TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 21623, 19 January 1934, Page 4

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES [By Pistol.] COMING EVENTS. January 20.—Southland championships, at Invercargill; sports at Waihola. January 27.—Otago Centre’s scratch evening meet. February 3.—Otago track and field championships. February 16 and 17.—New Zealand track and field championships, at Wellington. February 24.—Australian athletes, at Dunedin. March 10.—Interprovincial meeting, Otago v, Canterbury. March 17.—Otago University interfaculty championships; St. Patrick's Club sports.

Scratch Racing Competition. Conducted under a modified scheme,, the scratch meeting last Saturday night proved one of the most successful to date, but improvements may still be effected—and can only be effected if the clubs and competitors give their cooperation. If the scratch system 'of competition is to be a success athlete? will require to concentrate more largely on their best events, and this was where some of the competitors were again found lacking. For instance, one or two men who would have figured with more success in the field events were found taking part in track events in. which they could have little hope of success. Thus the field section of the programme was disappointing, fields being much smaller than was expected. On the other hand, most of the running events attracted good fields, and keen racing was the order of the night. The writer has always had a leaning towards scratch racing, and he is satisfied that if given a fair trial and the flaws become eliminated as they crop up it will yet be a success. The Invercargill sprinter E. Fish showed that he is fast approaching championship form, and won the A grade 220yds as he liked, by 2yds. Fish is an object lesson to those runners who desire to improve their style, and is scarcely recognisable as the sprinter who was merely regarded as a good handicap man three years or so back. Nevertheless, he has a bad habit of easing up near the tape, and this will cost him an important race one of these days if bo does not cheek it. He is too good., a runner to be-possessed of such a habit, and should run his race right through the tape. Fish’s time was 24sec, but he was not extended at any stage of the journey, and neither Bill Pullar nor Alf Price was making any impression on him at the finish. Pullar. however, showed signs of returning form, and another fortnight should make a big difference to him. So far as Price was concerned, the furlongs he is running just now will prove beneficial when he lines up for the Otago quarter-mile championship a fortnight hence, and if he is wise he will elect to concentrate on the quarter. R. W. Masked needs a good deal cf fast work to get bock to the form he showed last season. He .is running “ too big ” at present. Although obviously short of form, J. G. Barnes, the New Zealand mile champion, elected to start in both the half-mile and three-mile handicaps, and the races should do him a lot of good. The half, won in 2.7, found him in second place after he was unable to maintain a challenge up the straight. I. Craig, the winner, finishing full cf dash. Barnes was climbing somewhat at the finish, and should endeavour to eliminate this fault. In the three miles he met a very fit Jack Morris, and again filled second berth. With only a fortnight to the provincial meeting he will require a fair amount of solid work, but the writer still thinks he will take a power of beating in the Otago mile. The consistent running of Craig has been one of the features of the present season, and his win over Barnes may Invoted a distinct feather in the cap of this promising young runner. It was not a fast-run race, but the track was slow and Craig ran with sound judgment, making his hid just at the rigm moment. The Hanover Baptist runner looks like playing a prominent part a', the forthcoming Otago championsm Ray Geddes has not yet reproduced his form of a couple of seasons back but he was going well in the earlier stages'of the half-mile, and should not be long now in striking form. He is very keen, and at the next scratch meeting should be more prominent. If J. J. Morris can maintain the form he showed on Saturday night he will be a strong candidate for the threemile title at the Otago championships. Jack took the lead after the first mile was covered, and keeping his form throughout and striding out beautiful!? went away from the field to win by ,120yds in IGmiii 39 l-ssec. He was moving so easily and finished so full of running that he should have no difficulty in cutting this time down very considerably. He is at present showing signs of reproducing his fine form of three or four seasons back. R. 0. Johnson’s versatility in the field events was again revealed, the Anglican winning the high jump, pole vault, and discus throwing. The performances in the high jump were extraordinarily poor, and it was a pity that T. F. M’Donald, who has done sft 7in, should have had to retire at Hi Sin with an injured heel. Johnson won at 4ft lOin, arrd unless the chibs do something to encourage more of their members to take on this event and 1o endeavour to cultivate some recognised stvle the standard will not improve. Ossie showed that he is striking form in the pole vault by clearing 10ft Sin. though the event was held in the outside area. In the discus he heaved the plate 89ft 2in, not a had effort for one who does not specialise in this event. Bill Burridge cleared 30ft in the pole vault, hut the most gratifying feature of the event was the form shown by the voung Milton competitor, J. rnott,' who cleared Oft 9in. _ With just a little more attention to his style this lad should develop into a first-class performer.

