CURTAIN FALLS ON GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1938, Page 5

CURTAIN FALLS ON GAMES

RECORD MILE TOO FAST FOR BOOT

NEW ZEALAND PLACED IN SEVERAL EVENTS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) s SYDNEY, February 13. New Zealand's hopes of further establishing her supremacy over distance events by caVrying off the mile on the concluding day of the Empire Games were not realised. Boot, the only one of the Dominion's three starters who finished, failed to run up to expectations arid could gain no better than third place in a face in which Alford (Wales) established a new Empire Games record. The day proved disappointing from a New Zealand viewpoint, but was highly gratifying td other countries,'particularly to Australia and South Africa. ' ; ■

In perfect weather 40,000 spectators saw Australian competitors win the 220 yards women's final, the 660 ! >ards women's relay, and the running I hop, step, and jump. South Africa had even greater success, being victorious in the 120 yards hurdle 3. the pole vault, the putting the shot, the mile relay, and the 80 metres hurdles Lor women. ' • . The world's record timeJof 14\seconds was clocked by Lavery (South Africa) in the 120 yards hurdles. However, the referee's report, stated that! in this event, and also the 80' metres women's hurdles, the competitors were assisted by the wind. Sunday newspapers strongly criticise the referee's ruling that the wind assisted the hurdlers, thus probably depriving Lavery of a world record The manager of the South African tefem, Mr. Emery, describes' the decision asa miscarriage of justice. . Lavery himself said it was a cross wind and, if anything, retarded him. ALFORD'S FINE WIN. Wales had its first, victory in atlv letics, Alford winning the mile in the Games record time of 4min 11.6 sec, which reduced Jack Lovelock's previous record by I.2sec. Three of the eight competitors in the mile were New Zealanders. It was expected that Pullar would give a good account of himself, but he tailed away badly in the last lap. Allen withdrew when half a mile had been covered, and' Boot was left to carry New Zealand's1 colours to third place. Boot's performance, however, was disappointing. He kept near the tail of the field in the early stages, and when he made his run. Alford and Backhouse had too much.in reserve for him to overtake them. It appeared that Sharpley (New Zealand) would.be eliminated in his heat of the 120 yards hurdles,-but he came up well in the last half of the distance and ran into third place. In the final he got away badly and made no impression on. his opponents. AFRICANS BREAK RECORDS. Fouche (South Africa), who injured his shoulder in training a week ago, had a cotoifortable margin in winning the putting 'the shof. He did not appear inconvenienced. Including the world /record, South Africa created three Games records. ■ For Australia, Decima Norman, a young Western Austrian girl, by winning the 220 yards women's final, established a" Games record, in that she secured a triple success in the same Games series. Miss Norman has become the idol-of.the crowd,,and her success today met with a tumultuous reception; crowds standing and cheering as she flashed past the tape. England had two successes, the men's 440 yards, in which Roberts' oreated a new Games record, and the running high jump for women, Miss Odam equalling the Games record. . .. TYRIE RUNS LAST. Tyrie (New Zealand) ran last in the men's 440 yards. Running in the outside lane, he was passed by the other competitors before half-way, and eased up towards the finish. i Miss Tong (New Zealand) ran an excellent race in the. 80 metres hurdles for women. She took third place shortly after the start and maintained that position narrowly from Miss Kennedy (Australia).

