EMPIRE GAMES FESTIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 20613, 13 October 1930, Page 3

EMPIRE GAMES FESTIVAL

BRILLIANT OPENING CEREMONIES FUTURE SERIES ASSURED SAVIDAN'S DAY [Writton'by P. S. dk Q. Cabot, for tlio ‘ Evening Star.’] (All Rights Reserved.) HAMILTON (Ontario), August 10. “ The strength of the British Empire has been largely built up by the fact that every citizen has a love of sports and games.” No words rang more true than this utterance of Lord Willingdon before the enthusiastic crowd of 13,000 who flocked to Hamilton’s Civic Stadium to see the elite of the Empire’s athletes in action There was something: essentially British about today’s gathering. When countries compete in sport there is always the risk of an over-developed sense of rivalry leading to _ acuteness and possibly strained feelings, but if there was ever a negative characteristic about this memorable meeting it was just such an absence of tenseness and fierce rivalry. The _ formalities were not mere barren platitudes, devoid of feeling and lacking the warmth of sincerity; every athlete and every spectator experienced at least in part an attachment to all those ideals which, even at a cost, have brought the Empire to what it is today. And who among those privileged to be present will ever forget the colourful pageantry of to-day’s spectacle; the tightly-packed stands riotous with the colours of summer fashions and bedecked with some thirty flags of the Imperial Commonwealth; the unruffled surface of the well-groomed cinder running track; the emerald green oval resplendent in the rays of an amiable sun; the inspiring parade of athletes heralded by trumpets and marching with alertness and precision, as national airs from the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band’ breaking through the salvos of applause which greeted each successive contingent of representatives, aroused every feeling of pride and sense of security in the bonds of fellowship here created; the firing of sky rockets from unseen places with the release of over a score of small flags from every country represented? Clpan, pure sport, untainted by the slightest traces of xirofessional--ism, healthy rivalry—both the glories of youth—were eagerly awaited by these loyal Hamiltonians who have spared no effort and no expense to make us all feel- at home away from horao._ They were not disappointed. My impressions of ’ the first day’s sport? Yes, Burghley’s ease with which ho’captured the nurdles, Smallacombc’s record-breaking triple leap, Englehart’s fast 220, and last, but not least, Savidan’s heroic win in the long-dis-tance event, which brought the crowd wildly cheering to their feet as lie lapped men twice oyer, stalled off all attempts to head him, created a new Canadian record, and came within a minute of Alfred Shrubb’s world’s record made at Glasgow in 1904. The 440 hurdles result was unique, because the first four places were filled by Englishmen. By his win in the time of 54 4-10 sec Burghley set up a new Canadian record. It was a delight to see him simply skim over the sticks without any apparent exertion. The furlong produced a fine collection of “stars.” New Zealand’s representative, A. J. Elliot, did well under the circumstances to get third place to Gerhardt, from South Africa, and Johnny Fitzpatrick; Canadian 220yds champion and Olympic representative. Since his arrival in the country Elliot was able to have only one race; perhaps more than anything else Elliot needs is plenty of racing to keep in fettle, and there is no doubt that had ho reproduced his Now Zealand championship form of 22sec dead for this distance, even though it was on grass, he would have been second, at least in his heat. Like Savidan, Elliot had his first race on the cinders to-day—a fact to be taken into consideration in making comparisons. Englclmrt’s time in the final of this distance —21 4-ssec—-was only two-fifths of a second slower than the Canadian record set by Bobby Kerr in 1908. Incidentally, Kerr, who saw to-day’s race, is a prominent official at .. .s gathering. Percy Williams, Olympic sprint champion, was not entered in this event, reserving himself for tHo 100yds on Thursday; hmvever, his contribution towards to-day’s proceedings was most important, for on behalf of all the athletes he. took the following oath of loyalty to the rules and spirit of amateurism :—“ Wc pledge our best endeavour to uphold the honour of our country in British sportsmanship”—so short, but meaning so much.

Wild applause greeted Smallacombe’s record-breaking hop, step, and jump of 48ft sin, Ift 3Jin oyer the previous best, which had survived all efforts to break it since 1908. Smallacombe’s performance was not a matter of luck, for on two other occasions in the same contest he cleared over 47ft 6in, and when he made his best figures he took off several inches behind the mark. It. O. Johnson’s figures were certainly not good, but ho was so severely handicapped with two displaced ribs that possibly he should not have competed at all. In fact, he was receiving medical treatment right up to the day of his event. The knowledge he gained from outstanding coaches and athletes from other countries should be of great advantage to those who associate with him when he returns to New Zealand. The 440 hurdles was no trouble to Burghley; in both his heat and the final he gave a finished exhibition of effortless hurdling, and in the first heat of this event he had everything so much his own way that he finished slowing up in 58sec. The absence of the brilliant South African all-rounder. J. H. Viljoen, did not make the final so interesting as it might have been, but, even then, while Burghley headed his fellow-countrymen to win by about 10yds, he was able to break the existing Canadian record by being timed with 54 4-10 sec.

L'ain quite certain no event in the day’s schedule was so popular as the long distance one, and no competitor more deserved the honours than our own W. J. Savidan. Curiously enough, the six miles distance was new both to the spectators and the New’ Zealander. I could never wish to see a liner effort than that of Savidan in this race, and should ho concentrate on this distance I would not bo at all sn prised to see him smash the w'orld’s record. As it wm.s, ho came within a minute of it, and this alter he had been led to believe that the second last lap was the final one. Tin's was one event where the Canadians were out of the picture, and it was left to Wood from Scotland and Evcnson of England to set the pace ; so fast was it that the first mile was clipped in 4min 'l4 2-ssec. Savidan came into the lend at the second

mile, but Wood was burning himself out. When it is remembered that the throe miles (were covered in 15min 3 4-ssec, just Iflsec behind the record, it is easier to form some idea of the terrific pace set up. When four miles hud been covered four men had been lapped, and Evenson displaced Wood, who was now'palpably distressed. Savidan was moving along without the slightest' appeaxaince of being distressed, and as he swung along the crowd commenced their; cheering, which did not finish until fhe end of the struggle. Harper, anofher English representative, also began to stride out to chase the annihilating New Zealander, who at the five-mjlo stage was exactly 7sec under the Canadian record for this distance. This 1 time, 25min 31 4-ssec, mads h.y If. G. Ilcllairs, at Montreal, had lasted sirkio 1908. The crowd w’ero now most exojted ns Savidan increased tho pace in the second last round, so much so that!lie was weakened for tho last quarter, (however, his lead was so commanding (that it was hopeless for Harper to catch him. It was a fitting triumph to the New Zealander’s persistence and ability, hut as every one of that hugej crowd stood with hared heads as thei hand played ‘ Land of Hope and Glory ’ and the New Zealand flag flew alol'i as part homage to outstanding prowess, I paused to think of those loyal admirers of sport who, in the face of a reproachful indifference and unsatisfactory arrangements, finally made n possible to send abroad one who, in tjvery sense, would bring the greatest (Vedit to any country in tho world. 11,! was Savidan’s day, and therefore New Zealand’s day. (To b|i continued..)