ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 19410, 19 November 1926, Page 12

ATHLETICS

[Notes by “Pistol.”]

There are few more■ unlucky sporting bodies than tho Otago Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A., ; and officials who have been connected with the governing athletic body for any length of time state that it is now some years since a really {favorable day was experienced for a Sports meeting nnder its auspices. , A considerable amount of preliminary Work was put in by those responsible for the organisation of the first combined secondary schools’ athletic championship fixture in Dunedin, but what would undoubtedly have been a highlysuccessful meeting was marred to a great extent by the heavy rain that fell -last Saturday morning, ami continued at intervals throughout the' afternoon. The attendance was adversely affected, and the deadening of the tracks .made fast times next to impossible. Though no outstanding times were registered, from an athletic point of view tho meeting can be voted as a decided success. Seven schools took part, the only one of note that was not represented being Waitaki Boys’ High School. Otago Boys’ High School made no jrace or tho contest for the senior championship shield, scoring 56 points, the nearest attendant being Southland [Boys’ High School with lOi points. A pleasing feature was the success that attended the efforts of several competitors from some of the smaller schools, the Toko District High School and Southland Technical College each meeting with a fair measure of success in the senior section, while Mosgie! District High School, through the medium nf one boy, gave Southland Boys’ High School a struggle for supremacy for the junior shield, tho latter finishing .With a margin of 10 points to the good. Though Otago has no milers at the jnoment who may be regarded as serious contenders for the New Zealand title, jt should bo only a matter of a few years before the province once again occupies a prominent place in races fever this distance. The trio who filled the places in the senior mile championship at the secondary schools sports last Saturday are all promising boys, and, though N. H. North and D. I l '. Inglis .Were regarded as the favorites, the ’chances of J. It. Don could not be overlooked. As it proved, the wet_ going suited him, and he ran an exceptionally good race, making his own pace nearly all the way, to win in. the_very fair time for the day of 4min 55sec. Don had a long raking stride, and had he been pushed he would probably have aed several seconds off the time resd. Inglis, who filled third place, did not run as well as ho did at the Otago Boys’ High School sports, and seemed to be a trifle on the stale side. N. H. North, the Otago Boys’ High School middle-distancer, first took “Pistol’s” eye when he won tho mile handicap at the Otago Centre’s sports a few weeks back in 4min 41 4-ssec off 30yds, and, though he did not reproduce that form in the mile senior championship last Saturday, he did very well in other events. He won the half-mile from W. Ellis in a great finish in 2min •11 2-ssec, and he snowed much better judgment in this race than he did in the mile. In the latter event North let Don get too far ahead, and left his run too late, but in the half he was always handy, finishing very strongly. [He won a alow-run quarter in 59sec, but 'did not appear be very seriously extended. North was one of the most Stylish runners in action on Saturday, Cud it is pleasing to be able to report 'that he has improved his arm action and has acquired a better body balance, fie should do well in open handicaps iover the middle distances during the present season, but it is to be hoped ho (will not be allowed to do too much for & year or two yet.

L. E. Macassey was looked upon as ■ almost a certainty for the 100yds senior championship, but it is the unexpected in every sports that adds to its attractiveness. On Saturday a previously unknown competitor from the Southland Technical College. L. Henderson, finished second to J. R. Page, of the Southland Boys’ High School, in his heat in 11 l-sseo, hut he ran a_ great race in the final, which he won in the very fair time of 10 4-ssec. Macassey was in front 10yds from the tape, hut Henderson made a desperate finishing effort to win by half a yard. Henderson appeared to “Pistol” to be an almost untrained runner, and, though inot particularly pleasing to the eye lim an athletic sense, there is no doubt that he is a natural sprinter, who should be heard of again. Another Invercargill competitor who met with considerable success in the senior championship events was J. R. Pams, of the Southland Bovs’ High School. He won the 220yds in 25 l-sseo after having a had passage to the straight turn. Page is not a pretty runner—he is of the rugged type—but he has heaps of determination. His winning leap of 18ft Sin in the broad jump was a much better performance than it looks, considering the slippery take-off, which troubled most or the competitors. J. R. Caradus, of the Otago Boys’ High School, who was second in the broad jump with 18ft 3in, is also a very fair jumper, hut the trouble with most of those taking part in the broad jump was that they did not got high enough up from the takeoff.

