PROWESS AT THE GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1938, Page 8

PROWESS AT THE GAMES

Though, as the cable message! states, the final day of the Empire, Games at Sydney proved dis-' appointing from a New Zealand1 viewpoint, New i Zealand has come out of the whole series of events of the Games with honour. In the aggregate of points gained for all events the Dominion is not among the leaders, but such contests as both the Olympic and Empire include many items on their programmes which do not count so heavily in public, opinion as others. Thus in distance running from the half-mile to the six miles New Zealand won three out of the four major events, and had Boot won the. mile on Saturday, the Dominion's performance would > have been quite outstanding. As it. was, ,lhe^ threemile and six-mile victories of C. H. Matthews were justly regarded as among the high lights of the Games, while Boot's half-mile will stand as one of the finest athletic achievements 'ever put up by a New Zealander.

To expect him to carry off "the mile, too, on Saturday was asking too much from a runner who has| specialised in another distance. As, it was, he did well to come third in! a race which was won in time well j under that of Lovelock in his | Empire Game 9 performance and' considerably better than Randolph, Rose's record. Thus in the best of company New Zealand is well on the map in distance running. In the sprint events, the New Zealanders were outclassed, but there were a number of minor successes outside this range. At bowls, our representatives carried all before them. In general, though there have 'been disappointments, the net result shows New Zealand's participation at "Sydney was amply worth while. Apart from this, the experience gained in competition with the pick of the Empire should prove immensely valuable in planning the future of athletics in this country. The material is excellent. It only needs proper handling and coaching and there is every prospect that ibis >vill now; be available,