TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 13

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES [By Piston.] FIXTURES. February 2.—Otago Centre’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.—New Zealand Amateur Championships, at Welling ton. April? I.—New Zealand University Tournament, at Christchurch. OTAGO CENTRE’S MEET. Athletes can have little cause for complaint regarding the manner in which they have been catered for by the Otago Centre this season, for in addition to two afternoon meetings six evening lixtuies have been staged, the first gathering this year taking place at the Caledonian Ground on Monday night. The wind favoured the runners in the sprints, though the tracks were on the slow side.

One of the features of the meeting was the running of J. -I. Morris, the Otago mile champion, in the one and a-half mile handicap, in which off the scratch mark he finished third Morris was making his first _ appearance this season, and stiould be in good fettle for the Otago championships, and if successful there should be at the top of his form by the time the New Zealand championships are decided. He is running very freely, and was striding well on Monday night, also running a welljudged race, though he left his final sprint just a shade too late. Morns has improved since last season so far as style goes, and his running in the mile next week will be watched with great interest by Otago athletic thusiasts.The winner of the one and a-half miles handicap was the consistent St. Kilda runner, C. Pope, who was off 250yds, and no one begrudged him his win. He has been running into the places off limit marks frequently, and as he devotes a good deal of time to tiaining his win was well deserved. He finished well, and it would not be surprising to see him making a good showing off shorter marks before long. ‘G. R. Ward has been running well off middle marks this and finished second in this event off 100yds. He occupied a good position for the greater part of the race, finishing 30yds behind Pope. Ward’s style leaves room for improvement, and while he has a fair stride his body balance is not what it should be, as he comes too far forward. , Fi. Fish was looked upon as having a big chance off 80yds, but he ran most disappointingly, and was striding poorly ov6r the last lap. Fish is a promising runner, but he wants coaohP. Herum, of the Civil Service Club, finished first in the quarter-mile walk off syds, but there was no question about the judge’s action in disqualify ing him, for his style was questionable all the way. G. S. Cabot, who was Byds behind, was awarded the race, and walked well, especially over the earlier stages. Even his style was not free from question, and the wisdom of staging these sprint walks is to be doubted. If Cabot were to walk in Wellington as he did on Monday night it is fairly safe to say that lus stylo ■would be called in question. Still, Cabot is usually a very fair walker, and the fact that he is now showing some of his former dash is welcomed. His time in this eveqt was Imin 28sec. One of the limit girls m Miss B. Carter accounted for the 100yds ladies handicap off 12yds, her time being Msec, Miss Carter is an improving runner, but she has not yet much idea of stvle. Miss M. Dawson, who was second off 10yds, was rather slow into her stride, but she finished quite nicely. She wants plenty of striding practice. Miss I. Maxwell, off 7yds; was ftnrd, her usual strong finish not being quite bo conspicuous. Miss M Pettet may run well at the Otago championships, but sh*? has not been running up to her best form lately, and must guanl against a tendency to get up in the air. If she can only strike form, she is pretty sure to be placed in the Otago 100yds ladies’ championship, though she will need to run well ro beat the Gore lady, Miss V. Nichol. S. Duncan has not been doing a great deal on the track, but he will probably be a competitor at the Otago championships in_ the sprint, and he gave a taste of his quality by winning the 75yds handicap off 3yds in Ssac. He was not as quick off the mark as usual, being a little slow into his stride, but he cam© with a splendid hurst at the finish to win by inches. Duncan will do better yet if he will pay just a little attention to his_ arm action, for another week’s training should make a big difference to him. J. W Johnson is a fairly consistent performer in field events, and in winning the hop, step, and jump handicap against the wind lie did just over 37ft. The best actual jump was that of the scratch man, R. O. Johnson, who did 41ft 6in. “Ossie” is jumping very consistently at the present time, ana is going to be very hard to deprive of his pole vault and hop, step, and jump titles. CYCLING COMMENTS. Sid Bremford is _ making the most of the evening meetings as a means of good training,for the Otago championships, and the title-holder won the mile A grade handicap off 10yds, very nicely in 2min 29 3-osec. Bremford rode a well-judged race, and sprinted strongly up the straight, but he is hardly yet at the top of his form, and might be found wanting in a gruelling finish. Another week’s training should benefit him greatly, Bremford finished well in the quarter mile handicap, in which he was third off 6yds. _ G. Smith, who is improving all the time, rode a good race in the mile A grade event, and finished second. Smith did most of the_ pacing in this rare, hut had something in hand for the finish, though he was unable to withstand- Bremford’s finishing effort. Smith, I have pointed out < before, is one of the most stylish riders hero, and occupies a good position on bis machine. Talking of the position of. a rider on his machine brings to mind a conversation the writer had with a wellknown old-time cyclist at a recent sports meeting. He expressed the opinion that it was a great pity that more old-timers did not get out on the track in an effort to improve the standard of the sport locally, for it was only after one had given up the sport that one realised just where he was lacking in competitive days. He expressed the opinion that too many present-dnv riders occupied uncomfortable positions on their machines as the result of adopting somewhat cx-travagantlv-fixed saddles, and that this made a big difference to .riders in a hard-fought finish. The man with the easy position could almost hit' Ins machine along when it-came to a sprint o£ the finish, hut the positions adopted

