ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 15, 12 October 1927, Page 8

ATHLETICS

(By

“Spike.”)

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. October 24.—Labour Day Committee’s meeting, at Newtown Park. October 27.—Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. November s.—Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. November 11 and 12.—Auckland amateur championships. November 12. —Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. November 19 Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve.. Vovcmbcr 2G.—Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. December 3. —Otago track and field championships. December 9 and 10.—New Zealand amateur track and field championships, nt Christchurch. December 26, 27, 28, and 29.—Australian and New Zealand track, field, and decathlon championships, at Wellington. Busy Time Ahead. Athletics are faced with a heavy and important season. The local season opened auspiciously on Saturday last, and judging by the form displayed some fine performances should be recorded this year. The Australian and New Zealand championships are to be held in Wellington at Christmas time, and the New Zealand championship meeting at Christchurch early in December, and already the majority of prospective competitors have commenced training operations. Meetings, including electric light gatherings, will be held at regular intervals, and a lengthy programme has been approved by the centre. It is certain that championship medals will be difficult to win at tho New Zealand gathering. Wellington should be well represented. Gruelling Test. Amateur cyclists were put to a severe test on Saturday. The Palmerston North to Wellington race is recognised as one of the toughest in Australia and New Zealand. This is borne out by the admission of the winner, S. Lukey, that the course was one of the hardest he had yet ridden on, eclipsing the Timaru to Christchurch marathon. Lukcy’s performance was, undoubtedly, a sterling one. This young cyclist has a great future before him. He is to be sent to represent New Zealand in the Colac to Melbourne road race on November 19, and he will probably leave Wellington on November 1 by the Makura for Melbourne. He will carry with him the best wishes of every athlete in the Dominion. Lukey has sonic fine performances to his credit, having this year gained fastest time in the Canterbury 25 miles, 30 miles, and 53 miles road championships. He was also a competitor in the 50 miles New Zealand amateur road race held recently, but he had the misfortune to get a puncture when going well.

Webber, who was second in ‘ the big race, also put up a splendid performance, considering that he was “on his own” from Foxton to I’aekakariki. Webber was the veteran of the race, being 37 years of age, and is a returned soldier. G. 11. Farmer, of Christchurch,, the youngest competitor in the race, finished into eleventh place. More should yet be heard of him.

Competitor Disqualified. Because he displayed an advertisement on his jersey, a competitor in the cycle race, on Saturday, from Falmerston North to Wellington, was disqualified. Under new rules which were passed by the Netv Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, it was decided that all competitors must wear club, centre or New Zealand representative costumes, and that competitors rendered themselves liable to disqualification for exhibiting advertising matter on the costumes. Instructions were given to referees to report any offenders to the athletic centre concerned, which was given power to deal with the case as it thought fit. As a result of the disqualification on Saturday it is apparent that the centre has token a firm stand in connection with the matter.

Australians to Tour Dominion. After the Australian amateur championships at Wellington it is proposed to send two teams of Australian athletes to tour New Zealand, one to visit the Soiith Island and the other the North Island. The teams, which will probably comprise four men, will spend about two weeks on the proposed tour. Dominion Amateur Titles.

There was considerable discussion at the quarterly meeting of the Canterbury centre, on the proposal to hold the 100 yards mile, and 100 yards women’s title events at English Park Stadium in conjunction with the cycle title races at the New Zealand amateur championships ou December 9 and .10. The Otago, M ellington and Wanganui Centres approved the suggestion, which has been adopted, subject to the ground being in satisfactory condition.

Still Going Strong. - Recently it was reported that Miss N. Eastwood, the Gisborne lady athlete, who has registered some very fine performances, had retired from the track. IX nting to Mr. L. A. Tracy, secretary of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, Air. O. Paltridge of Gisborne, denies this, and states that Alisa Eastwood has been training for some weeks in preparation for the coming season. She intends to run at the New Zealand championship meeting at Christchurch in December, and to compete m Wellington on her way to the championships. Condition of Flett.

