Resumption of Competitive Athletics in Wellington

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 14

Resumption of Competitive Athletics in Wellington

(By-

SPIKE.)

A l-'TER a long interval amateur athlettics started again in Wellington last evening, when a scratch meeting was held at the Basin Reserve. The fixtures for the next three weeks are:—January 18, Petone-Olympic-Mastertop, Petoue Recreation Ground; January 20, Lower Hutt Club’s meeting, Hutt Recreation ground. S p.m.; January 25, Welljngtbu-Kiwi-Wanganui, Basin Reserve, 8 p.m.; January 27, evening meeting, Basin Reserve, 6 p.m.; February 1, Dewar Shield meeting, Pe'tone Recreation ground; February 10, Lower Hutt Club’s meeting, Hutt Recreation ground, 8 p.m,; February 15. "Wellington provincial championships, Basin Reserve. To Compete at Hutt." E. J. Winter, the Australian polevaulter,- who has been coaching in the Hawke’s Bay district for the past few weeks’ will compete at the Lower Hutt Club’s meeting, to be held at the Hutt Recreation ground next Monday evening. Winter will also spend a; few days coaching in the Wellington district before he leaves for Sydney on January 24. The Napier Amateur Athletic Club, who sponsored Winter’s visit, is to be congratulate ed on its enterprise; it has shown that such tours by prominent visitors can do. much good for the sport in country districts. . ■ . Entries for Hutt. ' . .? Entries for the floodlight meeting, to be conducted by the Lower Hutt Club next Monday close’with James Smith Ltd., Lacey’s, Petoue, and Shilton's, Lower Hutt, oh Friday. No late entries will be accepted. .

Championships Ahead. - AVith the Wellington provincial championshps only a matter of a few weeks away, athletes will welcome the continuous competition provided for them by tne Wellington centre’s list of fixtures for the next few weeks. At present it seems that some of the title races will not produce interesting competition, but on the whole the meeting should "be as successful as any held by the centre. Interest will be particularly keen in (be middle and long distance races. A. R. Wilson, runner-up to L. C. McLauchlun in the 1933 national mile championship, will be closelv. watched, and there is every likelihood that he will return very good figures in this and the two miles. Already he has run 9min. 3isec. without extending himself, and he should be able to bring this time down to somewhere near C. 11. Matthew’s new national record of 9min. ISsec. Wilson’s best time for this distance is 9min. 27sec.. recorded when he beat JI AV. Savidau at Wiiangarei last season. McLachlan Beaten.

L. C. McLachlan was made to look a second-rate performer by I. Craig, who ran second in the 880 yards and third in the one mile at the New Zeaiaud championships two years ago, jit a recent meeting in Otago. Craig, off 15yds.. won easily in linin. 59sec., which was excellent time for the conditions. McLachlan, however, has not reached top form yet. Prospects for Auckland.

Auckland athletic enthusiasts are doubtful about their province's chances of retaining the championship shield at Dunedin. The Auckland team will be much smaller this year. Of the men who gained points at Wanganui last year, only F. A. Finlayson, the 220 yards and 440 yards hurdles champion, has shown any form so far. and he has not done any serious training as yet. W. S. Bainbridge, winner of the 220 yards and quarter mile, has been doing only light training and •no racing, but he is certain to be in good trim by February. N. F. Cooper, the three miles champion, has run on only two or three occasions, and has not been taking things seriously. The high jump champion. P. Hackett, has also been out only a few times, but be is going to settle down now the holiday period is over. 11. K. Brainsby. the bop, step and jump performer, and K.. Gillespie, who ran fe. Lay very close last year, have relied purely on training exercises. \

For Olympic Games? Marshall Limon, the brilliant Canadian schoolboy athlete, who attracted much attention in New Zealand last season, is now undergoing the final stages of an exacting 15 months’ preparation with a view to achieving selection for the Olympic

Games 400 metres event, lie has recently run several fast trials, including two quarter miles in under 50sec. He also defeated Ray Lewis. 1934 British Empire Gaines, representative. Limon is running better than ever before, and the, experience he gained in Australia and New Zealand is proving very valuable. Lewis is ’coaching'him and is very confident of the boy’s future. Champion in Form. M. R. Spillane,'New Zealand champion hammer thrower, is jn good iorm this season. Tic. is throwing over'l44ft., and recently threw 151 ft. in an exhibition throw. Reports, indicate that lie should be at the height-of bis form by next mouth.