FIELD AND TRACK

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 15

FIELD AND TRACK

[By Pistol.]

ATHLETIC NEWS AND COMMENTS

FIXTURES. October 28.—Labour Day Sports, Caledonian Ground. November 2.—Otago Centre Dirt Track Motor Cycle and Athletic Meet, Forbury Park. December 7.—Otago Centre s Second Dirt Track Motor Cycle and Athletic Meet, Forbury Park. February B.—Otago Centre s Third Dirt Track Motor Cycle ami Athletic Meet, Forbury Park. February 22.—Canadian Athletes at Dunedin. _ March B.—Otago Centre’s Fourth Dirt Track Motor Cycle and Athletic Meet at Forbury Park. March 14 and 15.—New Zealand Amateur Championships, at Wanganui. LABOUR DAY MEETING. In other centres ono of the most popular events of the year is the Labour Day fixture, and for the first tune for years a similar fixture is being held at the Caledonian Ground on Monday under the auspices of the Otago Labour Day Association. The athletic side of the programme will be controlled by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and the entries promise some splendid racing. The New Zealand half-mile champion, L. C. M’Lachlan, will not be seen m action, but the running of L. A. Wood in the middle-distance events will be closely watched, as he has shown rare promise already this season. C. r. Clark is another who should run well in tho half and mile, and the Stewart brothers, of the Anglican Club, are both sure to be s\ to the fore. in the walk the competitors will include G. S. Cabot, tue termer New Zealand champion, and his brother, It. H. Cabot, and the other competitors include H. H. Lcthaby (the Civil Service (Sprinter) it. 0. Johnson (the Ota'o pole vault and hop, step, and jump champion), B. Provo, V*. J. Leader (an improving Caversham sprinter), P. 0. Ward (the Otago javelin throwing champion), S. F. Duncan, and W. 11. B. Hobbs. Tho last-named two aro both members of the Caversham Club, and both are making their first appearance this season—the former in tho KJUyds and 22Uyds, and the latter in the furlong and quarter. Tho cyclists include such good performers as J. C. Fogarty, C. G. Lucas, W. J. Templeton, and G. Smith, and some keen finishes should bo witnessed. EVENING MEETINGS. Tho Sports Committee is .to meet on November 4 to draw up the Otago Centre’s programme of evening meetings for the ensuing season, and it seems highly probable that this year tho centre’s fixture will be held fortnightly instead of weekly, as was previously the case, and Thursday night seems the most popular for tiieso meetings. If tho centre does decide on the fortnightly meets the larger clubs will be afforded the opportunity of holding evening meetings on uitomato weeks, and with the growing popularity of the sport there is no reason why these should not bo made payable propositions. The interest in relay racing has grown to such an extent that a delegate at the annual meeting of the centre put forward a suggestion that no prizes should be awarded in relay events and that no entry fees should be charged. His contention was that the Barton Relay Shield was sufficient