OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 22249, 29 January 1936, Page 4

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS

UNUSUAL INTEREST AROUSED More than the usual interest will be aroused in the Otago track and field championships at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, February 8, in view of the New Zealand championships at Dunedin three weeks later. The candidates for inclusion in the Otago team have, been undergoing a thorough preparation under the supervision of R. 0. Johnson, and this should be reflected in the improved standard in evidence at the provincial championships. Otago at the present time is excep-

tionally rich in good material among the middle-distance and distance men, and what great racing there should be over the half and mile with such men as L. C. M'Lachlan, W. A. C. Pullar, Theo. Allen, Ivor Craig, J. H. M'Laren, and possibly Paul M'Lauchlan (of Invercargill) taking part. The talent will be there, though to a slightly lesser degree, in the three-mile race, and W. A. C. Pullar, A. R. Geddes, and J. G. Barnes are among those who should help to make things very interesting. In the 440yds championship most interest will probably lie in the tussle between H. J. Tyne and A. L. Price, and it remains to be seen whether the latter can improve sufficiently to reverse the result of last Saturday’s race at Invercargill. B. F. Tapley should have a good hold on the sprints, and the hurdles are likely to be well contested, with H. W. Milner hardest to beat over the 120yds high hurdles, with J. Gerken, W. Pettet, and probably H. D. Ramsay also fighting out the issue in the 220yds and 440yds hurdles. J. H. Ramsay and R. G. Mahony may help to make the issue close in the high hurdles. There is hope of keener competition than usual in the field events, and many likely point-getters for Otago will bo in action at this meeting as a preliminary to the Dominion fixture later in the month. M. R. Spillane and J. G. Leckie are bound to have a keen struggle in the hammer-throwing event, and the return to form of A. A. Cameron is a happy augury for Otago. R. 0. Johnson, V. Newall, J. H. Ramsay, and R. G. Pilling are but a few of the others who should. contribute to the good competition in the field events. The contest for the List Shield should once more be very interesting with Anglican certainly in a strong position to resist the challenges of the sister clubs. Civil Service should be well represented, and the presence of athletes from Oamaru and Invercargill will undoubtedly give further colour to what promises to be one of the best provincial fixtures held in Dunedin for some time. NOTES. Very promising form, has been shown this season by the Canterbury sprinter, Katie Callinan, who has started 11 times for 10 wins and one second (says an exchange). Miss Callinan was unfortunately not in her best form at the New Zealand championships at Wanganui last March, as she was recovering from a severe attack of sum mer sickness. Miss Callinan has four* times this season run 75j’ds in 9 2-ssec, and her best time for the 120 is l.Sisec. The financial position of the Wellington Centre is far from satisfactory, and if it is to be adequately represented at the national championships in Dunedin it will be necessary that a considerable sum be forthcoming during the next few weeks (says the Wellington ‘Post’). With this in view a_ queen carnival contest and an art 'union are being promoted by the centre, and it earnestly requests that all clubs cooperate to make the venture a success. Picture nights, a sports meeting, a joy night, and a coronation dance are to be arranged in connection with the carnival. Tile three-mile race at an intercluß track and field meeting, held in Christchurch a fortnight ago, was won by C.

H. Matthews, who returned 14min 55sec for the distance. He ran in accordance with his recent form and his time compares favourably with the best this runner has done over three miles. If his record-breaking effort over two miles at Napier recently can be taken as a guide, there is no reason why Matthews should not go close to repeating the performance over the longer distance. With _ improving track conditions his running will be followed with additional interest by athletic enthusiasts.

Teruaki Fujieda, 800 metres runner, and Japanese Olympic possibility, has been rejected from the army because of muscular rheumatism. He hopes, however, to be fit in time for the Olympic Games.

Over the 220yds distance J. B. MacFarlane, the New Zealand 100yds sprint champion, was timed at 22 3-ssec in winning this race at the interclub track and field meeting at the St. Andrew’s College ground, Christchurch, a fortnight ago. MacFarlane is not yet in top gear, but he will improve with further training. With the provincial championships in view, MacFarlane is working very hard on the track in an endeavour to reproduce his best form. This fact, combined with his keenness and enthusiasm, should enable him to do so.

At the Southland championships last Saturday the referee, Mr Guy Tapley, distinguished himself by his grip of the essentials of the position at his first

championship meeting since assuming the position of president of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. He was very well received by the Southland officials and competitors, and he has further confirmed the impression that the sport will benefit greatly under his keen and capable guidance. On February 17 and 20 it is proposed by the Otago Centre, if permission can be obtained, to run scratch evening meetings at Carisbrook, the object being to give Otago athletes a tryout on the ground on which the New Zealand championships will be held. The second scratch meeting of the new year will be held at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon, and with the championship men now approaching top form some fine competition should be witnessed. At the scratch athletic meeting to be held at Carisbrook on February 17 if permission can be obtained it is proposed to arrange air official trial for W. A. C. Pullar in a 3,000 metres steeplechase event under proper Olympic conditions. One of the outstanding features of a recent meeting in Auckland was the return to form of P. J. Hackett in the high jump, in which he cleared sft lOin. Hackett won the New Zealand high jump title in 1934 at sft lOin. He competed unsuccessfully in this event at the New Zealand University tournament at Dunedin last Easter, having to be content with second place and clearing only sft 4in. In a recent A grade 220yds hurdles event at Auckland A. D. Benham, the Auckland 120yds hurdles provincial champion, defeated F. A. Finlay son, the New Zealand 220 and 440 yards hurdles champion, the winner’s time being 26 2-sseo, which is only 4-ssec outside Finlayson’s New Zealand record. The merit of the performance may be realised from the fact that the competitors were clearing 3ft hurdles instead of the regulation 2ft 6in fences. The runners were assisted by a strong following wind, but nevertheless both put up very fine performances.