TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 23408, 27 October 1939, Page 3

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES SEASON'S FIRST MEET OH SATURDAY [By Pistol.] FIXTURES. October 28.—Open athletic meeting; (under auspices Caversham and Civil Service Clubs), Caledonian Ground. October 28.—Otago State Primary Schools championship sports, Logan Park. October 30 and November 6.—Otago Centre (N.Z.A.A.A.) evening meetings, at Caledonian Ground. November 4.—Otago and Southland secondary schools athletic championships, at Invercargill. December 2. Otago marathon championship, at Mosgiel. _ December 9.—Otago Piping and Dancing Association’s Highland and athletic gathering at Milton, March 8 and 9.—New Zealand track and field championships, at Wellington. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ELIMINATION OF VICTOR LUDORUM CONTESTS The wisdom of the policy adopted at the Otago Boys’ High School athletic sports of dividing the senior and intermediate championship competitions into sections has been thoroughly justified by results. Not only have boys been encouraged to specialise to a greater extent than before, thus reducing the risk of over-competition, but this elimination of the victor ludorum contests so long favoured in many secondary schools has brought about a remarkable increase in the fields contesting the cup events. Thus, 12 competitors came forward in the senior division, there were 15 in the intermediate class and the junior which is still unrestricted was contested by 11 athletes. In spite of the unfavourable conditions, there were some very good performances, though the strong wind and. bitterly cold weather were all against the registering of fast times. A pleasing feature was the keen competition in every section, and there is no doubt there is plenty of good athletic material in the school at the present time. The Otago Boys’ High School does a great deal to foster interest among its pupils in amateur athletics, and not a few of the school athletes will be on the track at the Caversham and Civil Service meeting to be held on Saturday and at the centre’s first evening meeting of the season on Monday. Winner of the sprint championship in the senior division was R. G. Gough, who won the 100 yards, 220 yards, and 120 yards hurdles,, his best performances, however, being put tip in the semi-final and final of the 120 yards hurdles handicap, in which he was timed in 16 2-ssec and 16 4 : ssec _ respectively. Gough was running into the wind, and as he won convincingly the merit of these efforts may be gauged. Last season, Gough, who is the present Otago secondary schools’ titleholder, had coaching from the exAustralian champion, R. W. Lander, and with the pace he can muster he promises to become a first-rate hurdler. His running at Invercargill next week will be watched with a good deal of interest.

Although still eligible for, the intermediate (under 16J) class, B. IC. MTherson proved good enough to win the senior middle distance championship, dead-heating for first place in the mile and oax-rying off the half-mile and 440 yards. Although conditions affected the times, he was still able to clock 55 2-ssec, a fine effort for an intermediate. Last year _ this hoy established a new intermediate record of 2min 12sec for the half-mile at the secondary schools meeting, and as he is still eligible for this class he should perform with considerable distinction at Invercargill. Apart altogether from his ability to return fast times, M'Pherson takes the eye as one of the most promising middle-distance runners Otago Boys’ High School has developed, even in a hard finish—and N. A. Frew’s strong challenge had him doing his utmost at the end of tho hilf-mile—he preserved his correct form to the tape. He has a nice easy action and a fine sence of body balance, in addition to which he appears to possess good racing judgment. He has an excellent idea of pace, and is a natural middledistance runner if ever there was one. Although having to be content with second place in the half-mile, N. A. Frew showed good finishing powers and took the eye as quite a promising runner. The only records broken during the day were" established in field events, M! J. L Pholan registering a fine effort of 41ft Sin with the 121 b shot putt, while C. I. Overton threw the javelin to a distance of 136 ft. Overton was second in the javelin at tho secondary schools meeting last year with a throw of 123 ft 2-Jin, and should have good prospects of collecting the title at Invercargill. , . Two promising runners in J. A. Hay and T. C. Timpany were revealed in the intermediate class, this pair deadheating for first place in the 100yds in llsec to equal the Timpany won the sprints championship and tied for the field events cup, while Hay won the middle-distance cvp. Hay first came into prominence last voar when he won the Otago secondary schools junior 440yds title in 59 3-ssec. and at last week’s meeting he clocked 57 2-5 sec for the intermediate quarter. Both he and Timpany should perform well at Invercargill. Last season at the secondary schools meeting K. M. Lindsay cleared 4ft Si in for second place in the junior high jump, and he improved to 4ft lliin to win the intermediate high jump at Ins own school sports last week. Under favourable conditions he should have little difficulty in clearing over sft. The junior championship went to J. P. Fitzwilliam, who won the 100. _2O, and 440yds events in _ convincing fashion. Although the time was not fast, R. G. Bishop ran a good race to win tho junior half-mile. CENTRE HEAD RE-ELECTED IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE CLUBS Mr C. W. Clark’s re-election as president of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for his third term of office was a welldeserved tribute, and no president lias ever been more closely in touch with the clubs and the athletes in general than has the centre’s present bead. His association with the sport goes back over 30 years, and he is one of those whose interest is divided equally _ between the summer and winter activities of tho centre.

