BEATING THE PISTOL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 149, 20 March 1933, Page 13

BEATING THE PISTOL

Value of Electric Timing ATHLETES AND RECORDS (By “'Back-marker.”) We have not yet got the electric timing apparatus for timing running races in New Zealand. I refer to the timing device used at the Olympic sports at Los Angeles last year. This device is the only means so far devised of actually "cleaning up” ruuniug times. Not only does it accurately record the times from the gun to the breaking of the tape at the finish, but it photographs the finish, so as to settle all arguments. New Zealand times have always been more or less under suspicion, because of the difficulties of assuring exactitude iu recorded times. That is to say, excellent time may be put up by a runner. Even three timekeepers may agree, but if the runner has "beaten the pistol” the time recorded cannot be said to be an accurate guide to the time the runner covered the distance, as he might have sped a yard or two on his journey before the gun registered with the timekeepers. That is why such powers are given starters to disqualify runners who insist on "breaking.” Champion runners of the past have not been exempt from this fault, if it can be termed one. The historic occasion, as far as local athletics are concerned, was the disqualifying of Duffy, the champion American sprinter, on the Athletic Park by the late Mr. George Watson, who was the official starter at local athletic meetings before the days of Mr. T. W. Leslie. Referring to that incident, a report published on March 27. 1905, said: "The 75 yards handicap was marred by an unpleasantness which was happily smoothed over. In the first heat, Widmer (N.S.W.) and Duffy (America) repeatedly broke at the start, and, after being penalised two yards each, were ordered off by the starter, or went off. The public disappointment, however, was soothed by the admission. of the sprinters to the seeoiffl and third heats. They alleged that the starter kept them hanging too long on the mark, and that penalising them made it useless for them to compete. When readmitted to the race the starter (Mr. G. Watson) declined to start them, and Mr. J. H. Pollock took the pistol. D, Duffy’s time in the final was 7 1-5 seconds, a world’s record.”

It is such actions as above narrated which have brought into being the starting device used nt Los Angeles, and which assures that all records are true records.