die standard in the senior high jump was a very low one, even allowing for the wretched conditions prevailing. A. Woodhead, of the Toko District High School, won at 4ft Sin, hut none of the competitors showed much promise. L. W. Penrose, of the Otago Boys’ High School, accounted for the 120yds senior hurdles championship _ in good style. Ho did 17 4-Ssec in winning his heat and 18 l-ssec in the final—fair itimo on a slow track. Penrose was inclined to stop to pick up between the hurdles, though he showed pretty , fair pace. With more practice in striding over the sticks he should do well at jthis branch of the sport. •• The Otago Boys’ High School team made no mistake about the mile medley relay championship, leading all the way to win by 120yds in 4mm 14 S*ssec. Ellis gave them a good lead in the half-mile, Inglis, Macassey, and Trochon carrying on. Two promising young athletes were brought to light in the junior (under fifteen) championship, these being J. Gardiner, of the Southland Boys’ High School, and J. Gilchrist,'of the Mosgiel District High School. • Gardiner hod previously performed very well at his own school's sports, but Gilchrist was a hitherto unknown quantity. Gardiner’s best performance was in winning the junior hundred in 11 2-ssec, Gilchrist’s best efforts being 4ft Sin in the high jump and 61 l-sseo for the quarter. A feature of the open events that were included on the secondary schools’ championship programme was tlio win of the New Zealand mile walk champion, .6. S. Cabot, in the mile run from 70yds in 4min 42sec._ Cabot ran a well-judged race, and with two laps to go he was lying in a handy position. He moved to the front a furlong from home, and won nicely by about 15yds. Cabot’s success shows just what physical fitness may do for a good athlete. He is by no means an unprepossessing runner, and as a handicap performer should do quite well over this distance. C. M. Olsen did not start in the 440yds open handicap, and the race resolved itself into a duel between W. 0. Hermann, of the Otago University Club, and W. N Allison, of Civil Service. Hermann, who was on the 19yd mark is a greatly improved runner, who will be heard of again this season. He won by 4yds from Allison (16yds), who is ptill a bit short of training. Allison ia another runner who should do well, end in him Civil Service possesses a jvorthy second firing.to?Olsen, ig, jauckjipgj, tits Anglican Club’s

letary, filled third place in the open quarter last Saturday from a 22yd .mark, and when he has had a bit more work on the track he should be a worthy representative of his club over this distance.

The Anglican Club followed up .its success in the relay handicap at the first meeting of the season by scoring again last Saturday frem Civil Service, which was conceding the winning team 10yds. Anglican No. 2 won by 6yds, and by the time the Otago championships come along this club should be able to field quite a solid track four. As predicted by the writer' a few weeks back, J. E, Green was not long in accounting for a sprint handicap, winning the 100yds open last Saturday from the veteran W. J. Duff in 10 2-5 sec, the winner’s handicap being Byds. Green was also a member of the successful relay team. He is in fair trim just now, and is one of several useful handicap men belonging to the Anglican Club. -

