HISTORIC MEET PROMISED

Evening Star, Issue 20728, 26 February 1931, Page 6

HISTORIC MEET PROMISED

[RACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS PROSPECTS FOR TC-MCRROW [By Pistol.] _XJio.ro Lave been many splendid championship athletic meetings in .Dunedin .since tho first New Zealand track and field championships were hold hero in 1889, but they meet that opens to-mor-row and continues on Saturday afternoon promises to bo one of the most outstanding over held in Otago. There is an international flavour about this meeting that should make it an historic affair, and, although both championship meets held here since tho war proved successful gatherings, there is every indication that tho forthcoming meet will bo tho best that has yet been held in Otago. INTEREST IN SPRINTS. Tlicro has been a fair amount of rain during tho week, and tho track might not bo so fast as one might wish, lint there is bound to be keen competition in the majority of events, and some outstanding performances© will bo looked for. The presence of tho American (cam is creating remarkable interest, and there is little need to do more than briefly sum up their respective capabilities. George Simpson, known as tho ” Ohio Buckeye Bullet,” is ouo of the fastest sprinters the world lias seen. Ho was the first man to run 100yds in 9 2-sscc, a. performance put up with the use of starting blocks, hut ho consistently bettered 9 4-oscc at Home, and for 220yds lias three times returned 20 d-ssec — twice with the use of starting blocks and once without. 'The last-mentioned performance is now awaiting recognition as a world’s record. Since coming to tho dominion Simpson lias regularly done hotter than oven time despite the i amount of travelling ho lias been called j uiiou to undertake. At Wellington, j when racing against the Australian j I Olympic Games’ representative, Jimmy I j Carlton, Simpson did hot roach his best | form, and in tho furlong a strained muscle gave way and ho collapsed. The | American champion, however, reckons : ho will bo in good shape for to-morrow’s meeting, as ho has given the leg a thorough rest during the present week. Ho cannot, of course, hold a New Zealand title, hut there are one or two who may mako him go fast to win tho 100yds championships. ('. H. Jenkins is Wellington’s first string, and it is reported that ho is running much more confidently this season than has been the case in past years. Jenkins is a rather temperamental runner, and that is wiiat has got tho best of him more than once in the past. Still, it should bo remembered that ho won ins first New Zealand title—over lOOj'ds—at Dunedin in 1924 just after leaving school. Ho is the

holdo^of tlie Now Zealand ?20yds title, but will probably have to be reckoned with over 100yds as well. 1 The title holder is A. J. Elliott, who has not boon showing his best form tin's season, but who will probably bo good enough to run into a place when ho reaches here. G. F. Hart, of Canterbury, is best known as an All Black Rugby player, but ho won the Canterbury 100yds championship in 10 1-u.sec, and if the track is at all fast some Canterbury critics reckon him capable of equalling oven time. Bert Geddcs. the Invercargill man, has not been seen in Dunedin for a year or two, but if he can reproduce bis form of a couplo of seasons back be should bo fighting out one of the places. F. H, Stephenson is tbo Wellington junior champion, and a good deal of I interest will attach to his showing both i in this event and in the 100yds junior ; championship, which ho should not have • a great deal of difficulty in winning, I Jenkins, Elliott, Hart, and Gcddcs I look the most likely of the New Zea- ; landers to bo fighting out the issue with ; Simpson i Eagerly anticipated will be the appearance of the American in the 220yds i event, as ho is one of tho most brilliant ! men the world has ever seen over this i distance. Of tho Now Zealanders, Cordery, tho Canterbury champion, looks like giving C. 11. Jenkins a fine tussle for tho title, and both Fleming and Elliott may also have to bo reckoned I with. Geddcs has not done tho time for 220yds that he has done for the | hundred, but if there is any wind Goddos can be depended on to run well. Tbo title holder in the 100yds ladies’ championship is Muss Thelma Ivench, a niece of that former Now Zealand champion, H. Martin, and she will again lake’ a lot of heating, though Miss E. Marlyu (Canterbury), Miss M Loan (Hawke's Bay), and Miss LI. Grant (Otago) are likely to make things interesting Miss Grant has boon tbo “ find ” of tho season in Dunedin, lint it remains to bo seen what she can do in opposition to tho pick of the lady athletes from other centres. GREAT RACES ANTICIPATED. Don Evans, tbo Taihape boy, is the bolder of the New Zealand half-mile and mile championships;, and while lie