by many of our local riders he reckoned were responsible for the poor sprinting ability shown by many of them. This is where the old-timers can lend their assistance. A. Farmer came with a late spurt to occupy third place in the mile A grade race. Farmer is a pretty consistent rider and a most Useful handicap man. C. Conroy has a good finish, and this ho showed in the two-mile B grade event, in which lie finished second off 05yds, sprinting sustainedly for about a furlong. Ho won tho quarter-inilo handicap off a similar mark in pleasing fashion, second place in this event going to P. Fraser, who is one of the be’sb sprinters here at the present time. It would not bo surprising to see Fraser doing well at the Otago championship's, especially in the half-mile cycle event. J. Parsons pedalled well in winning the mile B grade event off 20yds, sustaining his sprint nicely. He finished all out, just lasting long enough to stall off Conroy, who showed more judgment in timing his final effort than did Parsons. H. Stokes .rode a very lair race in securing third place off the virtual scratch mark of 10yds in the mile B orado event. He faded out a bit at The finish, and would bo well advised to devote some time to developing a stronger sprint. . . Jack Fogarty has resumed training after his recent spill, and though he will not be a competitor at to-morrow’s meeting he will bo among the contenders for champion'ship honours, and is sure to be hard to beat. > Eddio Palmer is still a hit short of training, but considering the brief length ‘of his preparation he rodo very well on Monday night. W. J. Templeton qualified for the final in the sprint event, but failed to get up in the deciding race. Ho is training hard just now, and may he a competitor at the Otago championships. ANGLICAN TITLE-HOLDERS. Anglican’s second championship meetmg served further to reveal that the club had gained a big asset and almost safe point-getter fin A. Findlay, the exNorth Auckland athlete, who followed up a win in tho 220yds championship of the club and a second in tho halfmile by winning the 100yds against the wind by 3yds in llsec and the 440yds in 53 2-ssec and this on a slow track. Findlay has ono fault that should bo corrected immediately—ho throws his head back nearing the finish of a race, and this may have a bad effect upon him in a telling finish; otherwise he shaped very pleasingly on Wednesday night, especially in the 440yds event, m which he had a comfortable \yin, losing the field behind from the 250 yd mark. He strode well, and while his style may still be improved he showed arrain that he is a strong, powerful runner with great determination, and especially over tho quarter good things may bo looked for from him at the Otago championships. It will be rather surprising if he is not in at the finish. The quarter-mile next week, by tho way, should be a great race with such men as Findlay, Geddes, M'Lachlan, Thompson, and Malcolm likely to be among the competitors. Findlay is one of the biggest gains Otago athletics has had for a year or two. Pollock started off well in the 440yds handicap, but ho could not maintain the pace that was set, and had to bo content with third place. E. A. Taylor cam© with a good run to beat him for second place, and in * both tho quarter and half this runner shapes very promisingly. A. L. P.rice ran disappointingly at the centre meeting on Monday night, but he atoned for his display on that occasion by running a nicely-judged race in his club’s mile championship. The slow pace suited him, and he sprinted 150yds from home to win easily by 30yds. Ho was striding better than previously, having lengthened out a good deal. He has tho natural advantages, and now that he is in the hands of Jim Beatson some improvement in his running should be quickly noticeable. ♦

