AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 19840, 13 April 1928, Page 12

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

TRACK AND HARRIER ACTIVITIES . [By Pistol.] FIXTURES. 'April 14.—Otago Amateur Cycling Club’s 23-mile road race, at Mosgiel. June 9.—Edmond Cup Steeplechase. June 30.—Port road race. MEET AT WAIKOUAITI. Amateur athletics promise to become well established in Waikouaiti, though a club was formed there but a couple of weeks ago, and under a special permit an amateur meeting was held on Monday. The conditions could hardly hare been better , and the track tv as in quite fair condition in view of the fact that the meeting was worked up in the short space of ten days. Mr R A. Malone made his first essay as handicappcr at this meeting, his efforts generally being very satislactory, especially when one realises the difficulties to be encountered by a handicapper taking over towards the end of the track season. The relay handicap over one mile produced a good race, there being less than 10yds between the three placed teams, ['acme, on 35yds, led for the first halt-niile, but Anglican (55yds) picked up as the result of a good quarter by R. 0. Johnson, eventually winning by_ 3yds from the scratch team. Civil Service. - Chris.Olsenma.de his only appearance iof the day in the relay handicap, and ran a sterling quarter tor Civil Service. Had the New Zealand representative contested the first half-mile his team .would probably have won tha race. Olsen is a remarkably fine runner who does not really know his own capabilities—the writer feels sure he will register even better performances for the 'half than his brilliant time at the Australasian championships—but it is a ipitv that the Dunedin public have not ,heen afforded more opportunities of seeing him at his best. No time was taken in the mile handicap, but it served to introduce to amateur ranl£? a young Waikouaiti runner, E. J. Johnston, who, from the 65yds mark, scored a popular win. 'Johnston ran a well-judged race, taking the lead with half the distance covered, and staying there to win by 20yds. He is the makings of a firstclass miler, being a well-set-up runner ;with a long., swinging stride and quite a good action. The hope is expressed that he will be seen In action in Dunedin next season

A. G. Holt, the Pacific sprinter, is a consistent performer off 'the _ long marks, and next season he will bo fighting out the finishes from further back than is the case at the present time. Ho won the 100yds jianchcap from tho Byds mark in 10 4-osec, this race producing a good finish. Holt is not a good beginner,, being slow into his stride, but he is a determined finisher, and if he could sharpen up out ’of the holes he would return faster times. ■

I Without a doubt Ted Bastings has (proved himself to he one of tho best sprinters in Otago this season, despite the fact that his legs arc not as sound as they might be. Were Bastings ■physically sound the writer believes that he would go very close towards [winning a provincial sprint title. Bastings ran well at Waikouaiti, coming [with a great flash at tho finish to beat fthe limit man, R. O. Johnson, almost km the tape. Bastings was on 10yds, land the time was 23 4-ssec, which was (a good performance for the track. {Bastings ran quite a lair race in the iquarter, but found Taylor’s handicap bevond him, filling second place Irom n 15yds mark. Bastings is an average quarter-mile'-, but is better over the shorter sprints. . Anglican Club has the makings of a really useful middle-distance runner in E. Taylor, who should be persuaded next season to concentrate on tho quarter and half. From 30yds he made no mistake about tho 440yds hanflicap at Waikouaiti, winning by 10yds. Taylor strides well, and though m- ■ dined to drag his arms a hit at tho back his action has improved since the [beginning of the season, and next year should see him a much more finished, j performer. | C. E. Matthews has been getting iinto the places lately, and was again to the fore on Monday. Matthews has developed - stronger finish, and is learning to carry himself right through |at the end of a race. From the 15yds imark he won his heat of the furlong jin 24 l-ssec, but had to be content .with third place in the final. Off 30yds •he occupied third place in the quarter, [but this distance is a little beyond 'him, and he would he well advised to Stick to the sprints.

R. O. Johnson is most widely known ias the best hop, step, and jumper Otago has yet produced, but has shown up in running events several times during the present season, and was again prominent at Wnikouaiti from long marks. Off 9yds Johnson ran third in the 100yds handicap, and finished second in the furlong from 20yds. He began 'smartly, but was fading out at the 'finish, and will have to develop a ’stronger finish to do well in the sprints. •Johnson won the shot putt, with an actual putt of 27ft, his handicap being m

