TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 5

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES

[By Pistol.]

FIXTURES.

February 2 and 9.—Civil Service Club championships. February 4.—Otago Centre’s fourth evening meeting. February 27. —Otago track and field championships. February 3.—Meeting at Milton. March s.—Otago Amateur lCycling Club’s meeting at Mosgiel. March 11 and 12.—New Zealand track and field championships at Auckland. _ * March 19.—Tokomairiro Club s annual meeting. CENTRE’S EVENING MEETING. The Otago Centre’s third evening meeting at Tahima Park last week drew one of the largest attendances seen ..t these fixtures for a long time, but, though fields were very satisfactory, the times recorded were only ordinary. Allowances, however, have to be made for the strong wind that was blowing. R. W. Haskell, who is approaching top form, went a well-judged race in the 300yds handicap, and from the 10yd mark, won in 35 2-ssec, Maskell is not dissimlar in build and action to Bert Geddes, the former Otago champion sprinter, and he possesses that same determined finish that was characteristic of Geddes. It was quite a good performance on the part of E. Fish to get within 2yds of Maskell for second place off the’scratch mark. Fish is a much-improved runner. He is striding more evenly, and does not lose form at the finish as he did formerly. He should be there to carry Pacific’s colours in more than one event at the Otago championships next month. Alf. Price, the Otago quarter-mile champion, was behind Fish, but the sharpening up he is now getting will do the Anglican man good. He will need to be at his best form if he is to retain his title, as the competitors next month will probably include T. Pickering, the Wellington representative quarter-miler, who is in fine form in Invercargill ijhis season. J. H. M'liaren is a runner who is not troubled by a strong wind, and he certainly deserved to win the I,oooyds handicap because of the judicious way ho made use of the wind, clearing out from the other back-markers along the back straight, and getting within striking distance of the leaders to win off 15yds in 2min 32 2-ssec. The Pacific man' is a powerful and most determined runner, and is likely to be among the competitors at the championships next month. Young Walker, also a member of the Pacific Club, filled second place, running a good race. G. Barnes did not run with the best of judgment, and, while he unloosed a characteristic sprint at the finish to beat L. C. M‘Lachlan for third place, he should not have allowed M'Laren to clear out the way he did. Barnes is one of the most experienced runners here, and he should know by now .that it is unwise to rely too much on his finishing powers over such a

distance as I,oooyds against such a strong runner as M'Laren." The mile medley relay was won by the Leith Club, which lias been showing much greater activity on the track, .than ever before, and which, by its performances across country and in track and field athletics, is fully entitled to be ranked as one of the major clubs. Off 150yds the race was a good win for the Leith representatives. Anglican staged a good performance to finish second from scratch, Robilliard going a very solid last furlong.

No great performances were registered in the shot putt, the best actual effo'.r, being that of A. Robinson, the Pacific field athlete, who did 34ft. He has all the requisites of a champion, and with the necessary concentration and coaching may yet reach championship class.

