AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 17

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

FIELD DAY AT ATHLETIC PARK. With the hope of giving a much-needed stimulus to field events, the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held a special informal and instructional meeting on Saturday afternoon at Athletic Park. There is no doubt whatever that for the comparatively few who were present the outing was very profitable indeed. The shot-putters and discus-throwers were lucky to have P. Munro and J. McHolm on the ground with plenty of authoritative advice. Great interest was taken in' both of these events. In the former, Munro himself reached over 39 feet, while several promising men stretched out to the neighbourhood of 34 feet. The question of style was discussed, illustrations of correct action being given by Munro and MeHolm, and athletes who were present were shown plainly how identical are the foundations of every correct style although to a superficial observer they may have little in common. In the discus-throwing, which, like subsequent work with the javelin, was not at all helped by the strong wind, Munro was again well ahead with 121 feet, but several of the younger men put up a good showing, including .W. Ingram, a keen competitor in events which have little support. In the long jumping, which was done with the wind, D. Barker headed the list with 20ft. 4in. Mexted and L. M. McGreevy were also well to the fore. This is an event which needs the best coaching, .available. Mistakes can be made at almost any point. A good coach, working on the material present on Saturday afternoon, could do a gteat deal for the jumpers- and for the pfovince as a whole. •In the hop step, and jump, several competitors showed surprisingly good form, especially McGreevy, who reached 42ft..9Ln. in excellent style. He is admirably built for such events as these and should go a long way. The high jump was more popular than any . other event on the programme. Several men reached the sft. mark, but conditions on-the. whole were bad. Practice was done with the javelin, and quite a number of runners were oiit training. One or two were training over the hurdles, including W. Campbell, who is finding a little difficulty in maintaining his swing to the end of the long hurdle event. His form is good, and he is improving all the time.