BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 48, 27 February 1922, Page 10

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES

OOSTERLAAK, RECORD-BREAKER

AN UNFORTUNATE MISHAP.

In friendly rivalry oh. the field of sport New Zealand has found' sortie of its strongest opposition in the two South African tearss which have come to the Dominion. Tho visiting footballers ended, .their memorable ,tour with an iif* honours easy " decision; but on Saturday' last the Springbok athletes, at \the end of .their notable" tour, achieved , a more successful result, and in the rej cords of international amateur athletics •the firsfi Test between the two links of .the Empire will go down as a victory for South Africa. The contest was de- '■ cided at Athletic Park, the scene of imany important engagements, under conditions which were little short of perfect, and in the presence of about 8000 spectators. Much, preparation had been made for the occasion, and the results obtained were up to a point all that could be desired. The Springboks were* at the top of their form, except that they wero deprived of the services of AH. Kinsman (suffering from an internal strain), and the New Zealanders, ■specially chosen representatives, had •Teached a high standard as the result of ,a period of solid training." Five events were set for the' Test—looyds,- 220yds,--;44oyda, one mile, and one-mile relay. .The, first,, went to New Zealand, the second to; South Africa. A further win .to eiUier side still left the issue in doubt. From the .point of view, of interest the position could not have been better.. Ultimate victory was left to what was expected to be the greatest event of the day, the, relay, and when this came up fpr decision the crowd was keyed up to a high pitch of'excitement. The great race began, and New Zealand led at the first change-over.. The lead was' increased amidst great enthusiasm, then it was gradually/lessened, and just as the anticipations of, a ■ strenuous struggle ■appeared, likely to be realised, intense excitement suddenly changed to, keen disappointment^ . The New. Zealand baton had,been dropped.! South Africa .went on, and the Test was ,won in a jwalk-over. Attention was mainly directed 'towards Tracy, New, Zealand* second man, who had collapsed after losing the baton,; A most unfortunate incident had marred the best athletic meeting held in Wellington for many a day.' Johnston, the Springboks' second man; in■> gaining the lead endeavoured .to-pass Tracy on the inside, the New ■Zealander having moved a little from'his ■course. In' doing so "he accidentally (knocked Tracy, causing the baton to ■JfaJl. Suggestions that the race should t be re-run were not entertained, the' New ( Zealanders taking their defeat in true > sporting spirit. PINE SPEED. Brilliant Tunning was .witnessed, in the 'Test events, J. K. Ayres-Oosterlaak rputting up a iemarkable performance. After winning the 100 yds in eplendid ■style m even time, he eclipsed many fine performances over 220 yds by cutting ■out this distance in 21 4-Ssec, • time |W,'?J£'} has not been recorded in Australasia for, seventeen years. -It was a 'New Zealand record/ l-ssec,faster than the times of R. Opie in 1911, and G. Davidson last' year. The display of enthusiasm :'after . Oosterlaak's two wins -was exceeded only by that which prevailed after C. H. Taylor's unexpected ■defeat of R, Johnston (South Africa) in the 440 yds event. The Springbok had feeen doing the distance in exceptional times throughout the tour, but on Saturday he found Taylor a better man over the distance than-ever before. The itime was/,50 3*ssec. ..The mile was: genjerally looked upon as a win. for Nt^w 'Zealand, It -produced a surprise, hoireyer, in.'that'R. Rose/defeated; the New Zealand champion,: Webber. "Although the sprint events went to South Africa at> discredit rests on George Davidson,. this second in-the 100 yds, and third in rthe 220 yds, being excellent performances •considering that he hai' done very little running this season. [The. handicap events provided a good ■deal of interest, and not the least enjoyed by the crowd were those in which ibudding champions of ages ranging ftpm five to sixteen years took part. 'Acceptable music was supplied by the Patriotic Society's Band. ■■ ■ ■'■-, iThe officials deserve high praise for' khe excellent manner in which the meeting was handled, the work of Messrs. HA....C. Kitto, J. O'Sullivan, J. W. Heeman.A. W. 0.,. Travers, J. Sharp,. F. Olodson, and A. T. Davies, contributing liargely towards the success of the gathering. Much credit is also due toMr. T. W. Leslie, who, as starter despatched the fields without a hitch, .and |to Messrs. G. Collyer and A. Brewer,' 'for the excellent attention to the ground. "The officials for the day were as folr ' low -.—President N.Z.A.A.A., Mr. A; ' TJ, Davies; ; referee, Mr. R. W. M'Villy:; tjudges, Messrs. J. N. Millard, B. A. Guise, M.- Burnett; field judges, Messrs. TT- S. Ronaldson, W. H. Jones, L. IM'Kay", E. A. Dawsron, J. Doyle; mar-shal,-Mr.. A. C; Kitto; clerk of course, Mr. J. W. Hecnan ; supervisor, Mr,' A. 'W, O. Travers; course stewards, l Messrs. ' W,. F. Larkin, H. C. Murray, :S., S. Dean; judees-of walking, Messrs. J; 'Ellis, .A., B. Sievwright; call stewards, 'Messrs. .T. Farrington, ,H. J. Pollock; O.* C. Sherwood; press, stewards, Messrs: ie Boiton.:i3: h. tusk";; "y. huso:■result board stewards, Messrs. H. Paton. W. Auld, N. A. J. Barker, D. O. Todd;'points steward, Mr. J. Finn-; •timekeepers. Messrs." W: H. Poljock '(chief), D. Bohan. W. N. Tucker, L. W. Luctwig, W. Ballantyne; <.local: officer, Mr. F. Hodson; starter, Mr. T. W. Leslie-; number stewards, Messrs. J. Lundon, J. V. Power; mecapl^nists, 'Messrs. T. Fletcher, G. Brett, C. Parsonage ; handicappers,,' Messrs. L. MfcayfAt'6l -Kitto; Ap;Jv'O'Donnell; survey and record steward and-":.hon. official surveyor, Mr. ;S,. „T.,;;.Seddqiv,; ■jn,arksmen, Messrs. D.J| Alabaster,><F. 'Wilton, J. C. Cusack,--J. ■■■Sharp,-XS. 'Hall; steward in charge" of dressing sheds, Mr.' W. J. Heenan; . hon,':;;.trea- ' surer. Mr. D. Todd; hon. secretary ;■■ Mr. j*> O/Sullivan. - ,7.' C.::.:^.T .:*.;;;::". 2 i £ - DETAILED RESULTS."'- ' ■^The.results of events other than those in The Post on Saturday, are OS follow:—' ..'. '...."■',"" „"•*. .440 YARDS (THIRD TEST RACE)!: (World's record :47 2-ssec, J. E. Mere- :,; dith,. U.5.A.,1916.' Australian reZ: cord : 48£ sec, Nigel Barker, N.S. W., '•"- 1905. New - Zealand recoidi: 49 "■,. l-ssec, G. Parker, U.S.A., 1914. "i Ci H. Taylor (New Zealand) ; 1 R. Johnston (South Africa) -','2 O. F. Rowe (New Zealand) ......'. ,3 Also started: W. Kylo (New Zealand). „........... ; 'Taylor drew the inside position. The competitors were sent off in good style, Johnston immediately,,taking the.Jcadi, with Taylor following closely/ At half; way Both-were running-'-strongly,-the visitor"'having Sh "advantage"bf tw# yards:;1 ';Ctfming,to; the' Straight;; Johns* ton appeared to fiave the race won, but Taylor then made a great effort, .and, overhauling tho "Springbok, he finished in brilliant fashion,- two yards aheadi of