CIVIL SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS. The first of a series of three championship meetings was held by the Civil Service Club at the University Oval on Tuesday night, the track being in good order, and with large fields coming forward interesting competition was witnessed, though it was surprising, considering the calibre of the runners, that faster time was not registered in the 880yds championship. As a High School boy R. W. Masked showed much promise, and his victory in the junior 100yds championship of Otago stamped him as a runner of more than ordinary merit. But his win in the club 100yds championship on' Tuesday night in 10 2-ssec was one of his most impressive efforts, especially as he was not seriously extended. He was away smartly, and striding well won easily. He is a strong runner who should be at his best in a couple of years’ time, and as he has not been rushed I expect some smart performances from him, now that ho is becoming, properly set. On his present form he should worthily represent his club at the provincial meeting. His sprint victory was not the extent of his success, as he annexed the long jump at 19ft sJin, and also carried off the hop, step, and jump with 42ft Opinions differ on the subject, but in view of the promise he shows as a sprinter it would be a pity if he were asked to do too much jumping. I have seen some good sprinters affected in this way, and it may be remembered that R. C. Morgan, an ex-New Zealand champion, gave jumping best when lie found it was affecting his running, despite the fact that he was capable of doing 21ft in the long jump. The half-mile was marked by a very slowly-run first quarter, and as Lachie M ‘Lachlan seems to be approaching form, it was surprising that he did not go out in an endeavour to put the pace on and shake J. G. Barnes off. The way the race was run suited Barnes admirably, and he won nicely in 2min 13sec, the time being affected somewhat by thp strong wind. M'Lauchlan had run in heat and final of the hundred earlier in the evening, and this, of course, handicapped him against the fresher Barnes and Geddes, who filled second place. M'Lachlan. however, has had little racing this season, but the latter stages of his preparation for the championships should be marked by a big improvement in his running. Barnes is best known for his prowess over the mile, three miles, and longer courses, but the writer has seen him run some brilliant half-miles, and 1 believe if he elected to take the halfmile and mile at the Otago championships he would keep the ,best of the middle-distance men Young Geddes is coming along nicely, and being a wise lad is not overdoing things yet awhile. H. Hall is an improving runner, and a good finishing effort saw him nose A. B. Thompson out of second place. The latter, usual!,/ at his best over the final stages, faded a bit in this race. Jack Gerken is a very useful club man, and second place in the long jump went to him at 18ft 6in. If he concentrated a bit more on this event he would improve very considerably, for he is the build for jumping, and had his grounding at a school which has produced many fine high jumpers and long jumpers. W. Wards won the javelin throwing, but his winning performance was disappointing and below what he is really capable of. The second meeting of the series will be held next Tuesday, when the events to be decided are:—2ooyds, one mile, 120yds hurdles, 440yds hurdles, discus throwing, and hammer throwing. NEXT WEEK’S MEET. With a view to providing plenty of racing before the Otago championships at Carisbrook next month the Otago Centre is staging another evening meeting at Tahuna Park next Thursday night. This is the fourth evening fixture the centre has this season, and two afternoon meetings have been held also, apart from the Labour Day gathering. The programme comprises 120yds handicap, 440yds handicap, one-milo handicap, mile relay handicap, one and two-mile cycle handicaps, discus throwing, and 100yds ladies’ handicap. Entries close on Monday next.

PROPOSED MEETING AT MOSGIEL. It is a season or two since a track and field meet has been held at Mosgiel, but it is pleasing to know that an effort is to be made to revive interest in the sport in the Taieri, and the Otago Amateur Cycling Club is to be congratulated on its proposal to hold a meeting there on Saturday afternoon, February 6, providing suitable arrangements can be made. The programme that has been tentatively drawn up is a comprehensive and attractive one, and the cycling events are one mile club race under nineteen (Paul Cup), three-quarter-mile Otago championship open, onemile open handicap, two-mile open handicap, half-mile open handicap, and boys’ race. A good athletic programme has also been arranged as follows: —100yds, 300yds, half-mile, and one-mile handicaps, and javelin-throwing event. , WITH THE WHEELMEN. The Otago track champion, J. CFogarty, was the outstanding rider at the Otago Centre’s meeting at Tahuna Park last week. He won the half-mile in fine style, and rode a heady race for second place in the two-mile event. His form at present indicates that he will be exceptionally hard to dispose of in championship events next month.

G. Smith pedalled well throughout the evening, and collected second place in. the half-mile and third in the twomile handicap. He has been a disappointment so far this season, as big things were expected of him on the grass tracks, on which he has always produced his best form.

A. Oakes, off the 240yds mark, rode good races in both heat and final of the two miles, especially in the final, in which he produced a fast finish to hold out from the scratch men, who were coming up fast. He is shaping well on the track, and should do really well on a good smooth track. R. Wilson-Pyne finished third in the half-mile final, but rode disappointingly in the two miles. ’All the backmarkers in the first heat of this race showed bad judgment by the erratic manner in which they teamed, and as a result made little or no ground on the front men.

