TRUCK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 13

TRUCK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND MUTES [By Pistol.] January (date to be fixed). —Ladies’ Olub Evening Meeting, Caledonian Ground. January (date to be fixed) Otago Amateur Cycling Club Evening Meeting, Caledonian Ground. February 2.—Otago Centro’s Athletic and Motor Cycle Sports, Forbury Park. February 9.—Otago Amateur Championships, Caledonian Ground. February 9.—Wellington Amateur Championships. February 9. —Canterbury Amateur Championships. February 22 and 23.—Now Zealand Amateur Championships, at Wellington. CYCLING CLUB’S FIXTURE. Older clubs might well follow the example of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club in the matter of enthusiasm and activity. Though this club has been in existence but a short time, its officials have already proved themselves to be an alert, go-ahead band, and while they have certainly made mistakes, they have done much to give cycling in Otago a great fillip. For that reason the afternoon cycling and athletic fixture staged by this club last Saturday was deserving of liberal public patronage, but despite the fact that a most attractive (albeit rather long) programme was arranged, the attendance, to say the least, was most disappointing. Not so the fields, which were most satisfactory, both in the running and cycling events, and the finishes generally were the best that have been seen on the Caledonian Ground for a long time past. Ji the writer is to voice protest at all, it is that the limits of the running handicaps wore too big, and the scratch men were asked -to do too much. In a mile handicap, 210yds is a lot ol ground to make tip, and 275yds is a tremendous limit in the mile walk. The handicapper’s task is no easy one, but he might be wise to consider restricting the limits in some races. ATHLETIC EVENTS REVIEWED. The two sprint events at the Otago Amateur Cycling Club's carnival drew a total of twenty-five starters, and while the times were nothing startling, some keen running was witnessed, and one of the features of the lOQyds A grade handicap was the running of H. H. Lethaby, the scratch man, who filled second place. Lethaby was off the track for some seasons, but he has made a great come-back, and will certainly do himself credit at the Otago championships. He was a little slow into his stride last Saturday, but was moving nicely at half way. He faltered over the last 20yds, however, and was beaten out of first place by a yard. With a little more training, he will show a much stronger finish, for he is a big, useful type of sprinter. Only recently returned from Christchurcn, where he had the advantage of coaching from Malcolm Leadbetter, the Pacific runner, Bert Drumm, showed his best form to date by winning the lOOyds A grade handicap in 10 4-sseo against the breeze. Drumm has improved since he last appeared in Dunedin, being the possessor of a good finish, which won him the race last Saturday. He was striding well, but at the 75yds’ mark, Lethaby appeared to have him. Drumm, however, came again, and won nicely by a yarn. His subsequent running will be watched with considerable interest. C. S. Thompson, the ex-Christchurch middle distancer, is doing a bit of sprinting, with a view to improving his finish for the quarter, and he performed very creditably on Saturday, dead-heating for first place in the 100yds B grade handicap, and for third place in the 440yds handicap. As a matter of fact, Thompson dead-heated no fewer than three times during the afternoon—in the heat and final of the sprint, and for third place in the quarter. Thompson was off scratch in the B grade sprint, and it was his great finish that enabled him to shore the honour with Farr. If he is able to reproduce as strong an effort over the quarter mile, ho is going to take some beating in that distance this season. He was virtually scratch in the 440yds handicap (off 10yds), and though lie did not get the best of the start, he moved nicely along the back, and, coining with a late run, managed to dead-heat for third place. Thompson is improving with ©very run over the quarter, and onoe he strikes top form, the ex-Christchurch man will have to he reckoned with over this distance. He possesses very fair judgment as a rule, but in his most recent race, left his run rather too late. Civil Service has secured a promising sprinter in W. M. Farr, who deadheated for first place in the 100yds B grade handicap with Thompson. He was off 2yds, and though the time was slow, he ran quite a good race, though he was faltemg at the finish. Farr will do well in sprints if ho can develop a stronger finish. F. C. Andrews is the making of a fast