lias been concentrating on tbo quarter 1 and half this season the mile will also I engage his attention at the New Zca- | land championships. Only reec uly | Evans bettered the existing Now - inland record for tho half by covering | tile distance in ilmin 54 4-ssec, and in , both half and quarter lie should be very iiard to head to-morrow and on j Saturday. The quarter lias drawn a good class held which includes O. C. Harley (who did 50 2-ssec at Chnstehurch on Saturday), J. Elonmig (the Wellington winner of tho title on nun crons occasions, T. Pickering (who boat Fleming recently). A, L. Price and L. C. MtLaclilan (Otago). M'Lnclilan’s form is doubtful, otherwise lie could bo counted ou to extend any of those mentioned. Evans may possibly be tho next quarter-mile champion ii : the ihilo does not lako too ' much out of ,him to-morrow. hi tlio lialf-milc Evans should be the winner, but tho American, Rufus I Kiser, may keep him busy, and of tho other New Zealanders Harley may bo the most troublesome, though W. Ogg, of Wellington, has only to bo in form to bo somewhere handy. H. M'Donald beat Ogg in tho Welling ton champ.unships, nut that result may bo reversed here. Kiser will be concentrating cm tlia mile, and the American lias many brilliant performances over this distance, having run in something like IGU mile races during his career. His best time lias been jraiu 13scc, and only twice last j year did bo take over 4.20 lor tho ] mile. This should bo the classic event j of the meeting, and it will bo decided ! at 5.15 ou the first day. All eyes will centre on the great R. A. Rose, who is expected to be somewhere near Jus best form by now. Rose is a great favourite with Dunedin crowds, and it it not hard to predict that Evans, Kiser, Rose, Bayne, of Wellington, will be lighting out the issue to-mor-row, with possibly Lovelock and Morris, the Otago men, helping to make things interesting. Bayne heat Kiser in Wellington on Saturday, but with Evans, Rose, and Kiser going at their best that is probably the fr.o that will bo found in the places, though one cannot always toil, as much may depend on tho way tho race is run. Rose is- the title-holder in the threemile event, and ho should retain his title,, but there should bo ail interesting tussle fiir the remaining places with such men competing as Prosser (Wellington), Morns, Lovelock, ami Barnes (Otago), and Brown (Wan-gamu-Tarauaki). THE FIELD MEN. Tho high jump will be fought out by Bradey (Wcll.ngton) and (Canterbury) and Harlow Rothcrt, tho famous American ail-rounder, will also bo competing in tins event. HuIhcrt lias specialised in the shot putt, the best cl fort the Wiau.ord liu.vorsity man lias ever done being 52ft 4 in at home, but at Wellington last Saturday lie did 51ft Hn, and lias been ' onsistently improving by about 1m on each appearance in tho dominion, (’hero is no one in this event to get near him, but Peter Aiunro, the present champion, will now bo competing and should easily bead the others. Tho two walks should be keenly eontested, and it will not come as a surprise if G. S. Cabot shows loim good enough to beat A. iv. Hill, tho Wellington representative, especially over tho mile, though Hill may prove too good over three miles. In tho 120yds hurdles the competitors all come from Otago except A. Darbv (Wanganm-Taranaki), and the latter is likely to bo light,ng it out with J. Robilliard, though I. 0. Malison will also make things interesting. The quarter hurdles will probably find Munson, Darby, and Willis contesting tho finish, and Darby will need to better GOsec under normal conditions to beat Mansou. Ci. Sullvan should win the hop, step, and jump championship again if ho shows anything like fast year's form, but R. 0. Johnson should be good enough to collect second points for Otago. Sullivan may also have to be reckoned with in the long jump, in which Neville will probably' provide the toughest opposition. R. jolly did 2111. lljm at the local Boys’ High School sports last year, but it remains lo he seen whether lie can get near that mark at tho present time. W. J. Batslono did not do Rift in tho polo vault at the Canterbury championships. but that is no criterion o 1 his ability, and he should just about win, with most opposition coming from

Bradcy and B. Provo, the latter having lowered R. O. Johnson’s colours m the Otago championshi.ps. Johnson was second to Batstono last year at Wanganui.

Monro and Rothcrt should have a rare tussle w.th the discus, and Harvey and big Jim Decide likewise with the hammer. Rothert will win the javelin throwing event, as Stan Lay, at tiie last moment, finds himself unable to attend tbo meeting. It is possible for R. Crceser, the Otago representative, to secure second place in this event. THE CYCLISTS.'

Taken all round particularly classy Helds will lace the starter in tile cycle championships, and, save that Fletcher will replace Smith (Otago) in the one mile race, the personnel will bo unchanged in any event. With E. J. Grose, T. O’Brien, and L. Pearce Canterbury appears to have the best chance of gaming tbo honours. Although Grose has not yet' reached top form ha should successfully defend ail three titles. T. O’Brien will no doubt prove bis most serious rival, while Pearce should bo seen fighting out the finish of tho one and three mile events. All three have won provincial honours this season, and they are capable of riding fast races to finish up with exceptionally speedy dashes. Last season Les Pearce rode in Wei liugton but returned to Christchurch at the beginning of the season. While not brilliant the Wellington contingent, Milton Gano, Ericson, and T. Roc, are sound riders, but conditions here may prevent them giving of their best Gano bolds titles on both road and track, and for several seasons lias been one of the province’s foremost wheelmen. Ericson is better known as a road rider, but has some good track performances to his credit. T. Roe, a lad from Pctone, came to tho foxx; early this season, and should give a good "account of himself on a hanked track.

Wangamii-Taranaki’s oqly cycling representative is A. Hanson, who recently was reinstated after riding as a professional in North Otago for several years. Ho has done well this season. While the unexpected may happen tho chances of the Otago representatives—Fogarty, Smith, Parsons, and Fletcher-—are not very bright. Fogarty looks tho most likoly, as he lias good time to his credit for the half mile and' can negotiate tho bends of the track bettor than Grose. A great pace should be gained over the hist quartet of Hie half-mile ehamp unship, and Grose will no doubt be seen leading Fogarty, O’Brien, and Pearce The mile is a bard race to ride, and snpriscs may be looked for, but Grose, Pearce, and O’Brien should be in at the finish. A great race should be produced in the three-mile event, and Grose may again lead tho field with O’Brien, Pearce, Fogarty, and Gano fighting for minor places. Added interest is lent' to tho handicap events by the appearance of such good riders iis Pearce, Campbell, and Wilcockson, of Christchurch. Wellington has held the championship shield so long that it almost has a mortgage on tbo trophy, but the points are likely to bo more evenly distributed this .season, and at the finish it will come as no surprise if Wellington lias to fight bard to retain possession of the emblem of supremacy.