ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 86, 6 January 1926, Page 7

ATHLETICS

[By

Spike.]

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES: January 16—Second Dewar Shield meet-

ing. January 22 —Masterton A.A.C. January 22—Porirua A.A.C. . . January 30—Wellington Provincial Championships.

Jackson Scholz and Lloyd Hahn, the two American athletes whoso tour m the Dominion is being so eagerly awaited, arrived at Auckland on Monday by the Niagara from Vancouver. Hahn had travelled the full journey, but Scholz had connected with the vessel at Honolulu, where he had arrived some weeks earlier. Both men will carry out training operations at Auckland preparatory to their opening meeting at Hamilton on January 16. “Owing to the unsatisfactory manner in which walking is judged in Wellington,” writes a correspondent (“Disheartened”), “I hear there are a lot of athletes who intend giving up this branch of the sport. Tonkins and Blair, I learn, have decided to make their last walk on January 30. Something should be done quickly by the centre in order to prevent walking from going back and from the loss of the promising athletes mentioned.” [“Spike” has already thrown out the suggestion in this column that tho centre should hold a conference ot the judges, and draw up a comprehensive set of rules, to be strictly observed and not departed from, fie repeats it. I It seems that M. I’. Byrnes, the IG-year-old Auckland Grammar School boy, who encountered such success at the recent provincial championships, is without equal in tho Auckland district; he is the undisputed champion. Wellington at tho present time possesses some use-

fid riders, and Canterbury can muster a few, so that the racing at the Dominion championships this year should be better than ever. Tho local contingent which visited l’araparaumu on Friday put up an excellent performance, the members winning most of tho events. Whyte won the broad and high jumps; Nicholls, the mile walk; Scents, the 410 yards open; and Montgomery, the junior quarter and half miles; Miss Collins, tho 120 yards ladies; Welploy, the junior furlong; Phillips, the junior hundred; Leech, the mile; and Olympic the relay event. At the Wairarapa Caledonian meeting at Masterton, on New Year’s day, E. K. Eastwood won the 120 yards Caledonian provincial championship, 100 yards handicap, and dead-heated with F. A. Williams in the 110 yards handicap. T. Oakley had it all his own way in the cycling events, winning tho twomile provincial championship, and the mile and three-mile handicaps from scratch. The two-mile flat handicap championship was run in driving sleet. Ilcffer hung to Rose until the hist lap, when tho Australasian champion drew away to win by 20 yards in lOmin. 23 4-ssec. , . , , Tho preliminary programme wmeh has been drawn uji for the second Dewar Shield meeting, to bo held at Athletic Park at 2.30 p.m. on January 1G next, promises a real feast of good things for athlete and spectator alike. Entries can now bo lodged with Handicapper Kitto, but tho last must bo to hand by January 8. Hci'o is a list of the events, which total in all twenty-two.-— 100 yards junior handicap, 220 yards handicap, 440 yards handicap, 880 yards handicap, 440 yards handicap, three-mile handicap, one-mile walk, 4111 yards hurdles, throwing tho discus handicap, high jump handicap, long jump handicap, one-mile novice cycle handicap, onemile cycle handicap, two-milo cycle handicap,’ three-milo cycle handicap. 100 yards ladies’ handicap, 120 vtirds ladies ’handicap, "00 yards motor-tire race, 4M vards motor-tire race. 880 yards hovs walk, ladies’ relay race, inter-club relay race.

