SENSATIONAL THREE MILES

Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 6

SENSATIONAL THREE MILES

MATTHEWS SCORES DOMINION S FIRST WIN RECORD-BREAKING HALF-MILE HEATS OPENING OF EMPIRE GAMES [Written by E.C.1., for the ‘Evening Star.’] SYDNEY, February 6. An epic three-mile run by C. H. Matthews gave New Zealand its first victory at the 1938 Empire Game* in the opening programme of track and field events at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday afternoon. Matthews established a new British Empire record of 13min 59 3-ssec, and his winning effort came at a time when New Zealand was not doing too well, our men and women sprint competitors haying been eliminated from the 100yds. The race itself was a most thrilling one, and the Canterbury man sprang a surprise on the majority, of the crowd of 35,000 spectators, for with one or two exceptions his name was scarcely mentioned by any of the Sydney newspapers in their prediction* for the meeting.

Having regard to the 14.7 three-mile run by Matthews in the trials at Wellington and to his impressive form since arriving in Sydney, his team mates were quietly confident that he would be-very hard to heat in spit© of the great reputation of P. D. Ward, the English champion. The track was in great order, _ although the heavy rains of the previous week made it slower than would otherwise have been the case. Matthews took the lead in the second lap, and very soon it was apparent that the issue would be between the New Zealander, Ward, and R. Rankine (Canada). Ward sat in behind Matthews, and the crowd more than once urged him to take a lap. The first half-mile was covered in 2min _ 17sec, and, running beautifully and with perfect relaxation, Matthews left the mile behind in 4min 37isec, Ward being 3yds back. At the mile and a-half mark, covered in 6min 57isec, Matthews was still striding beautifully 3yds ahead of Ward, who was running easily, and presented rather a contrast in style to the_ Canterbury man, the Englishman using a much higher knee action. Rankine, the sturdy, Canadian, was syds hack; and at the two-mile mark Ward was still on Matthews’s’heels, but the Canadian had dropped 20yds back. The passing of . the two-mil© post saw a new record for the distance hoisted, Matthews’s time of 9min 20Jsec being a new mark for New South Wales. Entering the tenth lap, Matthews lengthened out, and his time for two and a-half miles was llmin 45sec. Ward was still only 2yds back, but Rankine .had fallen 150yds to the rear. The distance separating Matthews and Ward at the bell was barely a yard, with Matthews on the inside, and the crowd rose in expectancy as Ward made his challenge about a : furlong from home. But Matthews was doing better than Ward, who was beginning to shorten, and he made no impression on the New Zealander, who drew away in a great burst to breast'the tape 30yds ahead of the Englishman, who was game to the last. Rankine hung.on long enough to take third place just ahead of the South African, W. Hayward, the Canadian being a furlong behind Ward. The winning time was 27 4-ssec better than the British Empire record and 23 3-ssec better than the Australian record. The world record is ISmin 50 3-ssec, opposite the name of Lauri Lehtinen.

The ceremony following a victory is a most impressive one, file huge crowd standing in silence while the National Anthem of the particular country is played. It was certainly something to remember as New Zealand’s flag was hoisted for the first win of the 1938 Games, this having been preceded just a minute or two by Canada’s flag for success in the javelin throwing, the first final of the Games.

Matthews finished comparatively fresh. “ I surprised myself,” he told the writer after the race. “ I was confident of going a good race, but I admit I was afraid of Ward.” Matthews is only 23 years of age, but he had already represented New Zealand overseas on three occasions, and is showing form that. makes him rate among the world’s best distance men. At the Melbourne Centenary he won the 3,000 metres in the Australian record time of Bmin 42 7-10 sec. A.. R. Geddes, the Otago distance runner, has the. six miles as his main objective,-.- but. on. his form in the; three-mile he cannot hope to look at Matthews over six miles. , (Matthews won in record time.) Geddes has not shown his Dunedin form; and has never regained the weight he lost on the boat., He ran listlessly, and tailed the field for a good part of the journey, eventually finishing second last, though he was not lapped.

If New Zealand’s hopes were high after the three miles, more was still to come for two Australian recordbreaking efforts were registered in the heats of the half-mile, and both were by New Zealanders.