incentive to the clubs, and there is something to be said in favour of his views, which are to be referred to the various clubs for their consideration. It is to be hoped that at least one field event will bo included on tho programme of each meeting, more particularly now that the ranks of the field men are swelling so rapidly. The standard is also on the up grade, and there is every reason to hope that ere long tho Otago field representatives will be carrying off one or two New Zealand titles. STANDARD PERFORMANCES. standard of competition at the New' Zealand championships was again of a high order (says the annual report of the N.Z.A.A.A.), and as a result the following performances have been passed as being equal to or better than the standard performance : 100 Yards.—Heats; A. J. Elliott and C, H. Jenkins. Final: A. J. Elliott. 220 Yards.—Final; A. J. Elliott. 440 Yards.—Heats; J. T, Fleming, A. L. Tideman, A. W. Findlay (Otago), L. C. M’Lachlan (Otago), and N. J. Suckling. Final; A. W. Findlaj (Otago), L. C. Veitch, and J, T. Flem ing. One Mile.—W. J. Savidan. Three Miles.—W. J. Savidan. Three Miles’ Walk.—W, Tonkin. 120 Yards Hurdles.—R. W. Lander. High Jump.—R, 11. Neville and F. Brady. Pole Vault.—E. G. Sutherland. Shot.—P. Munro and D. O, Brown. Hammer.—J. W. M’Holm. Hop, Step, and Jump.—B. Rydbcck, Jl. 0. Johnson (Otago), and J. WShirley. Javelin.—S. A. Lay and E. G. Sutherland. CYCLING COMMENTS. The six Otago riders who competed ia the fifty-mile New Zealand amateur road cycling championship last Saturday all performed with credit when the tiying conditions, lack of experience, and iMilortunes aro taken into account. W. J. Templeton_ finished seventeenth off lOmin, his time being 2hr 41min, that of the winner being 2hr 33r in 50soc, W'hile J. L. Richards, who seemed fastest time, did the distance in 226 min 43 3-ssec. Ron. Taylor, oil 3;ru< was twenty-fifth, his tin e being 2hr 42min 2Ssec. They put up the best displays of the Otago men, G. Smith being dogged by misfortune throughout. Two minutes before the race commented be received a puncture, and changed his wheel, but early in the race his tyre became flat, and he had repeatedly to dismount and inflate it It says something for his determination that be covered forty-five miles of the distance under these cir cumstanccs. C. G. Lucas, who was Smith’s co-marker, loft him early, but, though be finished the course, tho pace set was too hot for him, and he was well back at the business end. Individual riders ’n J. M’Gregor and A. M. Johnston both represented Otago. The former was one of a bunch of nine who crashed and was unable to continue, his machine being damaged. A. Johnston was suffering from a” severe cold, and really should not have started. ' , _ It seems apparent that the Otago rid°rs lacked the right kind of training. Instead of that indulged in, they should have had miles and miles of fast road work behind motor pace. H. Allen, who has not ridden on the track for a season or two, was out during the week, and intends to start serious training in the near future.