Why the Query? IVcllingtonians will join in congratulating the Halswell (5.1.) Club on its first meeting under the banner ot amateurism. According to reports from the south there seems to bo no doubt, as far as Halswell is concerned, that amateur athletics and cycling have made a big advance this season, and the attendance at the club’s meeting on the Halswell Domain during the holiday period is regarded ns a bright criterion. The tracks, however, were stated to bo rough, yet fast, and in the opinion of some enthusiasts several of the times given out were impossible —either the timekeepers were faulty or the distances short. Referring to leadbetter’s seemingly remarkable performance, a writer in a southern paper says: "The principal race of the day was the Canterbury 300 Yards Championship, in which M. Leadbetler, ol Wellington, New Zealand’s star sprinter, was a starter. C. 11. Taylor, iormer Australian and New Zealand middle distance champion, was also a starter. Leadbetter went away from the field at (he start, and won with ease, Taylor being second. S. IT. Truman, who is sprinting into great form, was third. Though T.eadhctter demonstrated that ho is a lino sprinter, the time which was recorded. 30 3-ssec„ is impossib'e. If it wore correct it would bo jlist. 2-5 sec., outside the world’s record, which, though it mav not be officially recognised. stands to the credit of the great American. Charles Paddock, who registered 30 l-ssec. in 1921.’’ Levin’s Electric Light Meeting. It is satisfactory to record that the Levin Club’s electric light meeting on Saturday was a great success, the attendance being a record for the district. Wellington. Palmerston North ami'Wanganui were represented, and some excel'ent contests wore witnessed. Wel’ington’s colours wore carried by •Tonkins and Hill on the track Robinson with tho cycle, ii. addition tn the ’adies’ relay race, the members of which accounted for the placings in .ill the ladies’ o-ents on Iho pro- . gram”". A familiar face among tno

cyclists was that of E. J. Blakeway, of Christchurch, who will bo remembered by Wellingtonians as a hard rider anti one who would make a race of anything. While Blakeway was here ho showed great promise, and with sufficient coaching of the right sort he should wheel his way into the first flight of riders. He found , the handicaps against him at Levin. Tho star performer of the meeting was R. Hamilton, who, with somewhat generous handicaps, won the 100yds., 44ft yds., high jump and was second in the furlong, the winner of which was llill, the 'Varsity sprinter. No fewer than three cups were secured by Hamilton. while the cup and prize for cycling points went to G. A. Dunn. , hollowing woro the results of the pr’ncipni events: MO Yards Handicap.—R. Hamilton (11yds.), 1; F. S. Hill (51yds.), 2; C. 11. Jenkins (Iyd.), 3. Jenkins’s chances were ruined through a competitor crossing his tracks. Time, 10 2-ssec. 220 Yards Handicap.—F. S. Hill ill yds.), 1; It. Hamilton (20yds.), 2; C. H. Jenkins (2yds.), 3. Won comfortably. Time, 22 3-ssec. ■IM Yards Handicap—R. Hamilton (40 yds.). 1; A. E. Cunningham (.•'.syds.), 2; O. Scotncv (18yds.), 3. Eight starters. Time, 50 3-ssec. 880 Yards Handicap.—J. A. Pawson (GOyds.), 1; O. Scotncv (30yds.), 2; L. G. Coulter (GOyds.), 3. Uix starters, lime, 2min. 3 4-ssec.