As superintendent of the track and field meets ho has done excellent work, and he continues as chairman of the Harrier Committee in the winter. Before assuming the presidency, Mr Clark was the centre’s chief field judge, in which capacity he has acted at Now Zealand championship meetings, and he has on several occasions been manager of Otago teams at the national fixture. The year just completed was one of the most successful in tho centre’s history, and for that happy state of affairs a good deal of credit must go to Mr Clark. The chief executive officials of the centre, Mr J. G. Barnes pud Mr W. H. Masters, were re-elected secretary and treasurer respectively, and! the centre may count itself fortunate in hawing two such experienced men in support of Mr Clark, The successful outcome of the tour of the Australians, Backhouse and Best, was one of the most successful features of the year, and one that was due to Mr Barnes’s excellent organising ability. Sports secretary this year will ho Mr L. R. M’Millan, who is a clnhmate of Mr Barnes and a distance runner of note for a good many years. An official who has held office for many years is the starter, Mr H. J. C. M'Kenzic, and by his work at the last New Zealand championships held_ in Dunedin he impressed northern critics as being one of the outstanding starters in the Dominion. In his remarks at the annual meeting, Mr Clark appealed to all athletes to rally round in the coming year, and every effort is to be made to provide them with frequent competition. The establishment of a branch of the Air Force at Taieri has not been overlooked by the centre, audl efforts are to he made to arrange competition for the trainees. If this is brought about, the sport should receive a further stimulus. SECONDARY SCHOOLS' CHAMPIONSHIPS It is 13 years since the first Otago and Southland secondary schools championship meeting was held on the Caledonian Ground, and in the interim the meeting has developed until to-day it rates as one of the best staged by the Otago Centre or by one of its affiliated clubs—at Invercargill or Oamaru—during the season. From a meet contested by only three or four schools, it has so progressed that now some dozen or so schools are represented, and the fixture at Invercargill next week promises to be well up to the standard of its predecessors, since many of those who performed so well last year will again be taking part. The competing schools will probably include Otago Boys’ High School, M‘Glashan College (who look like being represented by a strong aggregation of talent this _ year), King’s Hjgh School, Christian Brothers’ High School, Dunedin Technical High School, Waitaki Boys’ High School, St. Kevin’s College, South Otago High School, Southland Boys’ High School. Southland Technical College, and this year no doubt there will be entries from Gore High School. Last season the senior shield was won by Otago Boys’ High School with 26 points, Southland Boys’ High School filled the position of runners-up with 25, and South Otago High School gained third-place with 20. The intex’mediate shield was won by Southland Boys’ High School with 23 points, John M'Glashan College was next with 19, and Otago Boys’ High School third with 15. Otago Boys’ High School won the junior shield with 36 points, Southland Boys’ High School being second with 9. and Dunedin Technical High School third. MAN BEHIND GUN Despite the passage of years, T. W. (“Dome ”) Leslie’, eminent New Zealand track starter, hasn’t lost the keenness of eye or the cunning of finger so very necessary a part of the equipment of a, first-class send-off man (says the ‘Sports Post’). When Dorrie gets behind the gun this season it. will mark his thirty-fourth year of activity as a starter of amateur athletic events. He reckons he’s good for a few more yet. This will be a bigger year than usual for Leslie ■ the New Zealand championships are to be held in Wellington, though this meeting, of course, probably doesn’t mean so much in the career of a man who has started Olympic events, as Dorrie did in 1932. Still, it’s something, and he won’t get the chance again for another six years. He was troubled badly with sciatica during the winter, couldn’t sleep for nights on end, he said. But he’s on the up-grade now, and summer activities will assist in taking his mind off physical ills. INCREASED SUPPORT FOR FIELD EVENTS An encouraging and unusual feature of the meeting at the Caledonian Ground next Satux-day is the fact that the field events have drawn better entries than the running races. Unfortunately, these events, which are often as * attractive as any on an athletic programme when the technique is mastered, are frequently treated as the Cinderella of the