EMPIRE GAMES TRIALS AT WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 60, 4 December 1937, Page 15

EMPIRE GAMES TRIALS AT WANGANUI

West Coast Centre MORGAN’S OUTSTANDING DISCUS THROW Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, December 3. Some good performances were witnessed nt Cook’s Gardens, Wanganui, last evening, when the West Const (North Island) Centre o.C the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held a series of Empire Games trials. Track and field events were decided under perfect conditions and several West Coast champions competed. It is understood that a number of the competitors will be nominated for the New Zealand trials' to be held in Wellington on December 11. L. Burgess, Wanganui, who holds the

West Coast title, had no opposition in the 440 yards, and covered the distance in 51 2-5. Burgess has been running consistently well this season and it is considered that in strong competition his performance would be even better than that of last evening. In view of the circumstances his time yesterday was very good. Another West Coast champion, G. Bills, Wanganui, covered the six miles in 32.40; He bad no opposition, however, and his time was more than a minute slower than that of A. It Geddes, the Otago champion. Bills has established good times jn the past and should do better when facing competition.

An excellent performance, well up to Empire Games standard, was that of J. D. Morgan, West Coast champion, who threw the discus 132 ft. Ilin. Morgan is a prominent member of the Wanjjanui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, and for several months has been training for Empire Games selection. He was runnerup at the Dominion championships two years in succession, and since the opening of the present season has shown considerable improvement. His best throw in club competitions this year was 137 ft. Gin.. which is well in advance of the New Zealand standard of 130 ft. J. G. Leekie won the Auckland trials recently with 108 ft., and at the Empire Games in England three years ago, Hart, of South Africa, recorded 136 ft. 3in., and D. It. Bell. England, obtained second place with 132 ft. Bin. By throwing the discus 122 ft. 6in. when the .Dominion championships were held in Auckland earlier in tthe year Morgan gained second place. Compared with these distances. Morgan’s throw last evening was outstanding. S. I. Nolan, West Coast shot put champion, registered 39ft. 2in. last, evening. and in the broad jump J. Wilson recorded 19ft. Gin. Both men have been training consistently and are capable of impoving these performances.