AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 January 1929, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

A WELLINGTON SENSATION. PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND A CLUB. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. Sensational developments took place at a special meeting of the Wellington Centre of tlie New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to-niglit, when a motion was moved that the Wellington Club, probably the oldest and most successful sports body of its kind in New Zealand, be suspended for three months for holding a meeting at the Basin Reserve on Saturday last in direct opposition to tlie_ centre’s ruling.

No finality 'was reached, and ,after a heated discussion in which a delegate was called upon to apologise for using obscene language, the question was- deferred for further consideration at a special meeting to be held on January 24.

The centre decided some time ago that all sports meetings in Wellington City be run by the centre and that no club- be allowed to hold any meeting individually, this action being subsequently upheld by the New Zealand Council. RECENT HAWERA PERFORMERS. IyEEN TRAINING REQUIRED. COMMENT BY “AJAX.” The Hawera Amateur Athletic Club’s first evening sports meeting in the new year drew a good number of competitors to the Showgrounds last Wednesday and competition was keen. The 100 yards produced close finishes, J. R. Johnson (12yds) proving the winner by about two feet from F. L. Booth (7 yds), who is improving with each race, although he appears to oyer-stride.

Two sprinters from Stratford, Budge and Hamilton, who are to be congratulated on their keenness in coming some 20 miles to the evening meetings, will be making their presence felt shortly in sprint events. The half-mile run 'last week produced a lield of only four, but an excitiiig finish made op for the lack of competitors. J. Reading won after an ailout battle with L. S. Hulbert up the straight. Reading is the most improved runner in the club this season. To Hulbert must be given credit as the pacemaker, and if he had timed his run home a little later the positions could easily have been reversed, as he has a line burst of speed over 100 yards. J. Matlieson, who ran third in the half-mile, reappeared after a long absence from the track. If this runner would train seriously he would be firstclass over a distance, taking his form of two years back as a criterion. D. Wills is gradually getting back to form in the walk, although his knee action still seems faulty. The meeting between Coleman and Wills will be awaited with keen interest. The Lay brothers, Tom and Stan, took first and second respectively in the 120 hurdles (3ft.) last week. These races are attracting good fields this year, it is a pity that one, or two experienced hurdlers now in Rawer a, who have all the necessary knowledge of the American stride-over action, could not come along and compete 01 instruct the younger members. The cycle events proved good races, the half-mile going to F. C. Brown, with A. Seed- in second berth. Both these riders are showing better form, Seed especially. The two-mile was a slowly run race and really developed into a sprint over the last 200 yards, in which Dykes held too many guns. Dykes’ fine physical condition should be a standard for other competitors to aim at. The club should have a future champion in youiig Les Worley, the schoolboy' sprinter. His finish in the 100 yards last Wednesday was worth watching. The held events, shot and javelin, found the scratch men off form. S. A. Lay won the shot with a good effortof 301 t. Sin. (actual put). This is an event in which steady practise and training three or four times a week is required. The javelin field produced a big field, and the champion, Stan Lay, could not make up the leeway of about 80ft, It is strange that some of the men on the limit do not make or show more improved form in this event. All competitors should now go into strict training for the WanganuiTaranaki championships, which fall On Saturday, February 9. Three competitors only will be nominated for each event, ahd unless more serious training is practised by members, some of them will find, tliat. fRo selectors liave passed them over for younger and keener competitors. Resting on one’s laurels in athletics does not last long, and the advice of “Ajax” is to get fit and keep fit.