HAS SEEN “WALKERS RUNNING” FOR PAST 30 YEARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 6

HAS SEEN “WALKERS RUNNING” FOR PAST 30 YEARS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Severe criticism of walkers and walking judges in New Zealand was made at last night’s meeting of the Wellington centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. Mr A. B. Chappell, manager of the Wellington senior athletic team which travelled to the national championships advocated in his report that all walking events be abandoned. The report stated that “walks only cater for. a few and their deletion from the programmes would only affect a small number of athletes. Judging appears to be difficult, even when competent judges are available, and subsequent disappointments would be avoided.” The report was received. Speaking to his report, Mr Chappell described. the walking events at the championships as farcical. Other speakers were also severe in their criticism of walkers. One typical comment was: “I am very critical of walkers—l’ve seen them running for the last 30 years.” Two speakers held that if competent judges were available the standard of walking would improve vastly.