CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARIES

Evening Star, Issue 20428, 8 March 1930, Page 12

CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARIES

PROVINCIAL ATHLETIC MEET SOME FAST TIMES RECORDED Exceptionally large entries for the Otago amateur athletic championships made it necessary to stage not only the preliminaries of several Held events last night, but also heats of the 440yds championship and of the three-mile cycle championship, the finals being de ciclecl this afternoon. The third heat of the cycling event was not to bo decided until this afternoon, being comprised of several riders of outside districts, and similarly with the field events. The three competitors recording the best efforts last night were to take part in the finals to-day, and those country competitors who were unable to take part last night were also to be given an opportunity of qualifying. Should they equal or better the performances of those who have already qualified, they, too, will bo permitted to take part in the finals. The track was in 'good order, though on the dead side, and the wind that blew across the ground made the times recorded in.the 440yds championship heats very creditable. This race was i i in lanes, as is the practice at the . ,;w Zealand championships, and I* L. M'Lachlan, the title holder, ran a well-judged race to head off J. T. Gardiner, of Invercargill, by 15in in 52 l-ssee. Gardiner was the secondary schools’ champion only last year and won several events in the junior division in 1926, when the secondary schools’ meeting was instituted. Ho shows great promise, and did extremely well to give a •runner of M‘Lachlan’s experience such a close race. The surprise of the evening, however, was the fine form shown by I. 0. Manson, of Invercargill, who holds the Otago 440yds hurdles championship. Manson ran a great race to win by 3yds from A. L. Price (Anglican) in 52sec—splendid time on the evening. C. .1. Thompson ran a disappointing third, though he might run better in the final. The New Zealand champion, A. W. Findlay, was a nonstarter. In the long jump, R. 0. Johnson did 20ft 6in, and C. W. Rout put the shot 34ft Bjin. Details :

BROAD JUMP CHAMPIONSHIP. The following qualified for tho final:— 1

11. 0. Johnson (Anglican), 20ft 6m. J, Lockett, (University), 19ft Bm. N. S. Woods (University), 19ft 6m. Also competed: W. Becker (Pacific), P. G. Ward (Anglican), A. G. Holt (Pacific), J. W. Johnson (Anglican), B. Provo (Anglican), and L. M Wright (Anglican). Some fair jumping was witnessed, R. 0. Johnson showing particularly good form. He was taking off well, but Lockett had trouble in striking tho board. Wright and Provo each did 19ft Sin. 440 YARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. Australasian record, 48) see—Nigel Barker (Australia), 1905. New Zealand record, 49 l-ssec—G. A. Barker (W.S.A.), 1914. Otago standard, 52sec. Present champion, L. C. M'Lachlan (52 4-ssec). , , , First and second in each heat and third in fastest heat qualify. First heat: L. C. M'Lachlan (Civil Service) 1, J. T. Gardiner (Invercargill) 2, C. W. Rout (Invercargill 3. Also started: F. V. Macartney (St. Patrick’s) and T. K. Buxton (University). , Gardiner had the outside lane, Rout being on the inside. Gardiner began smartly, but M'Lachlan was also striding well, and along tho back the titleholder raced at great speed to head Buxton, who was running outside him at tho bottom bend. Gardiner and M'Lachlan entered the straight almost in line, but the latter was full of running, and in a splendid finish won bv 15in, Rout beihg 3yds back third. Time, 52 l-ssec. Second heat: I. 0. Manson (Invercargill) 1, A. L. Price (Anglican) 2, C J. Thompson (Civil Service) 3. Also ran: S. King (Leith), N, I. Pledger (Pacific), and'A. H. Small (University). Manson clapped the pace on from tho start, employing a long stride and bein,,. out in front with half tho distance covered, despite the fact that he was running in the middle lane, Ihompson did not run with the best of judgment and left his effort too late, Manson and Price both heading him into the straight. Manson finished on in great style to win by 3yds in time that equalled the Otago standard; Price being 3yds ahead of Thompson. lime, 52sec.

THROWING JAVELIN HANDICAP. The finalists were: P. G. Ward (Anglican). 138 ft Uin. B. Provo (Anglican), 128 ft 6m. . A. H. Small (University), 126 ft 8) in. Also competed: It. V. Isbister (Pacific), A. Y. Holt (Pacific), H. N. Riddell (Anglican), J. Dmeen (Anglican), and W. Burridge (Anglican). , The standard of this event was a low one, none of the • competitors reaching the Otago standard of 1401 t. THROWING DISCUS CHAMPION- . SHIP. The following qualified for the final:— B. Provo (Anglican), 94ft 4in. R. 0. Johnson (Anglican), 82ft 3m. A. G. Holt (Pacific), 79ft 4*m. Also competed: G. B. P. Vyilson (University), P. G. Ward (Anglican), L. R. Stroud (Anglican), J. W, Johnson (Anglican), and A. Holt (Pacific). THREE MILE CYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP. New Zealand record (banked track), Gmin 49sec—L. J. Pcarcc, 1929. New Zealand standard (banked track), 7min sscc. Present champion, J.'C. Fogarty (7min 2u 4-sscc). First heat; C. W. Conroy 1, J. S. Parsons'2. R. Taylor 3. Also started; F. Switalla, D. Fraser, H. Taylor, and C. Fraser. Pacemakers were employed, and in the early stages Parsons, H. Taylor, and R. Taylor wore prominent though they did not set a heart-break-ing pace. With a milo covered U. Fra-i’" shot to the front, but Conroy and ; arsons lay handy, and at the hell it ir.Ti evident that they would fight out tho issue. Parsons sprinted at tho top of tho back straight, but Conroy responded, and the pair entered the straight wheel to wheel. Conroy made a desperate effort, and wont on to win. by half a length, R. Taylor three lengths back third. Time, 7min 24 l-ssec. Second heat: J. C. Fogarty 1, G. Smith 2, C. G. Lucas 3. Also started: D. Thomnson, T. Dillon, W. J. Templeton, and L. Ferguson. Fogarty and Smith were always in a handy position, and with a mile to go the order was Lucas, Fogarty, Smith. Fogarty took the lead -with half a milo to go, and riding very evenly sat well over during the last lap. to lead Smith into the straight. Smith challenged, but Fo-

garty finished well, a length to the good, Lucas thirty yards back third. Time,' 7min 20 3-ssec. PUTTING 161 b SHOT CHAMPIONSHIP. The finalists were : C. W. Rout (Invercargill), 34ft 8 Jin. H. D, Morgan (Anglican), 33ft DJih. L. R. Stroud (Anglican), 33ft Clin. Also competed: G. B. P. Wilson (University), A. Holt (Pacific), J. Hook (Anglican), and A. G. , Holt (Pacific).