TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22796, 3 November 1937, Page 5

TRACK AND FIELD

[By Pistol.]

FIXTURES November 6.—Secondary schools’ athletic championships, at Oamaru. November B.—Otago Centre’s evening meeting, Caledonian Ground. November 20.—Otago junior and women’s championships and local Empire Games trials. . November 27.—Local Empire Games trials and short-limit handicap meeting. December 11.—Otago Power Boat Club’s gymkhana, at Tahuna Park; Dominion Empire Games trials, at Wellington. . , ' . February 5-12.—British Empire Games, in Sydney. March 11 and 12. —New Zealand track and field championships, at Christchurch. SCHOOLS' SPORTS SUCCESSFUL MEETING “I would like to congratulate the Primary Schools Sports Association on the success of its annual sports,” writes “ Old Timer,” an enthusiast whose association with amateur athletics in Otago goes back over 30 years. “ To get through a programme of 57 events (track and field) was a performance that will he hard to heat, especially as there were five or six heats in some of the track events, and the field events comprised from 20 to 48 entries in some cases. “ In addition, there were the tabloid events, 15 schools competing, and the girls’ basketball passing race with entries from 16 schools. “ The spirit of coi-operation was in evidence, and the arrangements showed that a lot of work had been put into the meeting. It was pleasing to see prominent head masters acting as judges or stewards, whilst the record stewards were made up of a number of ex-bead masters. “The efficiency.of the arrangements was shown by the fact that a few minutes after the last race was run the records were complete and the placings of the teams were known. An efficient hand of lady teachers looked after the refreshment rooms. “ And what of the spectacular display. when about 2,000 boys and girls marched on to the ground to music supplied by the school bands? The gree.n grass underfoot and the yellow, gorse and the darker trees on the hillside', with the brilliant sunshine, made a perfect • setting. The folk dancing bv the girls in their multi-coloured dresses, and the physical drill hv the massed squads was a sight worth seeing. “ The nity of it all was ‘that there were so few parents present to witness the display.” CALEDONIAN GATHERINGS EXTENDED PROGRAMME CONTEMPLATED Saturday, February 26, will probably he the date for the Caledonian Society’s annual sports gathering, and it is contemplated making the meeting much more comprehensive than has been the case in the past. Included in the programme will he a men’s section of the business interhouse competitions with track and field events. There will also he a marchpast display for firms’ teams, in which the women’s and men’s sections may b'e separate or combined, 'according to firms’ entries. Mr John Richardson’s silver ihallenge cup for the men’s section championship will he competed for on this occasion. The scone pF (he typing and dancing events will be enlarged as also will the primary ard secondary sch cols’ programme. The programme is now being prepared and will occupy the whole day CANTERBURY'S PROTEST Otago has been strongly supported in its protest against the holding of a Dominion trial at Wellington on December ll by the Canterbury Centre, and Mr E. M. Todd very properly pointed out at a recent meeting of the Canterhqyy Centre a national trial meeting at Wellington in December would usurp the rightful place of the Dominion championships to be held at Christchurch in March. Members of the Canterbury Centre stated that if entries for the Empire Games could be put in later than December it might be possible to hold the Dominion championships earlier so that Empire Games representatives could he accredited New Zealand champions of this season. Those in touch with athletics fully realise the difficulties of the men who will be called upon to take part in the national trials in December. They will be required to show sufficient form then to merit inclusion in the New Zealand team, the successful ones will be expected to be in top form for the Empire Games two months later, and then if they are to compete at the national championships they will have to maintain form until March. The arranging of a training schedule on these lines will not be easy. The Canterbury Centre has entered a protest to the New Zealand Council about its decision to hold national trials at Wellington, and has decided to inquire about the receipt of late entries for the Games at Sydney. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES There were several outstanding performances at the Southland Boys’ High School sports last week, despite a cold wind. The junior (under 15) champion, L. Blaikie (who is also a leading swimmer), ran a good furlong to equal A. Kingsland’s 1917 record of 25sec, and his performance in breaking by a clear second the record of 59 l-6sec for 440yds. established in 1931 R & M ‘Lauchlan, was a remark- J