Johnston. The result was greeted with a tremendous display of enthusiasm. Rowe was four yards further back, third. The time, 60 3-ssec, was Taylor's best to date. 220 .YARDS; (FOURTH TEST RAGE). World's record : 20 4-ssec, O. W. Paddock, U.S.A., 1921. Australasian record: 21 4-ssec, Nigel Barker, N.S.W., 1905. New Zealand record: 22sec, R. Opie, 1911, and G. Davidson, 1921). IJ. K. Ayres-Oosterlaak {South Africa) 1 J. W. Bukes (South. Africa) 2 G. Davidson (New Zealand) 3 Also started : L. A. Tracy (Now Zealand). The runners rose together at the sound of the pistol, and any advantage before entering the straight appeared to be held by Bukes and Davidson. Oosterlaak made a final burst in the straight, and gradually headed his teammate, while Davidson appeared to lose a little ground. A fine finish resulted in favour of Ooosterlaak by a yard, with Davidson two feet behind Bukes. Much cheering followed the result, and it was renewed when the time—2l 4-ssec—was announced, this being a New Zealand Tecord and equal to the Australasian record.

TEST RELAY RACE (ONE MILE). Teams of four. First man runs 860 yds;

second man runs 440 yds; third) and. fourth men run 220 yds. Ten yards allowed' each side of finishing mark for changing batons. World's record-: 3min 30 3-ssec, New Zealand Army team, in England, 1919. (D. L. Mason, J. Wilton, H. E. Wilson, J. Lindsay). WotWs amateur record, 3min 31 3-ssec, Polytechnic Harriers. South Africa. (D. Leathern, R. Johnton, J. W. Bukes, and J. K. ' Ayres-Oosterlaak) 1 Also started:: New Zealand (O.H. TayAlso started : New Zealand (O. H. TayE. Wilson). Taylor led Leathern from the start, but it was not until near the end of the half-mile that the pace was forced. The baton was handed to Tracy effectively, and the lead of about three yards gained by Taylor was quickly increased by Tracy to about eight yards. Johnston gradually reduced the distance over the latter part of the journey, and had almost caught Tracy ten yards from the next change over. It was then that the unfortunate incident occurred. The New Zealand' baton was lcat, and South Africa were left to finish without opposition. " Time, 3min 36 l-ssec. '„', TEST WINS, South Africa „ 3 ' New Zealand 2