TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22517, 9 December 1936, Page 4

TRACK AND FIELD

[By Pistol.]

FIXTURES. December 9.—Otago Centre’s evening meeting, Caledonian Ground. December 16, January 13, 20, and 27. —Otago Centre evening meetings, at Caledonian Ground. December 26.—Roxburgh Amateur Athletic Club meeting. January I.—Alexandra Amateur Athletic Club’s meeting. January 2.—Amateur sports at Clyde. January 16.—Amateur meeting at Milton. January 23.—Otago Centre meeting, Caledonian Ground. February 13.—Southland amateur championships (tentative). February 20.—Caledonian Society’s gathering. February 20. Southland amateur championships, at Invercargill. February 27.—Otago amateur championships, at Caledonian Ground. 'March 12 and 13. New Zealand track and field championships, at Auckland. CANTERBURY ACTIVITIES MUCH PROMISING MATERIAL Writing on the interschools’ meeting in Christchurch, Mr J. K. Moloney, in a letter to u Pistol/ states that there was a great tussle between Christ’s College and St. Andrew’s Colege, wtih only a point between them at the relay—the last event —which went to Christ’s College. There had been a great deal of controversy over the socalled failure of St .Andrew’s, but in Mr Moloney’s opinion they did extremely well, relying, as they were, on about four runners, one of whom, Webster, was plainly “ off ” on the day. Newspaper discussion appeared to discount his 15 l-ssec over the 120yds hurdles at St. Andrew’s, but he answered this by a fine 15 2-sseo at the Lovelock meeting. . L. Wood ran a great 1,000 in 2mm 27 3-ssec—good going—and Smith also did brilliantly in the 600yds event. The St. Andrew’s boys for the quarter relay returned a faster time than the A graders in their relay. “ We had a really good meeting for Lovelock,” said Mr.Moloney. “ I liked young M'Naughton, of the Canterbury A.A.C., who looks as if ho will run about 1.57 for the half this year.” The clubs in Christchurch are strong and nicely balanced. The C.A.A.C. has a very strong combination, with Newburgh, R. D. Thompson, Broadway, M'Naughton, Nelligan, and the St. Andrew’s boys. Technical, last year’s grade winners, has a plethora of talent in the held event section and has, of course, Cecil Matthews, wl*o is going to concentrate on miles in future. Old Boys have not been strong for some seasons, but last Saturday scored 100 points—a truly fine performance. Varsity will be hardest to beat when it gets its stars out. Its best men appear to be Carmichael, Denham, Rodgers, Oldfield, Manson, and Dawson. Tho prospects in Canterbury are very good for a successful season. Mr Moloney predicts that Auckland will have little difficulty in winning the Championship Shield, held by Otago, as it will field a good all-round team. “ Lovelock’s visit was most successful,” stated Mr Moloney. “He impressed «ill by his charm of manner and his modesty. Especially valuable was his lecture to athletes and coaches, to whom he told home truths some things that runners have had impressed on them for years, but which they refused to imbibe. Altogether, a visit of great benefit to athletics generally, the only drawback being the speed at which he was hustled round the try.”AUCKLAND’S ADVANCE Proof of the remarkable advance that amateur athletics has made in the Auckland province during the past 1months is given in a comparison of the number of athletes registered by tho secretary of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Centre, Mr H. Jenner Wily, in 1935 and 1936. A total of 480 city athletes has been registered to date this season, while the secretary estimates at least another 150 joining up. This will make a total of 630 registered amateur athletes in the Auckland city, as against 360 last season (says the ‘ Herald ’). The number of athletes registered by the secretary of the Waikato Sub-centre last year was 120. This year 300 numbers have been asked for, and the subcentre secretary has advised that all these, and possibly more, will be required. Six hundred and thirty athletes in the Auckland city, 300 in the Waikato, and 177 registered harriers make a total of 1,107 registered athletes in the Auckland province for the current

