ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 November 1926, Page 13

ATHLETICS

(Notes by “Spike.”)

D. Blair has been hard to Htxixclioap out of a place. At last the club has, in Blair, the promise of a good »!£*“*; • Nowall improves on the fiat, and put up a good show in the 220 last ''odneisday. He should go well m the 120 -out 440 hurdles this season Underhill moves freely, but is not ready yet for a furlong. The same ot is capable of running better 220’s when fit. , - worth Potter is improving, and is wonii watching in distances of a mile- and ° V Jock Matheson went wed" for a lap or so in the mile on Wednesday. G Perrott has splendid stride and carriage for distance running, and went very freely for 2* laps in the mile. If fit he will be dangerous again. G. Hawkins: Smallest! of the miler-s; but never last! . .. . L D Robinson was in the mile picture but had no condition to last it. M. Clark finished, but not- with sufficient pace yet. ~ Sprang lias a and fought out a determined finish with Rumball. . Rumball. is improving nicely, and be fit at the right time. . Sturrock. the youthful winner, went nicely and established creditable time. His stride and leg action require attention. , ~ , „ Our distance runners should get a better idea of pace by timing their laps and distances when training. Hunt crashed with the discus on Wednesday, and had less than 5 feet to spare from S. Lay. Notman. was the next best, and then Ritter, both of whom are improving. Morrissey went to the front m the mile relay and it was “all-up” for the other teams. The High School tenm cut its time down by 14 seconds. What next time? , . Lay Bros, showed something good in the long jump; both registering over 20 feet. . i . Gates and Mancer rode nicely in the cycle events, and, as usual, Kelly was in the picture. Clarrie Griffin is off-colour, but a 1 trier and a sport. . F C Brown enjoys his riding. Gyde, the mascot, generally wins the fir pedL P r Palmer, Leo Maxtor and Harry McCabe'are in training for the old-timers’ cycle race on show nig . What sort of training did you say r Charlie Falkner, Sergt. Major Mahoney, President Spragg, Charlie Gomer. ‘ Needham, Goldstone, and several others are likely starters m the 75 vards old-timers’ dash on show is “some good” in pole vaultin o- and will attempt the grandstand with a suitable pole and a pit the other side. He recently outclassed the opposition in a- practice “go.” POSITION OF POINTS PRIZES. .. Burdekin Cup.—Blair (3 GiUivcr, Sturrock, Rumball 3, Hulbert Newa h Spragg 2. C. Shore, Insull, J. Philip * Athol Grant Cup.—S. Lav 5. Hulbert T. Lay, Hunt 3, Notman. Carro. . Ritter 2. 'Gilliver, Ladner 1. Insull, Cycling Cup.—Gates b.. Bioor Kelly Mancer 4, W. Stoning. Griffin 2, Wallis 1, V. Tippett*. . _ G<?orgo Coll i ns’ al. R 1 all -l * Rumball 3 Sturrock 3, Spragg 2. ln-sii-l 1 1. H L Spratt’is trophy for High School boys.—Paoey and Murdoch 3 Rodio and Clement 2, Thomas and McDowalf 1. HOW TO SPRINT. ADVICE FROM ABRAHAMS. The 100 yards sprint is all over in a few seconds. Unlike the 440 yards, and longer distances, strategy plays no part at all; it is purely a question ot speed, writes H. hi. Abrahams, English sprint champion and holder of Olympic 100 metres record. Often only a few inches separate the first man from the last, and a few inches lost during the running may mean defeat. In the race it is absolutely necessary not to allow anything to distract your attention. The men on your left and right are nothing to do with you. They won’t' help you, so ignore them.- The moment you attempt to look at .them you will lose speed. An excellent plan is to pick out some object straight ahead of you, and fix your eyes on it throughout the race. But take care that the object is a stationary ono, otherwise yeu are liable to run off your track. Perhaps the more important part ot the sprint is making a good start, and this should be practised —with a gun until it is perfect. Some men boast of being able to “beat the gun,” that is make a start just before the pistol is’ fired. This is not only most unsportsmanlike, but it doesn’t pay. A guod starter will pull you up every time. . , But even if you notice that an opponent lias made a flying start, you should carry on with the race —until you hear the second shot for the restart. The starter may not have noticed anything wrong. When vou find yourself left JiKe this, don’t lose your head and try to make up those lost yards by jumping into top -rear, straight away. If you do, you will certainly “Wobble” anil crack up. Perfect poise is of vital importance, and here is a gaining hint which will help you to obtain this. ‘Mark out a small square on the ground, stand inside it, and go through all the motions of running a hundred yards without shifting outside the square. Try this every morning. At first you will find yourself wandering all over the place. Continue this exercise oven when you can remain stationary. Another excclient plan is to run up long flights of stairs, one stair at a time, as quickly as’ you can. >. A very 'important thing is tlie fit of vour “spikes.” It pays to go to a good man and have these made, to measure. When new, they should be tight enough to necessitate the use of a shoehorn.

It is a good plan to sew a stout piece of clastic across the instep. This gives a comforting sense of security, and even if your lace should break, the shoe won’t come off. Prepare for this contingency, however, by always carrying a spare pair of laces. The position of the body at the finish is important. llomombcr that it. is not the limbs or head, but the trunk which must cross the line to win fhe race. By throwing forward the chest during the last few yards several valuable inches can be gained.