ATHLETICS THREE MILE TITLE RACE PRODUCES EXCITING FINISH

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1950, Page 8

ATHLETICS THREE MILE TITLE RACE PRODUCES EXCITING FINISH

The three mile championship events, postponed from the recent club championship meeting, were conducted by the Greymouth Amateur Athletic Club at Victoria Park last evening. The senior and junior athletes competed in a. single race, with the title to go to the first to finish in each section. Three runners, J. Fitzgerald and G. Watson (seniors) and N. Brailsford (junior) soon opened up a big lead and actually lapped the others in the field. The two seniors kept close together, and Fitzgerald increased the pace in the final lap in an effort to “burn off” Watson. He appeared to be succeeding, but Watson came home strongly and outsprinted his more experienced opponent to win by about two yards in the good time of 16min 29 2-ssec. The West Coast record is 14min 47sec, set by E. Johnston in 1939.

The junior, Brailsford, came home about 220 yards behind the senior runners, but his time, 16min 56sec, was excellent for a young runner.

Miss P. Douglas who has made exceptional progress in field events this season —her first—set new West Coast figures for the women’s shot putt. She established a club record more than a week ago with a throw of 23ft sin, but advanced that by more than two ft when she won last night’s event. In a special attempt on the West Coast record held by Miss N. Gourlay of Otago, she put the shot 26ft inches, bettering the record. The Kumara athlete, S. Stewart, who plays Rugby for the Blaketown club, won both senior sprints at his first start this season. Stewart also enjoyed a good run of successes towards the end of last season. Big fields participated in last evening’s events, and there was a good attendance. Results are as follows:— Senior Men 75yds, first heat: J. Walker (7) 1; T. Sweeney (2) 2; B. Guerin 3. Time Bsec. Second heat: S. J. Stewart (4) 1; K. Perrin (scr) 2; J. Forrest (4) 3. Time Bsec. Third heat: R. Forrest (5) 1; C. Douglas (2); J. Curragh (4) 3. Time Bsec. Final: Stewart (4) 1; Sweeney (2) 2; Curragh (4) 3. Time Bsec. 120 yards: first heat: J. Knapp (3|) 1; T. Sweeney (4) 2; J. R. Steel (62) 3. Time 13sec. Second heat: J. Forrest (5D 1; K. Perrin (scr) 2; P. Conaghan (scr) 3. Time 13sec. Third heat: S. Stewart (4) 1; C. Douglas (3|) 2; R. Forrest (62) 3. Time 13 l-ssec. Final: Stewart 1, Sweeney 2, Forrest 3. Time 13 l-ssec. 660 yards: T. Cameron (40) 1; J. Walker (30) 2. Time lmin 30 2-5 sec. Three miles Club Championship: G. Watson 1; J. Fitzgerald 2; T. Cameron 3. Time 16min 29 2-ssec. 120yds hurdles: D. J. Kelly (scr) 1; C. Douglas (4) 2. Time 17sec. Javelin: G. Watson (50) 1; J. Curragh (47) 2; T. Cameron (65) 3. Distance 161 ft 9in. Women’s Events 75yds: M. Avery (8) 1; J. Rathbun (9) 2; M. Gordon (3) 3. Time 9 1-5 sec. Women’s 120yds: M. Gordon (4) 1; M. Avery (9) 2; L. Newcombe (7) 3. Time 15sec. 80 metre hurdles: L. Newcombe (scr) 1; E. Arnott (1) 2; J. Rathbun (3) 3. Time 15sec. Shot putt: P. Douglas (scr) 1; J. Rathbun (3ft) 2; M. Hill (2ft 3in) 3. Distance 25ft s|in. Junior Men 75yds: W. Bullock (3£) 1; A. Conaghan (7) 2; L. Ward (2j) 3. Time 8 2—ssec. 120yds: first heat: A. Conaghan (7D 1; A. Lindbom (2|) 2; R. Thompson (71) 3. Time 13 2-ssec. Second heat: L. Ward (41) 1; D. Williams (7) 2; R. Dayne (41) and W. Bullock (2) 3 equal. Time 13 2-ssec. Final: Lindbom 1, Ward 2, Conaghan 3. Tifrie 13 1 "• ssec. 660 yards: N. Brailsford (35) 1; W. Williams (65) 2; A. Dawson (35) 3. Time lmin 30sec. Three miles Club Championship: N. Brailsford 1. Time 16min 56sec. 120yds hurdles A grade:—A. Lindbom (scr) 1; R. Dayne (5) 2; W. Bullock (scr) 3. Time 17sec. B. grade: A. Dawson (8) 1; L. Ward (4) 2. Time 18scc. Discus: R. Dayne (31) 1; A. Lindbom (24) 2; R. Thompson (38) 3. Distance 119 ft.