EXCELLENT FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 6

EXCELLENT FORM

AT EVENING SPORTS

MEETING ON BASIN RESERVE

MISS EASTWOOD A FAST

SPRINTER,

The keenness of competition, the quality of the competitors, and the first-class performances registered, made the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club's sports meeting, postponed from Saturday and lie!d on the Basin Reserve last evening, one of the finest held in Wellington. Enthusiasm was at a high pitch throughout, and excitement ivas intense when the first runners of the Wellington and Poverty Bay ladies' teams were on the mark for the start 'of the special quarter-mile relay race for the Eteveneaux Cup. There were other fine contests besides this, and the 200ff spectators were treated to an excellent evening's sport. A cold southerly was blowing, but the custodian of the reserve, Mr. Brewer, had the track in splendid order, and competitors found it very much to their liking. FINE LADY ATHLETES. The star attraction of the evening was undoubtedly the ladies' relay race, in which the Wellington team was called upon to defend the Eteveneaux Cup from the Poverty Bay champions. Wellington ■were, successful in retaining possession of the- trophy after a great race. Miss E. Porter gained a lead at the start for We!- . lington, and when Miss Mantan took over the baton for the final run she had .1 good five yards' start on Miss Eastwood, the Poverty Bay champion. To those who luiew Miss ■ Man tan's capabilities it appeared that Wellington would score nn easy , win. Miss Eastwood set ofE at a great pace, and running beautifully she - brought the spectators to their feet. Up the straight Miss Eastwood gained rapidly on Miss Mantan, but the Wellington lady held out well, and breasted the tape amidst much excitement two yards ahead of the/Poverty Bay girl. It was a splendid contest, and the crowd was not slow to show its appreciation. After the race tha cup was handed over to the captain of the Wellington team, Miss Mantan, by Miss M'Millan, winner of the "Miss New Zealand" beauty contest. ■ The lady athletes later returned to the track, and added further to their achievements. Miss Eastwood again shone out in the 100 yards scratch race. Running brilliantly, Miss Eastwood was soon clear o» the field, and won by three and a half yards from Miss N. Wilson (Poverty Bay) and Miss Mantan, who dead-heated for second place. The time recorded was 11 3-ssec, which beats by losec the best New Zealand time on record, established by Miss Maxwell. The Poverty Bay ladies were again seen in action against the local lady athletes in a 75 yards handicap. Miss Eastwood, starting from one yard behind scratch, ran into second place in the second heat., while Miss N. Wilson (scr) and Miss Hansen, two other Poverty Bay representatives, also filled places. The final'was won'by Miss E. King (Wellington), with a handicap of Byds, and Miss Hansen and Miss Eastwood , were second and third respectively. Miss Eastwood is an attractive runner, and is able to put in a brilliant finish. JENKINS IN FORM. Among the competitors in the men's sprint handicap, C. H. Jenkins stood out very prominently. Starting from scratch in the 100 yards handicap, Jenkins won the first heat, easing up, in 10 l-ssec. He. was jostled at the finish in the final, just ■when he was about to dive for the tape, but nevertheless managed to dead-heat for second place. In the 100 yards club handicap, Jenkins ran even better, and won the event from the scratch mark in the good time of lOsec. The Wellington champion was in great form, and judging from his performances last evening it seems there is a good possibility of his "breaking" lOsec before the season is concluded. Included in the starters in the 100 yards handicap was O. Paltridge, of Poverty Bay. Paltridge, who was on the 2yds mark, ran second in the second heat, but