I. H M'Millan, who has done a good deal of tonring work lately, is another who should soon be on the track again. A distinct improvement is noticeable in the riding of Fred. Fraser, who is doing slow work at present._ Don. Fraser is also looking bettor, and apparently has his seat in a more comfortable position. Jack Hamilton is concentrating on sprinting, and after two or three days’ work shows exceptional promise in this department. G. Milligan is again in training, and if he takes his riding seriously should develop into a rider above the ordinary. Vic. who did well towards the em. of last track season, is going well at present, and should be heard of before long. Jack Stokes, n young rider showing promise as a sprinter, is at present confined to bed owing to nasty injuries sustained through a crash during ingC. Fraser, who fell at the recent sports meeting, is also laid aside from a similar cause.

P. M'Connell is training steadily, and should go well on his first start in competitive racing. T. Dillon is training hard, but is inclined to do too much at one outing.. H. Cooper has both staying power and determination, and at the present time is the fittest of tho local amateurs. Having recovered from a fall on the road some time ago, J. Cockerill has recommenced training. R. Churchill has been doing slow work for some time past, and could now do with speeding up, which ho can obtain by getting behind someone faster than himself for a mile or two each night. New recruits to the ranks of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club are D. Smart. A. Gould, J. Harrison, and A. Fraser. Both Gould and Smart have been out on the track, and promise wejl. Of nice build, and possessing the right temperament, Harrison, with plenty of training, will go fur in the sport. A. Fraser, brother of tho popular Colin, has been doing a little training on the road, and when he starts on tlie track should be a serious contender for supremacy among the Fraser quartet. C. Conrov will not resume track work until after the first meeting at Forbury Park in November. Roy Johnston, who has seldom been on the track this year, intends to be & competitor on Monday. Bert Stokos and J. Parsons are training consistently, and, as the former is ono of the keenest in the game, ho deserves any success that may come his way. H. Ockwell, who ivas one of Otago’s most prominent riders a season or two ago, was out on the track last Saturday, and showed the way homo in a ten-mile training race. It is a great pity that he is prevented by knee trouble from again being seen in serious competition. During the week-end J. Hamilton, C. Conroy, W. Patterson, J. Simon. J. Fogarty, and G. Milligan rode to the Green Island Beach, where an enjoyable outing was spent CENTRE’S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual mooting of tho Otago Centro of the New' Zealand Amateur Athletic Association passed off very successfully during tho present week, and athletic followers throughout the province will join with the writer in congratulating Mr E. L. Macassey on his well-earned re-election as president. Mr Macassey is a busy man, but ho finds time to devote a, lot of attention to amateur athletics, and the present state of tho sport in tho province is a tribute to the administration of its chief executive officer and his energetic henchmen. Mr 11. Swinnoy, the centre’s treasurer, must have felt a glow of pride when he presented the annual balancesheet, for never in the history of the centre has there been such a satisfactory credit balance, this credit being over £l7O, and this despite the fact that the start of the season found the credit balance only £1 13s. Something like £1,200 was handled by tho centre during tho which shows the growth of the activities of tho eontrolling body. Mr Swinney came in for well-merited recognition, as also did the enthusiastic sports secretary (Mr H. T. Emmerson). The centre is fortunate in possessing such capable administrative officers. The President expressed a most hopeful outlook for the coming season, and there is no doubt that the visit of the Canadians is going to give a big fillip to the sport. The dirt track motor cycle and athletic meetings held in Dunedin are also sure to boom the amateur sport. DIRT TRACK SPORTS. Athletes are reminded that entries close to-morrow for tho track and field events on the programme of the dirt track motor cycle and athletic nicotine- at Forburv Park next week. This will bo the first dirt track meetir<r of tho season, and as something bice £IOO is being given in prizes some first-class racing would appear assured. The motor cycle speed kings will melude rulers from Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, and Invercargill, and exceptionally keen competition is promised. , . , . , Given fine weather this season s series of dirt track meetings should bo given an auspicious start. OTAGO’S APPLICATION. There seems every reason to hope that tho application of tho Otago Centro for tho New Zealand track and field championships of 1930-31 season will be successful. Since the New Zealand championships were last held here, in 1926, Otago has travelled in successive seasons to Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, and this season a team will be despatched to Wanganui. The increased popularity of the sport in Dunedin should ensure a largo attendance if, ns seems almost certain, tho New Zealand championships arc allotted to Dunedin the season after this. Otago has heaps of young material coming on, and it would bo a fine thing if the province were able to carry off the ehamn-'onship sir eld on its own around Next season is a long way off, but the trainers and centre offi-ials should he working now with that object in view. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR INVERCARGILL. The Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club’s proposal that the Otago championships should bo allocated to South-