quarter miler, and the way he won the 440yds handicap stamps him as a bit above the ordinary, even though he won on 35yds. He began fast, and had_ the race in hand entering the straight, finishing strongly to win by a foot in 52 l-ssec. Andrews strides well, and if he will devote his attention to the quarter mile will almost certainly meet with further success over this distance. Lack of training told ite tale on R. Wahrlich in the 440yds handicap, but he is only a boy, and did quite well to finish second off the 45yds mark. He led for the greater part of the journey, end after Andrews passed him appeared to be done, for he was shortening in his stride. However, he came again and pushed the Civil Service man to a close finish. Wahrlich is going to develop into a good quarter rniler before ho is much older, for he has a fine stride and plenty of determination. He must watch his arm action, however, this being his principal fault at the present time. L. C. M'Lachlan started only in the mile handicap, but he found the limit of 210yds too much for him, and withdrew after covering three laps. He had a lone chase early in the race, for Barnes did not last long, but, nevertheless, M‘Lachlan did not appear to be exerting himself unduly. Personally, while I think M‘Lachlan 4 capable of running a fast mile, I think he would do equally as well oyer the quarter, though, of course, his main _ objective at the championship meeting will be the 880yds. E. Fish has proved himself to be a very versatile performer this season, having won over practically all distances from lOOyds to one mile, but he‘ was_ rather liberally treated with lOOyds in the mile, being in a handy position with half the distance covered. ‘ Fish ran a well-judged race, and was striding better, on Saturday than 1 have Seen him do for a long time past. He was swinging nicely -from the hips and lengthened out over the last furlong, to win by 10yds in 4min 31 2-ssec, which was good time considering the fact that the track was on the dead side after the recent rain. • Pope, the St. Hilda runner, ran another fair race off the limit mark in the mile to finish second. He is a great stayer, and I am certain he will be seen to advantage over the longer distance before the season is over. T. L. Chettleburgh, who was third in the mile, is a ..Pacific runner who has improved during the present season, and a duo for a win before very long. G. S. Cabot was asked to give away soma big starts in the mile walk handicap, but had the former New Zealand j champion been walking pp to bit; best

form ho would not have experienced much difficulty in winning the race, which wont to O. J. Henry, off 220yds, in 6min 65sec. Cabot is not walking nearly as freely as used to be the case, though he is still outstanding as far as Otago’s walkers are concerned. Still, he will need to improve a good deal if he to extend Lukey, tee Wellington and New Zealand champion, when the New Zealand championships come up for decision. Henry, who won the walk, is an improving performer, but his style is still a bit open to question. A little coaching from one of the old hand? would work wonders in this athlete. R, O. Johnson, the A -glican allrounder, has benelitted considerably from his recent spell, and he jumped exceedingly well on Saturday, giving indications that he will be up to his best form when the Otago championships are decided. Johnson tied for second place in the hop, step, and jump handicap, which was won by D. P. Hadfield (whose actual jump was 39ft lin). Johnson did easily the best triple leap, his being 'l3ft. His best to date was 45ft 6in at the last Otago championships, and subsequent performances gained him a place in the Now Zealand team for the Australasian championships. If he maintains his present rate of improvement, Johnson may still further improve on his last years figures, for he is shaping very attractively just now. In the long jump, which he won, Johnson did 18ft lOin, though the best actual effort was that of L. Milne, who did 19ft 6in, and is beginning to loom up as a championship prospect. One of the features of the mile relay handicap was the running of R. A Malone in Anglican No. 2’s winning team. Malone is now the Otago centre’s handicapper, and has been off the track for some time. Ho showed on Saturday, however, that he is still a more than useful quarter miler, and ha certainly effectively filled the gap in Anglican’s team. