TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 24047, 20 November 1941, Page 14

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NOTES AND COMMENTS FOOTBALLER'S PROMISING QUARTER MILE [By Pistol.] Family's Fine Sporting Record. The Otago Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club, which will control the women's gala sports meeting on the Caledonian Ground next Saturday, has made very marked progress since its formation in 1939, and not a little of the success enjoyed by the club has been due to the enthusiasm and efficiency of its secretary, Miss Jean Pinkham, who has held office since the inception of the club and who lias been one of the hardest workers for women’s athletics in Otago. Her keenness for sport is inherent, for her father, Captain W. G. P. Pinkham, was a prominent member of the Blenheim Rowing Club for wars ami also represented Marlborough. After coming io Dunedin lie continued his interest in rowing by giving his services as conch lo the Otago Rowing Club. Mrs Pinkham is secretary of the Onslow Gulf Chib, and yet another member of the family, Ngaire, is meeting with n lot of success in women’s athletic-. She is a member of (lie Lx-girls’ Athletic Club. Former Celtic Athlete. , Horace Sullivan, who was one of the founders of the Celtic United Club and was a keen member of the Otago Centre, is no\V a sergeant-major in the 13th Railway Construction Company. Sullivan was a very useful all-round field athlete.

Footballer is a “ Find.” One of the “finds” of the season, G. S. Reynolds, continues on his winning way at centre evening meets. Reynolds showed such pace on the Rugby football field as wing three-quarter for the Dunedin senior fifteen as to suggest that if bo took up track running seriously bo would do well. Last winter he played for the Metropolitan against the Conn try team and stood out as one of the most promising three-quarters in Dmiediii, His performances on the running track have not disappointed, and judging from the showing lie made in the 440yds handicap from the 22yds mark on Monday night, he appears to have found his forte over this distance. Ho began well, and made his bid about 200yds from the tape, finishing full of running: to lake first place in 53 l-ssec. When he acquires a little more polish he should register very fast times over this distance. Reynolds is useful in quite a few events. He was second in the 75yds dash from the 3£yds mark, won the hop, slop, and jump with 38ft 4in, and was a member of the Cavcrsham Club’s team which filled second place in the 880yds relay. He has already figured in a couple of winning relays. Reynolds expects to enter the Navy shortly, but in the meantime he is likely fo keep some of the best of the local men busy over distances up to 440yds. Now in the Navy. .Harold Coombs, who has been one of Hie mainstays of the Celtic United Chib and was regarded as one of the most promising junior distance runners in Otago, is now serving in the New Zealand Division of the Navy. Junior Sprinter Runs Impressively. When be furnishes out a little, A. L, Carson, the King’s High School athlete, should develop into one of the best junior athletes in the province. He is lightly built, but }ias a very nice style and no lack of determination, as ho invariably shows in bis finishing efforts. His win in the 75yds junior handicap in Bsco off 3£yds on Monday night was registered under unpleasant conditions, but he ran impressively, making a great effort in the final to head his Civil Service club mate, D. Laiug (7yds) almost on the tape. Carson ran well in bis heat of the 220yds hurdles and was in a winning position halfway up the straight. He lost bis stride, however, and lopped an obstacle. Nevertheless, he made a good recovery and finished in second place to K. Miller (University), who ultimately won the final. The King’s boy finished off a good night’s work with third place in the hop, step, and jump with a triple leap of over 37ft. Carefully handled, Carson has great prospects in athletic competition.

Heavy Afternoonls Work. An outstanding performance was registered at the Mount Albert Churches Association’s annual athletic sports by J. V. Ward, who competed on behalf of the St. Luke’s Church. Ward, who is 15i years of age, won the 100yds, 220yds, and 440yds in both the under 16 and under 17 classes, and also the 100yds, 440yds, and 880yds under 19, there being no 220yds event in the latter division. He was also a member of the winning relay team, this giving him 10 wins for the afternoon (says an Auckland writer). Ward has represented Mount Albert Grammar School at Soccer and cricket in tho first elevens, while he is also a swimmer, apart from being an outstanding scholar. G. C. Ward, a younger brother, aged 12 years, won the 440yds and 880yds at the same sports on Saturday, as well as filling third place in the higli jump and long jump and being a member of the junior relay team, which finished in second place. The boys are sons of Mr J. Ward, of Western Springs, well known in business and sporting circles in Auckland. This is certainly a remarkable afternoon’s effort, but, even if the opposition was not strong, far too much for any boy of 15i to be allowed to undertake. A lad with such natural ability as this boy would appear to possess should certainly be protected from overdoing things to such an extent, but Hie, trend of over-competition among young athletes seems to he increasing throughout New Zealand rather than showing signs of lessening. It is undoubtedly a matter for j lie parent body to give a commanding lead in tho hope of obtaining the. 00-operation of school teachers and others concerned throughout the Dominion. Versatile Girl Athlete. Nancy Hanhn, the New Zealand women’s shot putt champion and record-holder, usually figures prominently on the programme at tho evening meetings, and on Monday night she reproduced something of the form which used to make her a solid proposition for the best of them in the hurdling events. Running from the l)yds mark, Miss Hanlin won the final of the 80 metres hurdles in 14 l-ssec, a very sound effort on the night. Miss Hanlin is a strong finisher, and is in good form already. She was moving nicely in the women’s relay when she had tho misfortune to fall and ricked her knee slightly, though it is not likely to keep her out of action for long. Miss'Hanlin has been one of the mainstays of the Dunedin Club for a number of years, and her success lias been the result of natural ability allied with painstaking attention to training. She is an Otago representative basketball player.

