Sportsman’s Notebook Changes In Road Running Standards

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 16

Sportsman’s Notebook Changes In Road Running Standards

The introduction of a C grade standard certificate for performances achieved in road running events has resulted in little relaxation of the standards already in existence.

In two cases the standards for the C grade, introduced this season and just announced by the Canterbury Road Runners' Association, are fractionally slower than the former B grade standards while the other are identical with the old B grade standards. No C grade standard has been approved for either the one hour race or the 50 miles, where both the A and B grade standards are unaltered. On the other hand the A and B performances to qualify for certificate awards have been toughened to meet the rising standard of performances. The introduction of a C grade certificate award has retained an incentive for the runners of more modest ability or the younger athlete on the way up. The new standards with the old marks in parenthesis are: — Six Miles.—A grade, 31:45 (32:30); B grade. 33:00 (35:00); C grade, 36:00. Ten Miles.—s4:3o (56:00): 57:00 (62:00); 63:00. 15 Miles.— 1:26:00 (1:28); 1:30:00 (1:40:00); 1:40:00. 20 Miles.— 158:00 (2:02:00); 2:05:00 2:20:00); 2:20:00. Marathon <26 miles 385 yards) 2:40:00 (2:45:00); 2:50:00 (3:12:00); 3:12:00. No changes have been announced for a number of other “standards” notably the onehour race (A grade, 10 miles 1250 yards; B grade, 9 miles 1200 yards), and the 50 miles (A grade, 6:15:00; B grade, 7:30:00). * ¥ ¥

League Victory

The Australian Rugby League team has won the series against Great Britain for the first time. In 1911 the “Australian” team which beat Great Britain contained four New Zealand players to strengthen the side. The only other touring team to win a series in Great Britain was the original New Zealand team, led by H. Baskerville, in 1908.

The former Australian fullback and captain, W. K. Barnes, said in a direct broadcast from Swindon after the game that "the Australian performance could not have been bettered by any team in the world.” He gave as the reasons for victory the

great speed of the Australian backs and the penetration of J. Raper. K. Day and N. Kelly in the forwards. Barnes said that the injured captain and half-back, A J. Summons, was the driving force behind the victories. The 20 points scored by the inside centre G. Langlands is second only in test matches to the 22 points scored by the former New Zealand fullback, D. H. White. White kicked 11 goals when New Zealand defeated Australia, 49-25, in the second test in 1952. In the two tests Langlands has scored 33 points. This is 15 behind the record held by B. L. Jones (Great Britain) against France in the 1956-57 series. The 50 points scored by Australia is the highest for that country against Great Britain. Australia’s highest test score is the 54 points scored against South Africa earlier this year.

Candidate

The St. Albans Swimming Club has nominated one of its officials, Mr S. Williams, for the post of manager of the New Zealand team to the Australian junior championships this season. An able

and hard working administrator, Mr Williams is a member of the management committee of the Canterbury Swimming Centre and represents Waikato on the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. He is also the Canterbury centre’s representative on the Water Polo Control Board. Mr Williams was manager of the Canterbury team at the 1962 national championships at Naenae. ¥ ¥ ¥ Competition Sought The New Zealand Water Polo Board hopes the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia will permit it to enter a national team in the Australian state water polo championships early next year. The proposal has the backing of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The board’s purpose in making the approach was to provide New Zealand players with further incentives to train for representative honours and to give them the best match practice available with the possibility of Olympic competition in mind.