ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 December 1925, Page 13

ATHLETICS

At the Transvaal track and.' field championships, at . the Wanderers ’ Ground, Johannesburg, on October 5, there was an attendance of 5000 spectators, whilst the sport was always interesting. Amongst the competitors wcrq J. K. Ayers-Oosterlaalc and L. 13. Betts,, but the last named) was short of condition and) failed) to win a; title. In the 100 yards Oosterlnak Avon in 10 sec, and, according to Press reports, he had a fairly stiff breeze against him. Of the other winners, the best performances were: 220 yards, R. L. Harris, time 22 3-ssec (G. G. Gustan was second); 440 yards, J. de Villiers, time 49 4-ssee (L. B. Betts was second); putting the 161 b shot, J. C. "V an Woudenberg, 43ft 2Mn; running broad jump, W. Kolver, 21ft sin; 120 yards hurdles, A. D. McDonald, 16 4-ssee.; and throwing the javelin, R. E. Smith, 132 feet.

“A. few members of the D.A.C. gathered one day recently to present E. G. Sutherland with a travelling bag on the occasion of his departure from South Africa,” says a recent Durban paper. “The presentation was made by Mr Cliff Sulin on behalf of the club. He will 'be a great loss to. the meetings in this country, but if he continues to show good form he will always be available for South Africa in future Olympic Games. Having once represented this country, he cannot at anytime represent any other country at the Games.” Shortly before his departure from South Africa, Sutherland competed at the Maritzburg Sports, winning the javelin throw with 178 ft lOin, and the discus throw with 119 ft Sin, both South African records. Sutherland, who is a Hew Zealander, lei the Dominion several years ago and took up his residence m South Afnca.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS. (Notes by “Spike.”) Handicaps for’ Tuesday’s electric light meeting will bo published on Monday. Late entries for this meeting will be accepted by Mr. L. I. Mar ter till 9 o’clock this evening.

New Plymouth Club talk of sending a strong 'team down for this meeting. It is the intention of the committee to appoint a points prize steward to keep a record of finishes (irrespective of placing’s of visiting competitors) of Hawera Club members, so that they may be credited with necessary potu'.s iii the annual challenge cup points prizes. This means that if an outside competitor is awarded the actual first place in a race a Hawera competitor who is second gets three points for his position. If outside competitors tar.o first, second and third places, then the Hawera competitors taking fourth, fifth and sixth places will be awarde ! 3,2 and 1 points respectively. This applies only for the Burdekin Cup, Athold Grant Cup, Barnet Glass Cup and George Collins medal. The West Coast Championships are to be held at Wanganui on Saturday, February 27. Wanganui will enter

two clubs for the banner this yearthe Y.M.C.A. and the Wanganui Club?, This will weaken their chances.

It behoves all members of the Hr wera Club to show their best form frot? now onwards. The Hawera team for the West Coast Championships will be pick.-d after the February 3rd meeting Gold and silver medals instead of cm lificates for the West Coast Championships are talked of this year. ‘ The New Zealand Championships are to be Jiola at Dunedin about the middle of March. 8. Lay, who has put up ; ome remarkable javelin throws lately, L. Hunt, H. Kerr, are three who ore at present in the running for a trip to Dunedin.

The Auckland centre held its championships recently and some very good performances were registered. D. 0. 'Williams proved the best over the 100 and furlong distances, registering 10 1-5 and 22 4-5. A slight improvement on these times will keep those “cracked up” Wellington sprinters thinking. Shirley cleared sft lOin in the high jump and got over 44ft in the hop, step and jump.

Scholz and Hahn must be getting close to New Zealand now. The N,Z. Amateur Athletic Council in Wellington’ arc making very complete arrangements for the tour of these two famous athletes. You will see them on the screen in Hawera before they compete. This is one of the council’s publicity stunts.

Wellington Club are out of supply of javelins and have asked the Hawera Club if they can procure any in Hawera. A firm in Hawera turns out a very neat javelin shaft, true to the very intricate specifications required. Makes one think that Hawera leads the way in amateur athletics.

A printed programme of the events to be run by the Hawera Club for the season is out, and the secretary states that a copy has been issued to every official and member. There are spare copies for anyone requiring them.

