ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 November 1927, Page 12

ATHLETICS

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. Nov. 26 —iWanganui-Taranaki Centre Championships, Wanganui. Dee. 3 —Otago track and field championships. Dec. 9 and 10—New Zealand amateur track and field championships at Christchurch. Dec. 2G, 27, 2S and 29 —Australian and New Zealand track, field and decathlon championships, at Wellington. CURRENT TOPICS. SPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL. HELP TO HAWERA MEETING. (Notes by “A.C.) A large following of atheletie sport in the Boutk Taranaki district, together with the Hawera Amateur Club, was indebted to the quartette of stars from the Wellington ilistrict —C. H. Jenkins, J. F. Fleming, J. Carswell and R. A. hose —who provided the main attractions of the swiftly moving programme which proved replete with interest to nearly 300 spectators at Hawera on the night of the concluding day of the Egmont Show. . . n Their sportsmanship in coming miles to support a country club was particularly appreciated in view of the fact that when the meeting, originally fixed for the Wednesday evening, had to be postponed owing to typical Taranaki weather, they consented readily to remain uutiJ the following night. This in itself was ample evidence of their willingness to assist the club, but they extended further courtesy following the meeting, when they handed baejx, as donations to the club, the orders for trophies which their good performances had earned. With the party was one of Wellington's keen supporters of sport, Mr C. Parsonage, whose breezy personality and knowledge of the game made him popular with all who came into contact with him, and as he was appointed niarslial for the evening he met a fair crowd. , Well boosted as the capital city s crack performer over 100 yards, Jenkins came with a great reputation, which he upheld by claiming first honours in the sprint event from twenty of the best of Taranaki and Wanganui. Registering 10 l-ssec in the final, he ran a fine race on a track which, despite much rolling after the show ring events of the afternoon was still somewhat bumpy. The final was one of the best finishes ever seen on the ground, Jenkins getting the verdict by less than a foot from A. Telfar, of Hawera (2} yards), who was inches only in front of Fleming (1 yard), while the others were all within about two yards of the ■winner. Fleming also came home third from scratch in the 440 yards, but was giving 35 yards to the winner, B. Thomson, of New Plymouth, whose time was 52sec. Carswell delighted the crowd as a wheelman. Starting from scratch in the two mile cycle handicap he led a good field homo to win easily in smin 44 3-ssec. From the same mark he rode into third place in each of the halfmile and mile events, both of which were won by the promising local rider, J. Dykes, the respective times being lmin 13 2-ssee and 2min 37 3-ssec. Dykes had 45 yards in the half and 100 yards in the mile. Carswell also won the lap race from Dykes, doing three circuits of the quarter-mile course in 2min ssec.

Rose appeared in the 880 yards and mile running events, but was unable to gain a place. Naturally the record holder was watched with particular interest in the mile, in which, as the scratch man, he was giving 15 yards to Clarrie Gibbons, of Marton, who was the next back marker, and 180 yards to the limit man. Apparently much below form, however, Rose contented himself by overhauling Gibbons and, w T ith the latter, was still tailing the field when the pair finished on even terms. Rose’s time for the full journey was 4min 47 sec. His sectional times for the four successive laps were 64sec, 76sec, 75sec, and 72sec.

BOARD OF CONTROL BUSINESS. The agenda paper for the biennial meeting qf the Full Board of Control (Amateur Athletic Union of Australia, and New Zealand), to be held in Wellington at the end of next month, includes the following items : Confirmation of Australian and New Zealand records passed by the executive; question of application by the Queensland A.A.A. for records made at the Australian and New Zealand championship meeting, Brisbane, August, 1926, not yet adopts ed by the executive; Olympic Games, 1928; loss of time rule and football — decision by International Amateur Athletic Federation; International Amateur Athletic Federation’s decision re visit of overseas athletes to Australia and New Zealand; notice of motion—South Australian A.A.A., “That the seven miles i-nter-State walking championship .should be styled and recognised as the seven miles walking championship of Australia and New Zealand;” notices by Victorian A.A.A., (a) control of women’s athletics, (b) establishment and recognition of Australian records, (c) future contests between Australian records, (c) future contests between Australian State and New Zealand, (b) Australian marathon championship; notice by New South Wales A.A.A., “That the time is opportune to include upon the Australian and New Zealand track and field championship programme events for women, in keeping with Olympic conditions.” THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