Technical Schoolboy’s Win. J. Judge was the outstanding competitor at the Dunedin Technical High School sports recently, his performances in the junior section creating a very favourable impression. His running in the 440yds handicap, under 15, at the centre evening meet on Monday night more than confirmed the good reports that had been hoard of him, A tall, loosely-limbed lad, Judge won in excellent stylo in 59 4-ssec, which was a very stout effort under conditions which were again not of the best Big Field For Quarter. Quarter-mile running is undoubtedly coming into Us own in Dunedin, and events over tliTs distance have proved very popular of late. There were 17 starters in the 440yds junior on Monday night, the winner turning up in D. Laing, the solid Civil Service runner, who began smartly from the 11yds mark and soon worked into a bandy position to win in 56 3-ssec from bis elubmate, R. W. McKenzie, who was off 12yds. Both lads are promising qnarter-milers, and bad there nob been such a big field to run round the time would have been faster. Increased Interest Among Walkers. J. W. Haleis, the Cavcrsbam competitor, looks like fulfilling the promise bo showed last season in walking competition. He was first interested in the bcel-and-toe. game by B. F. fierrie, who has done a lot to eucouragc this branch of athletics in

Otago. Haleis was on the virtual scratch mark of 15yds on Monday night, and he walked well lo boat J. R. Hyslop, the promising Anglican representative, who was oil 25yds, the time being 3raiu 36scc. There scorns lo bo increasing keenness for walking among local athletes, and a lad who may bo depended on to give a good account of himself with a little more experience is A. W. Houston, wiio shaped well at the King’s High .School sports, and was a competitor at Monday’s meeting.

Women’s Gala Day. If only the wen I her is favourable on Saturday, the Otago Ladies’ Club gala, day on Ihe Caledonian Ground should be one of the best sports meetings hehl hero for a lung time. Mr L. It. McMillan, who has been responsible for the organisation of the fixture, has done a vast amount of work, and the result of his efforts is shown in the- excellent response that has been made in entries. The growth in interest in women’s athletics in Otago is shown by the fact that 46 athletes will be competing in the intcrclub events. It is a pity that the North Otago Club, stronghold of women’s athletics, is unable to take part, but there will be a dozen representatives from the Kaitangata Club, and all the local clubs will be strongly represented. A full programme of events will he slaged, and there will be much ini crest in the interhouso competition, in which 10 (oiiiiis will parlicpalc. flic march pad of alhletic and intorhon-e tennis will ii ml on lif r (11 v be one of (lie ton lures of (lie afternoon, and besides the alhletic programme mi archery competition will bo held by women members of the Dunedin Archery Club. There will he n maypole dancing competition and also a Highland dancing competition. Likely Hammer Thrower.

Civil Service has a good stamp of field athlete in L. Simpson, who won the junior hammer throwing handicap from scratch on Monday with 93ft 3tiu. Simpson is a versatile performer, being a good amateur wrestler and weight-lifter. The policy adopted hy the Otago Centre in encouraging (ho junior field athletes ‘is now bearing fruit, and so far as Simpson is concerned he has real possibilities wit ii the hammer. The senior event was won bv that consistent competitor, J. V. Anwhose winning throw' was 98ft 2.,m. Not a lilllo of the enthusiasm being sliowu for the throwing and weight events is duo lo Hie coaching and encouragement g:\cn the younger athletes by -Anderson,

Lady Hurdler's Reappearance. Miss Pal. Mul imor. who showed such good term as a hurdler a couple of seasons ago, lias made a reappearance on the (rack, and should not be long in striking her host form. A knee injury kept her out of competition last season, but she rarely a meeting and did a lot to foster interest among members of the Otago Club, of which she is’ treasurer this year. Miss Mutimor had a run in the 80 metres hurdles on Monday night and Irom the virtual scratch mark of half a yard won Her heat in 14 3-ssec. She cased np slightly in tho final and finished in third place, and hy tho time tire Otago women’s championships are hold should be capable of registering very fast times. Programme for Next Monday.

The programme for next Monday’s evening meeting on the Caledonian Ground is ns follows Open: 100yds, 880yds, 380yds walk, 120yds hurdles, polo vault, throwing _ the javelin, 1-mile medley relay. Junior: 100yds, 880yds, 120yds hurdles, tin-owing the javelin. Women; 75yds, long jump, throwing tile discus, 440yds relay. There are also races for men serving in the forces and for primary and secondary school boys and girls. Newcomers to Field Athletics.

Promising new members of the Otago Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club are Misses 1. Davidson and Gwen Corbett, both of whom intend concentrating on field athletics. They should be seen to advantage at the forthcoming evening meetings. Ex-Girls’ Club Successes.

The Ex-High School Girls’ Club has produced some keen field athletes, as was shown at last week’s evening meet' when N. Pinkham won the broad jump and gained second place in the discus throw-; ing event. G. McDonald, who has taken up discus throwing only recently, put up a very fine performance and was beaten by only six inches for the best actual throw by Nancy Hanlin, who hurled the implement 69ft Sin. J. Young, who was second in the 75yds event, also showed a nice si vie with the discus ajnd has the makings of a good thrower. Miss Pinkham gave a further taste of her quality bv winning the 101 b shot putt with an actual heave of 23ft 6jin on Monday night. R. Emslie, her club male, who was second in this even I, won the high jump. The Ex-Girls’ Club filled' all the places in the high jump, B. Madigan and N. Jenkins 1 icing for second place. Miss Madigan, a versatile athlete, was also second in the 80 metres hurdles, and Ex-Girls filled second place in the relay.