E. D. Palmer made a reappearance after an absence of a year or so, and, although far from fit yet, gave a nice exhibition of pedalling, and showed that when he strikes form lie will not be easy to head. H. Cooper was another rider who started after a long period of retirement from the track. He is a rider who is too good to be standing on the bank, and if he displays a little keenness he will soon be in the limelight again. F. Greenfield, J. Brosnan, and S. Milligan all rode well, although the heavy wind in the straight seemed to trouble them a little.

J. Parsons and E. Fletcher did got relish the heavy going, and did not appear to be pushing as hard as they would have wished. Parsons has for some time past been training on Carisbrook ground, so that he will have a decided advantage in being accustomed to the track at the championships next month.

It is pleasing to learn that members of the newly-formed Winton Amateur Cycling Club will be competitors at the Otago championships. At a meeting held there recently riders from Drummond, Otautau, and Invercargill took part. / There is such a thing as being too confident in a race, and this was illustrated in one of the heats of the two-mile handicap, at the centre’s evening meeting last week. Oakes and Brosnan had opened up a big gap on the others, and then came WilsonPyne / and Fletcher. Wilson-Pyne left Fletcher behind, and led him by 50yds at the bell. He did not seem to be troubling himself unduly, and paid for his carelessness when Fletcher pipped him of the post for third place and kept Jiim out final. SUPERB POLE-VAULTING. Fred Woodhouse, the former Melbourne Grammarian, two years ago made his debut in open company when he was runner-up to W. G. Harper (Vic.) in the Australian pole vault championship on the M.C.C. Ground in connection with the visit of Dr Otto Peltzer (Germany) and Leo. Lermond (the American miler), says the * Sporting Globe.’ Woodhouse gave a superb display at the opening of the championships in Sydney on Saturday, and experts declared that it would not be long before he forged his way into the world’s front rank. He has the ability and the temperament to succeed. All he needs is experience and tuition from an international coach. Pole vaulting has shown considerable advance in Sydney of late, and, though Victoria, with such artists as Woodhouse and Harper, were expected to have a mortgage on the event, Winter (N.S.W.) gave them a great tussle for the honours. So great, in fact, that it was necessary for Woodhouse, who reversed the previous championship result to clear a quarter of an inch over 12ft before claiming the title.

PROFESSIONAL CYCLING NOTES. Although a little overdue, the record of performances by members of the Otago Athletic and Cycling Club over the holiday circuit makes interesting reading. At Edendale A. Brown filled first place in the half-mile, cycle race, T. Brosnan second, and A. Ralston third. Brosnan won the mile from Brown, and Ralston the two miles from Brosnan.

At Roxburgh Tom Brosnan won the mile with Albert Ralston second. Brosnan won the two-mile wheel race with Brown in third place. The one and a-half mile went to Gordon Johnstone, with Cyril Wills second, and Albert Ralston and Cyril filled first and second places in the consolation race. At Wyndham, Alby Ralston won the two-mile, with Cyril Preen second. In the three-mile Ralston was second and Preen third. In the one-mile consolation Andy Brown was third. 111-luck dogged the Otago members at this meeting, as Brown and Preen fell, and Brosnan and Ralston were practically pushed off the track at the far bend m tfie last lap of the three-mile event, in which Ralston unwound a. great finishing effort to snatch second place on the tape. Alby Ralston finished second in the mile at Balfour, while he won the one and a-half mile, with Tom Brosnan second. Cyril Preen secured his first win on the circuit in the two miles at Balfour, which he won by about 50yds. Andy Brown showed his versatility at this meeting where, after competing unsuccessfully in the three cycling events, he finished third in the high jump and won the hop, step, and jump.