A. Stewart, who is still in his teens, was second to Price in the mile, and, had he left his final run a little latei, might even have won the race, though the odds would have been in i.ivoar of Price. Stewart is a likely-looking miler, and should profit gr.-Mly from ins recant experiences in ©jen company. Ho is inclined to shoi-.sn in his f; ride nearing the end of a lap, and mint gua. d against this; but if ho d'.t-s not overdo things ho -’s going to bo >. useful man for his ebb in distance events before he is much older. The Anglican Club should do well in the field section of the Otago championslijd prigramme, being slang in snrh events as the pole vault, javelin, discus, and hop, step, and jump. In tho shot and hammer, however, very poor performances were registered on Wednesday night, not one competitor showing form in tho high jump, hammer, or shot that was suggestive of championship pretensions. L. R. Stroud might make a shot putter with coaching, but he requires training. He certainly has the physical attributes, and would repay attention. TO-MORROW’S MEETING. Tho Otago Centre was started on the road to prosperity, comparatively speaking, by tho first dirt track motor cycle and athletic sports at Forbury Park and the success of the second dirt track fixture at Forbury to-morrow will relievo centre officials of a good deal of anxiety regarding tho future. A splendid programme has been arranged, and,* in addition to the twelve motor cvcle races, which are bound to bq a big attraction from the public s point of view, the running and cycling events have drawn a very satisfactory entry. This will be the last chance athletes will have of competing before the Otago championships, and some fast racing rnav bo looked for, especially in he 1 OUOvds handicap, m which M Lachlan mifc up such last tiiue at the last meet[L Wood and M'Lachlan arc on the scratch mark, and with runners.such as North, Hood, Thompson, Price, E. J Johnson, and Fish taking part there should bo an exciting finish. The sprints should be interesting, and the cycling as usual has drawn a good field,, which is certain to provide the usual keen racing. The public, by its attendance at tins meeting, can show its appreciation of the Otago Centre’s efforts to promote amateur athletics in the province, for a successful fixture to-morrow will ensure the province being thoroughly represented at Wellington, ’

CIVIL SERVICE ACTIVITIES. Lachio M'Lachlan and C. J. Thomp son pretty well share the honours of the two championship meetings that have been hold by the Civil Service Club —tho former by reason of his firsti class running and the latter by his allround ability. M'Lachlan carried off two events at the second championship meeting on Tuesday night, and showed that by next week he should be in pretty good form , for the championships, especially for tho half-mile. The writer, however, cannot help feeling that Lachio has been rather overdoing tilings, for he has been starting in most events from 100yds to ono mile, ami, in view of his championship pretensions over the middle distances, would perhaps have been wiser to have stuck mainly to his favourite middle distances. In tho 220yds club championship he ran a splendid race, getting up in the last bit to beat Harry Lethaby by inches in 24 2-ssee —very fair time. M'Lachlan strode well in this race, and wont quite a fair raco in tho mile, in which he was never extended, winning easily by 60yds in 4miu 51scc, which he could have, reduced by seconds had ho been pushed. He finished undistressed, and is pretty sure to make a good showing over the half-mile next week.

