MR. EDSTROM EXPRESSES HIS VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 23

MR. EDSTROM EXPRESSES HIS VIEW

Judging from views expressed by Mr. J. S, Edstrom at his recent lecture on the Olympic Games, it does not seem likely that the Wellington starter, Mr. T. W, Leslie, will receive an officiai invitation to officiate at the Games in Berlin in August. Mr. Edstrom mentioned that authority had been given the German organising committee to appoint all track and field officials, and while he stated that he did not think it likely that Mr. Leslie would be invited his explanation was not clear. The reason advanced for the delegation of the .authority to the Germans was that owing to the number of people likely to be accompanying various teams, and wishing to. be accommodated in the Olympic Village, it was felt that German hospitality would be considerably taxed, and apparently it is on this ground that Mr. Edstrom bases his opinion regarding Mr. Leslie, although, it is understood, there are likely to be one or two exceptions. An Austrian, for example, who has acted as a timekeeper for many years has been mentioned as one of those who are likely to be invited to Berlin. QUESTION OF POSITION. In the course of his lecture Mr. Edstrom also touched upon the position adopted by Mr. Leslie when starting such events as the 200 and 400 metres, that is, races around a curve in which competitors, in order that each runs the same distance, start in advance of each other. Mr. Edstrom mentioned that sound took time to travel, and his opinion was that when a starter stood behind the field, as Mr. Leslie does, the runners furthest from him were placed at a slight disadvantage. He inclined to the view that possibly it was better for the competitors in such events if the starter stood at the side at a point approximately equidistant from the rear man and the runner on the extreme outside. Mr. Edstrom added that he had discussed the matter with Mr. Leslie at Los Angeles in 1932, when he had found that Mr. Leslie was not an advocate of this position for the starter, his contention being that by standing behind the field the starter thereby had a full view of the runners which he did not think a starter standing at the side had. The starter when behind his field was thus better able to control the competitors. MB. HEENAN'S OPINION. At a later stage Mr. J. W. Heenan referred to the opinion expressed by Mr. Edstrom, and spoke in support of the starting position adopted by Mr. Leslie. Mr. Heenan said he thought

that in view of the short distance separating the runners, the fact that sound travelled relatively quickly, and also that there would be no great difference between the physical reactions of the runners, the advantage, if any, the competitor nearest the starter would gain compared with the runner furthest away from him would be so infinitesimal as not to matter.

Mr. Edstrom, however, although appreciating the point made by Mr. Heenan, did not appear to be convinced on it. In view of this discussion, it is of particular interest to recall that at Los Angeles Mr. Leslie created something of a surprise by standing behind the athletes. It was something new, but, nevertheless, his starting position was very favourably commented upon. The German, Franz Mueller, who no doubt will be No. 1 starter at Berlin, was the principal starter, but Mr. Leslie actually started more events than Mueller, and it is to his credit that only once did he have to fire a recall.

From personal observation and experience in this country, it would appear that there is no question that the argument advanced by Mr. Leslie is a sound one. With the starter at the rear of the field he surely must have a better view of the competitors, and the importance of this is that it lessens the possibility of a runner getting an unfair start.