ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 12

ATHLETICS

C [By Pmtol.] I

Imu ADD FIELD ACTIVITIES

FIXTURES. February 9.—Pacific. Club’s evening toeet, February 11.—Amateur events at (Carisbrook open-air cntcrtaiimicnt. February 11.—Wellington championIthips. February (dale to bo fixed).— Secondary school championships at Injrercargill. February 16.—Taiori Club’s evenitag meet at Mosgicl. February 18.—Canterbury chamJaonships. February 22 and 25.—Appearance of [Australian champion cyclists. March 10.—Taicri Club’s afternoon meet at Mosgiel. April 9.—New Zealand University Championships. i MEETING CANCELLED. Owing to the inability of Malcolm Lead better, New Zealand 100yds and 220yds title holder, to be present, and {&}so to the fact that two big meetings, |at considerable expense, aro being staged toward the end of the present mouth, the evening meet to have been held under the auspices of the Otago .Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. on February £ has been cancelled. This nows will be received with dis appointment by a large body of runners and cyclists, especially in view of the fact that Canterbury was sending a strong relay team south. Had the meeting been held the Canterbury team would probably have been G. L. Austin (880yds), A. L. JTideman (440yds), J. A. Gasson and IA. B. Clark (220yds). C. L. Allen, (Canterbury’s representative quartersniler, was not available, and the difficulty was to tmd a good man in his place. Tideman is a youngster who has shown wonderful promise over a quarter-mile, but this season he has not been seen on the track often, and has done very little training. In good condition he would fail very little short of championship class. SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS. The inception of the Otago secondary schools’ athletic championships last season was a great success, the only disappointing feature being the absence of the Waitaki Boys’ High School. The Mneasscy Shield (senior championship points) was won by the Otago Boys’ High School, and the Barnett Shield (junior championship points) by the Southland Boys’ High School. Though no outstanding marks were Set, some good performances were registered in the championship events, but it will not be surprising to see many of the marks go by the board :> |when the second annual meet is held ; at Invercargill, probably next month. {The fixture will be under the control !of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club, which will have the co-opera- ; tion of the Southland Boys’ High (School in staging the fixture, j Visiting athletes will be billeted during their stay at Invercargill. I CARLTON’S CLASS. 'James Carlton enhanced his already Sine reputation by his performance in (the 100 metres on the first day of the (Australian National Games at Manly recently, and incidentally gave a further and most convincing demonstration that he possesses to the fullest I iextent the determination that eharactenses the real champion (says the Globe’). I He met a very fine field, in which were the redoubtable “ Bundy ” •Parker (whom he had previously defeated in New Zealand), O. J. Lane, ’who also competed at Wellington, H. Day (Queensland), and H. D. F. Ferguson, A. Walker, and R. C. Smith, of New South Wales Parker, who bad had the benefit of four days in gydney, was quickest into his running, and at 90yds led Carlton. The lastnamed put in a great finish, and despite Parker’s efforts the St. Joseph’s jboy reached the tape first in Usee. The time is identical with that of (Abrahams, the ultimate winner, in his heat at the 1924 Olympic meeting, when be defeated “Slip” Carr. Abrahams finally won in 10 3-osec. Carlton’s performances have been very consistent throughout the year. In the G.P.S. sports he did the 100yds in lOsec, and the Dunn Shield in 10 d-lOsec, and the Australasian 100yds lat Wellington against a very powerful yind in 10 l-ssec—an amazing run. Saturday’s 100 metres race stamps him as a sprinter worthy to contend iagainst the world’s best. With the exception of those operating at the All Schools’ race on the Cricket Ground, the conditions under which he ran were hardly ideal. Further, his performance over a furlong arrests attention. At the G.P.S. he did 21 4-sscc, Dunn Shield 22 l-ssec (against wind and rain, and on a dead track), and in New Zealand 22 l-ssec in a strong wind. All were fine performances, and that they are well up to standard may be gauged from the fact that in 1924 Carr won his heat in the 200 metres in 22 3-ssec, and the second round in 21 4-ssec, while Jackson V. Scholz captured the final in 21 3-ssec, beating Etach renowned sprinters as Charles Paddock and Eric Liddell. As he posses an ideal temperament and is not at all likely to be upset by the importance of the occasion, Australia will be assured of worthy representation in the sprint events. Carlton did not compete in the 200 metres at Manly, and the event provided a surprise. Parker was voted the moat likely winner, with the Victorian Lane next best. Parker started off all right, and at the 180yds looked a certain winner, but the Manly footballer, Walker, came with an astonishing run and completely smothered Parker, to win by a couple of yards in 22 3-ssec. Parker’s double (defeat was a shock to Queenslanders.

