AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 87, 6 January 1933, Page 13

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

The Sport in Wellington NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Hurdler.”) Coming Events. January 9—Evening meeting. Athletic club, Basin Reserve. January 16 —Evening meeting, Poneke club, Basin Reserve. January 21—Canterbury v. Wellington, Basin Reserve. January 23—Porirua A.A.C., Porirua. January 23 —Otaki A.A. and C.C.. Otaki. January 23—Masterton A.A.C., Masterton. February 25—Provincial championships, Basin Reserve. Wellington Club at Hastings. No athletic event has ever created more interest in Hustings than the contest for the Eteveneaux Relay Cup. which took place last Monday evening. Misses Sharp, Willson, Blatherwick, Millar, Hurley, and Purvis made the trip up. the first four being selected by Miss May Wilkins to represent the Wellington club in the star attraction. The Hastings club was represented by Misses Syme, Baker, Long, and Lean, who were the picture of fitness, and a credit to their coaches. ’ The Wellington runner^were evidently tired before they started,, the hot climate affecting them to some extent. Miss Millar only arrived on the ground an hour before the race, and at the end of a long trip from Wanganui.. The teams were introduced to the spectators by Mr. G. A. Maddison, president of the Hastings club, who. making a short speech of welcome, called for cheers, which were lustily given. Xhe Wellington girls won the toss, and ot course chose the inside lane. This running of a two-team relay race in lanes is not warranted, and to a large extent robbed the race of a good deal of interest, as it was impossible to estimate w hicli team was holding the advantage, lhe runners, too, were continually in their wrong lanes. , , . ... Miss E. Sharp earned the baton first for Wellington against Miss Syme. A good start was made, and as far as one could judge neither girl gniued any advantage. The second Hastings runner, Miss Baker, did not take the baton too well, and ran for about five yards in-her opponent’s (Miss Wilson’s) lane. Again the runners seemed about even at tne second change-over, and again the h eiliugton girls' handling of the. baton w* l ® superior. Miss Long (Hastings) had Miss Blatherwick (Wellington) against her, and once again it looked like even going When the last change-over took place Miss Millar had only about a> yard start of Miss Lean. The previous Hastings girls had therefore gained -some ground. Miss Leap caught Miss Millar in the first 50 yards, and, runnihg like a champion, won by five yards in olsec. The fairly large crowd present weie on their feet all the time the race was in progress, and gave the winners a Rreat reception on their meritorious victory. For future contests, and especially trom the experience gained, it would be far b - ter to run these events 'vitlioui Innes. Iso for one minute is it suggested that the Hastings girls received any advantage, toi ■on the night they were easily the better team, and fully deserved their win. The 100 yards invitation race was another fine contest. ' The starters, Miss Lean (scr.), Jli ss Syme (iyd.), Miss E. Sharp (Iyd.), Miss C. Millar (Wds.), Miss J. Willson (liyds ), Miss D. Hu>-tey (Uvds.). Miss Baker (2yds.). and Miss Blather wick (2iyds.). The start was.a good one, and the competitors were even to about the 75 yards mark, when it could be seen that Miss Lean and Miss Sharp were steadily asserting themselves. They breasted the tape almost • The first announced result was: ohaip, Lean. Hurlev, but after a while a collection was made, and Miss Lean was Blawd first. This undoubtedly was correct. Miss Sharp ran hei best race to date, and was not disgraced, as the time, 11 3-osec., „oes to nrove Miss Hurlev showed that she was worthy of atrial for the relay team by defeating Miller, Willson, and Blatheiwick. On the form shown by Miss Lean (provided she can retain it) she teoks a formidable opponent for Miss Thelma Keiich in the coming championship.events. In addition to these races a varied programme of events was put through in very quick time. The fields were good, though excessive handicapping did not make toi exciting finishes. , . . . The cycling events drew a surprisingly largo number of entries ed that under amateur «* hletlc r c ,°. r °] the cyclists are well cared foi and well satisfied. As in the running events the scratch men were hard done by and unable to get near the limit men. Milton Gane, late of Wellington, was present, but did not compete. , The officials of the Hastings club did everything possible to make the stay ot the Wellington team a pleasant one, and they succeeded right royally. Mr. and Mrs. Tour and Mr., Mrs., and Miss Lean weie particularly good in this respect. The visit will be long remembered by those whose privilege it was to make the tup. In conclusion a word or two may be said to the officials controlling the meeting. It is common talk in Hawkes Bay that the Napier club is drawing big attendances to their evening meetings, solely by studying the . interests of the spectators and keeping them entertained. Now, surely tfie meeting at Hastings last Monday was worthy of a printed programme. Race after race was run and one never knew who was competing nor what tne handicaps were. There was, of course, ft loudspeaker in operation, but the announcer generally spoke at the wrong time, nnd his words were drowned in the general applause for a finish, ine field, too, was crowded with people who had no right to be there, and the finishing line seemed the meeting place for all and sundry. Last, but not least, the lighting on the far side is very poor and should be improved. If the Hastings club would study the public, better results will be its lot. Paraparaumu Meeting.

Tim Paraparaumu sports meeting held every New Ycur’s Day has in previous years been one of the best managed in the district, but the same cannot be said for the gathering hold last Monday. Dissatisfaction was heard on all sides. In the first place the programmes did not arrive in Wellington until the day set down for the closing of entries, and consequently many intending competitors were cut out. Many more entered, but their names did not appear in the programme, and they in turn were not allowed to start. The - handicapping also came in for a certain amount of criticism, especially in the case of Miss M. Watson and R. Ball. At a gathering such as was put on at Paraparaumu, with better trophies than those obtainable at meetings held in Wellington, the handicapper should bo present and reserve the right to rehandicap. It seems that the trophies ore not going round as they should, Miss M. Watson, who showed good form at the last evening meeting here, was given 9* yards in the 75 yards, and won. In the 100 yards she also received 93 yardsv running second, and in the 120 yards, with 11 yards’ start, she again won. It.was not much of an encouragement for the batkmarkers. D McKenzie (5.11.) who has also hoop running well, and was a winner at Pctone. showed his approval of his good marks by w coiag the *-0 yards and the 880 yards. C. Jenkins ran well, and is fast regaining his best form. The junior races were well contested, but again the. scratch boy, C. Robinson, had no possible chance of giving J. Holmes 94 yards in 100, nor 10 yards in 220, Nor should lie have been asked to give Cpmpton the same marks. It was pleasing to see J. Mellolm once again competing in the hammer-throwing event.

Entries close to-day for the Athle-ic Club's .evening meeting, to be held nt the Busin Reserve on Monday next. r Three teams--Wellington, Kiwi and Athletic—have entered for the Athletic Boomerang relay race, wh'ch takes place op Monday.