One of the best performances in the B grade was Tom Tullar’s win in the half-mile in 2miu 11 3-ssec, but times

generally were slow, though finishes were close and interesting. Pullar is developing more dash in his finish, and is capable of improving on this time. He could relax a little more, being inclined to hold himself rather stiffly. Asher gave him a great go for honours up the straight, but left his run a shade too late and iwd to be content with second place. •- The 220yds B grade event produced no outstanding running, but there was a great finish between Longworth and A. G. Lovelock, the latter coming strongly at the finish to make a dead heat of it. Another of the Lovelocks (F. C.) won the B grade discus with 79ft 4in, and continues to show improvement in this event. R. J. Henderson, also of the St. Patrick’s Club, won the B grade high jump,, and though of ordinary standard his effort was nearly as good as that in the A grade. A Canterbury Viewpoint. Anything likely to benefit amateur athletics is closely examined in Canterbury, and the following, from the Christchurch ‘ Star,’ gives the Canterbury viewpoint of the scheme formulated by Messrs W. J. Bennett and J. K. Moloney while the latter was in Dunedin; — “ A proposal to establish a joint training camp for Canterbury and Otago field athletes was laid before the executive of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre last evening. Mr J, K. Moloney, the chairman, said that the scheme had been brought under his notice by a former athlete. Timaru was suggested as the locale of the camp, and he thought that- the scheme was well worth the consideration of the centre, as it would mean that the trainees would receive the benefit of first-class coaching under ideal conditions. The expenses connected with the camp would not be heavy. The centre should take the scheme up next year. On the motion of Mr R. B. Beattie, it was decided to keep in touch with the development of the scheme and to aid in its organisation.”

St. Patrick’s Sports. For the first time for many years Dunedin is to have a real St. Patrick’s Day sports meeting on March 17, and the St. Patrick’s Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, which is conducting the gathering, is already busy with preparations for the running of the fixture on a very large scale. The club is fortunate indeed in being able to call upon the services of Mr W. C. M Donnell, the sports secretary of the Otago Centre, who has charge of the organisation, and committees are now busy in making arrangements for the meeting, for which an attractive list of prizes null be offered. _ The big event will be the St. fatrick’s Day 120yds Handicap, and it is hoped that this race will attract a representative entry. All the local and country dubs are being circularised, and if some of the Southland runners come up for the meeting, an effort will be made to billet them. The club has included an 880yds short-hmit (25vds) handicap, and as the competitors should then be at the top of their form, a first-class race should be witnessed. Other events on a most attractive programme are: 100yds B grade handicap, 220yds handicap, 440yds handicap, one-mile handicap, one-mile rnedlev relay handicap, javelin throwing handicap, broad pimp handicap, shot putt handicap, half-mile nalk handicap, 100yds secondary school boys handicap, ladies’ 100yds handicap, ladies’ high jump handicap, half-mile cycle handicap, and one-mile cycle handl< A P ’novel attraction should be the mixed relay teams, to comprise two men and two ladies each to run 100yds. An exhibition of pole-vaulting is being arranged, and an added attraction will be the presence of the Waver ley Boys Band The St. Patrick’s Club has had plans for the holding of this meeting in hand for a long time, and intends staging a special programme of children’s events between 1.15 and 2.1->. In Fine Form. With the Wellington Centre’s big Marathon race less than a month distant E. C. Brown, the champion Otago distance runner, has shown himself to be in fine form, and his running in the Otago Centre’s twenty-mile road race last Saturday served to show that he had left nothing to chance in his preparation for the more impoitant nvent ahead. The Civil Service man wns running like a well-oiled machine, and he finished so full of running that one has good cause to be sanguine of his chances over a longer course. After the first mile or so Brown made his own pace throughout the long journey, and finished nearly 14min ahead of the next man, C. A. Pope. Under such circumstances, Brown’s time of In 57min 28 1-Ssec was a great effort, and it will not be through any lack or fitness on his part if he does not succeed in his objective in the forthcoming Marathon event. . Pope is also a possible starter in the Wellington Marathon, and he, too, ran a good race, though he was obviously wearying over the last few miles. He is a strong, determined, and plucky runner, but is not the possessor of the •mooth stvle or effortless action of Brown. Nevertheless, Pope is a distance man of more than ordinary ability and one who has reached his present form by perseverance and attention to training. . , , The only other starter in Saturday’s race was Arthur Frye, and sheer grit enabled him to cover the course over half an hour after Pope had finished, though he was a very tired runner as he finished the last lap of the journey round the Caiedoninn Ground.

Club Championships. Both the Anglican and Hanover Baptist Clubs held club championship races at the Caledonian Ground on Monday night, and the latter club is to be congratulated on following the example of the larger clubs in staging such a meeting. W. A. C. Pullar scored a double success at the Anglican meeting, taking the 220yds senior low hurdles by 3yds from W. Pettet in 30 3-ssec, and the 220yds by a foot from Alf. Price in 24sec. Pullar is realising that he needs the racing, and lie should be in good form from a fortnight hence. The mile senior was a slow-run race, but it provided a good finish, C. Holmes drawing up with R. Rockliff on the tape, a dead-beat-resulting in Smin- 13 2-ssec. Holmes is a versatile performer.

and if he took Jus running a little more seriously would be a very useful men in more than one event.

