ROUND OF SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 20

ROUND OF SPORT

"CENTENNIAL MILE"

BIG ATHLETIC MEETING

In addition to the one mile scratch invitation race, bringing together S. J. Wade (Auckland), V. P. Boot (Wellington), W. Pullar (Maslertoh), C. Dickie (Canterbury champion), and C. H. Matthews (Canterbury), which will be the feature event at th« h*x CenlennitJi athletic meeting to be held in Wellington on February 10, there will be some other special contests. These include a 440 yards grand Centennial handicap for athletes and a grand Centennial one mile cycle handicap, for each of which trophies valued at five guineas, two guineas, and one guinea will be awarded. There will be an inter-sports clubs' 440 yards relay race, open to members of Rugby, Soccei\ hockey, baseball, and swimming clubs, etc. Already three football clubs have advised that they will be entering teams. Also, there will be an inter-house women's relay for teams of four, each member to run 60 yards on a straight track, a 220 yards Centennial championship for boys of 12, 13, and 14 years, and a 1.00 yards Centennial girls' championship.

Rex King, Canterbury, captain of the New Zealand Rugby League team which went to England last year and who has enlisted with the New Zealand Forces, was formerly well known in Rugby Union, circles. From 1930 to -1933 he represented Canterbury twentyfive times, and also toured Australia with a New Zealand University Rugby side. A splendid all-round forward, King commenced playing Rugby League in England later, and he con tinued in the League code on his return to the Dominion, being appointed captain of the Kiwis, whose visit to England last year was cut short owing to the outbreak of war. Since the revival of amateur athletics in Nelson one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the sport has been Mr. John Russell. A member of the teaching staff of Nelson Boys' College, Mr. Russell is president of the Nelson Araateur Athletic and Cycling Club and a very active president he is. He has been holidaying* in. Wellington, and while here he has kept in close touch with officials and all athletic activities. C. Burke, the young Auckland slow bowler who played for Auckland in the recent Plunket Shield matches, impressed the two Canterbury and New

trouble. "It will be an athletic tragedy if his splinting is ruined," states the Sydney report. "Last February he equalled Jimmy. Carlton's Australian record of 9 3-ssec for the 100 yds and j stamped himself as the finest prospect since that runner." * * * « ' , . ~,, ~ The Auckland Amateur Athletic Centre's three big meetings are to be held at Carlaw Park this season, They are the relay championships on February 17, senior provincial chamPionships on February 24 and ]uraor and women's provincial championships on March 2. It is the intention of the Hutt Valley Boxing Association to conduct a further open-air professional contest at the Petone Recreation Ground on March 4 during the New Zealand Fire Brigades' Demonstration Week. Negotiations are under way to bring the New Zealand light-heavyweight and middleweight title-holder, Stan Jenkin, of Oamaru, and Vie. Caltaux. a rugged Auckland welterweight, to Wellington for a ten- or twelve-round bout. Despite Caltaux's obvious ability and the worth of his many performances in Dominion rings, he will be fully extended if arrangements are satisfactorily completed.

Zealand cricketers, J. L. Kerr and W. A. Hadlee. They both think a lot of Burkes skill, determination, and unflagging courage, though, of course, they would like to see more of him on other pitches before passing a considered verdict, states the Christchurch "Star-Sun." Not only has Burke made his mark in cricket; he is also an able table tennis exponent and is,a keen golfer.

Mr. D. A. Johnston, who is to accompany the Wellington team as manager when it goes south next week for the annual interprovincial amateur athletic contest with Canterbury's elect, is one of the keenest of the younger officials of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre. He has had a long association with the progressive Kiwi Amateur Athletic Club in this city and as its secretary has done much to keep it in the forefront of local activities. Keen and enthusiastic, and a good worker, another post he occupies this season is that of chairman of the sports sub-committee of the centre which has control of the meetings held at Hataitai Park.

The Otago cricket selector has aiready appointed thirteen or fourteen men to practice for the forthcoming Plunket Shield match with Wellington at Carisbrook. The odds are, however, that the team, with few exceptions, will be the same as that which met Auckland and Canterbury. On paper, Wellington should win, provided a team approaching the calibres of those that met Auckland and Canterbury is sent south, but to predict in cricket is always dangerous. One or two Otago men, D. A. R. Moloney for one, are due to come off. The Wellington match may provide the opportunity.

The enlisting in the New Zealand Military Forces recently of T. C. Lowry, a former New Zealand cricket captain (the greatest the country has produced, by the way) leaves the New Zealand Cricket Council without a selector at the moment. Lowry, who was appointed sole selector at the beginning of the 1938-39 season, has had one opportunity for selecting a 'Dominion eleven, the team that met Sir Julien Cahn's side at the Basin Reserve in the Test match last season. Though in some quarters the side did not meet with a great deal of approval, Lowry showed that he was determined to sort out the best of the younger men. It would not be surprising, as there are no international matches this summer, if the Cricket Council waived temporarily appointing a new selector.

The three Australian cyclists—J. Walsh (New South Wales), H. Clayton (Queensland), and K. Stewart (Victoria) —who competed at the Petone Oval on Wednesday evening in the course of their tour of the Dominion, are now in the South Island. After their southern engagements have been completed the team will return to Wellington for two further appearances here. They are to compete at an electric light meeting at the Lower Hutt Recreation Ground on January 31, and at an afternoon meeting at the Basin Reserve on February 3. At both these meetings the programme will also include athletic events.

Not a great deal has been heard in Wellington this season of the standard of Auckland's athletes. The untimely death of Miss Doreen Lumley removed one from the scene who made the headlines frequently. There is evidence, however, that Auckland officials are very much alive. A monthly bulletin has been started for distribution to the clubs. Cyflostyled over the name of the centre Secretary, Mr. H. Jenner Wily, the first copy of the bulletin was issued last month. It is proposed to publish the bulletin immediately after the centre meeting each month and its purpose is to make available in this way items of general interest or information to the clubs. Some time back the then secretary of the West Coast (North Island) Centre started a similar bulletin, and subsequently the N.Z.A.A.A. was approached on the question of issuing a bulletin to clubs through the centres, but the idea did not meet with a great deal of enthusiasm among the centres from a distribution point of view and nothing came of it.

Apart from the unwillingness of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association to release its star athletes for a tour of New Zealand next month because of the State championships being down for decision on February 3. 10. and 17, it is reported from Sydney that it is doubtful in any case whether the brilliant young sprinter D. B. Dunn would have been available. It is stated that for some months he has been troubled with fallen arches, and that this may possibly mean the end of his sprinting career. He is to undergo a special series of test to determine the severity of the