Athletics

Evening Post, Issue 52, 2 March 1935, Page 22

Athletics

By "Sprinter."

STRAY JOTTINGS

OUT OF LUCK

WELLINGTON CENTRE

VAGARIES OF THE WEATHER

Not the-best .of luck was associated with the North. Island section of the tour by the British team and the two Finns. Two of the Englishmen had dental trouble—Rampling and Craske —Murdoch injured a leg at Napier, ■and Ramplirig, in his spectacular dive for the tape in the 220 yards event on the Basiii oh Monday, did damage to the tissues behind his right knee. On top of all this, the weather and track conditions for the appearances of the visitors were not the best. It is to be hoped that, better fortune will follow them' on the remainder of their tour. •

,■ The Wellington Centre was particularly unfortunate, especially as after the decision to postpone the meeting on Saturday had been made in favour of Monday evening, the weather turned but so fine hi the afternoon. It was deemed advisable to make a decision reasonably early on Saturday morning so that if necessary satisfactory arrangements could be made for Monday. When an unfavourable meteorological report was received it was felt that the best course was to postpone the meeting. However, the ; fine weather on Saturday afternoon and the cold, boisterous conditions on Monday showed that it would have been better to have waited.a little longeron Saturday morning before coming to a decision. Still, it is easy to be wise after the event. That the centre should have been badly out of luck again with the weather on Monday was more than disappointing; it filled the cup of misfortune to overflowing. Subject, however, to the ground being available—and by the time these iiotes appear that matter no doubt will have been determined—another appearance; is to be made by the visitors on Monday evening at a meeting to be held on the Basin Reserve .at 6 o'clock. Craske will be running in a two-miles handicap and Powell has expressed a desire to make an attempt ,to beat the New Zealand record for 1000 yards. The record is 2min 15 l-ssec, and is held by.T. G. Broadway (Canterbury). In case Craske also should be in a record-breaking frame of mind the record for two miles is R.. A. Rose's 9min 20 i-ssec, which was registered at Nelson in 1927.

A review of the' performances of the visitors on i Monday evening has already been given in the news columns. As, anticipated, the two Finns were a source of great interest, and both, under, the conditions prevailing, gave fine performances.; It was very unfortunate, that Rampling injured himself and as a.result was unable to compete in the-quarter-mile. One would have liked to have seen a good test between him and J. M. Watt, the provincial champion. Likewise, the absence of A. R. Wilson in the mile robbed the race of much of its interest. As it was, A. Chalk was Craske's only serious rival, and he was unable to extend the Englishman. Powell, the English half-miler, ran a good race, and was too good for the local champion, W. Ogg. _ .

There ,has long been a dispute between the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. and theAVellington Cricket Association regarding the use of the Basin Eeserve both during the week and on Saturday afternoon. As Mr. Kitto pointed out v to the reserves committee of the City Council, ■recently,l cricket practices are held oh the Basin' on three nights each week, apart from the matches on Saturday afternoons, and it seems only reasonable ( that the centre's request for use of the ground every: Monday night should be acceded to. The announcement, however, that the newly-formed cash athletic club intends'applying; for use of the Reserve still further ' complicates the position.

The new running high and broad jump rules accepted by the International; Amateur Athletic Federation provide that any jump is fair when the take-oft is made from one foot. This does away with the different interpretations placed on the old rule, which forbade "dives"* over the bar, and removes any argument as to the legality of the California or Western roll. Walter Marty, America, employed the last-named method in establishing his world record leap of 6ft 9 l-16in. A suggestion by America .that the distances of the 1500 and 3000 metres races be increased to ' 1600 ' and 3200 metres respectively, in order to bring them into line with the English measurements of one and two "miles was rejected.