ATHLETIC NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 8

ATHLETIC NOTES

Wellington Championships RECORD ENTRIES Review of the Fields

(By

Hurdler.)

, Coming events:— February I(s—Provincial championships, Basin Reserve. February 18 —Evening meeting (scratch races), Basin Beserve. February 23—Visit of British and Finn athletes, Basin Beserve. March 2 —Combined Old Boys’ meeting, College ground. March 8 and 9 —National championships, Wanganui. Wellington Championships. The entries for the Provincial championships, which take place at the Basin Beserve to-morrow, constitute a record for such a gathering. There are likely to be some surprises in the result sheet, and on the performances put up the local selector will choose his team for the national meeting. Outside competitors are coming from Wairarapa, Blenheim and Paraparaumu. The Motueka club will not be represented this year. ■ The gathering will commence at noon, with the three-miles walk. Only three competitors have entered for both walks, and on' performances S. G. Fade (Varsity) should capture both titles, with his club-mate, W. B. Birks, filling the role of runner-up. From 12.25 p.m. to 2 p.m. heats in all the Hat and hurdle events will be run. Two field events, the hum'mer and broad jump, will also be put through before 2 p.m. The 100 yards and 220 yards championships look a certainty for W. J. Fitzsimmons (Hutt), with E.'Bartlett (Blenheim), J. M. Watt (Old Boys), U. Bobinson (Kiwi), B. Ball (Kiwi), and A. Welply (Wellington), filling the minor places. J. M. Watt (Old Boys) should retain his title in the quarter-mile. with F. 13. Smith (Wellington) and B. D. Thompson (Varsity) close up. The 880yds. event has drawn a field of 20, and although W. Ogg (Olympic) has not done a great deal of racing this season I still think that he will be the winner. A. R. Wilson • (Wellington), the North Auckland champion, is entered in this event, but it looks as if he will reserve himself for the one mile. Good reports come from Blenheim as to the capabilities of 11. J. Eaton, but lack of experience may be against him. T. A. Rafter (Varsity) and A. S. Henderson (Varsity) are bound to be in the first four.

On past performances, A. R. Wilson (Wellington) should win the one mile (19 entries) from C. Chalk (Athletic) and J. Bidding-ton (Scottish). M. Cooke (Athletic), who put up a good performance by running three miles in 15min. 4secs. last week, looks like retaining his title in the long distance event, with J. Riddington (Scottish) and G. Prosser (Scottish) filling the places.

The 120 yards hurdles should be a tussle between P. Bowie (Varsity) and J. McDonald (Wellington), with the odds slightly in favour of the latter, who showed much improved form at Masterton on Saturday. The 220 yards hurdles brings J. Phillips (Hutt) again into action, and if he can show his form of Boxing Day he should win this event. J. Blakeway (Athletic) will be very close to Phillips, with J. McDonald in third place. The 440 yards hurdles will be contested by a poor class of hurdle!", and at least six of the seven entrants have a chance. On form, J. D. Henderson (Hutt) may turn out the winner, with L. S. Black (Varsity) in a place. The shot and discus events are “mortgaged” by Peter Munro .(Wellington), with a great fight for places between A. D. Adlum (Wellington), K. MeClune (Old Boys) and R. Griffiths (Hutt) in prospect. R. Griffiths (Hutt) stands out in the hammer-throwing event. E. G. Sutherland (Wellington) should retain his title in the javelin event, with R. Griffiths (Hutt) and A. D. Adlum (Wellington) in the places. F. Bradey (Wellington), if a starter in the pole vault, should win, although W. 11. Roberts (Masterton) and C. Curtiss (Masterton) will run him close. T. J. Crowe looks certain to retain the high jump title, with 11. S. Orbell (Old Boys) and W. IL Roberts (Masterton) in the places. T. J. Crowe and L. Schneideman, both of the 'Wellington club, should divide honours in the flat jumping events, and P. Phillips (Kiwi) should take a place.

The 100 yards women’s championship is causing a good deal of interest, 'and twelve really good sprinters will face the starter. Taking everything into consideration, the finish should be close, and in the following order: A. Gibbs (Wairarapa), M. Nelligan (Wellington), D. Hurley (Wellington) and T. Kench (Wellington). The Marlborough girl, A. Wareham, has not so far this season shown anything like the form of last year.- The 80 yards hurdles should be won by J. Simpson (Athletic), with her club mate. L. Oughton, and C. Millar (Scottish) not far behind. The junior events have filled exceptionally well and are of a class much superior to anything seen here in previous years. The three events should be divided between H. Bowyer (Old Boys), M. Watt (Old Boys), G. E. Evans (Blenheim), B. McPherson (Wairarapa) and T. J. Kyle (Wellington). On summing up, the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club should retain its hold on the McVilly Shield. Although the meeting commences at noon the Grand Parade (300 athletes) for the A. C. Kitto shield will not take placte until 2 p.m. The Miramar band will lead the march. Two handicap events and three scratch cycle races will complete the programme. Restrictions at Basin. By order of the Director of Parks and Reserves, backed up by the Reserves Committee of the Wellington City Council, there will be no more children’s races on the Basin Reserve, unless the children are registered members of an amateur athletic club. Also the request to run evening meetings every Monday has been rejected. Contrast this conservative action of our council with.municipal bodies in nearly every part of the Dominion and one will find that our city fathers are not giving amateur sport the encouragement it rightly deserves. The request for a part of the new Hataitai reserve as a home for amateur athletics should not bo held in abeyance but should be kept constantly in the minds of our city councillors. Dashes. An evening meeting will be held on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Basin Reserve. The programme comprises all scratch events. Entries will close to-day. The British athletes will be seen in action on February 23. The two Finns also will compete. Entries close to-day for the handicap events. Cyclists are notified that their entries must be put in beforehand for the three handicap events on next Saturday’s programme. The Athletic club will hold its annual picnic at Pahautanui on Sunday. Over 30 athletes went to Masterton last Saturday and helped the Wairarapa subcentre to hold a monster meeting. They all speak highly of the hospitality extended to them. The Wellington team for the national championships, which are to be held at Wanganui on March 8 and 9, will travel bj' bus, leaving on March 7 and returning on March 10. The next Dewar Shield meeting will be at Petone on March 23. The Canterbury championships are to be held on February 23. .1. Phillips (Hutt) and P. Phillips (Kiwi), who have been out of action for some time, will compete to-morrow.