TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 5

TRACK AND FIELD

[By Pistol.]

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES

FIXTURES. February 27. —Otago track and field championships, at Oarisbrook. March s.—Otago Amateur Cycling Club’s meeting at Mosgiel. March 11 and 12.—New Zealand track and field championships at Auckland. March 12.—Otago University championships, at University Oval. March 12.—Secondary schools’ championships, at Invercargill. March 19.—Tckomairiro Club’s annual meeting. March 26.—Amateur track and field meet at Waitati. CENTRE’S EVENING MEET. The popularity of the Otago Centre’s evening meets was again evidenced at Tahuna Park last week by the good fieds that contested the various events, and although the track at his ground is not conducive to fast times there were some very good performances, but none that was more pleasing than the return to form shown by L. C. M’Lachlan, who has undoubtedly benefited from his association with the old-time champion, Jim Beatson. M‘Lachlan was conceding the Anglican runner, C. R. Holmes, 35yds in the 600yds handicap and took second place, Byds behind the winner, after going a solid race all the way. M’Lachlan is running more freely than for a couple of years past, and he showed his best finish for a long time. On this form he is going to make things interesting at the Otago championships to-morrow. Holmes has shown much improved form this season, and he was comparatively undistressed at the end of the six hundred. He has improved his striding and has a much better idea of body balance than he used to have. Holmes has never bothered to concentrate over any particular distance, but this writer believes him capable of running very well over middle distances, and lie would be very well advised to try them for a while, at any rate. J. Henderson, the ’Varsity representative, made no mistake about the way he won the 100yds handicap, and though he was off 6yds his 10 2-ssec in the final was quite an impressive performance. Henderson is a strong runner, but should remember that a runner who pulls up on the tape is liable to be pipped by a fast finisher on occasions. He was safe enough this time, but the habit is not a good one* From scratch H. Pearce went well for third place in the final, and the Pacific man has yet to show his true capabilities. Ho may be handy when the 100 yards is decided at Oarisbrook to-mor-no w.

Anglican’s No. 1 combination has a very fine record in relay events this season, but in view of the numerous successes scored by this team the handicapper has been a little conservative in Ins estimate of the quartet’s ability, the other teams' being asked to do rather much in the light of performances. Anglican added another win to its list last week, chiefly as the result of a good quarter by A. L. Price and a still better half-mile by E, A. Taylor. The innovation of running the quarter first, then the two furlongs, and finally the half-mile proved thoroughly successful, and a better finish was witnessed than usual. Pacific owed its second placing to the strong finish of the junior runner, I. Craig, over the half-mile. Interest attached to the first appearance of the ex-Wellington ladies’ , l 100yds champion, Miss M. Barron, but she did not reproduce her best form, failing to qualify in her heat. f She was a trifle sluggish at the start, but as she has been doing more fast work this week should run better in the championships to-morrow. Miss B. Dick, the Kaitangata girl, is a strong and improving runner, and off seven yards she won the 100yds ladies’ handicap by a yard in 11 4-ssec. With more attention to form this girl is going to develop into a sprinter of real promise. Miss C. Batchelor, for a runner who lias been competing only a few weeks, has made surprising progress, but I would advise her to pay more attention to striding during her training operations. J, G. Barnes ran one of his best races for a while in winning the mile handicap, but 4min 48 l-ssec was not very impressive time, the trouble being that once the backmarkers got with the limit men the pace slackened. Barnes timed his sprint nicely, and went away about 200yds from home. His clubmate, A. R. Geddes, who was also on the scratch mark, went with him, but Barnes was drawing away, and when he found ho could not hold him Geddes eased up, being content with second

place. If Barnes uses his head he will have to he reckoned with at the Otago championships to-morrow, especially over the mile.