In a road race from Gore to Mataura and return, promoted by the Gore Cycling Club, in order that an attempt might be made on the record of 39min, established over twenty years ago by A. Wallace, Alby Ralston finished second and obtained fastest time. Cyril Preen finished fifth, obtaining second fastest time. Ralston’s time was 41min 45sec, which was very good, considering the wind. T. Brosnan won both the one mile and two mile races at Naseby, with Andy Brown second in each case. Basil Thomas was third in the two mile event. Alby Ralston and Cyril Preen went to Tuatapere on the same day and the former won the one mile, with Preen second. Preen won the one and a-half miles, in which Ralston fell. Ralston won the two mile, with Preen third. Ralston and Preen competed at Riversdale, where Ralston was second in the one mile event, Alby Ralston’s performance of securing six firsts, five seconds, and one third was a remarkable one, considering the fact that he rode off the scratch mark in all bis races. His winnings on the circuit amounted to about £2B.

Tom Brosnan, with five firsts and three seconds was the most improved rider on tie circuit, and his earnings amounted to £27. He also won a cup at Roxburgh valued at £5 ss, which ho holds for a year, for obtaining most points in the day’s events. Cyril Preen obtained two firsts, three seconds, and two thirds, which netted for him about £I2A Preen’s riding was very poor at the commencement of the circuit, but nearing the finish he showed all his old-time brilliance. He has wisely decided to lay off from strenuous competition until the road racing season. Andy Brown’s two firsts, three seconds, and three thirds earned him about £ls. Brown, in contrast to Preen, commenced the circuit riding brilliantly, but appeared to go off, and was riding very poorly until Naseby, where he showed improved form. He suffered two bad falls, however, and perhaps these accounted for his temporary lapses from form. AUSTRALIAN PERFORMANCES. A chatty letter from Len Wright, the versatile Anglican athlete, conveys news of athletics in Sydney, where fie is sojourning at present. He attended the Australian championships, at which only three runners from each State were allowed in each event, the ban on individual entries preventing W. M. Whyte from participating. “ The weather was perfect for athletics on the Saturday, and records were asking for trouble,” the Dunedinite wrote. It was better still on the Monday. and he cannot understand why Carlton's record of 20 3-ssec for 220yds was not allowed, as the flags were barely fluttering. It was a wonderful run and worth going across to see. George Golding had to be content with second place in the 440yds championship, and Len reckoned that he was distinctly third. In the 440yds hurdles on the Monday, won in 53 9-10 sec, Golding got home by a clear yard, with a yard between second and third, so it might be said that the three broke the old Australian record of 54 9-10 sec. In Len’s opinion, Golding was a better hurdler than a flat .runner, but he reckoned Jimmy Carlton was the best quarter-miler in Australia. Carlton had not run one for five years, and clocked 48 3-ssec about three weeks prior to the time of writing. I J. M. Watson, who won the high jump at 6ft lin and went on to establish the record figures of 6ft 2|in, is a tall fellow, standing 6ffc 4in. feen added a word of praise for the way the Otago meetings were put through in comparison with so big an affair as the Australian championships. It was a great meet, but its management lacked system, and the programme was well behind time-table. 1

