ENGLAND’S EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 22804, 12 November 1937, Page 14

ENGLAND’S EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

WEAK SPOTS IK SELECTION P. R. HANLEY’S FLAIR FOR RACING [By J. E. Lovelock, holder of the world’s record for 1,500 metres.] After weeks of unavoidable . delay) and hesitation on the part of those whom they invited the A.A. A. have announced the greater part of the teaml which will represent them in the Empire Games at Sydney in I’ebiuary. It is to be regretted that the length of the trip, which means an absence of at least four months from this country, has prevented a number of our leading men taking >art.. However,' those whom we are ending are of good international standaid, though,; naturally, we must not expect too much of them when called on to compete at relatively short notice, under strange conditions and after a long sea voyage.

In one or two events our represen--tation is definitely weak, while in a, number of others, including all the field events except the long jump, no representative has yet been chosen. It was decided after due consideration that none of the men in tha weight, javelin, discus, or hammer (except those who, like those up at tha universities, are unable to make this long voyage) is near to International standard. Obviously such a team;; where expense is such an important item, must be chosen with more' card than for matches nearer home.; EXPERIENCED SPRINTERS; ' The two main sprinters are C. BHolmes and K. J. Richardson, and in. , addition, K. S. Duncan will ran in sprints, relays, and long jump. Though Holmes and Richardson must class .aa young in sprinting, both, and- Holmes particularly, have had plenty of experience. Holmes-has been competing in, big international meetings for the last three seasons, and has been England’s first string and acknowledged champion, for a season and a-half. Richardson, though less experienced than Jm partner, has this year represented his conn-, try in international events. Holmes this season has come into his best form. He has claimed botli indoor and outdoor titles, the former in record time,, He has filled out and strengthened without losing any of his dash and determination, and has acquired greater relaxation and co-or-i - dination with perfection of technique.In the major event of this athletic year he can justly claim precedence over'all the other sprinters in this country, and; must rank among the leading; three in yEurope. In addition; to the _ A.A.A.titles in representative international matches he won'- 100 and 200 metres against France in Paris, the 100 metres against Finlandand against Norway in Oslo, while in. the International, Student Gaines m Paris he claimed both 100 and 200 metres titles against the best opposition in Europe. VERSATILE DUNCAN. Richardson won. the" junior A.AVA’i championship last ye'|iir|' and this son has won both Midland' titles, and had his first chance to represent hia country in international events. After’ gaining fourth place in the 220yds championship in July ,he com-' peted for England against France*, where, in running second to Holmes iU the 200 metres, he showed himself t<* be in world class. ~ j Duncan is one of the best all-round-ers of recent years in English athleticsAn Oxford double Blue, he represented’ his Varsity as a sprinter, a longjumper, and a Soccer player, in both sports captaining Oxford. He has practised and coached all field eventsand his international experience goes back many years and embraces most countries. Bill Roberts is too well known to English followers of athletics for me to do more than comment on his past performances, but we have not forgotten the days when he rau second to Rampling in the 1934 _Em* pire Games, and since then his duels with Rampling and Brown pave become athletic history. For the last three years he hasbeeit one of our most consistent performers, and bis periodic invasions or! southern tracks from his native north have been welcome episodes in ou? sport. Though placed only fourth in, last year’s Olympics,-he was within » couple of feet of the winner, Williamsand Brown, runner-up, in one tif tha closest finishes ever seen. F, R. Handley and B. P. M'Caba are our two half-milers. Handley has returned this season with a flourishAfter being beaten into second, place in the championship he showed in the international meeting, in running second to Kucharski to set np a new English record, that he has a definite racing flair. He won again agains# France, and in Scandinavia his consistency over his own distance, as •well! as his help over the relays, marked him as the outstanding half-miler o£ the year. M'Cabe, on the other hand,' .has no% this year lived np to the form he promised in the Berlin Olympics. There lie was our only representative t» reach the final, but this season ha could do no better than fourth in tha championships. , WARD’S AMAZING PROGRESS. Our only mile representative is-B. O* Eeles, who, like M'Cabe, has scarcely shown us his best form this year. Ho was fifth in the championship, admittedly in very 1 fast time, but he seems to have lacked the strength to stand, the pace of fast-run miles. He will bo supported in bis event by P. D. Ward,the English three-mile native recordholder. Ward has been entered fo* both events, and though his chances in; the shorter one must be reckoned «• slight, there is certainly no-one m the Empire capable of extending him over the longer distance. His improvement this season has amazed us all. From a mediocre English three-miler he has, become a distance runner whom even the Finni. hold in fear and respect, and I feel that we have not seen the best of., hint yet. L. H. Weatherill has been a consist* ent performer on track and over country for many years, and ’ his dogged persistence has earned him pur admiration. "His-running into third place iit the six miles championship this summer has shown that he is still a force to be reckoned with, and under.fasti Australian conditions he should; d® well. .v_, A. J. Norris has won the Kinnaird marathon for the last three years, bull has been unfortunate in his A:A.A. ap* pearances. He, too, should find conditions in Australia to his liking. , It is unfortunate that no hurdler i* able to go, though within the nex(f week or two we hope to know definitely whether J. G. Barnes will be able to go to Sydney Jo run jn" thaj-,quarter-hurdle§, - ’ _j