CANTERBURY ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 21641, 9 February 1934, Page 5

CANTERBURY ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

FORM REVIEWED

“ Glorious weather made our track times the best ever recorded at a provincial meeting in New Zealand;” writes Mr J. K. Moloney, to “ Pistol,” in commenting on last Saturday’s Canterbury championships. It was a striking example of the _ efficacy of the interclub scratch racing scheme—all were unanimous that scratch racing was the thing. Their second and third strings were most formidable in some events. M'Farlane (the New Zealand champion) ran even time in his heat in the hundred, and should do this in the 220yds—-save accidents he should collect both titles at Wellington, with the possibility of opposition in the furlong from either Bambridge or Black. Mr' Moloney said that ho thought Broadway was ' the greatest middledistance runner, amateur or pro., ever seen ■ in Christchurch. “Tie could have got well under 1.55 for the -half had lie wanted to. Denys Anderson seemed “ off,” and made the fatal mistake of not forcing the pace. Either of these two great runners could put up fresh figures for the half. They fought out a great quarter, Broadway (49 4-ssec) narrowly beating Anderson, with M'Caskey in third place, his time being 50 - 2-ssec. Matthews went splendidly in the mile. With reasonable opposition he should go near 4.20. A. K. Wilson, of Whangarei, should give him stern opposition in the New Zealand mile in Mr Moloney’s opinion, and with Cooper off the track the mile should go to the best of these two. The three miles went to G. H. Watson, a “ star ” harrier, in 15min 0 3-ssec—he did 15.17 2-5 a week before, and is still on the improve. He may push Savidan, and in any case must be in a place. Hugh Milner, formerly of Oamaru, who works in Christchurch now, hurdled beautifully in the 120y’.s, and spiked his hand getting over the last hurdle—he • was most unlucky and would probably have done 15 4-ssec. Sharpley, Mahson, -and Milner should fight out the Wellington title. The 220yds low hurdles proved a good thing for Eddie Holder, the All Black wingthree, in 26 2-ssec. ■ Arnold Anderson returned 57 2-ssec for the 440yds hurdles—he is improving and should get down to 56soc or so by February 17. “ Our field events, though (m the improve, are not inspiring,” writes Mr Moloney. French and Mulvey should figure in the point-getters. _ Otago should poll heavily in this section, but if they compete Mr Moloney considers the following will take points from Otago:—Brainsby (Aucknnd), jumps; Lay and Sullivan _ (Taranaki), javelin and jumps respectively; Crowe (Wellington), jumps; and Steere (Hawke's Bay), shot. There should be. a lot of upsets, and it should be a great meeting.