ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 5, 30 September 1922, Page 15

ATHLETICS.

(By

“Caducous”.)

THE SPRINGBOKS AT HOME

The test meeting on the Athletic Park is so fresh in memory as to bo a happening of but a few weeks back, and yet in the meantime the Springboks have wintered at home and are now well in the tliick of a new season. Shortly after their return, Oosterlaak. at'Pretoria- .was respons-

ible for several fine performances, notI 1 ably a 300 yards in 31 l-ssec., a South African record, and there was talk of sending him straight away for the English championships, but time was ' too short, j Writing to me at the time he mentioned that his next important meeting would be the Natal championships at Ladysmith on August .7, in which he would defend the provincial 22D yards title against Howard Kinsman. Oosterlaak realised the task he had ahead'of him in meeting the young Natalian on his own track. I am indebted' to that goodsportsman, Ira Emery, for a full account of the gathering, which could, not have been .held under more unfavourable condi; jtions. 'Heavy rain fell all through (the meeting and for 24 hours previously, the track being submerged In places and the going treacherous. Under such conditions, Kinsman’s three yards defeat of Oosterlaak in 22 3-ssec. for the furlong championship wan a startling performance—one that definitely places him m the veryfront rank. On the same day he finished third from 1 yard in a hundred yards handicap in 10 2-ssec., Johnston, on 5 yards, being second. The winner (off 7 yards) was Kinsman’s brother.

The half-mile championship was a splendid race between Leathern, Johnston, and Oldfield (present South African quarter-milo champion). It was an interesting race, but ,Leathern’s 'judgment stood to him, and'at the finish he won comfortably in 2min., ssec. Johnston made his run too early—a .bad habit noticeable in. his quarters over here.

Bukes, after running third to Kinsman and Oosterlaak in the furlong championship, ran a good race from scratch in a handicap over the same distance. At one stage he appeared to have the race won, but was badly bumped and spiked.

The relay race was won easily by the Ladysmith team, consisting of two Leatherns and two Kinsmans —quit© a family party.

The change of climate has done E. G. Sutherland fio harm. At this meeting he won the high jump (sft. Bin.), the pole vault, and broad jump, and a 75yds. hurdles handicap from owes 7yds., besides finishing second in the shot. He should be a worthy representative of South Africa in the Decathlon at the next Olympic Games.

Sneaking of the Olympic Games, Mr. Emery' informs me that already the South African Olympic Association, of jvhich he is secretary, has gathered in pome £3OOO towards the expenses of fche 1924 team for Paris, and that another £5OOO will be collected.