AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

NAPIER SEASON OPENED Four Firsts to Hastings SHARPLEY AND MITCHELL IMPRESS (By “Spike.”) If first impressions are at all reliable, then Hastings amateurs are in for a very successful season, as to mark the Napier opening of the season they collected no less than four firsts and this in the face of strenuous opposition.

Most impressive of the Hustings quota were Sharpley and Mitchell. Sharpley, off live yards, unwound an irresistible sprint, to sweep past the limit men and win by a good yard in the good time of 10 l-ssecs. Such a promising start portends even greater efforts to come. It has always been a matter of wonderment to tho writer how Bickerstaff came to defeat Sharpley for the sprint title last season. Mitchell took the B grade 880 and also the all comers’ mile in a manner that suggested he was running with a lot. in hand. He has good style and must have impressed the handicapper who was overheard congratulating the winner and advising him to take a photograph of the starts he had in both events as he would never see them again otherwise. L. F. Taylor did not have any great opposition to contend with when winning the long jump and registering Hastings’ fourth win for the night.

A Record Attendance. The Napier officials must have been pleased with the, splendid attendance which constituted an easy record when compared with opening nights in other years. The temporary sprint track, an excellent one for the runners, is too close to the stand for patrons to view uninterruptedly the start and progress of a race. Next week the sprint course will, I understand, be shifted 20 feet towards the centre of the cycling track. The cycle events wore very popular and tho final of each provided a hairlino finish, Percy Robson taking the sprint and brother Charlie the long event.. The latter just lasted long enough to withstand a spirited finish from Fleming. In this event there appeared to bo a lack of combination between the three back markers —Attwood, P. Robson and Fleming, the lastnamed appearing quite content to leave the heavy work to tho other two, a practice that iu time brings its own reward. Women’s Events. The women’s events produced large fields, and the favourably handicapped Miss Hopkins, winner of the Corbett Rose Bow] for most points last season, made no race of both 75 and 100 yards. The BSO yards A. grade handicap provided the race of the night, R. Uallinan, P. Duffy and R. Gollop (virtual scratch man) fighting out the last 50 yards abreast. Gollop got the last stride in to win by inches from Callinan, with Duffy a similar distance away third. Just now many athletes are busy with various examinations and in consequence fields were not as large as usual. From. Here and There. Country clubs appear to be moving early this season, and requests for dates have already been received by the sub-centre from Waimarama, Wallingford and Elsthorpe. George Golding, Australian champion quarter-miler on the flat and over hurdles, also Empire champion quarter hurdles, has joined the Sydney police force. ® ® ® Judged from what we read In the cable news there is ample scope in the Sydney law and order department for a man possessing speed and ability to negotiate back-yard fences. What a shock then will be in store for wrongdoers who attempt to outsprint tho genial George who, it will be remembered, ran a great quarter-mile in Hastings in March of 1930. • ® e Mr. E. G. Sutherland, New Zealand champion all-round athlete of a few years back, is at present in Napier engaged in coaching club members in the various branches of field sports and hurdling. As a high jumper he frequently cleared 6 feet, his best being 6ft. 2in., accomplished in Durban, South Africa. Many hurdle championships fell to his Jot while ho ranks next to Stan Lay with the javelin. An invitation to any members of the local club who care to take advantage of Mi. Sutherland’s coaching is extended. He will be on McLean Park daily from 4.30 p.m. to nightfall. The Bastings Club. Tho Hastings A.A. and C.C. Club will commence the season next Tuesday night at the Nelson cricket ground, when a programme covering a wide range will be presented, A strong contingent of cyclists and runners from the Napier Club will be competing and for those who have an especial liking for wheel events a guarantee of plenty of excitement can be given.