■ Neither of tho open cycling events at last week's sports provided any sensational riding, the times being on the slow' side. H. Ockwell, who won the mile off 85yds, in 2min 27 l-ssec, is a promising performer all the same. The Westport Athletic and Cycling Association has been considering the advisibility of appointing stipendiary stewards to assist in controlling all meetings held under its jurisdiction. Tins is being done in the interests of the athletes and cyclists, as well as the public, and will safeguard competitors, who, when not showing their best terra, are saupected of noc doing their best, says an exchange. Amateur athletics appear to be regaining their old place in Southland, and at the present time several applications for reinstatement recommended by the Invercargill A.A.C. are under Consideration by the Otago Centre. Energetic efforts to place tho sport of athletics in ’ popular fayor are being made in Hawke’s Bay this year (says gn exchange). Round the country districts, enthusiastic clubs are preparing for the season, and prospects are good In Hastings, a sports club and a cycling club are both doing good work. In pier a resuscitated athletic and cycling club is combining all its energies to making a success of the big meetings on Boxing Day, when the Hawke’s Bay championships will be held, _ A comprehensive programme, embracing amateur and professional running and cycling, sawing and chopping, has been prepared, providing twenty-five events, with a prize value of £175. At the Palmerston North Boys’ High School sports last week, B. Page won the 220yds in 24 3-ssec, 440yds m 50 l-ssec, 880yds in 2min 16 4-sscc, and the 100yds in 11 l-ssec. The Australasian crcss-country championship next season will be held under the auspices of the South Australian Association on July 2,1927. Something for harriers to look forward to._ Three new clubs have come into being during the past few months, and at the last meeting of the New Zealand Council the Pirates A.A.C. (West Coast, North Island), Sydenham A.A.C. (Canterbury Centre), and Christchurch Ladies’ A.A.C. (Canterbury Centre) were granted affiliation. The first of a regular senes of evening meetings to be held on tho Gale, during the season was staged by the Civil Service Club last Wednesday night under favorable weather conditions. The meeting drew quite a fair crowd considering that it was the first night fixture, and with good entries in every event some keen races resulted. J, E. Green followed up Saturday’s success by lifting the 75 Yards Handicap from the 7yds mark. The scratch man, C. M. Olsen, caught Green, hut with six yards to go the latter came again and won by inches in a desperate finish, the High School boy, L. E. Macassey (4Jyds) dead-heating_ with Olsen for second place. The time in the final was 8 l-ssec, being one-fifth of a second slower than that registered in the two heats. Green looks very fit, ana if he maintains present form should ha hard to heat at some of tho forthcoming meetings. Another runner who followed up Saturday’s success was W. V. Hermann; who accounted for the 300 Yards Handicap from a start of 11yds in convincing fashion, HA certainly got a flying start, but he finished full of running. Hermann has improved out of sight since last season, and should he a decidedly useful man to ’Varsity during the season. _ . The promising Civil Service colt, J. A. Sparrow, won the 1,000 Yards Handicap from a 55yds mark in 2min 25 1-osec. He still has a lot to learn, but he possesses the essentials of a good middle distancer, and, though Cabot appeared to have the race in hand rounding the straight, Sparrow challenged again, and won by 4ft from Morris, who heat Cabot almost on the tape for second place. 0. O. Nicholson, a brother of the Otago champion, C. M. Nicholson, made a good race in the One and ahalf Mile Cycle Handicap, which he won from 160yds in 3min 38 l-ssec. The Ladies’ 100 Yards Handicap was won by Miss W. Dorward (syds) in the very fair time of 12 2-ssec, the consistent Miss D. Moir (3Jyds) being second. _ . The next evening meeting will be conducted by the Anglican Club on December 1, tho programme being as followslooyds and 600yds handicaps, 120yds ladies’ handicap, cycling handicap, and mile medley relay handicap.. Entries close on November 27. On December 6 tho Ladies’ Club will hold an evening meeting, and on December 15 the centre will probably conduct an evening gathering. _ Admittedly the Olympic Games at Antwerp (1928) are a long way off, but early preparation is necessary—this is thoroughly realised in United States, and by Germany and other Continental nations, which have long since made a start, even down to securing quarters for their teams (says “ Argus,” in the ‘ Referee ’). In tho matter of preparation New Zealand’s plans are maturing rapidly—a good deal of propaganda! work is under way, and the dominion is in the throes of reorganisation. In tho connection by last week’s mail from Wellington I received much interesting information from Mr J. W. Heenan. eveif a whole-souled enthusiast on behalf of amateur athletics and the Olympic movement. Mr Heenan also kindly forwards the striking appeal to all dominion sportsmen (it is in pamphlet form) by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates. Prime Minister of New Zealand,'at the time he accepted the office of president of the New Zealand Olympic As sociation. New Zealand will surely play her part at the Ninth Olympiad I take it for granted-the dominion wif have oarsmen and swimmers engaged, whilst track and field athletes whose names come to mind include R. A. Rose and S. A. Lay. Doubtless a start, in real earnest, will he soon made in Australia. And. it must be rigidly laid down when the final of our team comes along; no one is included unless he has shown a performance equal, to Olympic standards—-the experience of 1924 must ever he kept in mind. The Victorian A.A.A. has been working' in tho direction. p| £ gs&ttfeg ft

move on ” for a long time—ten or twelve, months ago Hon. Sec. Hugh R. Weir stressed the necessity for same. The Invercargill Club will hold its first, evening meeting of the season at! Rugby Park on Wednesday, November 24. The programme for the meeting will he as follows: —75yds handicap, 300yds handicap, half-mile handicap, high, jump, 440yds handicap for secondary school boys, and ladies’ relay race of 300vds for teams of four. C. 1)1. Nicholson, the well-known Otago champion cyclist, has been appointed to represent the Taieri Club on the Otago Centre. He is the only cyclist occupying a seat on the governing! bod Recent word from _ South Africa shows some interesting schoolboy figures. The half-mile was done in 2min 2 4-ssec, the quarter in 51 3-ssec, and throwing the cricket ball 115yds Ift Sin. The mile was covered in 4min 43sec. In the high jump sft B|in won, and in the long jump 21ft Sin was the winning distance. The mile was a record, but the report goes on to say that, with the exception of this event, other performances were not putstand-