failed to find a place in the final. Another Poverty Bay runner, W. F. Ingram, started in the one mile handicap. Ingrain showed up well in the early laps, but his pace slackened in the last lap, and he finished sixth. VETERANS' WALK. Another big attraction of the meeting was the 880 yards walk for old-timers. There were six competitors and the ages ranged from 44 years to 68 years. Wellknown on the track in "their day, the oldtimers proved very popular with the crowd. Their styles were not those which carried them to victory in the old days, but nevertheless, the "veterans" covered the ground at a fair pace. There were one or two whose knees would not "lock," and the heel and toe action would not come back to them. The winner was P. Fitzgerald, who covered the distance in 4min 13 3-ssec. J. Costall, the oldest competitor, filled third place. As each competitor came up the straight he received plenty of encouragement from the crowd, and when J. W. Davies brought up the rear he was accorded a great reception. . An account of the meeting would not be complete without mention of the work of the officials. They were set a big task to run off in a little over two hours such a big programme of events. Every one knew his work, and thera was no delay, which speaks well for the organisation. DETAILED RESULTS. The results of tho various events in detail 100 yds Junior Handicap.—Sl. Poulton (6yds), 1; V. Klee (9yds), 2; W. Habbitt (3&yds). 3. Won comfortably. Time, 10 2-ssec. 100 yds Handicap.—First heat: C. H. Jenkins (scr), 1; P. Lory (S^yds), 2; S. R. Smith (9yds), 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Jenkins ran beautifully. Second heat: V. Rhodes (6yds), 1; O. Paltridgo (2yds), Poverty Bay, 2; H. Foreman (Byds),' 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Third heat: N. W. Craig (10yds), 1; J. T. Fleming (2yds), 2. Time, 10 1-osec. Fourth heat: E. F. Murphy (4yds), 1; J. K. Tindall (Byds), 2. Time, 10 1-Dsec. Final: Rhodes, 1; Jenkins aud Craig, dead heat, 2. The field moved away to a Rood start. Thirty yards from the tape Jenkins appeared to have little chance of obtaining a place. JenKins made a groat effort, however, but Craig bored in to his "lane1' just as he was übout to dive for the tape. This put Jeukins out of his stride and pushed Craig up to dead heat with the Wellington champion. Time, lOsec. " 100yd3 Club Handicap.—C. H. Jenkins (scr), 1; V. Rhodes (6yds), 2; H. Milieu (6yds), 3. In this race Jenkins ran brilliantly. He got out of the "holes" well, and went on to win by about a foot in the good time of lOsec. 440 yds Handicap.—N. W. Craig (30yds). 1; J. T. Fleming (syds), 2; H. Kent (30yds), 3. Also started: T. Montgomery (23yds), A. Moar <20yds), L. A. Payne (25yds), H. Wilds (25yds), S. Engelhardt (30yds), L. Newson (30yds), R; A. Krebs (32yds). Won by two yards. Fleming was third a furlong from .the tape. He clapped on the pnee, but was unable to draw ahead of Cralgi Time, 51 3-5 One Mile Handicap.—P. Wilson (35yds), I; W. T. Whelan (110 yds), 2; D. R. Newnham (125 yds), 3. Also started: W. F. Ingram (60 yds), Poverty Bay, F. Bock (Tsyds), H. Gordon (75yd3), J. Shephard (75yds), C. Bowler (75yds), T. Mulcahy (100 yds), G. H. Stanbridge (100 yds), L. A. Payne (110 yds), G. Fox (110 yds), I. Hedgland (120 yds), L. Newson (125 yds), S. Engelhardt (125 yds), R. J. Trail (125 yds), G. White (125 yds), J. O'Brien (125 yds) With two laps to go Wilson was third, and Ingram was lying fifth. Wilson took tho lead at the bell, but Ingram appeared short of a run and had not improved his position. Whelan hung on to Wilson, but the latter breasted the tape first with three yards to spare. There was little between second and third. Ingram was sixth. Time, 4min 31 4-5 Throwing the Javelin.—G. Scoats (15ft), 102 ft lOin, 1; F. W. Perry (25ft), 14Cft Bin, 2; E. G. Sutherland (scr), 125 ft SVfcin, 3. One Mile Cycle Handicap.—First heat: 1. Bird (80yds), 1; G. Carnley (100 yds), 2; J. Carswcll (scr), 3. Seven starters. Time, 2min 40 2-ssec. Second heat: L. Baker (30 yds), 1; 1). M'Fredrlea (60yds), 2; H. Scarfe (30yds), 3. Ten starters. Time, 2min 35 1-5 sec. Final: MTredrles, 1; Baker, 2; Bird, 3. At the bell tho order was: Baiter, M'Fredries, and Carswell. JBird gained ground and the placed men finished almost together, inches separating all of them. Time, 2min 31 1-5 Boys' SBoyds Cycle Race.—First heat: E. R. Poulton, 1; Anderson, 2; Sutherland, 3. Time, lmin 19sec. Second heat: M'Carthy, 1; Vondo:Jloot, 2; M'Gulro, 3. Time, lmln 26 1-5 sec. Final: Poulton, 1; Anderson, 2; Sutherland 3. Poulton went to the front from the start and won easily by 60 yards. Timo, lmln 18 4-ssec. SBoyds Veterans' Walk.—P. Fitzgerald (scr)', 1; A. Rose. 2; J. Costall, 3. The other starters were: M. Tracy, A. Kent, and J. W. Davies. Tho old timers were unable to return to form, and the young walkers were not encouraged to watch their questionable action. Time, 4mln 13 3-ssec. 220 yds Boys' Race. —T. Helford, 1; J; De-

very, 2. There were about one hundred starters. When tho race was announced boys seemed to appear from everywhere. There was a great rush when the pistol went, and many were knocked over in the dash for the tape. LADIES' EVENTS. 440ydg Relay for tho Etevoncaux Cup (four 110yds).—Wellington (Misses E. Porter, S. Swinburne, F. Stevenson, R. Mantan), 1; Poverty Bay (Misses M. M'Donald, it. Wilson, H. Hansen, N. Eastwood). This event was the race of the evening. Miss Porter drew the inside position and jumped away from Miss M'Donald at the start. There seemed to be sonio slight hitch about the Poverty Bay change-over, but the. Wellington change-over was perfect, and Miss Swinburne was away with a break of frton two to three yards. This beautifully, made a great effort, and got away about five yard 3 ahead of Mls3 Eastwood. The Poverty Bay champion, running beautifully, made a great elfort, aud got within two yards of Miss Mantan. It ivas a splendid finish, and a fine recovery on the part of Miss Eastwood. Time, 53sec. 100 yds Scratch (best New Zealand time om record: Miss Maxwell, 11 4-s»ec).—Miss Ni Eastwood (Poverty Bay), 1; Mls3 N. Wilson (Poverty Bay), and Miss R. Mantau (Welllng)tonL dead heat, 2. In this event Miss EasVwooft further proved her prowess. She wis smartly away, and, producing a powerful 11 Bish, ran away from the other competitors. She won by a little orer three yards, and the tiajie recorded, 11 3-ssec, creates a new record. 75yds Handicap.—First heat: Miss J. Wilr»m (4yds), 1; Miss R. Mantan (scr), 2; Sllss Jf. Wilson (scr), Poverty Bay, 3. Time, 9 2-s:ir.c. Second heat: Mis 3E. King. (Byds), 1; Miss tN. Eastwood <Iyd behind scr), 2; Jllss H. Hitrjsen (lyd), Poverty Bay, 3. Time, Osec. Fiial: Miss King, 1; Miss Hansen, 2; Miss Eastwood, 3. A very close finish. Miss Elastwood would have overhauled Miss King and Miss Hansen In a few more yards. Time, 9 1-5 sec.