Another Success For B. Jones

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 10

Another Success For B. Jones

The 22-year-old University athlete, B. Jones, brilliantly won the Canterbury mile title on Saturday in a fighting finish with B. Smith (Technical) and J. 1). Macdonald (Riccarton.

Jones thus added the mile title to the 10 miles road, six miles and three miles championships he has won this season. Officials were unable to recall a similar series of wins in the province’s athletic history. The winning time of 4min 12.3 see was not outstandingly fast but if conditions had been less blustery, Jones would undoubtedly have gone much closer to A. G. Pyne’s record of 4min 6.9 sec. Smith and Macdonald, second and third, respectively, were only a split second behind the winner, both being’ credited with the same time of 4min 12.4 sec. Jones realised he had to set an early fast pace if he was to triumph over the strong finishing sprints of Smith and Macdonald and he conducted his tactics accordingly. M. Jones (Technical) went to the front at the gun but Jones had gathered him in by the 220 yd mark. The first 220 yards was covered in 31sec and the first lap time came up in 61.6 sec. Jones still had the lead at the completion of the second lap and returned 2min 7sec. He was followed closely in line by Smith, Macdonald, M. Jones and J. Power (Christchurch). Macdonald Leads Macdonald made his move down the back straight on the third lap and as the field came past the start-finish he narrowly led Smith and Jones. These three were then five yards clear of the main bunch led by Power. The time for the three laps was 3min Usee. As the trio approached the final 220 yards mark. Smith moved to the front. Jones delayed his sprint until the final 100 yards and then slowly moved up on the outside. In the last 10 yards he took the lead to cross the line barely half a yard ahead of Smith who was in turn inches in front of Macdonald. Close Rivalry One of the features of the day was the continuation of the close rivalry between the two Toe H competitors, M. Walls and K. Simpson. They met in two events, Walls winning the 220 yards hurdles and Simpson the long jump. In the long jump, Simpson had to go within half an inch of his record with a leap of 22ft Ilin to win his first senior title. The 1964 champion. Wails, improved on his winning jump last season with an excellent 22ft 3|in but this was only good enough for third place. The 220 yards hurdles was an

even closer struggle. Simpson led in the early stages but in the final run to the tape Walls just managed to edge him out and retain his title. Records Fall Three other records apart from Mackenzie’s open 440 yards time were established during the day. G. McKechnie (St. Andrew’s) broke Mackenzie’s listed record for the junior 440 yards of 50.5 sec with a new time of 50.4 sec (McKechnie already has a time of 50.4 sec awaiting ratification). A. Gilmour (Technical) broke the third 440 yards record of the day when he established a new time of 53.8 sec in the under 15 non-championship event.

Toe H lowered the junior 4 by 110 yards relay record by .2sec with a time of 44.35ec. The old record was held by High School Old Boys. Final athletics championship points are:—

Senior Men.—University 43, Toe H 40, Technical 31, High School 20, Riccarton, Army 10, Greymouth 9, South Canterbury 6, Marist, Ashburton, Waimate 5; Christchurch, Temuka 4; Shirley 3, Rangiora, Methven, Westonians 1. Senior W’omen.—Technical 99, Geraldine 8, Shirley 6, South Canterbury, New Brighton 2.

Junior Men. —Technical 39, Toe H, Riccarton 25, High School 22, St. Andrew’s 20, Lovelock 18, Marist 9, Ashburton 6, Christ’s College 5, McKenzie 4, Westonians 3, Shirley, South Canterbury, St. Martins 1.