ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 24

ATHLETICS

By "SPRINTER" BRILLIANT CYCLIST F. GROSE IN FORM VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST Holder of all three New Zealand amateur cycling titles, Frank Grose, the young Canterbury rider, created a fine impression at the Electric Light Sports Meeting at the Basin Reserve on Saturday evening. He pedalled too fast for the local champions, and was undoubtedly the star performer of the meeting. Grose is no stranger to Wellington tracks, but while his ability has always been recognised hero, he has given no finer account fo himself than Ou. Saturday evening. It appeared that he is a more finished rider, and his sprinting—it was a treat, to watch. Grose is mentioned, as a possible Olympic representative, and in view of this the coming visit to the Dominion of Jack Standen, the Australian amateur track champion, makes for keener interest in' the tour. In Grose, Standen will find a foeman worthy of Iris steel, and the meetings of these two champion wheelmen wil be closely followed. Tho local riders were quite unequal to the sprint produced by Grose on Saturday. In both the one milo handicap and the three miles scratch race he literally flew away from them over the last furlong or so. He showed up particularly well in the three miles event, when he chased L. Beere, who obtained a big bTeak on the rest of the field. Sprinting beautifully, he picked up Beere in a lap, and, then, after staying with the local rider and slackening his pace, he darted away from him again and won with plenty to spare. Grose undoubtedly proved his right to possession of the three New Zealand cycle championships. C. Flett' showed that he is fast returning to his old form, and rode quite well in the one mile handicap. He retired after a while in the three miles event. Beere impressed as a rider who should go well in the longer races if given the benefit of good instruction. Jenkins's Good Time. The 10 l-ssec recorded by C. 11. Jenkins from scratch in both heat and final of the 100 yds handicap against the fair wind, was a good performance. There is no one his equal in Wellington this season over the hundred and furlong. Good performances are expected of him at the Wellington provincial championship meeting. With the Juniors. Wellington this season has a number of young runners who show distinct, promise. They were out in good force on Saturday evening, and some of them registered fine performances. J. Arthurs was in great fettle and his doublo —first in the junior 100 yds and 440 yds handicaps—was a fine effort. J. Abraham, J. W. Heinemann, K. Kiloen, and H. Ellis are other good boys. Ex-College Champion. Wearing the 'Varsity colours, 11. Anderson made a reappearance on the track and scored well in both the 880 yds and 440 yds handicaps. It was while at St. Patrick's College that Anderson came into prominence. Representing his college at the 1923 combined secondary schools' meeting, ho created records for the 880 yds intermediate and senior championships, and at the college meeting the following year he set fresh figures for the one mile senior championship. These performances, however, have since been bettered. Anderson is a runner who finishes with great determination. Jubilee Meeting. The Wellington and Wanganui. Amateur Athletic Clubs' combined jubilee meeting, to be held on the Basin Eeserve' on Saturday evening next, promises keen contests. A big contingent of Wanganui athletes and supporters is coming to Wellington, and other visiting competitors will include Gisborne ladies, who are to compete against the Wellington and Wanganui ladies' teams in the 440 yards relay race for the Eteveneaux Cup. T. Oakley, of Masterton, has been invited to compete in the cycle events. The ladies' relay race should provide a splendid contest. A report received in Wellington states that the Gisborne ladies' team, which includes Miss N. Wilson, the New Zealand 100 yards ladies' champion, had a very satisfactory trial recently. Miss Wilson will also be seen in action in a special 50 yards event, in which she is to make an attempt to break the world's record. A number of events are open to members of other clubs. During the stay of the visiting athletes in Wellington a big picnic gathering is to be held. Provincial Championships. The Wellington provincial championships are to be decided on 11th February. The meeting will commence at Athletic Park in the afternoon, and will be concluded in the evening under electric light at the Basin Reserve. The Australian cyclists, J. Standen and D. Gray, are to compete both in the afternoon and in the evening.' Notes. A big meeting is to be held at Carterton on 7th February, tho proceeds of which arc to bo devoted to track and ground improvements. Gray, one of the Auatralian cyclists, is to compete, and an invitation is also extended to Wellington athletes to take part in the meeting. Masterton Meeting. Tho Masterton Amateur Athletic Club's annual sports meeting, held on the Park Oval on Monday in brilliant weather, is described as "one of the most successful conducted by the club since pre-war days." Thero were many notable competitors, including F. Grose, the champion cyclist from Canterbury, E. Kestinen, and some of Wellington's best men. Considerable interest was taken in the meeting of Grose and T. Oakley in the cycle events. The Masterton rider showed that on his own track he is almost invincible, scoring decisively from Grose in two events. A three miles cycle handicap, for the Walker and Hall Cup, was also won by Oakley. Grose did not start in this event. J. T. Fleming, P. Munro, Roberts, and Anderson tied for the aggregate shield at the Masterton Amateur Athletic Club's meeting with eight points each. Munro and Roberts, with the greatest number of firsts, eliminated tho other two, and in a toss to decide who should hold tho trophy for the year Munro Was tho winner. E. W. Lander, tho Australian and Now Zealand 120 yds hurdles champion, won the short hurdle event in Msec from 5 yards behind scratch, while Lankey, another winner at the Australian and New Zealand meeting, appeared in the walking events, but was handi- • capped too Kwererjy