ATHLETICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 76, 11 March 1933, Page 2

ATHLETICS

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS SUMMING UP THE HONOURS. AUCKLAND LIKELY TO ANNEX SHIELD. (By "Spike.”) The eyes of the athletic world are to-day turned to Christchurch where there is being decided the national championships. During recent years the standard of track and field athletics throughout the Dominion has perceptibly improved and it was anticipated that the peak was reached last year at Auckland where competitors indulged in an orgy of record breaking.

However, anticipations of last year promise to be wrong and there has so far this season been given every indication that under good conditions fresh records will be established to-day at Lancaster Park in some of tlio events.

The championship shield, symbolical of provincial superiority, has been won by Wellington on 23 occasions, the last 16 in succession, but this time there is every indication that Wellington will have to make way for others. In fact, it would not be surprising if Auckland, Canterbury and Otago all finished in front of the present holders. To sum up the prospects, Auckland look likely collectors of the 100 yards (A. Elliott), 440 yards (Bainbridge), three mile (Cooper or Savidan), 120 hurdles (Bowie), 440 hurdles (KerrTaylor), long jump (Morgan). Providing his stylo satisfies the judges, Coleman from the West Coast should collect both walks, but ho was ruled out last year. However, Stan Lay should carry off the javelin event and Sullivan has fair prospects in the hop, step and jump and long jump. This, 1 think, disposes of West Coast prospects. Next comes Wellington, and with our own nominee (Driscoll) in the walks there is good chances of success. Munro should win the shot and discus throw and there is hope for Crowe in the high jump.

Moving to the South Island, Canterbury have great prospects with MacFarlane in the furlong and they will take a big hand with Broadway in tho quarter. The halfmile looks good for them with either Anderson or Broadway, and in the mile there is Kane, while Batstono has only Johnson, of Otago, to fear in the pole vault. Otago’s chances are in the field events and Cameron should collect two and Leckie one.

The cyclists’ chances are difficult to gauge, but Byrnes, of Auckland, is in great form just now, but banked track riding is different to grass. Wellington should win the women’s relay and Miss Norman Wilson should regain the sprint title. She has, however, a serious rival in Miss F, Gudsell, of Ashburton. Points for women’s events do not count for tho shield.

Summed up it would appear that Auckland have a royal chance of taking the provincial honours, and if this prophecy proves correct their success will give the sport a great fillip up there. South Island Championships. Amateur athletics have in Canterbury been making such progressive strides in recent years that it was not surprising to read that when the provincial titles were competed for down there last Saturday a series of firstclass performances were the result. Despite a head wind J. B. Maclarlane, who ran here in January, won the century final iu 10 i l -ssecs. and the furlong in 22 3-ssecs. Geoff. Broadway took the quarter in 50 2-ssecs. and in the 880, in the greatest race yet seen in the Cathedral City, he lost his title to Denis Anderson in the great time of lmin. 54 4-ssees., thus equalling the New Zealand record established by Don Evans of Taihape. Anderson was here with the Canterbury Varsity team in 1932. Gordon McGregor was beaten by a foot in the 120 hurdles in 16 2-ssecs. and it would appear that he has lost much of his early season form. In the pole vault W. J. Batstone won the pole vault at 11 feet, just 4J inches short of the Dominion record, which, by the way is also in Batstone’s name. A. D. Kane, of Kaiapoi, a promising middle distance runner, took the mile in the fair time of 4nun. 27 l-ssecs. Cyril Matthews did not compete. The Otago championships were decided on the same day and while there were not established the brilliant track performances as at Christchurch still the standard was fairly high.

In field events, however, there were some remarkable performances, chief of which was the pole vault effort of R. O. Johnson, who cleared lift. sjin., thus creating a fresh New Zealand record. In the high jump Cameron cleared sft. Ilin., threw the discus 113 ft. lin., covered 47ft, 7jin. in the hop, step and jump, and 21ft. Biin. in the broad jump. His effort in the triple leap is better than the New Zealand record, but as there was a following wind the effort is discounted. Leckie threw the hammer 150 ft. sin. ■ and Creaser hurled the javelin 158 ft. I Tin. , From this it will bo seen that the i field games exponents of Otago are right at the top of the class. The .Napier Meeting. The outstanding performance at Napier on Thursday evening was Callinan’s effort in the pole vault when he cleared 10ft. Gin., thus creating a fresh provincial record. The Decathlon competition comprising ten events also went to this competitor and he holds the handsome Corbett Cup for a year in consequence. Reg. is a keen student of field events and his latest success is a deserved reward for perseverance. Women’s events over 220 and 440 yards were novel items and while they ehould not appear too often (hey arc

not injurious to the competitors if run at the end of the season. As a quartermile runner Miss E. Lawrence was most impressive. Hastings competitors assisting Wellington to-day in the national championships at Christchurch are the Misses Lean and Tong and Mr. I’. Sharpley. C. Sutton, of Napier, is in the cycling events, and Miss N. Wilson, of Gisborne, will, with Miss Lean, contest the sprint title. These two with Misses Tong and Kench will comprise the relay team. The lights will be ablaze at Hastings on Tuesday evening next and it is hoped to have visiting athletes who have won titles at Christchtircn competing. Next Saturday is Puketapu’s big day, nominations for which close on Monday, The athletic portion of the i; ..giamme commences at 2 pan.