land this season did not meet with great support at the annual meeting of tho centre this week, though it had a couple of strong advocates. Tho opinion was expressed, however, that too many of Otago’s best performers might not bo able to participate if tho meeting were held in Invercargill, and for that reason tho application was turned clown. Tho opinion was expressed, however, that every encouragement should be given to the Invercargill Club, which is doing valuable work in the south, and a suggestion put forward by the secretary of tho centre was carried that the Invercargill Cub should bo permitted to hold a Southland sub-centre championship meeting along the lines of the Otago championship meeting. If this were held just prior to tho Otago championships it would be an excellent trial for the Invercargill championship representatives, and an effort might also be made to get down a strong contingent of athletes from Dunedin—a suggestion with which tho Otago Centro is in accord. Invercargill is to have a visit from the Canadian athletes in February, and in addition tho secondary schools’ championships are duo there this year, so that an active year seems in store for the Invercargill A.A.C. NEW ZEALAND ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Disputing grimly eyery inch of the way. live cyclists sprinted home in a splendid finish to the New Zealand lifty-miD amateur road championship on'Saturday. It was a'great climax to a great race (says the ChristchurchMSun ’). Victory was gained in tho last few hundred .wards of tho long journey, W. G. Hughey, of Loburn, the winner, shooting clear of his companions to pilot them across tho line with about a couple of lengths _ to spare. Two minutes later, J. L. Richards, of Now Brighton, flashed past tho post, heading M Gano, a Wellington rider, bv one-fifth of a second, for fastest time’ and the title Richards’s time was 21 1 2dmin 43 3-sscc Six scratchings left a field of fiftysix riders, including fairly strong contingents of riders from Dunedin and Wellington, to face tho starter at Rapamii. Among those who withdrew wore tho two scratch men, F. J. Grose (Papanui) and H. 11. Dwight (Auckland). L. G. Lukoy (Papanui) was the only scratch man to get away. In previous years the race, which tins year carried with it the dominion title loi tho first time since 1926, was decided from Ashburton to Christchurch, hut at tho request of both clubs and riders the course was altered. From Papanui it lay through Kaiapoi, Tuahiwi. over the Ralcairn road from Saltwater Creek, through Soton. Rangiora, and ITaxton, to finish near Bishop’s road, Harewood. Generally speaking, the course was in reasonabU fair order, though here and the e were those usual bad stretches of shingle without which no country road' are complete, notably between White s Bridge and Kaiapoi and farther up the North road, between Woodend and Saltwater Creek. Aftei that tho going was not as bad as it might have been. Hughey, tho winner, with his four companions rode a great race all the way. Tho wind troubled some of the bigger-handicapped men, but not so these stalwarts, who plodded into it in front all the way, Hughey’s perfonnanc-! in the Round-tbe-Gorgos race, in which Ik secured sixth place off 27min, stamps him as a lad with more than usual promise He is a strong rider, will a useful finishing sprint. W A. Christensen’s effort in securing second place showed what he could do when in form. Tiieso two, together with the other three placed men, showed the advantage of good team work They stuck to one another like brothers. Richards was in better trim than his showing in tho Round-the-Gorges race indicated. In that race ha started off scratch, but his unimpressive performance then earned him a 3min handicap on Saturday. Gane kept his place gamely. With llichrrda and N Berry, who filled ninth place, bo made things too hot for W F. Wilcoeksnn and W. J. Liiniborton, the limit! men. After passing White’s Bridge, Wilcockson left Lamborton to it, ami < ver tlie last six ir sever miles made a gallant attempt to get within striking distance of the leaders, but tho handicap was too great He had to ho content with eleventh place and fourth fastest time. JOTTINGS. The Otago Boys’ High School sports aro to bo hold next Wednesday, and the trials already indicate that the standard of performance will ho a high one. H. A. Jolly, who looks almost a certainty for tho school championship, has already smashed one record —that in the long jump, in which in the trials rc-eo bly Jolly cleared 20ft o.)in, which slfbuld just about he good enough to win an Otago championship. Tho previous record was 20ft 4in, held by G D. Wise since 1921. Messrs A. Urquhan and F M. Reid aro Otago’s delegates on the council of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for tho ensuing year. Mr Urquharfc has rendered good service in the past, and Mr Reid, who is newly appointed, is well known in Otago athletics, having formerly been a high jump champion of the province, one of the lending members of the Otago Centro, and at ono time presi dent of the Invercargill Club Ho wa* the donor of the Reid Cup, which was competed for so often at the Otag' championships, and when the Otag team was in Wellington for tho Nev Zealand championships last Fcbruar lie could not do enough for them. 11 is a great enthusiast, and should wer thily represent Otago on tho comic; Characteristic of the hammer-throv ing champion was Mr J. W. M'Holm’ open invitation at the annual meetim of tlie Wellington Club to give reaching to any athlete in the various field events (says the ‘Evening Post’). M t * MT-IMm said that all the equipment required was a.n’labl" at Lowt Hntt and. as be put it, a Is fid bus fare out f o the H"tt was all that was necessary. Otago Is rot the o’dy place in which the secondary seho-ls’ meeting does not get tho support it fHs’rves. for reforen"G is made in the annual report of tho Wellington Centre to the fact that despite the many line performances the meeting is not patronised as it should be. The same thing applies here, and it is a pity that such an enjoyable