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Wellington Centre proposes the following order for the New Zealand championship meeting First day, Friday, February 22—-120yds hurdles championship heats, half-mile cycle championship heats, lOOyds championship heats, lOOyds ladies’ handicap heats, 120yds handicap heats ; three miles walk championship, J-mile cycle handicap heats, lOOyds ladies’ handicap final, 120yds handicap final, hop, step, and jump championship, 220yds championship heats, one mile cycle championship heats, I,oooyds handicap, 440yds nurdies heats, pole vault championship, J-mile cycle handicap final, throwing discus championship, 440yds championship heats. Second day, February 23—880yds championship, lOOyds ladies’ championship heats, putting the shot championship, lOOyds championship final, 120yds hurdles championship final, half-mile cycle championship final, 110yds handicap heats, 100yds ladies’ handicap heats, high jiimp championship, one mile cycle handicap heats, lOOyds ladies’ championship final. 300yds junior scratch race (under eighteen years of age on the day of race), 220yds championship # final, throwing the ll javelin championship, 110yds handicap final, lOOyds ladies’ handicap final, one mile cycle_ championship final, one mile championship, one mue cycle handicap final, throwing the hammer championship, 440yds hurdles championship final, one mile walk championship, half-mile handicap, long jump championship, 440yds championship, relay race, three mile cycle championship, three mile championship, relay championship. The Otago Centre favours this programme largely, though it has decided to protest against the mile and three mile championships being hold on the same day. Last year these events wore held on tho same day, but the three milo was held in the afternoon and the mile at night, and if such a practice were ca-ried out this season there would be little cause for complaint. One or two events have been rearranged this year, the long jump now being held on the second day in place of the hop, step, and jump, which is suggested for Friday, as is also the pole vault, which last year was held on the second day. The hammer throwing event, decided on the first day last year, has now been set down for the second day. LADIES’ ATHLETICS. Otago athletic supporters sat up and took notice at the Caledonian Ground last Saturday after Miss V. Nichol, or Gore, had walked away with her heat of the lOOyds Ladies’ handicap. She was off eight yards, and won by eight yards in 11 3-ssec. A similar happening took place in the final, the -tirne again being 11 3-Ssec, and the opinion was quickly formed by the critics that this girl was a runner well above the ordinary. An invitation scratch race over lOOyds was put on, and against some of Otago’s best ladies, including Miss M. Pettet, Miss Nichol showed the field a clean pair of heels, and won easily by five yards from Miss Pettet in 12 3-ssec, which was good time on a slow track against a breeze. Miss Nicol had not previously competed on the track in open company, though she is well-known as captain of the Eastern Southland ladies’ hockey team, one of the best representative sides in the dominion. She had had but a fortnight’s training, and the writer ventures to predict that with a little moro_ training she will be capable of turning in some great times for the lOOyds. She is a fast beginner, but is very_ steady on the mark, and is quick into_ her stride, while she has a strong finish, running right through the tape. Miss Nicol is still lacking in experience, of course, but she is the best lady sprinter seen in Dunedin for a very long time, and it is pleasant to record that she will be a competitor at tho Otago championships. While none of the local girls, on present showing ? would appear to stand a chance with the Gore flier, the latter’s running will be closely watched, as she has only to repeat last week’s performance to stand a big chance of being sent to Wellington _ for the New Zealand championships. _ Though well beaten by Miss Nichol, Miss M. Pettet ran a fair race in the lOOyds invitation scratch race, but she was up against her hardest opponent to date, and was not as quick into her stride as usual. She finished on,_ but was unable to make any impression on the winner over the last 25yds. With training, Miss J. Welsh would be a really good sprinter. She was third in the lOOyds handicap on Saturday off 6yds, and with a little more finish would have been closer up. Miss M. Dawson gained second place, and is returning to last year’s form.. Miss J. Maxwell ran quite well in the invitation scratch race, and was only a couple of yards behind Miss Pettet at the finish. She needs a little more coaching, being inclined to get up in the air when finishing a race. She is a strong runner, and with a little more style would be capable of faster times than she has ygt registered*

