AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 20019, 9 November 1928, Page 12

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

EVENING SPORTS MEET M'LACHLAH'S FAST HALF L. C. M'Lachl.tn’s great effort in the 880yds handicap was undoubtedly the feature of the Otago Amateur Athletic Centre’s first' evening meeting of the season at the Caledonian Ground last night, M'Lachlan winning from scratch in 2min 0 l-ssec, which was the fastest half-mile that has been run on the Caledonian Ground for some twenty years. It is the centre's intention to hold weekly evening meetings on Thursday, and last night’s meet was a successful opening, the fields being large in every race, the finishes close, and the times good. In the 220yds handicap no fewer than twenty-three runners took part, and fourteen contested the half-mile. The track was in splendid order for so early in the season, thanks to the work of the groundsman (Mr R, Maxwell), and there being little wind fast times were naturally expected. M'Lachlan ran a great race in tho half-mile, showing excellent judgment and putting in a wonderful finish This was his third successive win from scratch in a middle-distance event, despite the fact that ho hos been giving away big handicaps In his last two starts he has run like a champion. A promising sprinter in Fraser won the furlong off 18yds in 23 2-ssec while J, C. Fogarty rodo well in tho 14** mile A grade • yole handicap, which ho won in 3min 50 2-ssec. He, too, rode a heady race and finished with great dash. The 13 grade event was one of the most exciting races of the evening. Conroy being tho winner oft 55yds. There was a very fair-sized crowd of spectators present, and they were treated to sonic most enjoyable sport. Mr E. L. Macassey (president), Mr H. T. Emmerson (sports secretary), and the usual band of willing officials were responsible for tho arrangements. Mr A. Burk was the starter. Details; — 880 YARDS HANDICAP. L. C. M'Lachlan (scr) 1 I. Chirnside (60yds) - J. E. Green (55yds) 0 Fourteen starters. M'Lachlan ran a wonderful race, successfully conceding starts up to 70yds. Holmes, the limit man, set a hot pace for the first lap, at the end of which Green was lying in second position just ahead ot Chirnsicle. M'Lachlan was running well within himself only about 40yds behind the leader. Green went to the front along the back straight, but displaying erreat judgment M'Lachlan gradually overhauled tho field, and was Tying behind Green and Chirnside with 200yds to go. Green led into the straight, but M'Lachlan came at him with a great finishing burst and went on to win comfortably by syds, Chirnside pub in a fast finish to heat Green for second place by inches. Time, 2mm 0 l-ssec. ONE-MILE B GRADE CYCLE HANDICAP. First Heat,—J. L. Ewing (scr) 1, J. S. M. Parsons (35yds) 2, W. Isaacs (25yds) 3. Eight starters. _ Parsons soon moved into a handy position, but in tho last lap Ewing put in a good sprint along the back, which took him to tho front to win in a good finish by half a length from Parsons, the High School rider, Isaac being half a wheel away third. Time, 2min 37 3-ssec. Second Heat.—G. Smith (35yds) 1, Conroy (55yds) 2, H. Mussen (25yds) 3. Ten starters. All the riders were in a bunch at the bell, but Smith jumped the field along the back stretch, and won by a length from Conroy, who finished fast, Mussen being two lengths back in third place. Time. 2miu 28 4-osec. —Final.— Conroy (55yds) 1 G. Smith (35yds) - J. S. M. Parsons (35yds) 3 A well-contested race and exciting finish. Smith, Parsons, and Ewing looked to have the race between them when the last lap was commenced, but Conroy came into the picture along the back straight. Smith led rounding tho turn, but Parsons was challenging him strongly, Ewing being at their wheels. Conroy, however, had to be reckoned with, and unloosing a great sprint ho got up to beat Smith in a fine finish by barely a tyre, Parsons being only a shade further back. Time, 2min 40 l-Sscc.

100 YARDS LADIES’ HANDICAP. First Float. —Miss 1. Maxwell (10yds) 1, Miss E. Burns (6yds) 2, Miss D. Broadley (7yds) 3. Eight starters. Miss Maxwell won easily by 4yds, Miss Broadley being another yard back. Time, 12 l-ssec. _ _ Second Heat.—Miss C. Blackio (10yds) 1. Miss M. M'Laren (4yds) 2, Miss J. Maxwell (Iyd) 3. Four starters. Won by three yards, a yard between second and third. Time, 12 2-5 sec.

—Final. — Miss I. Maxwell (10yds) 1 Miss C. Blackio (10yds) ... 2 Miss D. Broadley (7yds) 3 Miss Maxwell moved off more quickly than Miss Blackic, and running strongly she increased her lead to win by 2yds, Miss Broadley being a yard back third. Time, 12 2-ssec. 220 YARDS HANDICAP. First Heat.—-C. C. Nicholson (18yds) 1, B. Provo (22yds) 2, L. C. M'Lacblan (scr) 3. Eight starters. Nicolson beat Provo along the straight, and won by two yards, M'Lachlan, who ran well, after having to come round on the outside. being four feet away third. Time, 23 3-ssec. Second Heat.—B. Waller (17yds) 1, F. Mouat (18yds) 2, E. Fish (10yds) 3. Six starters. Waller led practically all the way, and stayed on to win by two yards, Fish being a yard back third. Time, 23 3-ssec. Third Heat.—Fraser (18yds) 1, R. O. Johnson (13yds) 2, F. Nelson (22yds) 3. Fraser ran well, and won by 4yds, Johnson and Nelson being separated by inches. Time, 23 2-ssec.

—Final.— Fraser (18yds) 1 O. C. Nichoson (18yds) 2 E. Fish (10yds) 3 Fraser again went a nice race. He began smartly, and rounding the turn into the straight shot away with a fine burst of speed to win by 3yds from Nicholson, Fish being a similar distance back third. Waller ran well in the formci half of the race, but failed to get through at the turn, and was unplaced. Time, 23 2-sscc. HOP, STEP, AND JDMP HANDICAP. W. H. Johnston (2ft Sin), 40ft

lOin 1 J. M'Crae (4ft 6in), 40ft Sin ... 2 R. O. Johnson (scr), 40ft 4in ... 3 Fourteen competed. The performances were ordinary, many competitors hardy reaching the pit. Tho scratch man did best, though not yet approaching his championship figures. ONE AND A-HALP MILES A GRADE CYCLE HANDICAP. J. C. Fogarty (scr) - ... 1 A. L. Rosenbrock (30yds) 2

F. Healey (30yds) 3 Seven starters. Templeton, who was on 130yds, rode hard at the bub with half tho distance covered, Lucas (80yds) was in the lead, followed by Templeton, Healey, and Rosenbrock. Fogarty, who was moving up fast, was lying fifth. At tho bell Lucas still held the lead, but ho was closely followed by Rosenbrock. Templeton, and Fogarty. Along the back stretch, Healey sprinted, but ho was challenged by Rosenbrock and Fogarty, the latter sustaining bis sprint along the'straight it win by three lengths from Ro&eubrock, with Henley a similar distance hack Hurd* Time. 2mm 5Q 2-ssec.,

400 YARDS MIXED RELAY HANDICAP (Teans of Four). Miss Miller, Miss Broadley, B. Waller. and R. L. Manderson (25yds) 1 Miss Currie, Miss M'Laron, R. O. , Johnson, and H. J, Pollock (15yds) 2 Miss Stewart, Miss Moir. M. G. Valk, and P. G. Ward (13yds) ... 3 Seven teams competed. An interesting race and good finish. Won by 2vds, a yard between second and third. Time, 47sec.