ATHLETICS Crouch Start: Was Chinese First To Use It?

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1947, Page 10

ATHLETICS Crouch Start: Was Chinese First To Use It?

Possibly the first man to use the crouch start in a track meeting in New Zealand was the son of a Chinese laundryman, Bill Ah Tong, in Oamaru, according to Pat Connors, who is now training the American negro boxer Willie Jones. “Yes, I shall never forget the day ' when Bill, who was part Chinese, I startled us by dropping down on one ! knee at the start. We had never seen i this style used anywhere before, in ( New Zealand, but pretty soon it came | into vogue,” the veteran 62 years-old j trainer said.

Famous Hurdler.

In those days when the famous hurdler and broad jumper, G. P. Keddell, was performing and smashing Australasian records. Oamaru had a furlong cinder track for sprint events up on the South Hill, where the South Primary School now stands. Other star performers were Wattie MacLaglan, the New Zealand professional champion runner who was still in form at 37, although he was ‘‘bald as a bat,” Mr. Connors added. Frank Ford, from Invercargill, beat the Scottish champion for the All Round Championship of the World before, a record crowd. Ford could swing the hammer, which in those days had a stiff handle, 126 feet. Lanes were marked off with binder twine, passed through iron staples, but it is interesting to note that even in the 1900’s furlong cinder tracks were laid down to give New Zealanders a chance of comparing their times with other star performers overseas. Recalling the fun-, he derived from these sports meetings, Mr. Connors

. said he remembered Dorrie Leslie complaining to the judges that one of his opponents in the mile walk was running. One of the officials tickled the crowd with his reply:— “You might be right, Mr. Leslie, . but all our eyes are on you.” > Dorrie, who has maintained his in- [ terest in the sport for a lifetime, has ! probably started more . track races i than anyone else in the Southern Hemisphere. No big meeting is comI plete without him. He never forgets 1 a face. Recently a former athlete reI appeared on the track after 10 years’ absence from New Zealand, but the one-time Olympic Games official at Los Angeles picked him right away, and they got into a huddle over prewar meetings with such enthusiasm that Dorrie was late in setting off a big field in a furlong handicap. Boxing is Main Interest. But Pat Connors’ main interest is boxing. He left Oamaru when 14 and ultimately lived in Australia until his return in 1939. Among the wellI known men under his charge have; I been Charlie Purdy, Harry Casey, I Harry Stone and Tommy Fairhall. ! His most recent recruit is good- [ looking, 21 years-old Noel Dorman, [who was preparing at Anton Kooli man’s gymnasium recently for his | fight at Dunedin with Endacott. Part I j Maori, Noel is shaping well and is j ! looking very fit after a ’few weeks’ | I break from indoor training in the ! ■ bush. He comes from Hawke’s Bay, i'but his modest manner and polished. 1 style should win him fans down south. I He is beautifully proportioned and has < speed and stamina.