■Bornie M'Kernan managed to secure second place in this event, hut ho was nearly pipped ,at the finish by C. J. Thompson, who is proving himsel to be a fine all-round athlete, and, incidentally, ono of the most popular ami well-liked athletes, in Otago. Thompson was third in the 220yds, mile, and javelin throwing events, and then came out and won tho 440yds hurdles championship in tho respectable time of 65 2-ssec. Thompson hurdled well and showed a pretty lair amount of pace between tho sticks. With a little coaching he would do well in tho quarter hurdles, and it is quite on the cards that he will be found competing in this event at the Otago championships, though judging from the events he has been selected for,he will be a pretty busy man at the championship meeting. Harry Lethaby ran a better race in the" 220yds handicap, and it was only in the last few strides that M'Lachlan caught him. Considering the time he has been off the track, he lias made a great come-back, and it ivill not be surprising if he shows his best form at the championship meeting, for ho is not yet at the top of his form. He wants a little stronger finish to show to tho best advantage in the sprints, but, personally, 1 think ho will run better in the furlong than in the 100yds. Harry won the club hammer throwing and also the javelin event, but’ in both events the efforts were very poor, the hammer particularly so." In fact, it is a long time since such poor form was shown with the hammer at a club championship meeting. Most of the’ competitors lacked knowledge of the rudiments of hammer throwing, and none of them had any idea of timing or co-ordina-tion.

The team to represent Civil Service at tho championship meeting has not yet been finally chosen, but it is likely to include the following ; —looyds_ and 220yds, H. Lethaby and G. Valk; 440yds and 880yds, L. C. M'Lachlan and C. J. Thompson; ono and threemiles, J. G. Barnes; ono and threemile walks, J. A. Wilson and P. Herum ; 120yds hurdles, C. L. Tapley ; 440vds hurdles, C. J. Thompson and R Graham; putting shot, Casserly an,d Spillane (the latter’s entry does not signify the club he intends competing for, but he was to have competed at the Civil Service championships last week, and may represent that club in the championships); discus, H. Lethaby: hammer throwing, Casserly and Spillane; high jump, C. S. Clark and C. J. Thompson; hop, step, and jump, C. S. Clark. Taken all in all, the team, should be a pretty fair combination,’even if it is not as strong as last year, and it may &yet have to be reckoned with in the competition for the List Shield. M'Lachlan and Thompson have both been doing well this season, and both are pretty cer ■tain point-getters. M'Lachlan in particular. If Tapley is in form he should do well in the hurdles and should also perform well in the ’high jump, in which ho cleared sft 6in at the New Zealand championships last season. Tho presence of Spillane would greatly strengthen tho team in the field events, and Jackson and Edmond are a couple who should perform well in the pole vault. Qlark is capable of a place in cither the broad jump or the hop, step, and jump if in form, and Wilson and Herum may jet secure a place in the walks. Lethaby has an outside chance of being placed in the sprints. The team should score well, though its total will probably bo well below last year’s., Barnes is expected from Christchurch (whence he has just been transferred) for the mile an *• three-mile events, and is sure to give a good accqunt of himself. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. Entries for the Otago championships will close to-morrow, and already indications point to tho meeting being one of the most successful that has been held here for years,- for competition will be keener, races will be more closely contested, and the standard will be higher than has been the case for a very long while past. Otago has high hopes of making a big bid for the honours at the New Zealand championships, and while the Caledonian Ground is one of tho slowest tracks in Now Zealand, the provincial fixture usually affords some idea as to the province’s chances in the bigger fixture ahead. The sprints should he exceptionally well contested this season, and heats will probably bo necessary, while the quarter is bound to be one of the races of the day. Tho walks and field events, too. should provide some good performances. and fast times will be looked for in the mile. It is unnecessary lor me to go into another detailed account of Otago’s prospects, and the entries when published should afford athletic enthusiasts with a good idea of the splendid sport they may expect at next week a fixture. ’ JOTTINGS. The Otago Centre, in an effort to further improve its funds, hopes shortly to promote an art union for a handsome watch which it has been promised. If the clubs and the. athletes themselves enter whole-heartedly into the thing it should be a big success, the idea boiim that the money raised should be devoted to a provincial touring fund,