NEW YEAR ACTIVITY. Mr F. D. Gibson was moving along the right lines at the Otago Centre's meeting during the week, when he suggested that the various clubs should combine after tho New Year to hold a series of either evening or trfternoon meetings, and as the centre has already hold five evening and two afternoon meetings this season, it now behoves the clubs to get busy. Gaversham and Pacific might well combine to stage a really successful evening meeting, and tho Civil Service, Anglican, and University Clubs should each be capable of staging a good evening meeting, while such clubs as Leith, St. Kilda, and Northern might combine to put on a small evening meeting. Whatever the New Year brings forth, it seems fairly certain that there should bo plenty of athletic activity, some of the clubs being cortaip to arrange evening meetings. Already the Otago Amateur Cycling Club is scheduled for another evening meeting, and the Dunedin Ladies’ A.A.C. will be on the marl; with both an afternoon and evening meeting, the former in February ami the latter a month earlier. The Otago Centro is staging a big afternoon fixture at Forbury Park on February 2—athletic and motor cycle sports—and the following week the Otago championships will be held on the Caledonian Ground. Then, a meeting is likely to be held when Otago meets Canterbury in the relay, the University interfaculty championships are set down for March, and the same month will probably witness the secondary schools’ championship meeting, 'inch last season was held in Invercargill. Altogether a comprehensive programme. NAPIER GHIL’S SUCCESS. Excellent performances were registered at tho big electric light sports meeting of the Napier Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club last week (says an exchange). Despite the fact that the track was heavy with the recent rain, fine times were returned in the running events, in which items the performers had the assistance of the breeze. Outstanding among tho successes of the evening was unquestionably that of the well-known lady runner, _ Miss E. Hoyle, who won tho lOOyds invitation ladies’ race with caso in 11 3-ssec, thus equalling the New Zealand record for ladies for that event. A feature of the programme was the appearance of the Wairoa Indy runner, headed by the Wairoa champion, Miss P. Stewart. The visitors found the conditions not to their liking, and, after the journey down by car, were scarcely on best form. They wore beaten in every event by the Napier girls, for 1 whom Miss Hoyle showed form far above anything revealed by her in the past. OTAGO’S PROTEST. It is some time since comment was made in this column concerning tho treatment Otago received at the hands of the New Zealand council in regard to big athletic fixtures during the next year or so, and it is pleasing to record the fact that he centre is not going to take the slight lying down. At a meeting last Tuesday night it was decided to voice the centre’s strong protest that five consecutive championship meetings should be held in the North Island. One does not need to be a very close follower of the sport to realise how unjustly tho South Island, and particularly Otago, has been treated in this matter. In 1927-28 season the Australasian championships were held in Wellington, which is to stage the track and field New Zealand championships for 192829 and the_ New Zealand cross-country championship in 1929. Wanganui had tho cross-country championship in 1928, and is to have the track and field championships in 1929-30. What sort of encouragement is the council giving the sport in the South Island if this is the kind of treatment that is to be meted out to itp Otago has received the Now Zealand road cycling championship as a sop, and tho difficulty will be to find a suitable course. Over a period of two years, Otago is being asked to finance four teams to the North Island, and it is not good enough. It certainly looks as if amateur athletics in New Zealand are being controlled by a clique ./ho have not the interest of the sport ns a whole at heart, but merely that of their own particular part. 