The first heat was won by Theo 'Allen, the New Zealand half-mile champion, who appeared hopelessly out of it at the end of the first lap, covered in 53 3-ssec, at which stage the Otago man was last. Coming fast on the outside entering the second lap, Allen took command a furlong from home, and began to draw away from the field. Gerald Backhouse, Australian Olympic representative, challenged over the last 120 yards, but Allen finished strongly with four yards to spare, and his time of Imin 544 sec set a new Australian reford, .the previous best being the Imin 55seo of Gerald Backhouse. The latter, who defeated I. C. M'Lachlan in the mile at the Melbourne Centenary in 4min 18 1-lOsec. ran himself to a standstill in an effort to catch Allen after being third or fourth all the way. Allen’s was a grand run, easily the best he has ever accomplished, but his Australian record was short-lived, for the New Zealand Olympic representative, V. P. Boot, completely shattered it in the next heat, and incidentally established a new British Empire record of Imin 52 3-10 sec, which was one-tenth of a second better than the time established by the Olympic champion, T. Hampson, when he won at Hamilton (Canada) in 1930. Boot had a bad passage over the first 40 yards, and had difficulty in getting through, but at the furlong mark he occupied fifth place, the leader for most of the distance being the strong English runner. B F. M'Cabe, with the Welshman, ,1. W. Alford, handy. Along the back Boot moved up most perceptibly, and took third running. About 100 yards from hgine Boot came to light

with a smashing finish, and won by three yards from M'Cabe, with Alford two yards back third. Boot showed fine form throughout, and timed his run excellently. In the final to-morrow he should go well under the record, and under the right conditions may not be so far outside the half-mile world’s record of Imin 49 4-ssec, held by Ben Eastman, of'' the United • States. (Boot won in Imin 61.4 sec.) *

Stan Lay performed even above expectations in the javelin throwing, and the experts agreed that his style is still exceptional though it was rather in contrast to that of the Canadian, J. Courtright, who put in a throw of 206 ft o|in with his very first effort, this eventually being the winning performance. Lay began with 89ft 7iin, but he showed remarkable consistency, and in his fourth throw got the spear out to a distance of 204 ft liin which is the best he has done since 1930 when he set an Empire Games record of 207 ft IJin. Lay takes a shorter run than Courtright, and gets a higher flight. The Canadian, using a long run, begins at a great pace, then steadies up about 10 yards off, and obtaining perfect balance hurls the javelin with an almost explosivelike effect, making it float in the air and sending it with a lower trajectory than Lay. Lay has a great record in overseas competition. He won in Canada in 1930, represented New Zealand at the 1928 Olympics and that year set an English'-record of 222 ft. He also represented New Zealand in 1927 when he won the Australian and New Zealand title with a throw of 217 feet odd which was not recognised as a New Zealand record on of the breeze. He was followed in third place by the Australian all-rounder, J. P. Metcalfe, who worked up to a throw of 182 ft 2Jin. BRILLIANT ENGLISH SPRINTER. The 100 yards men’s event produced some brilliant running, with the heats and semi-final indicating that the Englishman, C. B. Holmes, would have no difficulty in winning the final. Thus it happened, but Australia put up a remarkable performance by having four men out of six in the final. Holmes also won the 220. New Zealand’s first string, Graham Quinn, ran in the first heat and from a perfect start he was well away, and lay second at the. half-way mark, but he faded oven the- last 40 yards and was placed fourth though there were many who thought the Gisborne man had just managed to qualify. T. P. Lavery, South Africa’s outstanding hurdler, annexed this heat in lOseu with two yards to spare, the South African finishing very fast. H. S. Yates (Australia) was second, and was placed third a yard hack, hut Quinn appeared to. have a slight edge on him all the same. ■ . Australia secured another leg m the second heat, J. Mumford clock i n.', “ evens ”to win by yards from J. Brown (Canada), with J. Cumberhatch (Trinidad) third a foot away. The issue in the third heat was never in doubt, and moving into his stiide beautifully, Holmes held his lead all the way, being content to stave Ted Hampson (Australia) off at the finish, to win by a yard, P. Haley (Canada) being third half a yard back. Holmes also returned lOsec. He has splendid ba 1ance, a lovely smooth stride, and perfect relaxation, being a sprinter whose style is a model. Hampson will ho remembered for his tour of New ZMland some years ago, and last week I had the pleasure of renewing acquaintance with him at the village. He wished to be remembered to his many Dunedin friends. ’ There was a surprise in store for New Zealand’s supporters in the fourth beat. P. F. Sharpley was being given a run as a “ tune-up ” for the 120 yards hurdles to be decided next Saturday, Mr A. C. Kitto showing considerable wisdom in making this move. As it happened, Sharpley ran well up to form, finishing third, only 2* yards behind the winner. E. J. Best (Australia) won by two yards in lOsec, with D. V. Shore, the South African quartermiler, in second place half a yard ahead of Sharpley who finished very gamely though he was shortening a little. The first semi-final of the 100 yards was a good race, and less than four yards separated the field, T. P. Lavery, of South Africa,. equalling the Empire Games’ record of 9 9-10seo in winning by a yard nd a half from J. Mumford, of Australia, with. Howard Yates in third place a similar distance hack. Shanpley ran very well, but the pace was too much for him over the last bit. Holmes also returned 9 9-10 sec in the second semi-final, having a yard to spare from Best, with Hampson half a yard back; hut the stylish Englishman had plenty in reserve, and ini the final he gave further samples of his class, having the race in hand from the 50yds mark to win in the Empire Games record time of 9 7-10 sec, which was only one-tenth of a second outside the Australian record. Second place went to J. Mumford, who ran a fine race, being only a yard back, with Best, of Australia, third half a yard away, Lavery (South Africa) fourth, T. Hampson (Australia) fifth, and H. S. Yates (Australia) sixth. NEW ZEALAND GIRLS OUTCLASSED. New Zealand’s representatives did not show the same class as the others in the 100yds women’s event, though Miss D. Lumley reached the semi-final. The New Zealanders were outclassed, fading badly over the final stages. To tbe wrtier it seemed that our lady sprinters lack sufficient opportunties for competition of tbe kind they get at these Games, and although the winning times in the heats were all good, several of the New Zealanders have clocked just as fast at home. Miss R. Tong was at the rear of the field all the way in the first heat, won by Miss R. Burke (South Africa) in 11 2-ssec, with Miss J. Walker (Australia) second and Miss B. Howard (Canada) third. The winner is the holder of the world’s record of llsec, put up in 1935. In the second heat Doris Strachan, the South Canterbury sprinter and long jumper, led out for 25yds, but dropped back from 50yds and finished last, climbing badly at the finish, Mrs T. Peake (Australia), who is the mother of a seven-year-old boy, won this heat in lljseq, with Miss D. Saunders (England) second, and Miss E. Meagher (Canada) in third place. A Canadian girl, J. Dolson, took the third heat in 11 2-ssec from J. Woodland (Australia) and K. Stokes (England), and a new mark was established in the fourth heat when Miss Decima Norman (Australia) raced away from the field and, with head down and shoulders curled won by 6yds in 11 1-10 sec, a new Empire record. Doreen Lnmley, the youthful Aucklander, filled second place, and Winifred Jeffrey (England) was third. Unfortunately the result was announced as Miss L. Bleasdale (Canada) in third place, and Miss Jeffrey left the track, thus missing the semi-final. Miss Norman may not be a stylist in the accepted sense, but is a most powerful and determined girl, and she made no race of the first semi-final, winning by 2Jyds from her team mate. Miss J. Walker, in 11 1-lOseq, third place going to Miss J. Dolson (Canada).