out of which the expenses of the representative teams would ha paid. A successful evening meeting was held iu Invercargill last week, and I note from the ‘ Southland Times ’ that Bert Geddes won the 220yds handicap off scratch in 23sec—a splendid run. In the half-mile event I. O. Hanson, the scratch man, did the distance in the fair time of 2min 7 l-ssec, and tiro high jump waft won by A. A. Norton, a sixteen and a-half-year-old competitor, who actually cleared sft 6[in, which is good enough to beat the best jumpers iu Dunedin with little difficulty. C. Rout, who has previously held an Otago high jump title, and is the present holder of the provincial long jump title, did sft 6iiu off the scratch mark. Invercargill should be represented by _ a good team at the Otago championships, and it seems pretty certain that the Invercargill Club will be represented by two or three men in the Otago team for the New Zealand championships, especially if they are able to reproduce their true form when they compete here Geddes, who will contest the 100yds, 220yds. and 440yds, is well known here, having held Otago titles over ail those distances. R. M. Barrett will compete iu tho cycle events, and while he may find the track strange he shopid profit Irom the experience to bo gained at this meeting. 1. 0. Mauson, the half-mile and 12Uyds hurdles representative, was second to C. M. Olsen in the 830yds championship of Otago three years, and is a very fair runner over this distance, while he is also a fair hurdler. Rout will! contest >the hurdles in addition to the jumps, and if lie is available is just the typo of athlete who would strengthen the Otago team for tho New Zealand championships. Norton’s perlorlhanccs will also-be watched with interest, and it is rather interesting to note that the sprints, the high jump, and the broad jump have been frequently won by the Invercargill Club in recent, years. Considering the size of its teams, the Invercargill Club has always done remarkably well at tho Otago championships. J. W. Savichm ran a good race in the mile at a recent meeting in Auckland (says the Auckland ‘Herald’), and again tho New Zealand champion registered good time, going 4min 27sec for the distance. Early in the race Saviclan lost one.of his shoes, so the performance is all the more meritorious.

The Duffs took nearly all the plums in the 75yds handicap at the Otago Centre’s sports on Monday night; in fact, this race was almost a family affair. In the third heat Billy Duff, despite the 'fact that he is now within striking distance of the half-century mark so far as years go, dead-heated with Ralston for first place off 7yds, Ralston being on 6yds. Bert, his son, was third off 4yds, and inches back was G. H. Duff, the champion, who was off 2yds. Tho latter, by the way, is running very well just now, and will have to be reckoned with in the sprints at the Otago championships, by which time he should be at tho top of his form. In the flying handicap final Bert Duff turned the tables on his father, running a good race for second place, his father being third.