Geddes was content to hang in behind the leader once he and Barnes got up with the front bunch, and this time Barnes proved his superior in the finishing sprint. Barnes and Geddes invariably give each other a good race, but as yet I think Barnes would he too good for Geddes at the end of a fastrun race, but the young fellow is so easy a runner that he is always liable to upset calculations. C. L. Tapley’s run in the 100yds handicap would do him a lot of good in view of his championship engagements, for he has left his training so late that he needs a good deal of sharpening up. Otago is well off for hop, step, and jumpers, and though R. 0. Johnson can hardly hope to cope with A. A. Cameron he is still in the first flight as he showed by doing a triple leap of 45ft IJin last week. Another improved competitor was K. M. Miller, the versatile Cavershara athlete, who did 41ft. WITH THE WHEELMEN. Tahuna Park is not very favourable to the backmarkers, and the only one who was found among the places last week was Jack Fogarty, who finished second in the final of the half-mile handicap. Fogarty came very fast round the last bend and beat WilsonPyne for second place by a wheel. The champion is pedalling well, and is bound to be hard to beat in the title events to-morrow.

Gib. Smith rode rather disappointingly, especially in the half-mile event, and one can depend on it that he will put a bit more life into his work at Carisbrook to-morrow.

The most successful rider of the night was C. Hanson, the young Pacific wheelman, who is consistently found among the placings. He has a nice style, and rides with judgment, this having something to do with his comfortable victory in the half-mile handicap from the 25yds mark. Off 60yds he rode well for second place to G. Milligan in the mile and ahalf handicap, but the task of conceding Milligan 90yds was beyond him. Milligan is a solid sort of rider, who seems at home now on the Tahuna track, and his win was well earned, the Otago Club rider making the most of his handicap and finishing with 100yds to spare. 11. Wilson-Pyne filled the minor placings in both events, but must rid himself of the habit of looking back. F. Greenfield is a solid rider, but needs more fast work to deveop his finishing sprint. With a stronger finish this man would be hard to boat from his present mark. C. G. Lucas rode with plenty of dash in liis heat, but somehow failed to reproduce this form in the' final of the half-mile handicap, in which he lost his position soon after entering on the last lap. W. J. Templeton is a pretty consistent rider, but does not seem to be able to bring to light his old-time finishing sprint. It was this that cost him a place in the final of the one and a-half mile handicap, but he is the kind of rider always liable to spring a surprise. Quito a lot of promise was shown by several Milton riders at the Tokomairiro Club’s meet last Saturday, the weather conditions deterring quite a few Dunedin wheelmen from going down for the fixture. J. S. Parsons and D. O’Brien were the only outside competitors at the meeting, the former taking second place in the one and a-half milo event and in the two-mile event in a good finish with K. Wright, and third place in the three miles. Wright was one of the most successful riders of the meeting, annexing both two and three miles handicaps. J. Brown also collected a couple of firsts. MEETING AT MILTON, Although the Tokomairiro Club’s annual meeting is not to be held until next month, an afternoon meet was staged at Milton last Saturday, and though few Dunedin athletes were in attendance competition was keen and the performances generally quite fair. L. C. M'Lachlan again gave indications of his improved form by winning the half-mile handicap from scratch in 2min 6sec, and the mile from the virtual scratch mark of 15yds in 4min 56 2-ssec. M‘Lachlan ran easy races in both events, and was not asked to do his best to win, though he came to light with good sprints in both races. Improved form was shown by the exNew Plymouth runner M. Morton, who was second in both half and mile. He ran particularly well in the half, and with more opportunities for training would be a useful man over either distance.

S. F. Corbett ran well in the halfmile, making the pace for a lap, but fading a bit towards the finish, though he occupied third place only 3yds behind Morton.

The furlong was won by W. Smith, who was off 3yds. Smith had the inside passage all the way, and won as ho liked by syds in 24 l-ssee.

The Milton officials are very keen, and it is to be hoped that strong support is forthcoming for the club’s annual meeting on March 19, at which an attractive programme will be presented.