'The North Island has three centres to the South Island’s two, and that is where the trouble seems to lie. Until there is equal representation, such a position is likely to be recurring. CYCLING COMMENTS. The boom in cycling this season has been due in no small measure to the manner in which the cyclists have been cater for at the different meetings that have been staged to date, and with more meetings like that, arranged by the Otago Amateur Cycling Club on Saturday the numbers of the active cyclists would bo still further added: to i it was a great pity that an accident: should have befallen J. C. Fogarty, 1 for be showed in the early part of tiie afternoon that he was riding in great j form, and he would have had to be | reckoned with in every event in which ! he started, Fogarty began by annex- i ing the mile A grade handicap in bril-! iiant fashion, the winner having live: lengths to spare when he crossed the | lino, his time being 2min 27 3-ssec. I Fogarty rode an excellently judged race, and in the last lap sustained a great finishing burst of about 220yds. Fogarty’s sprinting powers have improved during the present season, and as he has the staying power as well ha should make a great showing at the forthcoming Otago championships.' Fogarty won his heat of the 440yds handicap in 33 3-osec, but in the final he fell as he was being pushed off, and though he was not seriously hurt the fall shook him severely and affected his riding during the rest of the afternoon. He was giving away up to 410yds in the three-mile event, but while he managed to get up with the field the effort was too much for him and he failed to finish. Sid Bremford is gradually approaching the form he displayed last season, and his best race so far was when he won the three-mile Cycling Club handicap in Bmin 14 l-ssec. Bremford was off 50yds, and showed very, sound judgment, leaving his final sprint until he, entered the straight, which was sufficient to give him victory by half a length Bremford should provide keen opposition to Fogarty when the Otago championships are decided A. Farmer is riding better every time he takes tho track, and on Saturday he won the quarter-mile handi cap off 20yds in 32 4-ossc, and deadheated for second place in the mile A giade handicap. Ho lias rapidly processed from the B grade until now ho is entitled to be ranked as one of the most consistent riders in the A grade. A. L. Rosenbrock rode better than he has done for some time past ; and in addition to winning the two-milelap race he secured three seconds during the afternoon. He was sprinting well, and he is another whom the writer is

picking to have some say over the allocation of the places in the Otago championship, though on piesent form he is unlikely to threaten Fogarty’s supremacy The Paul Cup competition for a series of races over half a mile has produced some keen races among members of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club, and while the best riding has been that of W. S. Hodge, who has been placed very frequently from oho back marks, P. Fraser, who takes possession of the cup this season, well deceives the success that has come his way, for he is a first-season rider, and has been performing very well in every event he has contested to date. I‘or so inexperienced a rider he has developed an unusually fast sprint, and lie is able to sustain -it longer than most of them, too. In tho last and deciding race of the series for this cup, Fiaser rode a good race, and though Lucas headed him along the back Fraser came ■ again and won by four j lengths in Imin 7 l-osec. Fraser will l>o a force to be reckoned with over Hie shorter distances next season. What he needs most now is experience, and he is gradually acquiring that by taking part in frequent races W. Jsaac secured a couple of thirds' during the afternoon, and for so young \ a rider this High School lad has a | splendid sprint. If he is not pushed . along too fast this youngster may make a name for himself in the cycling world in a year or two C. G. Lucas was another who rodu well at the recent meeting, securing a first, second, and third, but good rider though Lucas is be does not always use the best of judgment in his races, m.d on Saturday he was unable to | sustain his sprint on more than one occasion. W. S. Hodge rode disappointingly over the half-mile, but bo may have to be reckoned with in this distance at the Otago championships. This season is the first time that a half-mile cycling championship lias been suggested for the Otago championships, and it is likely that this race will now be included on the programme, which should give the ■ sprinters further incentive to train Tho other cycling championships are the mile and threemile events. , „ _ V. Mussen, J. Campbell, G. Smith, and P. Fraser were the best of tho B grade riders last week, and a newcomer in R. Taylor, who has only recently been reinstated, rode well in tue two-raile event, which he won off | losyds, drawing away along the back and sustaining his sprint well. JOTTINGS. The president of tho Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has reason to feel proud of j the manner in which his youngest son , is upholding the. sporting traditions of i Ins family. Young J. L. Macassey has established a fine record at the St. Glair School, and it is certainly worthy • of publication. His record in school athletics reads something as follows| 1923, 50yds Otago championship under! 