New Zealand withdrew from the 660 yards women's relay because it did not have enough 220 yards runners. Quinn was largely responsible lor New Zealand securing third place in the mile relay. Sayers and Anderson had left him with much leeway to make up, but he started at a great pace, carrying^New Zealand fromJast to second,' and, although he tired at the end, New Zealand's position was considerably improved. ■"Throughout the afternoon there were frequent victory, ceremonies, including' those for cycling, _ boxing, wrestling, rowing, and bowling. When the South African victories were celebrated the band played "Voice of South Africa," followed by "God Save the King." ~ ' . ' After the final' event, • Sir . James Leigh Wood, chairman of the Empire Games- Federation, declared the: Games closed and extended, an appreciation of gratitude to all concerned. The ceremonies concluded with the firing ,of three guns and the playing •of the National Anthem.' DEPARTURE OF TEAMS. The Empire Games teams will sail for home this week. Those of Britain, Ceylon, and India will.leave by the Stratheden, thcfce of New Zealand, and Rhodesia by the Awatea and Themistocles respectively next Friday, and those of Canada, Bermuda, and British "Guiana by the Niagara next Thursday. Miss E. Stockley, New Zealand Swimming Association selector, hss asked Evelyn de Lacy and Dorothy Green, the Western Australian swimming champions, whether they will consider an invitation to visit New Zealand as guests of the Eastern Suburbs Club, v Auckland. Miss de Lacy said she would go, but Mis s Green is doubtful, as she has to leave for Perth tonight and would probably be unable to return in time. If the invitatipn is accepted it will be necessary for the swimmers to be in Auckland, early in March. -Aona Leydon left for Brisbane on Saturday night THE DAY'S EVENTS. ONE MILE, MEN. •Final. . Alford (Wales) ~...:. -1 Backhouse (Australia) 2 Boot (New Zealand) ...'. 3 Won by four yards with two yards betwei-i second and third. JTime, 4min 11.6 sec, a Games and Australian record. Eight started. Allen ran to the front, but was immediately overhauled by Backhouse. After 440 yards, the time for which was 58.2 sec, Backhouse was leading narrowly from Graham (Scotland). Alien was fourth, Pullar sixth, and Boot last. There were only ten yards between the first and the last runners." Graham; Backhouse, and Clarkts (Canada) were the leaders after the half-mile, the time being 2min 4 sec, then coming Alford, Boot. Eeles (England), and Pullar, Allen having dropped out. The field was very bunched .commencing the last lap. Graham, Alford, and' Backhouse were together, being a yard ahead of Eeles, Clark'e.^and Boot. Pullar was last,

some yards back. .Boot moved up to fourth with 200 yards, to go and Graham withdrew. Aiford and Backhouse spurted,'closely followed by Boot, but the New Zealander could not make the pace and he finished six yards from the winner 120 YARDS HURDLES, MEN. First heat.—Lavery (South Africa), 1; Stenner (Australia), 2; Sharpley (New Zealand), 3. Won by half a yard, with eight yards between second and third. . Time,. 14.2 sec, a Games and Australian record Popplewell (Australia) was the othei starter. Second Heat.—O'Connor (Canada), i, Kiel (South Africa), 2; McLardy (Australia). 3. Won by a yard, with two yards between second and third. Time, 14.6 sec. '.Wilson , (Australia) was the,other • starter.. ■, '. Final. ..'-'. ; Lavery ; (South Africa) ............ 1 O'Connor (Canada) ............... 2 Stenner (Australia) ■ 3 Won by a yard with' \\ yards between second and third.- Time 14sec —a world record. Six started. Lavery jumped to the front immediately, took the_ hurdles magnificently and h^ld his advantage throughout. Sharpley was badly away and finished last. A ■ 440-YARDS MEN. ■" • ■'■■• . • .Final.", .■. ', \' . ' Roberts (England) ...\..........;. 1 Fritz (Canada) '~............:.... 2 Shore (South Africa) ....>...... 3 Won by inches, with 1J yards between second and third. Time,' 47.95 ec

—equals the Games and Australian re. cord. . ■ "

