ATHLETICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 March 1928, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

NOTES' BY “HUBBLE.’’ The first Taranaki amateur athletio championships passed by quite successfully, and created new champion® of clubsi and the province. Surprises were few on actual starters, although in my notes previous to the sports' I allowed for quite a liuui-s ber of goou splinters coming from New Plvmouth. That club, however, had bad luck, as their fast gallopers stayed at home, all bar Gilmour, and be strode home an easy winner in the 220 yards. In the 880 yards he also won easily, but the time was very slow', even ailowin«r for atmospheric conditions. 1. E. Gilliver did a neat hop, step and jump When lie covered 43ft. OJin., a eery creditable leap. By Len Hunt being indisposed the Held men were lucky. Stan. Lay, by Hunt's absence, was able to catch the discus record, and is now a dual champion for this year. Svd. Shore surprised this writer, especially in the 440 yards. I really consider he was the outsider of the three starters, but after going 150 yards Syd. looked “home and dried," and he came home with quite a fair lead. The time for the 440 yards was the nearest to standard on the whole meeting—that is when everything is taken into consideration, H. Walker is worthy of special mention for Ids game and thrilling sprints at the end of each distance race. Running easy throughout the mile run he kept handy to the leaders till near the straight, then home he came like a Hash. In the tlp-ee miles, although this writer liked his chance before the start, X did think ho was allowing Garrett too much lead U> start on the last lap. At the last 300 yards the iead was Garrett’s by 30 yards, and at 220 yards AYalker attempted to sprint, but thought better of it; then on second thought he made up his mind he would go, and go he did. It was a beautiful win and deserved the applause accorded it. This writer would like to see Walker in a fast mile or three miles. He is the makings of a good distance runner, as he follows any. instructions meant for his good. “Dud” Wills duly won the walks, and there is iio telling how fast he can really go. Charlie Falkner is responsible for his finished style and is deserving of thanks, Garrett ran very well, but he was lacking a good sprint to win the three miles. H. J. C. Kelsen won the one mile cycle after a gruelling sprint up the straight with W. Stenning. In the three miles, had he kept on Stenning s wheel instead of tailing the field at the commencement of the last lap, he may have won, but Stening made a bird for that event from the bell. Clarrie Griffin was riding nicely when lie was unlucky enough to touch terra firma, through a faulty foot strap. Had he stood up he would have been very close at the finish, for three miles is his distance. Kennedy rode strongly and deserved his win. He has improved greatly. F. Brown seemed to ride as though overtrained, and was rather disappointing. A let up in training may have a good effect. M. Kilpatrick (Toko) ran well, and will go better later on. A few competitors did not take their defeats as they should, by saying they could have won only for so and so happening. Take a beating in a sporting spirit and always congratulate the winner.

There was a‘ lot of humping going on in the cycle races, and those responsible for'it had better leave such tactics alone, for a very strict eye will be kept on them in future. Air. Atarter had some very loud explosives, and the ladies were doing a lot of flinching every start. R. E. Seagar deserves a compliment for the way he carried.out the duty of call steward. His energy accounted for a great deal of the promptness in the way the competitors arrived on the track, allowing the marksmen and starter to get the programme through onlv five minutes behind time. Nominations for Stratford and the gymkhana (Hawera) are open.