One Mile Ilandiean.-P. A. Pawson (UOvdsA. 1: L. G. Coulter (ItOyds.). 2; W. T. ’Whelan (110yds.), 3. Five starters. Time. 4min. 35scc. 100 Yards Ladies' Handicap.—Hiss Collins (Ivd.). 1; Miss Porter (2yds.), 2; Miss Iranian (Iyd.). 3. Seven starters. A close finish. Time. 13see. 120 Yards Ladies’ Handicap—Miss Collins (2vds.), 1; Miss Porter (2yds.), 2; Miss Mantan (21yds.). 3. Another close finish. Time. 14. 3-ssec. 410 Yards Ladies’ Relay Race. —Wellington, 1; Waikanne. 2. Time. 58 3-ssec. Hop, Sten and Jumn Handicap.—O. Scotncv (Ift.), 40ft. 7in„ 1; 11. Udy Tscr.), 35ft., 2; R. A. Buchanan (scr.), 34ft. 9in„ 3. Broad Jump—H. Udy (scr.), 17ft. Ilin., 1; W. i. Cunningham (Ift.), 17ft. Ilin., 2; R. Young (2ft.), 16ft. Gin., 3. High Jump.—R. Hamilton (4iji.), sft. 2in., 1; R. A. Buchanan (scr.), 4ft. lOin., Half-mile Cycle Handicap.—H. Powell ffiOvds.), 1; A.’M. Sinclair (EO.vds.). 2; Tl. D.‘Richards (GOyds.), 3. Time, G2 2-ssec. Ono Milo Cycle Invitation S''ratch Race. —I’. N. Robinson. 1; J. L. Scobit, 2; J. Ericson, 3. Won easily. Time, 2min. 28 4-sscc. One Mile Cyclo Handicap.—G. A. Dunn (70yds.), 1; G. W. Gapper (GOyds.). 2: H. Powell (130yds.), !. Time, 2min. 15 2-ssec. Two Mile Clyde Handicap.—A. J. Tate ClOOyds.), 1; .f. D. Scobic (GOyds.), 2; IL Powell (200yds.), 3. Sixteen starters. Time, 4min. 40 2-ssec. Five Mile Cycle Handicap.—G. A. Dunn (220yds.), 1; J. Ericson (scr.), 2; A. N. Robinson (scr.), 3. Seventeen starters. In the hist lap one <>f the. competitors crossed in front of Robinson, who, in order to avoid a collision, swerved in front of Ericson. Robinson finished in second place, but a protest was lodged and the placings were reversed.

Canterbury Stars. Stars appearing in Hie Canterbury athletic firmament at the present time are C. 11. Taylor, who is reported to bo effecting a good comc-bacK to the track; A. E. Lang, the champion middledistance runner; C. G. Mackwell, a promising sprinter; J. H. Nalder, u distance runner; and tho veteiau cyclist, S. C. Forrester. Competing at the llalswcll Club’s meeting Taylor finished strongly after Leadbetter in tho 300 yards title race, and made a great ran from, scratch in the quarter-mile handicap, which was won by C. L. Allen (10yds.). The time recorded was 51seo. A sprinter who has worked very hard to secure success is C. G. Mackwell, and ho gained his reward at the Halswell meeting in winning the 120 yards handicap and the 100 yards handicap, and getting third place in the 75 yards handicap. Ho is reoprted to have struck fine form, and can bo expected to prove dangerous in tho sprints for the rest of tho season. . “Rangy and rather awkward in stylo, A. E. Lang is C. H. Taylor’s successor as tho champion quarter and half-miler in amateur athletics in Canterbury, says a southern writer. “IVitli coaching lie should improve, for he is a strong runner, and ho has tenacity of purpose. His pluck was manifest at an evenin- meeting recently when ho tore through a field of 23 and won a •140 yards raco from scratch in 53 seconds. Ho is tho outstanding figure in the sport in Canterbury.” ... , "J. H. Nalder, although, he did not seem in the best of condition, won the Canterbury two-milo championship as lie pleased, and mainthined such a uaco that only S. J. Gudsell, of Ashburton,

followed him homo. Nalder should be striking form round about the dato Iho championships are held.’’ '‘Judging from the standard of the performances at the Halswell meeting the complimentary meeting which will bo held when (ho Americans visit Christchurch should produce something remarkable in performances. There is no doubt that the standard in Canterbury is improving. Apart altogether from Iho’ times that were given, the running was such that scratch men had very little chance of collaring places. S. C. Forrester, the cyclist, who was quite prominent at tho last Dominion meeting, hold his own at the Halswell meeting in scoring a narrow victory in the Canterbury two-mile championship. D. McLennan, the cash champion sprinter, is running particularly wel at present. From tho Iyd. mark ai Oamaru on Now A’ear’s Day lie won a heat of the 126yds. handicap in 11 4~> sec., and the final in 12scc. He ha-' been running most consistently jus, about "even time” In the sprint .vents.