sport, and it is not unusual to find the field men competing in an out-of-the-way corner with the public taking little or lio notice of their efforts. Such a state of affairs is one that should receive the earnest attention of * all athletic controlling bodies, for, with the growing interest in field athletics and the improving standard they should be held where the public is able to see what competitors are doing in this branch of the sport to improve their performances. AUCKLAND REMITS The annual meeting of tho Auckland Centre of the. New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association agreed to forward the following remits to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association : (1) That the age limit for juniors be under 19 years on March 1. (2) That the council consider holding open championships this season. (3) That no junior who has competed in senior open championships be allowed to compete at the junior national championships. (4) That a variation of the rules be made to permit of the affiliation of individual secondary schools (5) That the New Zealand Council make a serious. attempt to collect a supply of athletic films. (6) That the New Zealand Council be asked to amend the professional rules to enable competition between amateurs and all members of the military forces, and that all members of the military forces be exempted from the registration fee. FOOTBALLERS' RELAYS No innovation in amateur athletics inOtago proved more popular m the last two seasons than the footballers roliivs and handicap events which were held at’the centre meetings, and which

were introduced in the first place through the enthusiasm of Mr C. G. Gibbons, member of the Otago Rugby Union and athletic official, competitor, and coach. The success of his efforts could bo gauged last season, when the relays had to be divided into sections and the handicap sprint events required numerous heats to bring them to finality. The award of a cup for the relays added to the interest without detracting from the enjoyment, for everyone enters into these events in the right spirit of competition. The first winners of the cup were the Southern Club. A much earlier start is being made with the footballers’ competition than was the case last season, and the first events are listed for decision on Monday night, when the Otago Centre will stage its first meeting of the season at the Caledonian Ground. SATURDAY'S MEETING Principal interest in amateur athletic circles at the moment is centred on the meeting to be conducted by the Caver-' sham and Civil Service Harrier Clubs at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. Fair entries have been received for most of the events, and the competitors include men who have worn the Otago representative singlet as well as a number who show promise of gaining provincial honours in the future. There are several post-entry events, and an attractive programme will include cycling races. ON THE MARK Colin M’Gregor, the Otago junior champion athlete and holder of the New Zealand 100yds and 220yds junior titles, has joined up with the Ellerslie Club in Auckland. This club expects to have a membership of 120 this year. The New Zealand 1038 440yds champion, M. C. Baker, is a member of this club, and is reported already to be in good form. There are several very promising athletes in the ranks of this club. L. K. Donovan, the Caversham Club’s track captain, was a first-class miler two or three seasons ago, among his best performances being the winning _of the Holloway Cup from the scratch mark. In the entries for next Saturday’s meeting Donovan appears in the field events. A lightly-built athlete, he ha; already shown promise with the shot and the discus, and he will he more than an acquisition to his clubif he is as good in this branch of athletics as he was on the track. Donovan has a team of Caversham juniors in training for the summer season. The fact that Dunedin now has two women’s athletic clubs should result in greatly increased competition this year, and at the Caversham and Civil Service Clubs’ open handicap meet to-morrow a 100yds women’s handicap has been included, for which post entries will be taken. Mark off T. G. Broadway, of Canterbury, as another former prominent athlete who has slipped quietly into camp. Broadway is now at Ngaruawahia. He is a lance-sergeant (says the ‘ Sports Post ’). In his day the greatest middle-distance runner in the country, Broadway won the national half-mile title in 1932-33-34, and the 440yds championship in 1934. He was also at one time the holder of the New Zealand I,oooyds record. A sweet mover, Broadway was, until the advent of V. P. Boot, the best amateur balfmiler the Dominion