Athletic News and Notes

able one for a junior athlete. The same runner won the 100yds in 11 2-ssec, though he had the assistance of a following wind. The second record of the day was broken by J. E. M‘Lean, who won the intermediate half-mile championship in the good time of 2min I6sec, 3 l-ssec better than the record set up by W. Miller in 1934. The 100yds intermediate record holder, T. R. Pedlar, who set up a record of 11 2-sseo last year, won in llsec, although ho was favoured by a following wind. The new senior champion is J. W. Berry, who is the present holder of the Otago junior _ cross-country title. Berrv won the mile the week before the sports in 4min 46sec, and last week added the half-mile in 2min 13 4-ssec and the 440yds in 56 3-ssec. Pedlar, the intermediate runner, won the senior 100yds in 10 4-sseo and the 220yds senior. From these performances Southland should be prominent in the secondary schools championship meeting at Oamaru on Saturday. The question of interest to athletic enthusiasts is whether Southland can maintain its record in the senior mile medIcv relay championship. ■ Since this meeting was instituted in 1926 Southland has an unbeaten record in the senior relay, which has produced some great tussles. SPORT BOOMING POPULARITY OF EVENING MEETINGS The growth of popularity of track and field athletics was strikingly evidenced on Monday night, the Otago Centre’s evening meeting being one ot tho most successful of the kind staged on the Caledonian Ground for some The centre’s recently-expressed intention of creating the widest possible interest in the sport is bearing good fruit. Coaching members of the centre have been visiting the secondary schools for the purpose of giving talks to the boys and encouraging them to attend the Caledonian Ground for coaching. The Ladies’ Club is beginning to function, thanks to the efforts of two keen officials in the president (Mrs E. J. M’Aughtrie) and the secretary (Miss H. J. Hislop), and the centre is not confining its developmental efforts to the secondary school pupils, but is providing plenty of- competition for boys under 14. All this was evident at Monday night’s meeting. The fields were the largest for a long while, performances were surprisingly good for so early in the season, and there was a note of optimism evident that has not been so conspicuous for a long time. The new president of the Otago Centre (Mr C. W. Clark) has good reason to feel gratified at tho support accorded him by the officials, who are attending in full force. The attendance was quite fair, but it is difficult to understand why the parents, relatives, and friends of athletes do not take the trouble to attend. Visitors from other parts of the world find it hard to understand why the parents of athletes do not attend to see them competing. It was largely at the suggestion of 1 Mr R. W. S. Botting, of the Otago Boys’ High School, who_ has done so much for amateur athletics in general and secondary schools athletics in particular, that secondary schools events were included on tho programme at Monday evening’s meeting, and these are likely to prove so popular that they should find a permanent place on. the evening meet programmes. At the annual sports of the Otago Boys’ High School one of the outstanding performers was R. G. Black, who was very unlucky to lose the intermediate cup, and he gave further evidence of his great promise on Monday night by winning the 220yds intermediate secondary schools race in 26sec, and about half an hour later came out to win the 440yds secondary schools open handicap in the fast time of 55 4-sseo off Byds. This was a very fine performance indeed for a boy who is only 15$ years of age, and provided he does not overdo things he should make a name for himself in track athletics in two or three years’ time. Young Black is the son of the former wellknown tennis champion Mr G. Black, and is one of the best prospects seen here for some time. He has a nice action, but must guard against loss of form at the finish of his races. It was noticeable in the furlong that he had his head well baqk in a hard finish, but a slight lean forward would give him relaxation and preserve his form to the finish. This lad should give a good account of' himself in the secondary schools championship meeting at Oamaru on Saturday. Young Black is another ‘ protege of the veteran coach W. J. Duff. Another High School hoy who showed a pleasing turn of speed was W. Porter, who won the 100yds boys’ handicap under 14 in 12 l-ssec off one yard, and then came out to win the secondary schools junior furlong handily. Porter is a very promising sprinter. D. A. Morrison, the High School champion, won the secondary schools senior furlong nicely, and he has tho makings of a really good sprinter. Competition in tho junior events at these evening meetings will bring out the best in him. In tho intcrclub events juniors also performed in outstanding manner. D. Foord, a former M’Glashan College boy, won the half-mile junior handicap in the clinking time of 2min 4sec, good enough to win many an Otago championship of the Caledonian Ground. Foord was off the back mark, and he gathered in the field by the time the halfway mark was reached. He carries himself well, has a good stride, sound judgment of pace, and a strong finish. He should be well to the fore over the half-mile , in the junior championship meeting on November 20. Colin M'Gregor is barely 17 years of age. but is a powerful boy for his age, and without question is one of the best sprinters in the province, irrespective of age. It was a very good effort on his part to win the 220yds open handicap from the syd mark in 23 l-ssec. He is obtaining more relaxation than was the case last season, and it may be recalled that Lovelock stated when he saw M.'Gregor last season that, with more relaxation, this boy would be a champion. In the sprints he will not