; LADY RUNNER’S PROTEST. r At the Otago championships a considerablo amount of comment was 'caused by Miss Stewart being allowed to in the final of the 100yds Jadies’ championship, despite the fact »‘jthat she did not compote in the heats. jMiss Stewart duly won, and a protest iwas entered by some of the other competitors, but the Otago Centre disallowed the appeal. The protest was then eent forward to the N.Z.A.A.A.. and af'ter some correspondence had been entered upon, was finally decided at the (last meeting (states a Wellington jvriter). According to Miss Stewart, she was iiiot called to vthe mark, and it was on Shis ground that she requested permisIsion to start in the final. In deliberating on this matter, the council memjbers spent a great amount of time bejffore reaching a decision. Rules quoted p'ere as follows: — 11 The reference together with the secretary, shall have power to change the order of events as laid down in the official programme i and to add to or alter the announced i arrangements of heats in any events.” | in this rule no power is given the i 'jreferee to alter the final of a race, j “The clerk of the course shall be I provided with the names and the num-1 ?bers of all entered, and he shall notify ' them to appear at the starting line before the start in each event in which are entered.” The onus is also Ipa the competitor to appeal on- the mark at the correct time, and this was i foot done. , , „ It was pointed out that, to allow a fresh competitor to start in the final Uvas distinctly unfair to the other competitors, who may have had to race themselves right -out to qualify. After Sons© discussion it was unanimously detided that the council could not agree |o the centre’s ruling, and that the protest must be upheld. f CYCLING COMMENTS. 'Amateur cyclists deserve praise for way they supported the Waikpuaiti , meet on Easter Monday, and, though the track left something to be desired, the racing was of a very interesting naBd some good finishes were witThe Taieri rider, D. O’Brien, rn rapid improvement, already back to a mid-mark. In the ndicap, he rode a well-judged d final

twelve lengths. O’Brien was on 145yds, the time being 2min 45sec. In the one and a-half miles handicap O’Brien won his heat, but he was unable to withstand Cooper's strong challenge in the last lap, having to. be content with second place. O’Brien is one of the most promising of the newer riders, and should win further races before long. H. Cooper is a strong rider, who appears to shape, hotter over the longer distances. He carried off the one and a-half miles handicap at Waikouaiti off 85yds, and was second in the two-mile event off 105yds. Cooper has a good seat, and unloosed a useful sprint in the last lap of the one and a-half miles, pedalling fast to win by three lengths in 4min 20sec. Ho made his sprint a shade too soon in the two-mile event, and was caught along the straight_ by J. Fogarty, who won in the slow time of smin 50 4-ssec, though the state of the track must bo taken into consideration. Fogarty was on 80yds in this event, in which he rode his usual sound race. He revealed a fine sprint at the finish, which gave him a popular win. Fogarty is a very consistent rider, with undoubted staying power, and now that he is showing such a good sprint ho can be expected to take beating in track races. , , , , . G. Smith made a good debut in amateur cycling, hut has not maintained his early rate of improvement, though he has been fairly well treated by the handicappcr of late. He was on 300yds in the two-mile race at Waikouaiti, and could not do better than finish third. Smith does not ride with the host of judgment, losing the advantage of his handicap too early in a race. J. Campbell should he among the winners before long. He qualified in both mile and one and a-half miles handicap, and finished third in the latter off 160vds. A Harris, from the 200yds mark, filled the position of runner-up in the mile handicap, and if ho would concentrate on developing a strong sprint he would prove harder to beat. Svd. Bremford, the Otago track chainpipn, did not compete at Waikouaiti. and it is unlikely that he will # be able to take part in competition during the winter owing to his woik. E. Palmer was a competitor at V\ aikouaiti. but, though the ex-professional rode well, he was unable to get up sufficiently to be in at the finish, the state of the track being against the back--111 That cycle racing for gilds should be encouraged is the plea made by a member of the “ fair sex. She points out that girls are well catered tor in regard to swimming, foot running, and general athletics, and intimates that she would be prepared to chadenge anv crirls on the track (states an Australian writer). Some time ago amateur cycling for girls was introduced in England, add created widespread interest. Some of them made a rather unfortunate debut, as there was a crash in a, race, in which several were injured. , , Perhaps lady cyclists will yet be seen in action in Dunedin. What does the Cycling Club say about the matter.[ A prominent focal athletic official told the writer during the week that there is some talk of the formation of another amateur cycling club in Dunedin, and now that the Otago Amateur Cycling Club- has made such a good start there seems no reason to hinder the establishment of another club. Several well-known old-timers have proffered their services in connection with the new club, which may eventuate before the next track season commences. For the twenty-three-mile road race, under the auspices of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club, next Saturday twenty-four riders have entered, and a good race should result, the start being, from Mosgiel, round through Outram, with the finish at the Silverstream Bridge. It is difficult to sort out the likely winners, as there is little in the way of road racing form to go upon, but Hodge, Palmer, Traill, Fogarty, Cooper, and Rosenbrock among those further back should be well to the fore. Under favorable conditions fast time should be registered. The two Australian cyclists, J. Standen and D. Gray, who competed so successfully in the amateur races arranged for them in the dominion, have returned to Sydney. Competing at Goulbourn recently shortly after a rough trip back from New Zealand, J. Standen again demonstrated that he has no equal in Australia or New Zealand b.v winning the ten-mile New South Wales championship. Duncan _ Gray, who accompanied Standen in his New Zealand trip, was successful in ilie hall-mile title.