has produced. He competed at the 1934 Empire Games in London, and found, like other representatives before him, that travel and acclimatisation were insuperable barriers to the production of top form. Broadway was a New Zealand representative, too, at the Melbourne Centenary Games the following year, and though he ran reasonably well, he did not quite fulfil anticipations. He made his last appearance on the trade at the national meeting at Dunedin in 1936, when he failed by the narrowest of margins to take the 440yds crown. D. Herman, Canterbury forward who appeared in the recent All Black trials, is the national shot putt champion. Herman showed very considerable improvement last season (be was throwing beyond the 43fb mark with consistency), and it is quite likely that dur-

ing the next two or three seasons h» will have exceeded P. Munro’s best New Zealand performance of 46ft Ojiu. Herman, who stands 6ft 2in and weighs lost, has all the physical requisites of a first-class performer. He is 22 years of age (says an exchange). l Formerly a member of the now defunct Northern Club, and a useful allround athlete in Dunedin, 6. D. Armishaw has taken a keen interest in tbu sport in Christchurch, and was elected last week to the executive of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The New Zealand marathon champion, C. G. Gibbons, will be a competitor in the hammer throwing event ah tha Caledonian Ground on Saturday. He is now in training to defend his title at Wellingotn in March. _ He is an athlete who derives great enjoyment from the sporty and at present is getting into condition in the gymnasium and on the roads.- ■ M. R. Spillane was in town recently* The hammer-thrower is as keen as ever, and is of opinion that he will better his best New Zealander’s performance during the present season. Spillane expressed regret that business ties would ‘prevent mm from appearing at the meeting to be run by the Caversham and Civil Service Clubs on Saturday, but he hopes to be in town more often, this summer in order to gain the stimulus received in competition. He is an attraction at any meeting at ■which ha appears, and although nearly 37 years of age, is still the Dominion’s outstanding exponent with the 161 b implement. L. Hannan, promising New Plymouth’ middle-distance runner, will be competing at Wellington this season. He has joined the Wellington Club. Hannan showed particularly fine ■ form for a youth at the last national meeting at Napier, when he ran third in the halfmile to V. P. Boot and T. D. Blewitt. He was only five yards away, and Boot’s time of Imin 54sec was the fastest time ever registered • for the distance at the New- Zealand championships. If Hannan shows a natural improvement consistent with age he might easily develop into a champion athlete. One of the Otago Centre’s aggregate trophies which excites keen competition during the summer season is the Barton Cup, awarded to the club scoring the highest points in handicap re-* lays. The events are decided over all distances, the most popular being the race in which four men run 220yds each. This distance has been chosen for the meeting at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, and the clubs will no doubt ba keen to score points at the first gathering. Jack Torrance, the former United States Olympic athlete and holder of the world’s shot putt record -of 57 ft lin, which he established at Oslo in 1934, has signed a contract to play fop the Chicago Bears professional footbaH. team this season. Torrance has never played professional football before, but for a short time he turned professional fighter. , ■ The mile at next Saturday’s meeting promisee to be a splendid race, as freouently happens over this distance in Otago." There will a dozen runners, and interest is being taken in the meeting of G. Davis and T. O. Kennedy. The last-named showed exceptional form over long distances during the winter, and both men were members of the Otago team at the New Zealand cross-countrv championship. Tha Anglican man will, of course, be giving Ins younger rival a substantial start, but his excellent form last season earned him a place in the Otago track team. T. R. Beatson and D. Foord are two young runners who will also bo watched with this race. R. M. N. Tisdall, former Olympia hurdling champion, was in fine form when the athletic season opened in •Tohannesbury recently. He won tha 120yds hurdles in 15 2-seec, and was unbeaten in the pole vault, shot javelin throw, and discus. D. V. shore, who represented South Africa at the British Empire Games in Sydney last vear, easily won the-lOOyds in 9 3-ssec. He ambled round in the quarter-mils to clock 51 4-ssec, and also won th* , 440yds hurdles.