A record that will take some boating stands to the credit of G. S. Cabot, the New Zealand mile and three-mile walk champion. He has won the Otago mile walk title six times, and has every prospect of making it seven at to-morrow’s championship meeting. The annual conference of centre delegates and the cycling conference is to be held prior to the New Zealand championships at Auckland next month. The former will be held at 10 a.ra. and the latter at 9 a.m. on March 11.

The handicap events to be included on the programme of the New Zealand championships at Auckland are as follows: —First day—7oyds, 880yds. and two-mile cycling. Second day—300yds, three-quarter-mile, 100yds ladies, and one and three-mile cycling. Mr J. C. Fogarty has been appointed to represent the Winton Amateur Cycling Club on the Otago Centre and on the Cycling Sub-committee. Entries for the secondary schools’ championship meeting at Invercargill on March 12 will close on March 3. The events for the Macassey Shield (senior section) are 100yds, 220vds, 440yds, 880yds, one mile, 120yds hurdles, high jump, broad jump, and one-mile relay. The junior events

(Barnett Shield) are 100yds, 220yds, 440yds, high jump, broad jump, high jump, and 440yds relay. Two secondary schools’ scratch events will be javelin throwing and shot-putting, and a 100yds secondary schools girls’ championship is also included on the programme. The meeting is being held under the auspices of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club.

In a letter to the writer the Otago Centre’s sub-local officer (Mr J. Page) at Invercargill states that amateur athletics are on a better footing in Southland than ever before, in his time, at least, and Mr Page, like Mr T. Hodger, has been associated with the amateur sport in Invercargill since its revival in 1921. Next year, he believes, will be even better, and the time may not be so far distant when Southland will become a centre of its own, as was the case in pre-war days.x The Auckland championships will be held in three weeks’ time, and the Now Zealand championships the following week, and Saturday’s meeting gave a good indication of the chances of Aucklanders in the main events. Elliott appears likely to take the 100yds title, but may find the 220yds more difficult. Meredith should be close up in the quarter-mile, but the half-milers will meet an exceptional runner in Evans, says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’ of February 17. George Simpson arrived at Los Angeles at the beginning of January to comjnence training for the Olympic Gaines. He made a good impression in his first work-out in the colours of the Los Angeles Club. Simpson has broken 21sec for the furlong on more than sixteen occasions. Associated with Simpson in his first work-out was Harlow Rothert. Another spectacular figure making his first training run of the season was the evergreen Charlie Paddock, now approaching his thirtysecond birthday. Paddock has represented America at three Olvmpic gatherings, and is confident that he will make the grade for the fourth occasion. What a marvellous sprinter this Paddock 1

A brilliant performance by R. M. Barrer, who outran all other competitors and retained the three-mile title, was an outstanding feature of the Canterbury athletic championship preliminary meeting at Lancaster Park last evening. Covering the journey in 15min 7 4-ssec, Barrer clipped 20 l-ssec off his winning time last year (says the Christchurch ' Star ’). It was one of the fastest runs made in Canterbury for several years, and puts Barrer in lino for the New Zealand title. Barrer covered the mile in 4min 55sec, two miles in lOmin 4sec, and completed the journey in 15min 7 4-ssec. He took the lead in the third lap, and from then on set a pace that quickly spread-eagled the field. Out of thirteen starters six finished. Kano, of Wairaate, clung to Barrer until half a mile from home, when Barrer lengthened his stride and shook off his opponent. He came home with a great burst of speed, breaking the tape amidst applause. He was inside the New Zealand standard by 6sec. Kane was second and Fulford third.

The Torrance family has played its part in quite a few branches of sport in Otago, and another of the clan has been appointed to the position of secretary or the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club. He is Mr W. Torrance, who has the keenness, enthusiasm, and ability to make a thorough success of the job. Meredith’s victory from scratch in 50 l-ssec in the 440yds was exceptionally good under the conditions, and equal to a shade under 50sec for a hard track (says an Auckland writer in commenting on a recent meeting). If fit on the day he should give I). Evans a great race in the New Zealand quar-ter-mile championship.