AUSTRALIANS WIN FIRST ATHLETIC TEST EVER HELD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22888, 7 March 1949, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS WIN FIRST ATHLETIC TEST EVER HELD

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 7. In the first official athletic test ever held between Australia and New Zealand Australia took the honours at Athletic Park on Saturday by winning eight events to five. It was first thought that New Zealand had won by 51 points to 50, but this system was later ruled out in favour of a decision on events. In some instances performances were disappointing. This may have been due in the case of the Australians to the effects of their strenuous tour. In some of the events they looked tired men. Probably the most prominent victim of this understandable lethargy was the Australian Olympic representative, M. Curotta, who could manage only third in the 100 yards and second in the furlong. He did, however, show something of his real capabilities in the quarter leg of the relay. A feature of the test from New Zealand's point of view was the form displayed by the young Wellington hurdler, L. R. Smith, and the encouraging performances of the sprinters. Results:— 100 Yards—A. R. P. Eustace (N.Z.), 1; D. R. Batten (N.Z.), 2; M. J. Curotta (A.), 3. Time, 10.4 sec. 220 Yards.—D. R. Batten (N.Z.), 1; M. J. Curotta (A.), 2; C. Parker (N.Z.), 3. Time, 22.8 sec. 440 Yards.—E. W. Carr (A.), 1; J. Sutherland (N.Z.), 2; J. C. Grierson (N.Z.), 3. Time, 48.5 sec. 880 Yards.—D. A. White (A.), 1; J. Simpson (N.Z.), 2; J. C. Grierson (N.Z.) 3. Time, lmin. 57.55ec. One Mile—J. L. Marks (A.), 1; J. D. Sinclair (N.Z.), 2; M. L. Marshall (N.Z.), 3 Time, 4min. 21.3 sec. 120 Yards Hurdles.—P. M. Mullins (A.), 1; L. R. Smith (N.Z.), 2; A. R. P. Eustace (N.Z.), 3. Time, 15.3 sec 220 Yards Hurdles—L. R. Smith (N.Z.) 3; G. C. Goodacre (A), 2; J. S. Williams (N.Z.), 3. Time, 24.8 sec. 440 Yards Hurdles. —G. C. Goodacre (A), 1; D. G. Stewart (N.Z.), 2; J. S. Williams (N.Z.), 3. Time, 55 3sec. Broad Jump.—W. B. Hough (N.Z.), 23ft. 2in., 1; G. G. Avery (A.), 23ft. ljin., 2; D. Dephoff (N.Z.), 23ft. lin., 3. Hop, Step and Jump.—G. G. Avery (A.), 46ft. 2Jin., 1; D. Dephoff (N.Z.), 44ft. 7Jin., 2; W. B. Hough (N.Z.), 42ft. 7in„ 3.

High Jump.—R. McKenzie (N.Z.), Cft. and J. H. Borland (N.Z.), 6ft., equal, 1; P. Mullins (A.) and G. H. Jeffries (N.Z.), sft.. 9in., equal, 3. McKenzie won on the count back.

Shot Putt.—P. M. Mullins (A.), 45ft. 2in., 1; D. H. Herman (N.Z.), 43ft. Jin., 2; K. J. Morgan (N.Z.), 42ft. 2iin„ 3. Mile Medley Relay.—Australia (Curotta, Carr, Strickland, White), 1; New Zealand (Batten, Eustace, Parker, Simpson), 2. Time, 3min. 35.95ec.