H. Neeson Showed Much Potential

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 11

H. Neeson Showed Much Potential

rpHE season for running, A jumping and throwing things is now well past although it is perhaps still appropriate to reflect on the performances and potential of Canterbury’s junior athletes. There were many fine efforts but it is doubtful if any was more noteworthy than that of the young Ric-

carton competitor, Hubert Neeson.

Neeson is not gifted with the natural build of a middle distance runner, he is comparatively short and his legs are not long. But what he loses in length of stride he makes up for in sheer determination. Under the able coaching of J. D. Macdonald, the Canterbury steeplechase champion, he blossomed out into a first rate athlete in a few short months and by the end of the season was even making his presence felt in the few senior events he contested.

Undoubtedly his “finest hour” was during the New Zealand senior athletic

championships at Palmerston North. His entry in the 3000 metres steeplechase was simply to gain experience and nobody, least of all the Canterbury supporters, expected him to do better than finish in the middle of the field.

He started slowly and in the opening laps kept near the rear of the field. Only when Canterbury’s big hope for the title, Macdonald, dropped back dramatically did he make a move. He went up through the field, sensationally finishing in third place after turning in a blistering final lap. Had the race lasted another few yards he would probably have taken second place. His time of 9min 36sec was good for the soft conditions but was well below his best, 9min 21.8 see, set during the Canterbury championship. At the time it was set this was fastest time in Canterbury for either a junior or senior. However, senior pride was only temporarily injured for Macdonald reduced this time still further in the Canterbury open championships, held later in the day. Other achievements during the season were a first in the Canterbury junior three miles championship in 14min 47.45ec, and a second placing in the New Zealand junior three-mile championship at Dunedin. On this occasion he was beaten by the outstanding West Coast North Island athlete, L. Boosey, by less than 4sec. His time, a good one, was 14min 27sec.

While Neeson has had the greatest success with the steeplechase, he has performed with credit over distances from the mile to three miles and his development is by no means finished yet. No doubt he will make an even greater impression next season.