ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10740, 10 November 1928, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

RELAY RACING.

A COMMENDABLE MOVEMENT

(By “Stride.”)

The importance of relay racing in its relation. to track and field athletics can hardly Ite over-estimated. It provides a splendid opportunity for the novice to participate in important competition and develops the teamspirit, to a high degree. Belay lacing should also command the respect of those who have the best interests of the younger generation in mind, for no other branch of competitive effort excels these events as developers of morale and absolute ‘•gameness.”. ' ' .The pampered “stars” of every club usually receive the maximum amount of publicity whilst the near champion or novice is relegated to the', back-ground. Belay racing is undoubtedly a compromise step in the right direction, in that it offers, as has already been stated, numberless opportunities for- all athletes to participate in a series Of real competition. In time such racing will afford a maximum amount of interest to, the paying puUlic as well as competition which satisfies club loyalty and enthusiasm. It is particularly pleasing to the writer to know that it is on his suggestion that a relay racing competition has been inaugurated by the O.A.A. and H.C., as for many years “Stride” has been a strong advocate for this branch of athletics.

In suggesting this matter to the chairman of the Club, “Stride” also proposed the form of trophy which should be adopted, and it is gratifying to see that outside advice has boon heeded, and I am sure will not be regretted. It is more than likely that six teams will eventually enter for the 880 yards medley relay, and it. is therefore apparent that the competition must te> carefully conducted. Small fields in relay racing make for the best results and some system should he thought out whereby overcrowding in competition will he. eliminated.

Handicap relay racing 'has .never proved entirely successful and it would have been a better sehemei to select the teams as evenly as possible instead of allowing competitors to choose their particular fancies. This matter could well receive the attention of officials, and perhaps if t-hei system of selecting rowing crews were adopted good results would ho obtained. THE HOME OF CYCLING. FRANCE LEADS"THE WAY. It is easy to . understand why cyeling~is so ■ popular in Fiance, why this nation is the home of cycling, and why it conducts the greatest road race in the world—the Tour de France, Last- year the numlfer of bicveles in France was 6,583,278, a drop of 529,000 compared with the previous year. Owners of bicycles in France "pay an annual tax, and by reason of .these retu.rns .it is possible to ascertain accurately the number in service. It would' be interesting to know how many bicycles are in use in New Zealand. There is no definite method of ascertaining the number, hut it probably exceeds 300,000, for despite the advent of the automobile, the bicycle is still greatly used in every part of the Domin-, ion. CARLTON'S RETIREMENT. IS INCREASING- WEIGHT THE CAUSE? ,T. Carlton, the Australian Sprint champion, is reported to he retiring from, the . track. It is- a great blow to think that such a promising performer should retire at a little over twenty-one years of eage, says a Sydney paper. * The vexed question once more arises: What is the. good of sending men to the Olympic Games who retire upon the.ir. return ? Carlton’s decision to retire may be on account of much surplus weight, as ho is rapidly approaching the 14 stone mark.

ATHLETICS NOW UNIVERSAL. WHAT THE OLYMPIC GAMES TAUGHT US. The lesson to he learned from the last Olympics is that other countries besides America are athletic, too. Athletics is now international. Before the war the games consisted of little more than dual meets with England, lAit look over the list or winners this year, and you will find an Arab winner of the Marathon, a Japanese winner of the hop, step and jump, an Argentinian winner of a star swimming event, an Egyptian winner of a . weight-lifting event. Uruguay won the football match, and you will find Swedes, Finns, Poles, Germans, South Africans, Spaniards and 'Turks on the winning lists. Forty different countries took part. EVon Haiti, Mexico, Lettonja, Monaco, Philippines. Chile, Elsthonia, Jugo-Slavia and Czeeho-Slovakift sent teams. . Athletics are advancing. Germany and Japan have gone in for them with remarkable enthusiasm. Athletic organisations have superseded the military organisations in Germany. Watch out for Germany in 1936, when the games will be held in, Berlin. Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Japan and some of the other nations hold" field days in which hundreds of thousands take part. America had better get busy or the day wid come. ray chances his mind. \ • NOW reinstated. Softie three years ago Joie Kay, probably the most consistent mile runner * America has produced—he won the mil® championship seven times in succession and eight times' i n all—handed in his amateur registration card at the same time announcing'that he.had decided to turn professional. He changed his mind, however, and applied for rei.istate--ment, which was 'granted after he had' stood own the necessary period stipulated-in the amateur laws. This year he became eligible to race again; and decided to leave alone the shorter distances—half-mile to two miles—and devote his attention to Marathon running- After finishing second to the American champion marathoner, Clarence DeMar, in his first attempt, he won his second race in record time and was selected as one of the American representatives in the Olympic Marathon which was* won by the Arabian, HI Ouaii, with Ray - occupying fourth [Continued in Nest Column, I