The senior high jump was won by J. Meek at sft lin, and there is no doubt that this young athlete show's promise at this form. T. M'Donald was obviously off form and filled third place. Phil Ward, the ex-Otago javelinthrowing champion, won the discus with 90ft 7in, and promise was shown by P. Souter, who did 87ft 7in, and incidentally collected the junior title. He is an improving held athlete. “Tony ” Black showed versatility in the junior events, winning the high jump at 4ft IDin, the 220yds low hurdles in 32 4-ssec, and the junior 220yds by 3yds in 26 3-ssec. The junior mile was run in faster time than the senior, G. Davie showing good form to beat T. Pullar in 4min 57 3-ssec.

The Hanover Baptist Club is possessed of some promising young material, and although I. Craig was a non-starter there were some useful performances. A. Clark, an improving runner, carrier off the junior 100yds in llsec, and the same runner annexed the junior, quarter-mile with Byds to spare. Les, M'Millan, better known as a distance performer, ..finished well to win the senior quarter, and A. Scoones beat M'Millan by 10yds in the two miles senior in 11.34. Although the field standard was ordinary, it was pleasing to see this club encouraging its members to take up this branch of the sport. Notes. The Otago track and field championships are only a fortnight off, and keener competition than ever is promised for the List Shield, at present held by Anglican. Both Oamaru and Invercargill are likely to be represented by strong teams, and no one would begrudge a win to either of these clubs in the interclub competition. The Southlanders have gone very colse to winning the honour on a number of occasions. Alf Price ran a fine quarter for Anglican in the relay last Saturday night, and went through the field like a scythe, overhauling the others to give his team the lead and assured victory. A repetition of this form on February 3 will keep allcomers busy in the quarter-mile championship. The Milton contingent added interest to last Saturday’s scratch meeting, and the great revival of interest in amateur athletics in South Otago is due in no small measure to the efforts of that good sport, Air U. Walker, president of the Toko Club and ex-Otago Rugby rep. “ Urq.” came up with his team, and was persuaded into taking part in the discus throw, in which he did just on 81ft and filled third place. Miss B. Black has been running so consistently in the ladies’ handicaps of; late that she should be a force to be reckoned with in the Otago championships. She won the ladies’ 75yds from scratch very comfortably last Saturday night. The Waihola sports will be held tomorrow, and quite a few local athletes will make the trip, while others will be participating m the Southland championships at Invercargill. Now that Canterbury has confirmed' March 10 as the date for the interprovincial athletic contest with Otago at Dunedin, it looks as though the secondary schools’ athletic championships will have to be held on March 3.

One of the solid workers on the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is Mr J. A. Bond, and incidentally he has done his share in making the Hanover Baptist Club a force to be reckoned with in inter-club competition in _ Otago. The success of members of his club throughout the present season must be very gratifying to him.

F. Sharpley won a 120yds hurdles event at Napier recently in 16 3-10 sec, and indicated that he will again be a hard title prospect to beat this season (says an Auckland writer). _ The most outstanding athlete in Wellington at the moment is J. M. Watt, the provincial quarter-mile champion (says the ‘ New Zealand Referee ’). He is running so well, in fact, that the writer is doubtful about his retaining his form until next month. I know nothing whatever of his method of training, but in his present condition the competition which he will get between now and the provincial and New Zealand championships will be nearly sufficient to keep him in trim. Whatever training he may do should certainly be of a very light nature. Watt competed at the last national meeting, but he did not reveal his provincial form. This year, however, he is going to be probably Black’s most serious opponent in the 440yds. Rarely have I seen a quarter-miler with such a powerful finish. Watt competed for University in Dunedin prior to the holidays. The great athletic enthusiast, Mr W. J. Bennett, is a genius for bringing to light suggestions likely to improve the standard of athletics in Otago, and his latest is in the form of a “ five-year Elan.” Now that tbe various clubs are olding their championship events, he suggests that each club should set out a list of, say, nineteen events, and, say, in 1934, that it has four men who can do 11 l-ssec or better for 100yds, three who can do 18ft 2in or better for the long jump, and so on through the nineteen events. Let this be tabulated in the club’s own private records, and next vear when the summing up comes it might be that the club can say it has four men able to do llsec or better, 18ft lOin or better, and so on through the list again. If this were tried for a period of five years then the club would have it on its own records whether its athletes were progressing or whether they were at a standstill, obviously assisting it to keep the standard on the up-grade. What about it?