AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

[By Spike.]

—Fixtures.— March 25.—Otago championships. April I.—Southland championships. The Otago championships, which are to bo held on Saturday, mark the closing of one of tho most successful track and hold seasons our athletes have experienced. It is anticipated that every event will be keenly contested, and tho honors aro not going to bo easily won. The star competitor of the day is Stewart, tho representative footballer, who possesses a fine turn of speed over tho sprint distances. Tho Southland enthusiasts are being represented by a team of three, including Hews (middle and distance runner), Hamilton (jumper), and Harrington (sprinter). Owing to an injury to his hand, M. Kean will ho unable to compete in the hammer throw.

Tho New South Wales championships concluded on Saturday. In tho 220 yards Bukos bent Oosterlaak by syds in 22 3-10 sec; while Leathern ran second to Tuener in the half-mile in 2rnin 3Jsec.

Sutherland represented New Zealand in the high jump, and cleared sft lOin—his best performance for some time. However, Harbison defeated him by Tin for first place. If the megaphonist at Saturday’s sports named each competitor as he stepped on to the mark, the spectators would be able to follow the progress of the race. From a distance it is difficult to read tho number a runner is wearing, and consequently the onlooker remains in .the dark until tho result is announced.

Tho professional championships of New Zealand were held at Christchurch last Saturday. Tho most noteworthy performance was that of W. F. Trenibath in the 880 yards, which ho won in 2min lljsec. After a long absence from the track tho Southland crack has regained his old form, and good times can be expected from him. Tho following table forms an interesting comparison in the times of both the amateur and professional championships of New Zealand (the two meetings were held on the same ground, and tho condition of tho track was similar) :

Splendid entries have been received for Saturday’s sports, and it can bo safely said that there never has been a sports meeting where the athletes will step on to the track better trained than they will be on Saturday. Alnst of our men aro trained “to tho letter,” and a right royal struggle is bound to take place in almost every event. The University, Pacific, Artillery, and Anglican Clubs are running close for p ointa, and it remains for Saturday’s championships to decide who are to bo the holders of the coveted club championship trophy. In the ICO yards I expect to eeo Stewart retain his title, with Porritt and Lethaby very close up in the order named. For tho 220 yards tho Pacific champion, Stewart, is the pick of tho field, while 1 am placing Lethaby to beat Porritt for second position. The last sprint event, the quarter, has attracted a largo number, including Stewart, APLachlan, Lethaby, Deaker, and Swinney (ex-cham-pion). My placings are : Stewart first, M‘Lachlan second, and Lethaby third.

In the half-mile the Caversham Club’s champion, L. Ashby, will be matched against Bews, of Invercargill, and we will at last have the opportunity of witnessing this duo in action. It will bo a very interesting event. The possibles are Ashby first, with Gale and Bews fighting for second place. Bews may get home a little ahead of Gale.

For the mile, Ashby, Frye, Gale, and Bews are the pick of a large, field. The possibles are Ashby again first, with Bews and Frye second and third respectively. In tho distance event Frye, the present champion, is tho possible winner, with Forbes second and Hill or Tapp third. The two hurdle races have attracted good fields, particularly the 440 yards, in which a field of nine have entered. Tho likely placed men in the 120 yards are Lorimer, Treahy, and Porritt; 'and in the quarter-mile it seems as if Lorimer will again lead, with AULachlan, Aloricc, or Kingston second and third. In tho mile walk the only competitors are AUKenzio, Twigg, and Cameron, who seem probable to finish in tho order named.

My placings in the field events arc ns , follow ;—Broad leap—Stewart 1, Morice 2, Harvey 3 ; hop, step, and jump—Morice 1, Denker 2, Burgess 3; high jump—Kirk 1, Allan 2, Porritt 3: shot put—Eichardson 1, Kingston 2, Bennett 3; hammer throw —Gray 1, Bennett 2, Kingston 3; pole vault—Joyce 1, Mayston 2, Lang or Aitken 3; discus throw—Richardson 1, Lothaby 2, Joyce 3; javelin throw —Owles 1, Lethaby 2, Joyce 3. The honors for the club championship are resting fairly evenly on tho Pacific, University, Artillery, and Anglican Clubs, and it is difficult to say which of the four clubs will secure the winning point. It is doubtful whether George Owles will be m Dunedin in time to compete, and consequently the Artillery Club is under a handicap. However, I am placing tho Pacific Club to win by a small margin from the University Club. So close is tho contest that I anticipate each of the four clubs will secure between 2025 points; the winner will require 25 or 26 points to win. Amateur events will be held at Omaknu on Eaeter Saturday, Clyde on Easter Monday, and Alexandra on Tuesday. Permission to hold these events has been granted, and it has already aroused a fair amount of interest among the clubs. It has been suggested that a large touring team be raised, and that they compete at these three towns. If this was done, amateur athletics would receive a good impetus, and consequently it may be possible to form clubs in those districts. The amateur events are ; Omakau, on Easter -Saturday—loo yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, hop, step, and jump, and relay race. Clyde, on Easter Monday—loo yards, 440 yards, one mile, relay race, and broad leap. Alexandra, on Easter Tuesday—22o yards, 440 yards, one mile, lelay race, and broad leap.

Amateur. fcssional. 100 yards ... Gmiti 10|sec Omin lOjsec 220 yards ... Omin 22|sec Grain 24«pc 440 yards ... Omin 513see Omin 53iscc 680 yards ... 2rain 4|scc 2min Ifsec One mile ... 4min Slfsce 4min 40|sec