I be easily beaten at the junior meeting on November 20, though the opposition is bound to be strong. Steady improvement has been made by L. Dickison, tho St. Kilda miler, and for so early in the season a 4.25 mile, from the 70yd mark, was a very sound performance. Dickison went tli rough tho field early, and bad charge of proceedings soon after entering tho third lap. He ran a very free race, employing a delightfully smooth and easy action, and finishing with something in hand. Tho champions are realising that plenty of hard work is necessary to lit them for the Empire Games trials, and Ray Goddes, whoso principal objective in this direction is the six miles, came out for the mile to run a very good second. He did three miles the previous day, but was full of dash and showed to good advantage from the virtual scratch mark of 50yds, finishing 10yds behind the winner. By December 11, when the Dominion trials are held, ho should he capable of running a very slick six miles. The ladies’ events were contested by no fewer than 16 runners, and tho 75yds handicap produced the closest finish of the night, Miss B. Hall (4yds), a determined sprinter, getting homo by the narrowest margin from Misses I. Fogarty and N. Hanlin, both off 2iyds. Miss Fogarty is an improved sprinter, and should do well in competition this soasolx._ Miss N. Hanlin only requires the racing to enable her to produce good performances. Miss Clarice Batchelor put up a fine performance_ to win her heat of the 75yds handicap from’ scratch in 9 2-sscc, and later she ran in tho winning team from Arthur Barnett’s in the ladies’ relay. By the _ time the women’s championship meeting is held Miss Batchelor should he in form and is bound to run well. She has a great finish, and is undoubtedly one of the best lady sprinters Otago has produced. She has had more experience than most of those now competing, and is the type of athlete willing to pass it on. A girl who is bound to ho prominent at tho women’s championship meeting is Miss H. Ferguson, who, from the back mark, won her heat of the 75yds handicap in 9 l-ssec. This girl has shown marked improvement since the interhouse competition, and at the present time is one of the _ speediest women sprinters in tho province. The New Zealand champion, A. A. Cameron, registered easily the best throw in tho discus event, doing 123 ft 2in, and though not quite up to tho performance he put up on the warm afternoon at the University meeting at Logan Park a week or two hack, it was, nevertheless, a useful effort. Cameron obtained a splendid flight, and there is no reason to doubt that this season will find him even exceeding his previous best performance by a New Zealander. The winner of the discus throwing event was H. Cloake, of Timaru, and, though strange to competition, with an actual throw of 97ft was a good second in acTual distance to ■ Cameron. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SPORTS SEVERAL RECORDS BROKEN One of the most noticeable features of the Christian Brothers’ High School sports last Saturday was tho splendid support given the championship competitions. No fewer than 22 boys contested one of the cup competitions, and to a lesser degree good, entries were received in the other enp classes. Several records were broken, and the performances generally indicated that there is plenty of good athletic material in the school. D. Clements, the senior champion, is a good stamp of runner with a very nice action, and he established two records, winning tho 100yds in 10 4-6 sec and tho half-mile in 2min 14 2-ssec. He also accounted fo,r_ the 220yds and 440yds open and tho high jump. Tho under 16 champion, A. de Courcy, ran a very fine race to establish a now under 16 record of 58sec for the 440yds, a fine effort, and he also equalled the record of 26 l-ssec for 220yds. The under 14 champion, D. Blackburn, scored the possible by carrying off five events, and in the under 12 class the winner was E. Cameron, a very promising youngster whose father, J. Cameron, was a fine distance runner in his day and one-time winner of the Port road race. This boy set a new record of 3ft lOin in the under 12 high jump and showed good all-round ability. As usual, the conduct of the meeting was excellent, a long programme being put through without the slightest hitch. NOTES H. J. Tyrie, former Otago and New Zealand quarter-mile champion, is one of those making good use of the evening meetings to bring himself up to form by the time the trial meetings are held. His long stride simply ate up tho ground, in the 220yds handicap on Monday night, and it was only over the last bit that ho began to fade. With the racing Tyrie will have and the careful way he is planning his preparation, it will not surprise if he records the best times of his career this season. He has furnished into a very powerful quarter-miler, not at all unlike the Australian, George Golding, in action. A gratifying feature of tho two meetings to date has been the strong support given tho track events by the Cavorsham Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, members of which were prominently placed on Monday night. Another aspect •worth noting is the line support that has been accorded the centre over a period of many years by officals of this club. There is no keener enthusiast than Mr C. K. Heaton, who has missed very few evening meetings during the last 10 years. Tho" present centre sports secretary (Mr G. L. Austin) is also a prominent Cavorsham man, and other well-known centre officials from this club include Messrs J. W. Holley and H. T. Eanmcrson. One of tho features of the evening ■meeting being staged on the Caledonian Ground _ by the Otago Centre next Monday night will bo tho threemile handicap in which two of Otago’s principal aspirants for Empire Games selection will be competing. These are W. A. 0 Pullar and A. IR. Geddes. Pullar is, of course, preparing for the mile, and Geddes for the six miles, bub both are champions over the three-mile distance and have had some great tussles in the past. An addition to the junior championship programme on November 20 is the mile walk. This meeting was to have been held on November 13, but owing to counter-attractions that day the date was altered to the following Saturday. Very good support is promised from the secondary schools for the junior events, and with tho enthusiasm being displayed by the ladies’ club there will be good fields in tho ladies’ events also. A special word of praise should be given to Mr 11. Maxwell for the excel-

.lent state of the tracks at the Caledonian Ground this season. “ Bob ” has been looking after the interests of 'athletes for very many years, and his practical support of the sport has been evidenced in many ways through the years. To the Otago Centre no has 'been a very good friend, and to ensure ■the success of a meeting nothing is too much trouble for him to do. Athletics is not the only sport in which Mr Maxwell is very keenly interested, for he is actively associated with boxing and wrestling in Dunedin, and is also an, enthusiastic devotee of clay pigeon shooting.