SOUTHERN ACTIVITIES. A big effort is being made to bring the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club back to its old standard of efficiency, and a letter from the secretary of the chib (Mr 1. V. Manson), who is himself a, well-known middle distance performer, advises the writer that his club is looking forward to running a first-rate secondary schools’ meeting in February or March. A recent evening meeting turned out successfully from the athletes’ point of view, but the public support was very poor. However, confidence is expressed that after another two meetings things should improve and that the schools’ meet will bo a scccss. This is a last rally this season, just to give the club a good start next season, when it is hoped to be well represented at the Otago championships.

AUSTRALIAN CYCLISTS’ VISIT. Athletic followers are going to witness something out of the ordinary when J. Standen and D. Gray, of New South Wales, show their form on the cycling track of Dunedin towards the end of the present month. Standen has been recommended for selection in the Australasian Olympic team, and at the annual Australian championships and Olympic tests in Sydney re’ccntly he bad a triumphant march. Standen is a typical sprinter, and according to many old-timers is one of the greatest amateur track riders Australia has produced. At tho Australian championships he won the 1,001) metres (1,094yd5) Olympic time trial in Imin 16 3-6scc; one mile championship (in which he was disqualified) _ in 2min 13sec; the five-mile Australian championship, tho 1,000 metres Olympic test, and tho Australian half-mile and ten-mile championships. His career has been brief and brilliant. Ho is twenty years of age, and hails from Mnrrickvillc, where Cecil Walker mow all-round champion of America) made a name for himself as an amateur. A lino typo of athlete, Standen is sft 9in in his socks, and tips the beam at 12st. As a junior he vvon every New South Wales and Australian championship, and while still a junior ho joined the ranks of the seiners. Soon he climbed up the ladder. Some of his performances prior to the championships in Sydney were Five-mile championship, Australian mile championship, N.S.W. Olympic track time trial, and 1,000 metres Olympic scratch race.

D, Gray, who will accompany Standen on his New Zealand tour, is regarded as champion of the southern centre of tho New South Wales Amatear Cyclists’ Union. Ho is game, and tho faster the race tho better ho likes it. Two years older than Standen, he is oft 6in tall, and weighs 10.1. He is the 20-railo road champion of the southern centre, runner-up N.S.W. Olympic time trial, and runner-up in 1.000 metros Olympic track test. In the recent championships and Olympic tests in Sydney he was awarded the mile title (Standen being disqualified), and was equal for second place with Fred Wrack (Queensland) in the Olympic time trial, second to Standen in the five-mile championship of Australia, runne-np to Standen in tho 1.000 metros Olympic scratch race, and Australian hall-mile championship, and third to Standen and Lamb in the Australian ton-mile senior championship. E. Palmer is showing rare keenness to be on tho track again, and the form of the ex-professional when ho makes his first appearance in amateur ranks at tho Pacific Club’s meet on February 9 will be closely watched.

T. Traill continues to improve, and on the form hb is showing at the present time he is undoubtedly one of the most promising riders in Dunedin. He has a good sprint, as he showed at the last evening meeting, but he still has a little in reserve judging from the form ho has shown in training spins. _ I. H. M'Millnn has been doing a fair amount of road work, hut so far as the track is concerned he has not developed the sprint he was showing last season. In road races, however, he should show to considerable advantage. J. Ewing l»as recommenced work on the track, and if ho were able to reproduce training form in competition he might pick up a race ere long. _ W. J. Templeton has been training steadily, but there is a possibility that he may bo absent from Dunedin for the meetings to be held towards tho end of tho month.

0. M, Nicholson, ex-Otago champion cyclist, will probably be in Dunedin in the course of a few days, and is a likely starter at the Pacific Club’s meeting. Had the meeting on February 4 proceeded he would probably have taken part. S. Bremford, the Otago champion cyclist, has been having a short spell off the track, but will probably resume training in the course of a day or two. .Among several new riders who intend competing shortly are W. Isaacs, T. Crossan, and C. Fellowfield, and it should be pleasing to these riders to learn that the Otago Centre _ intends including novice races on its programme at the big meetings to be staged next month. H. Cooper is riding well in training, and should collect a win before long. COMING EVENTS. At the request of the Canterbury Centre, the Otago Centre has agreed to an alteration in the dates for the meetings at which the Australian champion cyclists, J. Standen and D. Gray, will compete, and they will now appear at Dunedin on the evening of February 22 and the afternoon of February 25. An invitation scratch race will be included on each programme, and for the meeting on January 25 an effort is to be made to secure the services of F. J. Grose, New Zealand cycling champion. An invitation has also been extended to Malcolm Lesfdbctter, New Zealand sprint champion, to bo present at the meeting, at which it is hoped the running sprint events will be divided into A and B grades. TRAINING OPERATIONS.

