ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 18

ATHLETICS

By "•PRINTER" OLYMPIC GAMES

FINDING THE TEAMS SOME EXCELLENT TALENT The memorable meeting of Australian State and New Zealand athletes over, there has been a lull in amateur athletics locally, though the performances and thrilling contests of the championship meeting have left much food for thought and discussion. Had the conditions been calm for the notable gathering at Athletic Park, it is safe to say that the occasion would have been even more remarkable for its records. Australia's prospects of getting the right talent for a strong team of athletes for the Olympic Games were considerably brightened by the performances of a number of the State repre- j sentatives. In J. Carlton and C. Stuart (New South Wales) ,and U. M. Davidson (Victoria) Australia possesses three athletes with particularly fine claims to inclusion in the team for Amsterdam. AH three are young, and the manner in which they distinguished themselves at Wellington suggests that they are capable of even higher honours. They have everything before them, and in advancing to still higher rank the opportunity of giving them the experience to be gained by going to the Olympic Games should not be missed. Davidson, a wonderful highjumper for a college boy, informed "Sprinter" that on account of university studies he was not a candidate for Australia's Olympic team. If it is impossible for him to go it is to be hoped that other opportunities of development will come his way. Apart from the three young athletes mentioned, Australia has other excellent material for the Games. New Zealand possibles and probables were sorted out long bofore this season's activities, but receut form has brought about a good deal of change in tlie possibilities. One young athlete who has come to the fore this season as a strong candidate for New Zealand's team is F. S. Ramson, a quarter-mile hurdler, who looks like going very near to the world's best mark. It. A. Rose, champion distance runner, is far from being a back number as his winning efforts at the A. and N.Z. championships showed. He has a good second in J. W. Savidan, but Rose in proper trim would be a long way better than he was last week. S. Lay, javelin-thrower, holds his strong claim to inclusion in New Zealand's team for the Games. The others who have been noted as worthy of consideration will need to improve in order to press their claims, except in the case of the best lady athlete, who must be ticked off as a probable. Country Meetings. Although there has been nothing doing in tte way of sports meetings in Wellington since the Australian and New Zealand championships, the country clubs have kept the ball rolling for not a few of Wellington's athletes. The annual meeting at Paraparaumu on Monday attracted quite a big contingent from the city, and, as in the past, the outing was thoroughly enjoyed. It was a pity, however, that athletes in and around Paraparaumu did not show full appreciation of the club's endeavours to cater for them. F. S. Eamson, A. D. Priestley, and M. Gane have been doing the Hawkes Bay circuit this week, and from reports to hand the Wellington trio have been attracting considerable interest. A report of the sports meeting at Danncvirko on Monday states: —"The presence of Ramson, the well-known hurdler, Priestley (a distance runner), and G;me (a Wellington crack cyclist) added interest to the athletic side of the sports, while Lankey (Australian champion three-mile walker) is always a popular draw. Ramson, who is a pretty hurdler, won with ease the 120 yards hurdles, and secured fourth in the 100 yards and second in the 220 yards. He was unplaced in the mile." The reference to Ramson competing in the mile is rathor amusing. It was Priestley, of course, who competed in the mile, and this runner also ran in the half-mile handicap, being beaten for first place by a yard. He was on scratch in both events. Ramson was set a big task iv the 440 yards hurdles, in which he filled third place. Tho winner's time was 55 2-ssee from 58 yards. Gane won the three-miles cycle race from 170 yards in 7min 24 2-Ssoc, but was unplaced in other races. Lankey won tho one and two-mile walks with case. At Hastings. Of .the sports meeting at Hastings on Tuesday one report states that the appearance of M. Gane, F. S. Eamson, and D. Priestley created great interest, but it incorrectly credits Ramson with being "the Australian and New Zealand sprint champion." Gane was rather flatteringly treated by the liandicappers, and what with the concessions he had to make and his newness to a track that all the other cyclists were used to, he did not manage to qualify for the final of any event. In tho twomile race, for example, he gave away 400 yards to the limit men, and 80 yards to the man in front of him. It was too much, as will bo seen from the fact that the three placed men in order of their finishing were on 190, 300, and 300 yards respectively. There was a good 400 yards difference at the fifth lap between the limit men and Gane, who kept company with several others, and in the last lap a good 120 yards. He raced strongly, however, ami took fifth place. Priestley astounded and excited the crord by his splendid showing in the mile and half-mile handicaps. In the mile he won with a great sprint by 15 yards, his time being 4min 41 4-ssec. He received great applause and ran off to the dressing-shed as though he were beginning all over again. It was a treat to see such a fine runner. In the half-mile he filled second place, the winner's time (whom he conceded 60 yards) being 2min 2 l-ssec. One section of the report of the meeting states that Ramson from two yards won the 220 yards in 22 1-osec, and was first in the 440 yards, having given away 2~> yards to the second man and 45 to the third. He won comfortably in 51 2-ssec. The detailed results, however, give Ramson second place in the 220 yards, and do not show him as a place-getter iv the quarter. He was third in the 100 yards from one yard. Another Wellington competitor at the meeting was Welply, who won the 100 yards handicap from n} yards in lOsec. Ho also won the secondary schools' 100 yards race, registering 10 1-usce from scratch. Mr. 11. Tj. Fraser, of Lower llutt, has donated a cup to t"he Lower llutt Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club for competition among cyclists.