Six started.. ■. Tyrie (New Zealand) was last in a very close finish be-] tween the two inside track men. Roberts gained a narrow" decision. . MILE RELAY, MEN. : Canada (Orr, Fritz, Dale, and Loaring) .. 1 England (Handley. Park, McCabe and Roberts) 2 New Zealand (Sayers, Anderson, Quinn, and Tyrie) A Won by 20 yards,> with 25^ yards between second and third. Time, 3min 16.9 sec. Australia also started. Quinn in a great burst brought New Zealand from last to second, but he tailed away at the end of the lap, and Tyrie started behind the field. He passed Jones (Australia) at the entrance to the straight to "give New Zealand third place. 220 YARDS, WOMEN. Final. Miss Norman (Australia) 1 Mis? Coleman (Australia) 2 Miss Wearne (Australia), 3 Won by three yards with two yards between second and third. Time. 24.7 stc. ",/ ■ ' Six started. Miss Norman was strongly challenged by Miss Coleman approaching the straight, but. although she was outside thi other Australian girl, she sprinted ahead to win comfortably Miss Norman's time today was l-ssec outside the Games record that she established on Thursday. 80 METRES HURDLES, WOMEN. •,.,■' . , '.. Final. . . • ; Miss Burke (South Africa) 1 Miss Gr^ant (Australia) 2 Miss Tong (New Zealand) 3 Won by inches with a yard between second and third.. Time. 11.7 sec—a Games and an Australian' record. Six started. Miss Burke early went to the front and was never . headed. Miss Tong jumped well.andheld third place from the third hurdle. '-• 660 YARDS RELAY,, - WOMEN. Australia- (Misses Norman, Woodland, Coleman. Peake) 1 England , (Misses Stokes, Raby, ' Saunders, Jeffrey) .:... 2 Canada (Misses > Montgomery, Howard, Meagher, Dolson) .... 3 Won by fifteen .yards, with a similar distance between' second and third. Time, lmin 15.2 sec. New Zealand withdrew. . ■ , '. ; ' PUTTING THE SHOT, MEN. Fouche (South Africa), 47ft 6kr.. 1 Coy (Canada), 45ft 9 5-Bin 2 Drew (Australia), 45ft 3 3-Bin ... 3 . Eight, competed.

HOP, STEP, AND JUMP, MEN.

Melcalfe (Australia), 50ft lOin ... 1 Miller (Australia), 50ft 6Jin ..... 2 Dickenson '(Australia), 50ft 1 Jin .. 3

POLE VAULT, MEN. Dv Piessis (South Africa), 13ft 53in 1 Fletcher (Australia), 13ft Oiin :..;' 2 Frid (Canada), 12ft 9in .... ..T.... 3

Webster (England) and Winter (Australia) also cleared 12ft 9in, but had more failures than Frid. Nine competed. The effort of Dv Vpiessis was a Games and an Australian record. RUNNING HIGH JUMP, WOMEN. Miss Odam (England),'sft 3in ... 1 Miss Gardner (England), sft 2in '.. 2 Miss Forbes (New Zealand), sft 2in 3 Seven competed. Miss Gardner was awarded second, as she had fewer failures' than the New Zealand girl. Miss Odam's performance equalled the Games and Australian record. CYCLE RACES. - 1000 METRES SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP. First- Heat.—Ulmer (N,ew Zealand) beat Hicks (England) by a length. Second Heat.—Giles (New, Zealand) beat Johnston (Australia). First Semi-final.—Ulmer led Gray (Australia) out slowly., but in the last 300 yards, Gray dashed up. Ulmer responded and established a fourlengths lead, but Gray flashed past and won by three-quarters of a length. 1 Second Semi-final.—Porter (Australia) beat Giles. . , Final. —Gray (Australia) beat Porter (Australia)-by a wheel.' Time for,the last 220 yards, 13 3-ssec. In a special match to decide third place, Giles (New Zealand) was tod good for Ulmer (New Zealand) in a hard-fought sprint / SENIOR FOUR-LAP EVENT, 16 . MILES. Patrick (New Zealand), although unplaced, made the fastest time,' 26min 57sec. The event was won,by Hutchinson, off 4min 30sec, who took 29min 45.45ec. ' 100 AKILOMETRES ROAD RACE. Binneman (South Africa) ........ 1 Brown (New Zealand) ........... 2 Jones (England) 3 Won by half-a wheel. Time, 2hr 53min 29sec. '..'": ' Thirteen started. ... The course was a gruelling one, and severely tested the riders. The race was marked by the/ tactics of Binneman; who repeatedly attempted to ride his opponents to the, ground.' At the end. of the first lap Grose was leading his team-mate's, closely behind Binneman and Robinson (Canada). The experienced English pair, Mills and Jones,' endeavoured to. break away, but the others were watching closely.

and quicldy. bridged the gap. Binneman maintained the lead, followed by Mills, Jones, Brown, and Robinson. Six competitors, including Grose, had to leave the field owing to chain trouble or punctures. Brown battled ahead gamely, and kept close to Binneman, and stalled off a challenge from Jones" and Mills, but could' ho: quite head : the South African.'Trinur (New Zealand) rode a good race. He was never far behind, and finished 'seventh.