10, member winning relay under 11; ( 1921, 60yds boys under 10. relay under 11: 1925, 75yds boys under 11, relay; bovs under 11; 1920, relay boys under i 12; 1927, relay boys under 14; 192 b, ; relay boys under 14. In addition to being the makings of a good runner young Macassey was captain of tho Otago school’s senior cricket representative team that defeated Southland I last week, and ho shows considerable | promise as a bowler. For a youngster, it may bo said he is a stylish little j runner, of whom more will bo heard in tho future. ! A proposal that the Invercargill! Amateur Athletic Club should be given control of the Otago Amateur championships this season was defeated at the last meeting of the Otago Centre, but the general opinion seems to be that at some time in tho near future ! Invercargill should bo tho venue for the provincial championships. Tho provincial championships have always been well supported by the Invercargill Club, and athletic followers in Dunedin will be with tho writer in tho hope that in the not very distant future there will he sufficient clubs in Invercargill for a Southland Centro to bo formed. Lachie M’Lachlan, Otago s star middle distancer, has been having a brief spell from the track, but ho will very probably be competing at a meeting or two in Canterbury over the holidays. This should help to keep him in good trim for championship engagements ahead. The suggestion that Otago and Canterbury should meet annually in relay competition has now taken somewhat more definite shape, and the Otago Centro is approaching the Canterbury Centre with an invitation for the hrst race between the two provinces to bo staged at Dunedin early in March. The president of the Otago Centre, Mr E. L. Macassey, has practically guaranteed that he will be able to piocuro a trophy for competition, and there seems every reason for the bciiet that this race will take place during the present season, though it is nnlikely to be held belore tho New Zealand championships. A correspondent asks for particulars of meetings being held tor amateurs m of meeting being held for amateurs in Otago over tho holidays, but I regret to have to inform him that there win he no more meetings in the Otago Centro’s district until the holidays. Several meetings in South Uinterhury will be catering tor tne amateurs, and 1 understand that a number of Dunedin athletes will ® competing at the Timaru meeting on January 1 and 2, and some good racing should bo witnessed there between the amateurs on one hand and the professionals on the other. The limaiu track is usually conducive to last times, and now that amateur athletics are flourishing in that jvart or tne world the entries in the events should be larger this year tna has been the case for a long time. past. Tho Wellington provincial championships this season are to be held at Masterton, under the control of the Wairarapa sub-centre, on February the profits being equally divided by tne centre and the sub-centre. Bert Geddes, the _ Invercargill sprinter, has been running brilliantly of late, and on the way he is moving at present must not only be considered as a prospective Otago champion, but must certainly be looked to as haying a chance at the New Zealand championships. At Invercargill on Tuesday night he ran brilliantly in the lOOyds handicap, which he won off scratch in the great time of lOsec. He has been running very consistently, I am told, and his at chainpinnships will be awaited with a gieat deal of interest. i Though Dr Otto-Pcltzer.-the famous German iniddle-distauci? amateur 1 minor, and his compatriot, U. Cprts, m lending sprinter, expressed their willingness to make a trip to Australia to compete in a series of sports carnivals sponsored by the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association, word comes from the German controlling body that sanction cannot be granted to the project (says the ‘Sporting Glob© ’). A fnr-

thcr effort may be made to try to induce the German A.A.U. to reconsider the decision. It is understood that a further' attempt is being made, and if negotiations fail steps may be taken to secure the services of R. A. Rose, the New Zealander, provided he is in sufficient. form ■to meet George Hyde in a series of match races.

The project of sending apprentices back to school in their employers’ time is being kept steadily in view by Glasgow Education Authority, who is to erect a trades school at a cost of between £BO,OOO and £90,000. The school will ho of modem type with a (let roof, and with workshops, laboratories, and stores, with recreation rooms and reading rooms for the student*.