The following countries have accepted the invitation to- participate :in the Olympic Games next year: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Etgypi, Finland, France, Great Britain, Haiti, Hungary, Letland, Litauen, Norvege, Austria, Roland, Spain, Ozeeho-Slovakia, Turkey, Jiigo-Slayiia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, United States of America, Iceland, Sweden, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. They will send teams varying in numbers from 50 to 500. As these various competitors will be accompanied by officials, trainers, etc., it is estimated that suitable lodging accommodation will have to be provided for some 12,000 athletes in all.

The International Olympic Cbmmittee will be present with over 200 representatives, and the world’s Press will be represented by about 2000 members. The- accommodation for these officials and semi-official people will be provided for by the Organisation Committee.

Although it is impossible to tell at the present time how many spectators

will visit Holland in 1928 to attend the Ninth Olympiad, it can readily be assumed that the total will approximate the million, coming and going by boat, rail, or ’plane. An entirely new- stadium is being built to meet all requirements. NEGRO JUMPERS. Is the negro- destined to annex the world’s jumping records? De Hart Hubbard has held the world’s record for the broad jump since 1925. On June 13 of that year he cleared 25ft 1.0 7-Bin at Chicago. It is now .reported from Cincinnati that he has gone one better and cleared 26ft 2in. This is a marvellous performance, especially in view of his age—thirtyfour—though it was at approximately the same age that Albert Hill put up the British mile record.

Hubbard won the broad jump at Paris from another negro, Eddie Gourdin. Neither went near 25ft there, Hubbard winning at 24.5 1.-8; and an extraordinary circumstance happened when Ray Legendre, who was not in the U.S.A. long jump team, cleared 25 3-8 in the pentathlon competition. But Gourdin has cleared well over 25ft in the States. The Haytian negro, Cator, cleared 25ft An France, and xs said to have gone near 26ft since. And Gold Coast negroes are reputed to be able to top 7ft easily in the high jump! TAie white man may have to look to liis laurels in the African championships, open to all men of African birth or parentage two years hence. THE USE OF BRAINS

Arthur Duffey, the American amateur sprinter, who visited Australia with Alfred Shrubb, the English longdistance runner in 1906, is now a sporting writer on the staff of the “Boston Post.” He was one of the fastest runners who ever lived, and he also knew every point in the game. When he made his first appearance on the Melbourne cricket ground he asked to be introduced to the veteran starter, Mr, Phillip Sh-appere. When introduced lie grasped Mr. Shappere with both ’hands, and said in a broad American accent, “I’m right glad to meet you, sir. I’ve heard of yon in England and America as the greatest starter in the world, and I’m told that no man has ever beaten you out of the holes.” Mr. Sluippere beamed with satisfaction at the compliment, and a few minutes later Duffey, and those who were to oppose him, went to the starting post. They were told to “Get on your marks,” “Get set,” and then Duffey jumped out of his holes before the gun and beat it by two yards. Mr. Shappere had been lulled into false confidence by the compliment, and Duffey beat him. At the other end of the course Mr. J. O. F. Ulbrich was the senior Judge, and there was a desperate finish between Frank Mueller, of Bendigo, A. Willmer, of Sydney, and Duffey, and J have no doubt (says a Melbourne writer), that they finished in that order with inches only separating them. In’ the final dash Duffey swung his left shoulder round and carried the tape on At. As he pulled m he never took bis eye off Mr. Ulbrich, _ and returned to the wanning post still carrying the tape on his shoulder, and said

to the judge, “I just got up.’-’ The verdict was Duffey, first, and again the official had fallen into the’ trap. It is not to be wondered t-li3.tr Duffey chuckled over this (also.