ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 19

ATHLETICS

(By

“Miler.”)

COMING EVENTS. To-day. — Wellington Provincial championships at Athletic Park. January 21.—Cyclists’ evening meeting, Newtown Park. January 22.—Masterton A.A.C., Masterton. ' January 24. —Evening meeting (electric light), Newton Park. February 6 and 9.—Australasian championships at Hobart. All roads should lead to Athletic Park to-day for the Wellington provincial championships and MeVilly Shield competition. Incidentally the selectors will take the opportunity of finally running their eyes over the performers before announcing the remainder of the team to accompany R. A. Rose, P. Munro, and 11. E. Wilson to Hobart next week to compete m the Australasian championships. Of the several prominent performers from other parts of the Dominion who have been invited to attend to-day’s gathering, primarily for the purposes of a try-out to assist the selectors in making a careful choice, Morgan, the Otago champion, and Davidson (Auckland) will not appear to-day. Lewis (Canterbury) and Scott (Hawera), however, will be starters, and can bo counted upon to infuse pep into the events in which they start. Strong teams have been entered and with the excellent,/ arrangements that can be relied ujion, there can be no doubt as to the popularity of the championships'. Furthermore, the public will have the very rare opportunity _ of seeing the New Zealand representatives at their best in good company. The evening meeting held by the Wellington Club on Monday last at the Basin Reserve, gives a very good idea of what might be expected of the local athletes to-day as most of them have been in solid training lately. Leadbetter is going to bo a hard man for anyone to pass if his last performance can be taken as a criterion, his dash in the 100yds. being a good example. He should make the events in which he figures a speedy affair. C. Jenkins, the collegian, was also in great form when he reappeared at the Basin Reserve. He made the final sprint of. the relay . race a thrilling event when he not only held his distance against Tracy, but actually increased his lead. He received the baton about five yards before Tracv, but fin ished in great style with 12 yards to share. Of course Tracy must be considered a likely New Zealand representative to cross the Tasman on his recent showing. In the 220 yards he lias every chance in the world, is not by any means improbable that Scott, Hawera, would not be able to pass him over the “quarter.” H. E. Wilson gave a flash of his old form in his lieat in the 100 yards, which lie won by two clear yard's from the ono yard mark. In the relay race he galloped away from the rest of the field to deliver the first baton. It is extremely unfortunate that D. Paris received an injury to the knee which will not permit him to make an appearance again this season. However, he is perhaps wise in taking the spell, particularly as the origin of the trouble could not be traced. The cycling portion of to-day’s programme will create added interest on account of tho fine array of talent offering. S. Harrison, who has been giving away too much lately to enable him to do much good against men like Bright, and Davis, might be seen to better advantage to-day. C. Fleet is another local man who can be reied upon to make the others move. Flett and Bright have not a great deal between them, and they are both plodders. The ladies’ events are going to be keenly contested. It is probable that, the Henderson sisters will journey, from Levin, and they will keep things interesting if up to their _ usual form. It was pleasing to see Miss I£. Dawson back again on Monday evening after a somewhat lengthy spell. She is running well, but had not struck her best pace at’ the Basin, and might, find her wav to the tape among th«T placed ladies fo-dav. On the other hand. Miss M. Havvice is. developing a great turn of speed with plenty of reserve for the last few yards. Miss Swinburne. Miss This toll and Miss Posselt promose not to be lost sight of. Tim first race commences at 2.30 p.ra. On Tuesday (Anniversary Day) the Masterton Amateur Athletic Club has arranged an attractive programme under tho N.Z.A.A.A. rules, and th© first event is scheduled to take place at the park oval at 12.30 sharp. The 30 events include track, and field events in abundance and adequate provision has been made for ladies participating. Cyclists have a goodly portion of the programme. The 100 yards primary school boys’ championships will also lie dec’dcd with other events. The open relav race (teams of four) will be run over four distances, 880. 440. 220 and 220 yards. There are also twelve Highland events ' The council of tho . New Zealand A.A.A. expressed a wish at its last meeting that the president.of the association (Mr. A. T. Davies) should make the trip with the New Zealand team to Hobart, but it will not be known for a few dnvs whether or not he will accept tho position manager and representative on the Board'of Control. As president of the New Zealand parent bodv Mr. Davies should "O if possible. Failing that Mr. 4 C. Kitto should be urged to undertake the task as there are very few such close followers of athletics in the Dominion. If finance-..was the great obstacle, however, there seems to be nothing wrong with .sending, as . previously suggested. McHolm. who is almost a certaintv for the hammer throw and he could give the duties of manager almost the whole of his time, for the simple reason that he would not have to keep in training to the same extent as a track performer. It would be unwise to comment'.on the death, of Wilson’s hope of having his record recognised by the N.Z.- >\ A.A. Appnr°ntly the council thrashed it out and by a two to one majority were of opinion that Mr. Sievwright s motion to rescind the previous decision should be thrown out. After all, the conditions on tho day of the event which drew from the council remarks about it being “generally understood that Wihon’s record would, not be registered because of the wind” are a big factor for consideration, but a very bi" controversy would have been avoided if fhese illuminating references had come forward at the beginning instead of leaving athletes to imagine that the solo and only reason why tho record was i.-t ,-egistcrod: was because filo certificates nccomnanving the .application were not lodged, within tho prescribed time. AV'lson will have to try again.