meeting is not more fully appreciated by the sporting public. According to the annual report of the Wellington Centre, tho ladies’ branch of the sport is in a more flourishing state than ever, a general improvement having taken place in the country districts. Tho Canterbury Centre’s annual report also makes mention ol the awakening of interest in ladies’ athletics. Miss Martyn’s performances attinted public attention. The annual balance-sheet ol tho Wellington Centre shows a credit of £755 19s Id, and that of the Canterbury Centro of £166 7s lOd. At the first_ track and field meeting of tho season in Canterbury last week, staged by the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club, 11. Cordery, who was runiier-up in the New Zealand 220yds eharnpiomihip last season, won the 50yds in 5 4-ssec, and the 200yds in 22sec, both being scratch events. Cordery promises big things in sprint events before tho present season ends. He io a fine, strong runner, who only needs a little more finish to be a real champion. The 600yds race was won by G. L. Austin, who was probably too fit for N. J. Suckling, who finished second. Austin, the new secretary of the Canterbury Centre, is a more than average halfmilcr if he would take middle distance running a little more seriously. In view of tho projected visit to New Zealand by Canadian athletes details to hand this week of the Canadian track and field field last month at Banff, whore, by the way, the ground is framed in a setting of grandeur in tho heart of the Canadian Rockies, are of some interest. The one notable missing from the gathering was Percy Williams, whoso non-appearance apparently was due to him having suffered an injury and not being in condition for the meet. In tho absence of Williams, the 100yds and 200yds titles passed to 11. Adams, of the Hamilton Olympic Chib, who in each case •ed Club-mate J. Fitzpatrick to the rape. Conditions are stated to have been far from perfect, but still Adams won the hundred in ten flat and the furlong in 22 3-ssce. Phil Edwards retained his half-mile title without any trouble, recording 2min 1 2-ssec, and ns last man in the Hamilton Olympic Club team finished up with 100yds to spare in the mile relay. Jimmy Ball, who has been mentioned in the negotiations for the tour of New Zealand, was not present to defend his quartermile title, which went to R. Lewis, a coloured man from Hamilton. The outstanding performer of tho afternoon at tho secondary schools’ championships in Auckland last week was J. D. C. Hammon, a junior competitor from the Auckland Grammar School. Ho won tho 100yds in llsec, which equalled the time registered in the senior event. Tho furlong ho covered in 24 2-osec. and in winning the broad jump ho did 18ft GJin. He was also second in the high jump, clearing oft. E. G. Fraser, of Auckland Grammar School, won tlie 100yds in the fair time of llsoc, but tbo senior furlong he annexed in 23 3-ssoc. In the senior high jump two boys tied for first place at sft 4in. R. Eacle won the senior half-mile for Takapuna Grammar School in the fine time of 2rnin 7 2-ssec, and the junior half went to Tv. L. Warbnrton in 2min 10 l-ssec. At the Christ’s College sports last week some good performances were registered, tho 120yds hurdles being won by B. E. Oliver in 16 3-sscc. In tho senior high jump Oliver won at sft 3in, and of tlie ten entrants five did oft 1 in. At the St. Andrew’s College sports the outstanding effort was that of P. C. Ensor, who did 21ft lin in the long jump. This is good enough to win many New Zealand championships. Great improvements in the training facilities for field men have been made at the Caledonian Ground, Mr R, Maxwell’s efforts in this direction being much appreciated by the athletes. Tho long jump pit has been enlarged and covered with sand, and’a fine cinder run-up has been made. The high jump pit has also been improved, and the facilities at present arc better than they have been for a long time past. Tho balance-sheet of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association shows an excess of assets over liabilities of £747 10s. It is {'leasing to know that there is a possibility or the Waitaki Boys’ High School competing at tho next secondary schools’ championship meeting. The school now numbers on its staff A. H. Malcolm, one of tho best athletes in Otago, and last week ho was instrumental in arranging for R. O. Johnson to give some of the pupils coaching in the field events. The Otago Centre has decided to present tlie school with a javelin. Athletes should now be getting nearer to fast work, and plenty of striding work and runs through are necessary. With tho approach of the regular series of meetings, athletes in training for tho championships can case up a little in their training, for they will receive sufficient racing to keep them pretty well tuned up. The season is to be a long one, and staleness must bo guarded against. This is shown by a glance at tlie operations of the best-known performers at present in training. They arc also beginning slowly, and devoting plenty of time to slow work before getting on to the really fast stuff. Most of the handicap men, however, will be striking some sort of form in the course of the next few weeks. The Pacific Club held a very successful dance in the Embassy Salon last Saturday night, at which the prizes won during the season were presented by Mr F. D. Gibson, president of the d’ub. There was a large attendance, the M.C.s being Messrs T. M'Gonnell ami W. Pimley. Tho music was provided by Neville’s Dance Band. In addition to the prizes won during tho season, the Quirk Cup (for most points ,in cycle races during tho season) was presented to C. Lucas, and attendance badges were presented as follow:—Oneyear gold badges; W. Templeon, V. Is bister, C. Lucas, T. Chettleburgh, W. I. Pledger, J. A. Pledger. J. M'Laren, T. Whaley, L. Jones, I’. Dillon. Twoyear badg-s: H. Cooper, H. Bond, R. WahrPcb. Three-year badges; F. Meat. A. Ashton, C Henry. This is the second Hroe-ycc" ’'adge F. Mount has won- -six years About a’issing a Saturday run. Caversham Ha'Tiers will be mustorin" in force at Abbotsford next Wednesday afternoon, when that popular runner. J. W Tapp, will join tho ranks of the Benedicts. He has the best wishes of every athlete in Otago, for there are few more unassuming and likeable fellows than the ex-New Zealand crosscountry champion.