The Natal track and cyclin'; championships were decided at Durban on the Sth ult. in unfavourable weather—windy, with light showers. The absence of S." J. M. Atkinson (120yds hurdles). Howard Kinsman (100yds), and W. B. Legg (lUOyds) detracted from the interest, but another member of the South African Olympic party, Miss Margory Clark, was in action, and she won'thc 100yds women's hurdles championship, and also the women’s running high jump; but was unplaced in the final of the 100yds (says an exchange) . Amongst winners at the meeting were: 100yds, E. M. Bayley (Albion Harriers), time, 10 3-ssec; 220yds, E. M. Bayley, time, 24 l-ssec; 440yds, J. W. Loubser (Orange Free State), time, 50 2-osec (Bayley was second); 880yds, J. W. Loubser, time, 2min 4 4-ssec; mile, J. S. Lloyd (Rhodes University), time, 4min 37 2-ssec; four miles, F. E. Cole (Durban A.C.), time, 21miu 53 4-ssec; 120vds hurdles, W. 0. Hill (S.A.R. and H.)“, time, 18 2-ssec; lOOyds (women), Miss R. Muller (Ladysmith), time, ] 2 ,1-osec; 440yds cycle championship, S. C. Gates, time, 29 3-ssec (a Natal record); 880yds cycle, S. C. Gates, time, Imin 2 l-ssec; running high jump (women), Miss' Marjory Clark, height 4ft TlAin; and 100yds’hurdles, Miss Marjory Clark. The ex-New South Wales decathlon star, B. Rydbeek, who is now in Wellington, promises to be a_ prominent figure at the forthcoming New Zealand championships. At Masterton recently ho cleared sft lOin with case,, despite the fact that he lacked practice. Miss Violet Nichol, the brilliant Gore sprinter, may not be competing to-morrow, but she will.be a competitor in the Otago championships next week. Sho is reported to be running very well just now, and good time may be expected from her in the very near future. , , , D. R. L. Stevenson, All Black lootballer and well-known University athlete, may bo competing at the Otago championships next week. He lias been training during the week, and if he is able to strike form should add to the interest in the broad jump and hop, step, and jump at the Otago championships. He has frecpicntly bettered 21ft in the broad jump. Genuine regret was expressed when Mr J. O’Sullivan, who for many years has been secretary of the Wellington Centro, announced his impending resignation owing to pressure of business (says the ‘Sportsman’). As a secretary' and delegate ho has shown considerable tact, and much of the sueoess gained by amateur’' athletics Hi Wellington is due to his indefatigable work. May his successor bo at least half as good! According to a northern exchange 1 notice that W. banker, the New Zealand and Australasian walking champion, has resumed training in view ol the approach of the New Zealand championships; and as G. S. Cabot, tormci champion, is likely to bo a competitor at tho same fixture there should be some good walking witnessed. If Cabot can reproduce his best form Lankcy will have to move if be wishes to retain his titles. ■ ' Outside of hia performances in the hop, step, and jump and long jump R. O. Johnson should be to tho fore in the pole vault at the Otago championship meeting. Johnson is the title-holder in this event, and during the week at the Caledonian Ground he improved upon all previous performances by clearing 10ft in training, which is the best that f > .

has been registered here for a considerable tim past. ’ . . , J. G. Barnes had a run in Clinst* church last week, and according to a ‘ Sun ’ writer he was rather at sea in the big field and on a strange track, but he ran very solidly until he pulled out iu the straight. The Otago mans style was bad, but he is strong and plucky, and if ho places himself m the hands of a good coach ho should develop into a half-miler of New Zealand championship class. [At tho Otago championships Barnes ■will be competing in the mile and three-mile championships.] . r Bv completing the course in o --osec in a heat Miss Norma Wilson was announced recently as having established a Poverty Bay record over /oyds, but as a moderately strong breeze favoured tho champion it is unlikely that the performance will be recognised. Miss Wilson won the final ip 8 3-ssec.

Fast performances were numerous at a recent meeting in Wanganui, but the most noteworthy was that by that well-known runner, H. E. B. Newton in the half-mile (says “Miler,” in the ‘New Zealand Sportsman’).' Starting from the scratch mark and conceding 75yds, he ran a fine race, but did not win. V. Klee (45yds) was responsible for a fast pace being set all the way, and, with Clough, made the back-markers —Pickering (15yds) and Newton—scamper. With 200yds to go Pickering came up to within a few yards of Klee, and sprinted up tho straight. Newton made _ his run from the back at the same time, and three runners—Pickering, Klee, and Newton—finished in that order with not a yard between first and third. JTlie time was returned at Imin 59 l-sscc, which, at a liberal allowance, would .show Newton to he doing better than 2min for the journey. It was a brilliant finish that ho unearthed, and, as ho is not yet at the top of his form, lie may be expected to come to light with an even better performance by the time that the New Zealand championships are held.

N. J. Suckling is in solid training now, and is showing marked improvement. He had a run over 600yds. and astonished one good judge wlio had not seen him in action since his last race in Christchurch (says the ‘Sun’). It is reported that G. L. Nicoll is in training, and it is likely that lie will he a competitor at the Canterbury chnmpionshins. When “ Tim ” Tracy passed through Christchurch the other day after a trip to the Peninsula he remarked that Nicoll would need very little encouragement to get him ,to turn out again.