ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 75, 22 December 1926, Page 8

ATHLETICS

(By

“Spike.”)

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. December 27. —Sports at Petone. , January I.—Sports at Lower Hutt. January I.—Country clubs championships, Dannevirke. January I.—Sports at Paraparaumu. January B.—Night meeting. Basin Reserve. January 29—Wellington Provincial Championships, Athletic Park. February 10 and 12.—New Zealand Championships, Athletic Park. Notes on Saturday’s Sleeting. If the officials of the Wellington Centre bad been given their choice of the weather, they could not have selected a more perfect evening for their electric light meeting at the Basin Reserve on Saturday last. The track was in excellent condition, and fine performances were witnessed by a crowd estimated to be in the vicinity of 5000. Making his first local appearance on tlie track since his overseas tour, Randolph Rose bad no difficulty in winning the two miles flat handicap. There can be no doubt in the minds of those who witnessed the race that lie has benefited greatly bv the experience lie gained on the cinder tracks of Europe, and by coming in contact with Dr. Peltzer (Germany) others. He is now running more erect, getting more power out of his long stride, and his action is not so cumbersome. Tn the two mile event he covered the dis’tance in 4min. 35sec., and the full distance in 9min. 35 l-ssec.—4 4-ssec. outside the New Zealand record. . That Jenkins is fast approaching his best form was demonstrated when, although defeated by his old rival, Leadbetter, in the 100 yards, he put up an excellent performance. He should go close to regaining the New Zealand championship title this season. The Flying Victorian. The following are the records (motorpaced) which were put up recently by R. W. Lamb, the Victorian amateur champion cyclist:— Mile time. Gross time. Miles. Sec. Min. Sec. 1 55 1-5 55 1-5 2 55 1-5 1 50 1-5 3 54 4-5 2 45 4 55 3 40 5 57 4 37 6 55 3-5 5 32 3-5 7 55 2-5 6 28 ' 8 55 723 9 55 8 18 : Lamb’s previous world’s record for nine miles was 9min. 3 l-ssec. Gisborne Team to Visit Wellington. The Napier club has an ambitious programme in view for some time in January (says an exchange). During that month the Gisborne team visits Wellington again, and the Napier enthusiasts intend to intercept them on the way down and give them a gallop again on McLean Park. The Poverty Bay tourists then go on to Wellington, and they bring back with them the Wellington team, who are to pay a return visit

to Gisborne. The local club is making efforts to arrange for the ( Wellington team to break their journey and also appear in Napier. Should the proposal become effective Napier will be fortunate in seeing a galaxy of talent among the Wellington cracks. Why America Leads. “A lot of people think you have ts go to America to get good trainers,” said J. W. McHolm,' in the course of a recent lecture on athletics. “When I asked Matt McGrath, the American hammer-thrower, about it, he said: ‘They know as much about running in England as they do in America, but they don’t put the same interest in it. They don’t go to it. They take it more like fun. They are not as sen-, ous as we are in America.’ ” McHolm pointed out that in America there is such a crowd in the game that a man has to be serious to get anywhere. Men were kept at the colleges by wealthy parents just so that they could make names for themselves in athletics. Of late, however, a stricter education test has been made for entrance to the colleges. High Jump Champion. L. M. Mason, of the Hawthorn Harriers, the ’ Australasian high-jump champion, is seldom seen in Melbourne these days. The reason is that he works hard with his brothers on their farm in the Sale district Yet he does not neglect his training. After putting in twelve hours’ solid work on the plough or the harvester he gets into his togs for practice. Even then he can clear six feet. Mason is not as skilful a stylist as the highly-train-ed Americans arc. He depends almost entirely on his tremendous spring. If he could acquire the roll style no doubt he would beat his own Australasian record handsomely (says a Melbourne paper). His recent success in Brisbane is still fresh in the minds of amateur athletes. He leaped 6 feet inches, ■ breaking Lester Kelly’s Australasian record. A Promising Runner. G S. Cabot came to light on Saturday and won the half-mile and mile events (says the “Otago Daily Times”). His worth as a walker is undisputed, and this versatile athlete is taking to the running events with no little success. When it comes to a question of fitness Cabot is superior to the average local athlete. Phil. O’Shea’s Movements.

Phil. O’Shea’s injured shoulder has improved a great deal during tlie last couple of weeks, and he may commence training again immediately. It is doubtful if' he will be well enough to race until after the holidays (reports the Christchurch “Sun”).

Canterbury Championships. The Canterbury championships have been set down for January 29 at English Park.