Athletic Notes and Comments

season. The total for the Auckland city and Waikato Sub-centre last season was 677. Mr Wily estimates that about 1,100 will have registered by the time the season is in full swing. Further evidence of progress is contained in the fact that the Auckland Centre has affiliated no fewer than four new clubs this year, these being Manurewa, Birkenhead-Northcote, Waiuku, and Hunua. Further, the Waikato Sub--centre is in the process of affiliating five new bodies. OPPOSITION FOR HAMPSON T. E. Hampson, the Australian national sprint champion, who visited Dunedin a couple of years ago with J. P, Metcalfe and E. W. Berwick, will not have things all his own way in the forthcoming New South Wales championships. A formidable opponent will be Noel Mottershead, brilliant university sprinter, who_ recently won the 220yds event at an interclub meeting in 22 1-osec, which was equal to Hampson’s interclub record, and to the time in which H. S. Yates won the last Australian championship. PROMINENT OFFICIAL PASSES By the death of Mr B. H. Rosevear amateur athletics in Otago has lost the services of one of its most capable and highly esteemed officials and a man who did a vast amount of good for all branches of the sport in an unobtrusive way. Ben was a member of the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club for very many years, and held many important offices in that club. To the general run of athletes, however, he was best known as one of the Otago Centre’s principal field judges, and his wide knowledge of the sport made him an admirable man in that position. On the harrier side he was also one of thpse largely responsible for the organisation of the Edmond Cup, and he was usually one of the. judges at important cross-country fixtures. Pressmen will always remember Mr Rosevear kindly, for he was always alive to the. needs of the Press in obtaining comprehensive lists of results at all important fixtures. As an administrative official Mr Rosevear did valuable work, and he was a vice-pre-sident of the , Otago Centre for .many years. He was also its handicapper over a long period. Mr Rosevear was a fine sportsman, and one who will be much missed in athletic circles. To his wife and daughter the sympathy of all Otago athletes will be extended. CALEDONIAN SPORTS The Caledonian Society has shown great activity during the last year or two, and this season promises to be its best for many years. Already arrangements are well in train for a bumper gathering on February 20, and the president (Mr J. A. Johnston) and the secretary (Mr J. S. Douglas) are already busy arranging the programme for the meeting, s With the support of all athletes and cyclists, there is good reason to believe that this will be one of the best meetings of the season. ON THE MARK A good circuit has been arranged for central Otago for amateurs this season. Roxburgh will hold a meeting oh Boxing Day, Alexandra on New: Year’s Day, and Clyde on January 2. One of the best professional athletic meetings in Southland is the Tokanui Caledonian Society’s gathering on Tuesday, December 29. Prize money amounting to £75 is being distributed, and the programme comprises athletic, chopping, and sawing events as well as Highland dancing. Entries close on Friday, December 25. The big 15in underhand chop is worth £ll, and the Sheffield Handicap the same amount. Blake, the Canterbury pole vaulter, has left for England, having received a commission in the Royal Air Force. Mr J. K. Moloney, the Canterbury official and coach, told Lovelock about him, and Blake is expected to figure prominently in the pole vault at the next English A. A.A. championship. “ V. P. Boot tells me he is in the ‘ pink’,” writes Mr J. K. Moloney to “ Pistol.” He expects to improve on his times of last year, and states that he has learnt many lessons from his trip, not the least being that good substantial preparation is necessary before fast work may be done.” > The youthful Anglican sprinter, C. M‘Gregor, is working his way back in the handicaps. His win on Thursday night in 10 3-sseo from the 51yds mark was a good performance for a lad of 16. M'Gregor is very strong for his age, but he would be well advised not to indulge in too much hard racing for a year or two yet. So far he has been carefully handled by his club coach, and if he fulfills the promise he showed at the Otago Boys’ High School he should develop into a champion in a few years. L. K. Donovan, the Caversham middle-distance runner, maintains his improvement, and his 2.21 for I,oooyds off the 17yds mark on Thursday night was a great effort. Donovan should be very prominent in middle-distance races in more important competition this season.