The second heat produced a minor “ incident.” Mrs Peake, the Queenslander, was disqualified for “ breaking ” twice, and the crowd roared its disap-

proval, but the starter had no option. Mrs Peake’s explanation was that the first time she broke she thought the field had been recalled because a javelin had landed near the 100yds mark, and not because she broke. However, she accepted her dismissal in a most sporting spirit. Barbara Burke took the heat in 11 l-10sec, winning by a foot from J. Woodland, with B. Howard (Canada) a yard back third. Miss Lumley was never prominent, fading from about halfway and finishing last 4yds back. Miss Norman gave Australia its first success in the final, returning 11 1-10 sec tor the third time during the afternoon, and shooting out from the halfway mark the girl in white forged ahead to win by a yard and a-half, Miss J. Walker, a slightly-built young Australian, putting in a determined finish for second place a yard ahead of Miss Dolson. Miss Burke, whose chances were so brightly regarded, got away badly and. was slow into her stride, never regaining the lost ground and finishing fourth. J. Woodland (Australia) was fifth and B. Howard (Canada) was sixth. Giving a fine display of hurdling, J. Loanng (Canada) won the 440yds hurdles in 52 9-10 sec, three-tenths of a second outside the world’s record and llseo faster than Lord Burghley’s record, put up in 1930. J. F. Park (Australia) was second, A. Macdougall (Australia) ' third, A. J. Watson (Australia) fourth, A. T. Anderson (New Zealand) fifth, and P. F. Magee (Australia) sixth. Anderson finished about 6yds behind the winner and returned probably his best time to date.

New Zealand was not represented in the high jump, which was won by the South African, E. T. Thacker, at 6ft sjin, an Empire record; but in each of three attempts he failed to break J. P. Metcalfe’s Australian record of 6ft 6|in. Thacker did not come in until 6ft, and of the 11 competitors B. Heffernan and D. F. Shetliffe (Australia) each cleared 6ft 2in. Heffernan being second and Shetliffe third.

The work of the starter (Mr R. Clemson) was of a high order, and the meeting generally was well conducted, though from the New Zealand standard the intervals were rather too long between some of the events. Fpr instance, the 100yds heats and semi-finals might have been quickened up, but it was a great afternoon’s sport and a splendid start to the Games.