At the age of forty years “Nick” Winter, the ex-Olympic hop, step, and jump champion, got second place in the Australian championship*! to Campbell with 47ft. Dickenson, who was third with 46ft 2Jin, is only sixteen, and is a protege of Winter’s. A, J. Hillhouse’s mile in 4min 21 2-ssec bettered the twenty-seven years’ old New South Wales record of 4min 23sec, standing opposite the name of G. A. Wheatley, who toured New Zealand about that time. The Australian record is 4min 19 3-ssec, held by E, B. Coomhes since last year. The shot putting figures were rather remarkable, the three placed men doing 42ft 6Jin, 42ft 6}in, and 42ft sJin respectively. In the broad jump the figures were also close. H. H. E. Day did 23ft 7Jin, the other placed men doing 23ft 7 3-Bin and 22ft lljin respectively. In the women’s high jump Miss R. Winter cleared 4ft lOin. * NOTES. The Wyndham Amateur Athletic Club staged a meeting last week, ai feature of which was a display given by the Otago field athlete, Jim Leckie. He is apparently in fine form, as he threw the discus 120 ft (his best yet), hammer 145 ft, javelin 125 ft, and putt the shot 33ft. The Wyndham Club applied for affiliation to the Otago Centre some time ago, and the controlling body is awaiting a copy of, the club’s rules and officers before sending the application forward to Wellington. In the meantime, good progress is being made in the south, and. next season promises to be a big one for amateur athletics in the country. The Tokomairiro Club, like the Pal-merston-Waihemb Club, is one of the most progressive of those affiliated to the Otago Centre, and meetings at the South Otago town are invariably well supported by Dunedin athletes and cyclists. An afternoon meeting is to be held at Milton on February 13, and the following events will be decided:— 100yds, 220yds, one mile, 100yds ladies, high jump, shot putting, half-mile cycle, one and a-half mile cycle, twomile cycle, and three-mile cycle. An innovation that should be popular is that, while an entry fee of Is is being charged for the first‘event, each additional event will cost only 6d. Entries close on Wednesday evening, February 10. Dunedin competitors should hand their entries to the centre’s handicapper. The club’s annual meeting will probably be held on March 19 in order to avoid clashing with other fixtures. It remained for Jimmy Carlton to provide the real “ fireworks ” in the 220yds championship on Monday (says an Australian writer in commenting on the recent Australian games). E. M. Davidson (Vic.) to a certain extent rehabilitated himself in the first heat, whi’ch. he won rather handily from “Teddy” Hampson (N.S.W.), in 22sec, having two yards to spare. Carlton, the centre of attraction, never troubled in the second heat, had a yard to spare over R. C. .Smith and H. S. Yates (Vic.) in 21 4-ssec. the slight wind being considered of some advantage. Supporters of Davidson were optimistic enough to think that the Victorian would extend Carlton in the final. And what a thriller it was! Frank' Delaney sent the men away to a fine start and excitement was at fever heat from pistol to tape. At the half distance Carlton had the race in his pocket. He swept along' the track at hurricane speed and though Davidson made frantic efforts to overtake him, Carlton wont on to win by eight yards in 20 3-ssec. This not only bettered his own Australasian record of 21 3-ssec, but equalled the world’s record standing to the credit of R. A. Locke (U.S.A.) since 1926. It also bettered the British Empire record of 21 l-ssec, made by W. Applegarth (Eng.) at Stamford Bridge in 1914,

all on cinder tracks. Carlton’s was done on grass. R. W. (“ Fatty ”) Lamb, famous Australian cyclist, entered for five races at the Deloraine (Tasmania) carnival, but had a puncture in each one. Just as the Australian two-mile championship started he had a puncture, and the race was stopped to enable him to fit a new wheel. But he had not gone two laps before he punctured again. So he had six punctures in five races. One of the latest secretaries in Dunedin is T. M. Brydone, of the Civil Service Club, but he has brought such enthusiasm and energy to bear in his job that he is proving himself to be one of the most capable officials his club has ever possessed. As a member of the Centre, too, he has shown himself to be possessed of keen vision and sound ideas. t The Otago Amateur Cycling Club’s meeting that was to have been held at Mosgiel on February 6, has now been altered to March 5.

The meeting set down for Carlaw Park has been postponed until February 13 in order that a large contingent of Hawke’s Bay athletes may be present (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). This province has a number of fine athletes this season, and the clubs will be sending through competitors for practically every event on the Auckland programme. Another competitor will be C. Jenkins, New Zealand 220yds champion, and one of the finest sprinters this country has yet produced. He defeated Simplon off 2yds over the furlong last season and beat Elliot over both sprint distances at the championships. As the Auckland champion is showing improved form this season some great races can be expected. A new member of the New Zealand Athletic Council is C. B. Allen, who won the New Zealand half-mile championship at Christchurch in 1927, in a race in which the Otago champion and previous title-holder, C. M. Olsen, was second. Allen is a sound man, and should be an asset on the council in view of his practical knowledge of the sport.