IN THE CHURCH EX-SPRINT CHAMPION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 26

IN THE CHURCH

EX-SPRINT CHAMPION

LETTER FEOM CAB-LTON

Some two years ago, at a time when he was showing splendid form, the crack. New South Wales sprinter J. A. Carlton renounced the track to study for the priesthood. ... He entered^ the Sacred Heart Monastery at Kensington, New South Wales, where he still is. News of "Jimmy" Carlton, who was in Wellington in 1927, when he competed in the'last of the series of Australian and New Zealand championship meetings, is contained in a letter received by Mr. S. Philpott, of Wellington, formerly honorary secretary of the .Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre. From time to time Mr. Philpott has sent ' Press cuttings and other news of athletic happenings to Carlton, and in thanking Mr. Philpott for these he says they remind, him of very pleasant

times he spent in New Zealand and also of the debt oil gratitude he feels he owes and can never repay to all who interested themselves in him in this country. •Cat-lton says he likes the Sacred Heart Monastery and also his vocation. So far as sport is concerned, although no longer he adorns the athletic meetings in Australia, it is clear that he has preserved his interest in athletics and other sports pastimes. He writes in this connection: "We have plenty of sport—football ißugby), tennis, cricket, handball, and we even have three very rough golf holes. I have never had more regular exercise in my life and have never been in better general physical health. I have not fallen into flesh as I expected, though I have put on nearly half a stone and about an inch in height; in fact, I could give Tolan the race of his life with a few months' training. Further, I can enjoy my sport much more than when I was under the strain of competition. "What has been given me in other spheres, as education, culture,, music, and character formation, apart from anything spiritual, far outbalances anything I gave up." Carlton concluded his letter by asking Mr. Philpott to give his kind regards to all his friends in New Zealand.