J. H. Wade, Auckland’ champion road rider, is fast making a name for himself on the track (says the ‘Sun.). On Tuesday evening, at the Domain, he won two fine races, a half and five miles, the latter carrying with it the S. W. House Cup. In both events he showed a remarkable. turn of speed, coming to the front in the last lalf lap and winning comfortably.

FIELD ACTIVITY. Field activity was a feature of the amateur meet at Waikouaiti, and m this respect the country officials set many of their town brethren a good example. The standard ivas a litEe disappointing in some of the events, though to win the hop, step, and jump handicap the Otago champion jR. U. Johnson) would have had to do just on 48ft. which is 2ft (Jin better than he has yet done, besides being an Australasian record. However, splendid competition marked the various field events, good entries being the rule. M. R. Spillane, the recently reinstated Palmerston athlete, made bis first appearance in amateur ranks, and won the old-time popular event, tossing the caber, with a toss of 4311. Spillane has not yet had much oppo - tunity to get mto tom, but ho put the IGlb shot a distance of 30ft »*in, which was the best effort of the day. When Spillane gets into form be capable of adding several feet this; effort, for he is the cut of a mst c a=s field man. He heaved the Ib.b hammer only 80ft,. though he has been credited with 120tt at practice. The trouble was that he has been used to a Jammer with a wooden handle, and the springy handle certainly mad© a big difference to his throwing. El Provo performed with considerable' success, scoring a first, a ? and a third. He javelm throwing with an. actual throw of 136 ft 3in, was second in the hop. step, and jump handicap, and third in the broad S, in which he didlßft 9m. .Provo is the stamp of a first-class field man, and if he were taken in hand by a reliable coach ho would shin© at one or other of the field events, in most of which he shows more than average profacmnig. c | eare d 19ft in the long jump, his handicap of 2ft giving bun the victory. Ward jumped very well, and on a good .pit should be quite capable of bettering 20ft. His effort of 127 ft with the. javelin was a good ■throw* and he carried off the hop, step* and jump handicap with an actual

SOME VAULTING. At a recent meeting in California Lee Barnes made an attempt on the world’s record for the pole vault (states the San Francisco ‘Examiner’). The little Olympic champion furnished the major palpitations of a snappy, wellhandled meet with his sky-riding antics. He went right up the scale past 13ft 6in without making a bobble. Then they hoisted the standards to 14ft 2in, above the present world’s record held by Sabin Carr, and .Barnes went to work. Three times he raced clown the runway, took a nving up, skimmed over, and then flipped the bar off with his arm as he came down. Every time it looked as if he would get by safely, only to have that trailing arm spoil his magnificent effort. Barnes was jumping with a 14ft pole, and apparently it wasn’t long enough to permit him to shove off over the bar without dragging across the bar. If he had had a 15ft pole ho would have packed off the pole vault record and no foolin’.

TEAMS’ EVENT. One of the biggest events of the New Zealand harder season is the longestablished Port Chalmers to Dunedin road race, and this year that popular event will take on increased interest because of the fact that a teams’ race will bo held in connection with it. Mr N. Nickels has generously donated a cun for competition among the clubs in tlie two road races staged by the Otago Centre, the first of which is the Port road race. Good entries are usually the rule for this fixture, but this year friendly rivalry between the various clubs for possession of the Nickels Cup should bring about a record entry.

N.Z. ’VARSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS. At the time of writing exchanges are not to hand concerning the New Zealand interuniversity championships, but one of the outstanding performances of the meeting was the splendid effort of the Otago provincial champion and New Zealand representative J. G. Leckie in the 161 b hammerthrowing championship. The existing record of 131 ft Sin stood to the credit of J. M. Boyne, an Otago crack of other days, but Leckie, despite tho wretched conditions prevailing, sent the implement 140 ft 3in. Leckie has thrown very consistently this season, his best being 148 ft 6in at the Otago championships, though he has averaged 140 ft on several other occasions. He will improve further yet. G. B. Wilson registered a good throw of 106 ft lOin, taking second points for Otago. The Cabot brothers carried oft the mile walk on which, as with the hammer throw, Otago seems to have a premium. G. S. Cabot beat R. H. Cabot, but the time was much below tho winner’s best, being 7min 20 3-ssec.