TWO GREAT SPRINTERS

TOUR OF SHOL-Z AND HAHN. At present on the water, cn route to New Zealand, are two of America’s greatest runners, Jackson Sholz and Lloyd Hahn. From January 4 until March 16 they will tour the Dominion, and their trip promises to be the biggest athletic sensation for many years. The securing of such a wonderful sprinter as Jackson Sholz for a New Zealand tour is largely due to Mr. C. S. Thomas, of Christchurch, who was a champion over the quarter and half in pre-war days, and who met the great American in Honolulu, and interested him in New Zealand. On his return Mr. Thomas informed the, council of the New Zealand Amateur AthleticAssociation that Sholz was keen to make a trip, and a trip was at last arranged. r J he tourists will arrive at Auckland on ■ January 4 by the Niagara, and a very complete tour has been arranged.

In Sholz the New Zealand Council has secured the- foremost sprinter in the world, for Sholz has proved the conqueror of the famous Charles Paddock, who has four times equalled the world’s record of 9 3-ssec for the 100yds, and has established the present world mark of 20 4-ssec for the 220yds. Sholz has beaten Paddock on more than on© occasion, and by many critics is acclaimed the best sprinter in the world.

Lloyd Hahn is not so well known outside America as his fellow-tourist, and although, with Paavo Nurmi taking up most of the limelight reserved for middle distance men, he lays no claim to being the worlds’ best, he is by no means far off that class. He has proved this by breaking, two of the records made by Nurmi. His favourite distance is the mile, and it is anticipated that with New Zealand’s own great miler, R. A. Rose, he will pro vide some, wonderful races.

A glance at some of the performances of both men shows that _ both have registered times worthy of inclusion in the list of world’s records, and in bringing them to New Zealand the council has aranged the athletic treat of the year. Both from a spectacular and an’ educational point of view the tour is more than worth while. The following are some of the performances of the visitors: JACKSON SHOLZ. First in the 200 metres Olympic Games 1924 (equalling the Olympic Gaines record). Second in the 100 metres Olympic Games. Second in the 100 yards American championship, 1925 —9 4-ssec. The holder of the 200 metres American record —20 9-10 sec. First in the 200 metres championship at the Tailteann Games, 1924. First in the 220 yards American championship, 1925, and in this race equalled the worlds’ record —20 4-ssec. Second in the 100 metres championship at the Tailteann Games. Holder of record for University of Missouri in 109 yards in 9 3-ssec., and 220 yards in 21 l-ssec. Holder of record for Missouri Valley in 100 yards in 9 4-ssee. and 220 yards in 21*2-ssee. Holder of American Olympic Trials record for 220 yards in 20 9-10 sec. LLOYD HAHN. Third in one mile American national championship, 1923, in 4min. ISsec. First in the one mile junior American national championship, in 4min. 23sec. Sixth in the 1500 metres at Olympic Games, 1924; second American. A member of the American relay team which defeated Great Britain in the four-mile relay in 17min. 46 l-ssee. Second to Ray Buker in the one mile American national championship, 1925 (Hahn’s time 4m'in. 20sec.). First in New York A.C. Games, 1925, one mile indoor, 4min. 13 2-ssec. First in Manhattan College- Games, 1925, in three-quarter mile indoor in 3min. 3 2-ssec., breaking- the worlds’ record of 3min. 3 4-5-sec., held by Paavo Nurmi. First in 1500 metres indoor race, 1925, at Georgetown University, in 3min. 55 4-ssec., breaking another record held by Paavo Nurmi. * » t 'ffll’*** •' •* - r TZii' * * • Wt JL

First in 100 yards indoor, National A.A.IL, 1925, in 2min. 13 4-ssec. First in one mile indoor at Chicago, 1-925, in 4min. 15 3-ssec. First in one mile at American Legion meeting, 1925, in 4min. 19-10 sec. He also ran eight other races of,one mile each in the following times: 4niin. 12 2-osec., 4min. 12 3-ssec., 4min. 15sec., 4min. 13 3-ssec., 4min. 16 9-10 sec., 4min. 18sec., 4min. 19sec., 4min. 19 4-ssec. The champions are due to appear in Hawera on the evening of February 3 (race night).