G. M. Olsen has been training fairly steadily, and at the present time the New Zealand middle distance representative is in rare fettle. When he steps out to attempt the Caledonian Ground record for 880yds it will be surprising if the two-minute mark is not bettered. B. M‘Kernan is training consistently over the mile, and the Civil Service veteran can always be depended on to make a race of it from the middle marks. . .

C. H. Duff has resumed training, and will be a strong contender for honors at the next Otago University championships. E. Fish and Andrew Holt, of the Pacific Club, deserve to meet with success. for they have been training assiduously for some time past. Holt is such a powerful runner that if he were taken in band he might deliver the goods in mile events. Fish is a useful middle-distance runner, who may bo among the championship contenders next season. , W. Murphy, Caversham’s burly miler. has been doing a lot of solid training lately, and when he develops

an easier action ho is going to be reckoned with in distance events. It. 0. Johnson has been training hard at the hop, step, and jump, the Otago champion having shown good form lately. L. C. M'Lachlan has resumed training, and if he gets down to it solidly should be capable of registering round about 2min for the half-mile. CYCLING COMMENTS. ’ Still no word from the New Zealand Council regarding the Otago Amateur Cycling Club’s application for affiliation. Really, it is too bad, and the Otago Centro should instruct its delegates to ascertain why so much delay has been caused in dealing with an ordinary application for affiliation, Sir Winchester, a keen cycling enthusiast, has provided the now club trophies to the value of £4 4s for races for the younger riders, and once affiliation is granted the club will bo able t to commence functioning in a very active manner. JOTTINGS. ■The Pacific Club will hold its evening meeting on-February 9, when a good programme is to be staged. The Tnieri Club’s meeting at Mosgiel is scheduled for the following week. There seems to be an increasing interest shown by the lady runners, and in view of the fact that there is some prospect of their being dropped from future meetings it is to he hoped large entries will be received for ladies’ events at the forthcoming meetings. E. S. Bastings is doing good work as a conch, and the successes of Miss M. Stewart in the 100yds test at the Otago championships was largely due to the results of his coaching. No ladies’ event was included on the Anglican Club's programme last night. The Canterbury championships are set down for decision on February 18. The new cycling track at the Caledonian Ground is now beginning to harden, and when the Australian cyclists appeal - her at the end of the present month it should be ready for some fast riding. It is mooted that in March the Otago Centre will stage ah interclub track and field meet, at which each club will be limited to men in each event, no man to start in more than two events. Such a meeting should be productive of splendid competition and good racing, and it is to bo hoped the field men will receive their share of the programme. The Australian cyclists will leave Svdney on January 27 and arrive in Wellington on January 31. Their first appearance is at Wanganui, on February 1, and the tour will conclude on March 3 Wanganui, Hawera, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will be visited. The somewhat unusual spectacle, _ in New Zealand, of competitors racing for the 100 and 200 metre championships will be seen at Hamilton tomorrow, when the Auckland provincial titles for those events will he contested. The 100yds and 220yds titles have already been decided, and no doubt these additional events have been allotted to Hamilton in an endeavor to boost the game along in that rising city. , . ~ , For some timo past the Auckland public have lived on in the hope that they would see New Zealand s star distance man, Randolph Rose, in action, but to date they have not had that pleasure (says a northern writer). Saviclan, Rose’s great rival, has taken popular hold on the fancies of the Aucklanders, and it is only natural that they should be keen on these two speedsters in action. Winn this object in view, Rose is to be invited to compete at the Auckland Club’s jubilee on February 25. bavidan, who has not had a, let-up for two seasons, summer or winter, has been enjoying a short spell, but will shortly recommence training in earnest, and hopes to be able to repeat his New Zealand championship performances and lead the “big fellow” in. In the high jump at the Australian Olympic trials the two Victorians. LB" Mason and E. M. Davidson, both beat the N.S.W. record of 6ft 3-Bm. Mason cleared 6ft 2in, and Davidson 6ft 2in. This reversed _ the places in the Australasian championships, when the last-named did 6ft 2jin and Mason 6ft 12 in. Each has been doing 6ft or thereabouts fairly regularly in Melbourne, so they are consistent. These heights, of course, would not be considered remarkable by Americans. H. M. Osborne won the last Olympic evcr> with 6ft 6in. Still, Davidson particularly, is so young that he must improve, and one naturally looks to him for better things in the near future (says an Australian writer).