ATHLETICS P. Snell Sets New West Coast Half-Mile Record

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 13

ATHLETICS P. Snell Sets New West Coast Half-Mile Record

New Zealand's 800 metres Olympic champion runner, P. Snell created a new West Coast record of Imin 54.35ec for the half mile, when he appeared at an invitation meeting arranged by the Greymouth Amateur Athletic Club at the War Memorial Park on Saturday evening. This was an exceptionally good performance as Snell had a heavy cold and the track was dead after heavy overnight rain. Prior to the start, Snell estimated that he would cover the distance in Imin 55sec after he had had a look at the track. How accurate was his estimation was subsequently shown by the fact that he ran twofifths of a second faster than he thought he would. Conceding starts of up to 10 yards, J. W. Taylor, of Auckland, proved himself a sprinter out of the ordinary by winning the 100 yards invitation handicap in 10 seconds. This equalled the West Coast record.

The meeting was held in the evening in bright sunshine, and it drew a very large attendance. Snell was the centre of attraction, naturally, but great interest was also taken in the efforts of the other three Aucklanders who were flown down to Greymouth by special aircraft.

In the half-mile, Snell was content to allow his opponents to make the pace until going along the back straight for the last time. Then he made a forward move, but G. Morris, of Westport, made a gallant effort to extend the champion, with whom he measured strides for 50 yards before submitting. Snell then forged ahead to run home an easy winner by between 30 and 40 yards. Snell’s beautiful, smooth action was greatly admired by the crowd, and it was an education to the younger members of the Greymouth club. The champion was accorded a fine ovation as he crossed the line.

In the mile event, G. Philpott, of Auckland, had to concede a start of 150 yards to the promising Greymouth colt, E. Gray, and he found this a little too much. B. Smith, of Canterbury, handicapped at 30 yards, elected to start from scratch with the Aucklander. Smith acted as pacemaker for over three laps, but the back-markers made little impression upon Gray and C. McDonnell (off 75 yards) until going along the back the last time. It was then that Philpott left his co-marker and he finished with rare dash to get within 30 yards of the winner, Gray, who covered the distance in 4min 22.45ec. Philpott’s time was tain 18.8 sec, which was very good on the soft track. Taylor followed up his win in the 100 yards by winning the 440 yards invitation scratch race from Philpott and Snell, who competed out of their best distances in order to make up the field. Taylor won from Philpott by two yards in the good time of Sl.lsec. Snell was another two yards away, third. Philpott had run in the mile less than 10 minutes earlier. A very impressive per-

iformance was given by J. Robinson, of Auckland, in winning the three miles by a wide margin in 14min 34sec. S. Payne, of Canterbury, ran behind the Aucklander for more than two miles, but could not maintain the steady pace set by the northern champion. A. Steel, of Canterbury, proved himself a sprinter of ability by finishing second to Taylor in the 100 yards, less than two yards away. Later Steel won the 220 yards easily in 22.75ec. Taylor did not take part in this race, reserving himself for the quarter-mi le. The meeting concluded with a 440 yards relay race which took place almost immediately after the quartermile. The Auckland team, of Philpott, Robinson. Snell and Taylor, generously competed, but for some reason they were handicapped on scratch and were asked to concede ten yards start to Canterbury, and fifteen yards to the West Coast team. This appeared strange, considering that the Auckland team contained only one sprinter. It was no surprise, therefore, that the Aucklanders finished last. Nevertheless, they were accorded a very fine ovation at the conclusion of the meeting. Over the loud speaker, the president of the Greymouth club (Mr T. Sweeney) thanked the visitors for their efforts, and wished them every success at the New Zealand championships in March, and also at the British Empire Games in Perth later on. The following were the results, the competitors being from Greymouth unless otherwise stated:— 100 Yards Women’s Handicap.—A. Skates 1, N. McDonnell 2, V. McDonnell 3. Time, 12.5 sec. 100 Yards Men’s Handicap —J. Taylor (Auckland) scr 1, A. Steel (Canterbury) scr 2, K. McNee, 7yds, 3. Women’s Discus Throw.— B. Diahington 1, V. McDonnell 2. Distance, 88ft sin. 220 Yards Men’s Scratch Race.—A. Steel (Canterbury) 1, R. Woolhouse 2, J. Eathorne 3. Time, 22.75ec. 880 Yards Men’s Invitation Race.—P. Snell (Auckland» I, G. Morris (Westport) 2. G. Wade (Canterbury) 3. Three Miles Men’s Scratch Race.—J. Robinson (Auckland) 1, S. Payne (Canterbury) 2, D. McKenzie 3 Time, Itain 34sec. Long Jump.—Men: Senior. J. Harnett 1. Distance. 19ft lOjin. Junior, R. Woolhouse 1, C. Maher 2, L. Brown 3. Distance. 20ft 9jin. One Mile Handicap, Men.— E. Gray (150yds) 1, C. MsDonnell (75yds) 2, G. Philpott (Auckland 3. Time, tain 22.45ec. 75 Yards Women’s Handicap.—N. McDonnell 1. A. Skates 2, J. Muir 3. Time. 9.3 sec. 440 Yards Men’s Scratch Race.—J. W. Taylor (Auckland) 1, G. Philpott (Auckland 2), P. Snell (Auckland) 3, Time, 51.1 sec. 440 Yards Men’s Relay.— Canterbury (10yds) 1, West Coast (15yds) 2, Auckland (scr) 3. Time, 45.8 sec. J. Eathorne, West Coast’s last runner was caught by Steel a few yards short of the tape.