclair (O.U) 2. J. L. C. Chaytor (C.U.C.) 3. Time, 2min 1 2-Ssec. Hop, Step, and Jump (Record, 48ft Ojin, H. K. Brainsby, A.U.C.,-1934.)—C. M, Kay (A.U.C.) 1, L. L Shenken (0.U.) 2; T.:R. Kennedy (C.U.C;) 3. Distance, 45ft 2in. 220 -Yards (Record, 22 3-ssec, J. D. Carmichael, C.U.C., 1936.)—D. R. Batten. (C.U.C.) 1, K. O. Plunkett (C.U.C.) 2, G. F. Gwynn (0.U.). 3. Time, 23sec. One Mile Walk (Record, 6min 46 2-ssec, D. Jackson, V.U.C., 1926.)—R. C. Brown (C.U.C.)) 1, W. I. Laing (C.U.C.) 2. Time, 6min 39 4-ssec (a record). 220 Yards Hurdles (Record, 26sec, H. D. Ramsay, 0.U.. 1939.) —A. R. P. Eustace (A.U.C.) 1, J. M. Holland (A.U.C.) 2, G. A. Drummond (C.U.C.) 3. Time, 25 2-ssec, (a record).

440 Yards (Record. 49 3-ssec. J. M. Watt, 0.U., 1937.)—J. M. Gray (0.U.) 1. A. H. E. Munden (V.U.C.) 2, D. W. Jones (A.U.C.) 3. Time, 51sec.

Women’s 1001 Yards.—N. Gourlay (C.U.C.) 1, M. Shouler (V.U.C.) 2, K. B. Watt (0.U.) 3. Time, 12sec. Throwing the Javelin (Record, 171 ft lljn, K. D. Gillespie, A.U.C., 1937.)—R. Mara (0.U.) 1, E. R. Appedley (V.U.Q.) 2, J. M. Hall (C.U.C.) 3. Distance, 143 ft 7in. Shot Put (Record, 40ft Ilin, J. H. Opie, 0.U., 1941.)—D. P. Culav (A.U.C.) 1, R. Mara (0.U.) 2, K. J. O’Connor (0.U.) 3* Distance. 39ft lin. 440 Yards Hurdles (Record, 55 3-ssec, A. T. Anderson, C.U.C., 1936, H. D. Ramsay 0.U., 1939.)—J. M. Holland (A.U.C.) 1, G. S. Bogle (V.U.C.).and F. R. Gordon (0.U.), equal, 2. Time, S6sec. High Jump (Record, sft lljin, P. J. Hackett, A.U.C., 1934.)—J. H. Borland (C.U.C.) 1, R. Mara (0.U.) 2. J. M. Holland (A.U.C.) 3. Height, 6ft (a record). Throwing the Hammer (Record, 140 ft 3in, J. G. Leckie, 0.U., 1928.)—A. D. McKenzie (C.U.C.) 1, K. J. O’Connor (0.U.) 2, D. P. Culav (A.U.C.) 3. Distance, 98ft 2in. Three Miles (Record, 14min 55 2-ssec, D. R. Scrymgeour, V.U.C., 1939.)—8. G. Stanley (0.U.) 1, J. C. Hawk (V.U.C.) 2, J. D. Sinclair (0.U.) 3. Time, 15min 58sec. Women’s Relay (4 x 110 Yards).—Canterbury (N. Gourlay, I. Bartram, N. Nicholls, and J. Mac Gibbon) 1, Otago 2, Auckland 3, Time, 56 4-ssec. Relay Race, 440 yards, 2 x 220 and 880 yards (Record, 3min 37 2-ssec, Canterbury, 1940.)—Otago (J. F. Gwynne, D. F. Tracey, G. J. Peterson, and J. M. Gray) 1, Canterbury 2, Auckland 3. Women’s High Jump (Record, sft Ilin, M. M. Bell, Canada, 1938.) —L. Black (C.U.C.) 1, J. Mac Gibbon (C.U.C.) 2. Height, 4ft 6in.