The conditions were against good jumping, but the standard in the nigh jump was a low one for all that, A. H. Malcolm, holder of tho Otago provincial title, winning at sft lin. Malcolm also finished second to F. S. Ramson, the New Zealand and Australasian champion, in the 440yds hurdles, won in 59 3-ssec, and next season Malcolm may be expected to do big things across the sticks. Ramson also carried off the 120yds hurdles. Three Rugby players fought out the 161 b shot-putting championship, which G. T. Alley won for Canterbury with an effort of 36ft 9in, which, though good, is bolow his best. D. F. Lindsay, who was second string to H. D. Morgan last year, was second with a putt of 34ft 9in, tho two All Blacks being followed by H. A. Henderson, the exOtago ’Varsity A forward, who is now at Canterbury University College. Malcolm Leadbetter, New Zealand champion, accounted for both sprints, and his 10 2-ssec and 23 2-ssec for 100yds and furlong respectively must be accounted good performances under the circumstances.

E. B. E. Taylor, of Canterbury, may be an inconsistent runner, but when he is in form he is capable of something special, as he showed in winning the mile from Don. Priestley in the rattling good time, of 4min 29 2- Ho also carried off tho three miles in lomin 49 4-osec. E. B. Smith (Wellington). returned the fast time in the quarter of 62 3- but could not shake off D. W. Bain (Canterbury) in the half, a dead beat resulting in 2min 3 1-osec. Tetley, of Auckland, won the long jump at 20ft 6Jin. E. M. .Han.au (Otago) being third with 20ft 2Jin. Hanan is a fine jumper, who probably obtains his ’Varsity blue by reason of the fact that he represented Otago at the New Zealand amateur championships. Victoria College, Wellington, carried off the shield, Canterbury being run-ners-up half a point ahead of Otago, who failed to gain a point in the flat championship events. Still, the local ’Varsity has a number of promising young athletes coming on, who should bo heard of in a year or two.

AUCKLAND SEASON REVIEWED. The ‘Star’s’ Auckland correspondent writes:

The amateur athletic season has now closed. No outstanding performances have been recorded by the runners, but there is a wealth of young athletes who have shown promise. Next season a champion may be produced to win honors for tho province at the Non Zealand championships. Sprint racing . showed considerable improvement during the season. No serious rivalry was offered A. J. Elliott for his sprint title, and it will take a particularly good 100yds runner to bring about Elliott’s defeat in a scratch race. Next year Elliott should be at the zenith of his career, kittle was seen on the track of L. C. Williams, who is one of the most brilliant sprinters up to 75yds in the dominion. .I, ,1 Larger fields were attracted by the middle-distance events, and at almost every meeting fourteen to eighteen runners started in the 440yds and 880yds handicaps. The quarter-mile title was annexed by J. L. M Coy, who quite recently at a young age decided to retire. His retirement is a distinct loss to amateur athletics, for in two seasons he became an Auckland and New Zealand title holder. The outstanding performance of the season, however, goes to the credit of T. E. Henry, whose debut as a 440yds runner was so promising that it is not too sanguine to expect the ex-Rotorua sprinter to hold a dominion title in the near future. For several seasons Henry ■ performed creditably as a sprinter, but at the latter end of last season he trained for middle distances. Success immediately came his way, .and twice in succession he won the 440yds handicap off scratch. Hurdling has also claimed Henry’s attention, and ibis in this department that, tho local man should become proficient. Recently lie registered 59sec for the 440yds hurdles, and with more experience as a jumper Henry should have great prospects of establishing a fresh New Zealand record. There has been no noticeable improvement in the runners seen in

half and one-mile events, and no fast times were recorded during the season. J. W. Savidan has no equal over the mile. He could make even better time over this distance with more concentration on tho times taken to cover each lap. Savidan is: always fresh at the finish. The precedent set by Nurmi and others of carrying a stop watch would probably assist the local champion is evidently feeling the effects of C. Barker was prominent on several occasions this year, and won three races. Barker can stay well, but he must show better judgment in timing a finish. G. Kells failed to reveal the dash shown a few seasons ago, and the es-New Zealand cross-country champion is evidently feeling the eeffets of his early racing.