Cyril Flett, the Wellington champion cyclist, who met with a bad accident two months ago, is reported to be making good progress. He returned last week from a short stay in Christchurch. Flett hopes to be again on the track in time for the New Zealand championships. General Notes. This year will be the jubilee year of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club. E. B. AlcKenzie this year is going to be Canterbury’s hope in the walking races (says the "Christchurch Sun.”) He has a fine style, absolutely fair, and is training conscientiously. 11. D. Morgan, ex-New Zealand 440 yards hurdles champion, has started training operations, and intends to pay special attention to the 120 yards and 440 yards events this season. The Wellington Club has decided to invite the Gisborne lady athletes to oompete at an afternoon or electric light sports meeting, to be conducted by the club. A now amateur athletic club has been formed in Palmerston North. Several of the members are footballers, >who will now be kept together and be provided with healthy exercise during the summer. It is possible (says the "Christchurch Sun”) that a proposal will be made to hold the Canterbury championships in February instead of November, trials being held for the selection of a team for the New Zealand title meeting. The Auckland Centre of the. New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has taken up S festival scheme with the object of "improving the financial position of the centre and of the affiliated clubs in the province. Ten per cent, of the net profits will be set apart for the benefit of the centre, and the bai-

ance will be divided pro rata between U E C B. bS E. Taylor (Christchurch) will be unable to devote any time to senoM training until after the university examinations in November, and may, in consequence, be not at his forll e Dominion championships t piton Times”). At tho university sports lie performed well in the field .events, winning the high and gaining nnd nlace in 120 yards hurdles. IDs lorm in the high jump was impressive, and Im shaped well. Ilis best effort was a 10 In reply fi fo the secretary of the New Zealand Council has informed the Canterbury Centre that cil has not yet paid any part of the interertor capital of the Bose fund to the Olympic Games Association but that it is expected the interest of the amount which is invested at present, will be paid to the association eventually. The ceifa tre decided to disapprove of any amount being paid out until all the centres had expressed an opinion. A field of about 300 boys faced the Starter in the Mount Albert Grammar School annual steeplechase. The race over a course of nearly three miles, was keenly contested, though the winner (JGraen) won easily in a time only five seconds short of the school record. The toys who did not run were considerably outnumbered by those who did. It was surprising to see the number of small boys among the first “New Zealand Herald. The winner* time wa s 16min. 48sec. , It is understood that the names of the New Zealand team to compete in m Australian and New Zealand champio - ships in Wellington at Christmas, wIU bo presented to the council of the * Amateur Athletic Association at a special meeting on December 13. , N I' Cooper’s performances of late stamp him a» a . likely to win Dominion fame (says the Auckland “Sun”). With Kells back to form bv next winter, and Savidan still going strong. Auckland’s prospects of winning back provincial honours In ( the jO.OtIO metros race, are particularly bright. More will yet ho heard of the Savidan-Kells-Cooner trio. A feature of the sports meeting at Auckland on < Saturday week was the rnnning of Savidan. in the 100 yards and 440 yards hondicaps- Startin’ off the 1mark, lie won the former in 10 2-sSoe., nnd I'pi also annexed the 440 yards hand.ican from tho 10 yards mark, after a pavticnlarlv gruelling The movement for special training.in view of the New Zealand championships in December is being well supported (says tho "Otngo Daily Times ), and promises to lead io prood results. Although B. Geddis, the Otago 109yds. and 220yds. champion, may be. a competitor at the provincial championships, it is regarded as unlikely that he will be able to represent Otago at. the New Zealand championships at Christchurch. Geddis is Otago’s best sprinter, and Ins defection will leave a pan in the team unless someone els* should come tn at the championship meeting in December. says “Pistol," in the "Evening Star." , , , R. W. lander, the New Zealand champion hurdler, and a prospective candidate for inclusion in the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games, made his first appearance, at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon, since returning to Wellington from Dunedin. He only managed to secure third place in the handicap event, although he cleared the "sticks" in beautiful style.