JOTTINGS. Next week will see the ‘Sports Special ’ again published, and during the winter tho athletic columns will appear in that paper. Harrier clubs are reminded that news concerning their activities will be gladly received nob later than noon on Tuesday of each week. Club reporters should get the habit of commenting regularly on the doings of harriers, social activities, etc., and clubs which contribute only spasmodically have only themselves to blame if they do not receive the publicity their members desire. One of the most enthusiastic harrier clubs in Dunedin last season was the newly-formed Mornington Club, and the improvement shown by several members during the season was largely due to tho efforts of C. H. M'Lean, not only as secretary hut in a coaching capacity. He has been reappointed secretary of the hill club, and should have the satisfaction of seeing its colors more prominent in the open events than was the case in ita inaugural season.

J’here is some likelihood of a new harrier cluh being formed in connection with the Hanover Street Baptist Church, and present indications point to the coming harrier season being one of the most successful in the history of the sport. The brilliant Australian sprinter, J. Carlton, is decidedly fortunate in securing the services as coach of the world’s champion sprinter, M. Abrahams, of England, who has offered to take the Australian in hand on his arrival in the Old Country. Carlton is delighted with Abrahams’ generous offer and will certainly avail himself of the opportunity of having the advice of such a brilliant athlete. The Englishman, haying the necessary experience behind him, should be in a position to impart valuable hints to the Australian and New Zealand champion. No date has yet been fixed for the New Zealand cross-country championship at Wanganui, but the Otago Centre should waste no time in going into the matter of financing the Otago team to the riverside town. The centre is not in a strong financial position, and if the best team is to be sent the raising of funds is a matter that have to receive the consideration of the centre at the very earliest possible moment. Charlie Jenkins has proved this season to be tho most consistent sprinter in New Zealand (says a Wellington writer). At Petono be again won comfortably in lOsec over a measured hundred yards, and to close watchers he gave the impression that he could have done even better if necessary, in past seasons ho has never been able to go through a full season in such fine style, and, in congratulating him, a word of praise is also due to his trainer, Mr Percy Jenkins. Amongst his recent performances are the following times for 100yds—9 4-osec, lOsec (four times), 10 l-ssec (twice). The allpoation of the various cups in competition during the recent track and field season will probably be made at next week’s meeting of the Otago Centre. The St. Kilda Club has not been very prominent in recent years, but a keen band of officials has been appointed for the coming harrier season, for which the club’s prospects are brighter than has been the case lor some time past. In teams’ events a number of young runners will probably get their chance. Negligence on the part of track officials continues to lie the bane of Lloyd Hahn’s life (states an American exchange). The Boston runner recently .was deprived of a record in Brooklyn because the track was not equipped properly. In tho St. Joseph Catholic 1 club games recently an error by track officials cost him a chance to break Ins own world’s indoor record for tho 1, 000-yavd event. Hahn won the race', but it was discovered later that tho contestants had been made to run an extra lap, or 1,175 yards, instead or 1,000. The clerk at the finish line was lesponsible lor the error. As a result, Halm conserved his speed for tho Inst and extra lap, bis time for 1,000 yards being 2min 14 4-ssec, against the record of 2min 12 4-ssoc. The Waikouaiti Amateur Athletic Club has made a good start, and already it has a membership ot sixty. The people of the district are 'cry keen on amateurism, and altogether the prospects of the new club are exceedingly bright. It is likely, too, that the spread of amateurism is not to be confined to Waikouaiti, as there is every likelihood of a club being formed at Palmerston. E. S. Bamson’s run of 56 4-ssec tor the 44.0yds hurdles at Christchurch last December was officially passed as a New Zealand record at the recent meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. G. Sceats s bin’ll jump of 6ft was also passed as the joint-best jump of a New Zealander in New Zealand. Both these record holders are teachers at the Wellington Bovs’ College. Waikouaiti is fortunate m possessing such an enthusiast ns Mr P. McCarthy to control tho destinies or the new amateur club that has been formed there, the inaugural meeting being a tribute to bis efforts. At the conclusion of Monday’s meet he thanked officials of the Otago Centre for the assistance they had given with the fixturc, and assured the crowd that amateurism had come to stay in tho district. • , , , An extra fillip should be given to the Australian Olympic appeal because of tho fact that Alf. Watson, Australian record-breaking hurdler, has been included as twentieth man (says the ‘Globe"’). Watson,faded m New Zealand, but it was pointed out that he had suffered severely from seasickness on the trip across, and this trouble left him weakened towards, the finish of the race, which was run in a boisterous wind. Victorian sportsmen are pleased that his ability has-been recognised without prejudice to the selected team. If the fulL quota of money is raised Watson will get his chance at the Games.