AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1925, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES.

SHOW TilolU PAGES AT LINTON SPORTS. LEVIN COMPETITOUS IN WINNING MOOD. Yesterday was a red-letter day in history of the Linton Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club which held its seventeenth annual sports, the occasion being marked by the appearance of the Australian athutcs. There was a record crowd present to witness the local competitors try their pace against the best of Australia. The spectators wore delighted by the sporting and plucky manner in which the visitors ran their various events. They were given very severe tests, but although they were unable to gain first places, they were placed second in four events and third in two, out of eight starts. McDonald Deals Grehan. If the “clocks” are to be believed, and the writer has every reason to believe so, then N. Grehan (Brisbane) performed a great feat by running the 220yds. in 22secs., ■ which meant that he had cut a second and one-fifth off the time in which the 220yds. championship was won by at Wanganui. Grehan started three times, including a heal, and on every occasion he was beaten by Manawatu’s latest sprinter, J. McDonald, who certainly had good handicaps, but nevertheless, proved a most successful competitor. The local man won the 100 and 220 yards, while lie was also placed second in the long jump after a rejump, having tied with the limit handicap jumper. Durness Out of Luck. The great cyclist, C. Burness (Sydney) also gave a splendid account of himself, Unfortunately for him he sustained several injuries to his thigh at Hawera and after a spell, he was unlucky enough to have another spill at Dunedin, but to cap them all, he met with another accident at the finish of his first event for the day, the mile race. Scobic looked behind after he had passed the tape and skidded, with the result that Burness, in trying to dodge him, was forced to run into Dixon, and in the fall he again bruised his wound, and this caused him to suffer stiffness in the two mile event. However, he was cared for and showed something of his true form in the five mile race. Hyde’s Great Effort. The crack Victorian miler, G. Hyde, started only twice, but in each event he gained a place, in the 880 yards, he was in the hunt and made a great bid for second place, but just failed by a few yards. In the mTIe event, he was giving away Kid yards and he was called upon to make every effort to gain j econd place. He started at a pretty fast pace and many of the spectators expected him to retire, but he was able to maintain the speed until entering the straight. By then he was about 25 yards bhind the leader, K. Godfrey, of Bunnythorpe, and he made his last spurt to overtake the local runner, but failed by 12 yards. The spectators cheered and applauded the plucky Australian for his fine effort and the performance will be remembered for a long lime by those who witnessed the race. The only other Australian competitor was W. Whyte, of Melbourne, vho also was severely handicapped io the only event he entered for. He ,vas placed second in the 440 yards after a praiseworthy attempt to gain premier honours. His sprint up the straight was a splendid one and he gained about 12 yards, but, when Dray of Feilding, touched the tape, he was yet a yard behind. Although the arrangements for the spectators and competitors was very satisfactory, the facilities afforded the press left room for improvement. The officers wore as follow; Starters: .Messrs. A. E. Paget, G. H. Currin; timekeepers; Messrs. C. P. Xash. and R. Yautier; judges; Messrs Jos. Eatchelar, O. Davis, E. Greer, H. Woodfleld (hunters contest), G. Greer and S. Wilson (jumps) ; handicappers: Messrs. T. Stubbs (flat), J. Cooksley (cycle) and G. Craw (trots). 100 Yards Handicap.—First Heat. J. McDonald (Manawatu), Byds., 1; E. H. Bray (Feilding) 18yds., 2; N. Grehan (Queensland) ser. 3. Time lOsecs. Second heal: A. Terry (Linton) 7Jyds. 1; VV. Johnston (Linton), 10yds., 2; S. G. Sutherland (Linton) 10yds. 3. Time lOsecs. Final: McDonald 1, Grehan 2, Bray 3. Time lOsecs. The Queenslander was given a big task to win for ho would have been called upon to break ten seconds. He ran a splendid race and finished a foot behind the Manawatu runner, while Bray was only a few inches behind Grehan for third place. It was a grand finish but -McDonald was on a good handicap and touched the tape first. 220 Yards Handicap McDonald (Manawatu) ISyds., 1; Grehan (Queensland), scr., 2; Bray (Foilfling) 18yds., 3. Time 22sccs, This was McDonald’s race although he won from the Queenslander by only two feet. The visitor made a gallant bid and covered the distance in the good time of 22 1-5 secs., which was one-fifth of a second below the lime lie look !o run the first heat in the championships where he laid to retire owing to an injury to his ankle. Gray was only a few inches behind Grehan at the finish. There werv seven starters. 440 Yards Handicap-—Bray (Fending) 2(iyds., 1; \V. Whyte (Victoria) scr., 2; A. Brill (A.okauteic) 45yds. 3. Time 51 secs. The Victorian ha s’ bad luck in this race in that lie was only a foot away from lira) when the latter touched the tape. Bray ran very well and took the lead about 100 yards from the tape, but lie was fully extended by the visitor who was only a yard ahead of Brill. Grehan was amongst the six starters but he only paced Whyte up to the straight. SSO Yards Handicap —K. Godfrey (Bunnythorpe) 70yds., 1; O. Scotney (Feilding), 30yds., 2; U. (J. Hyde (Victoria), set'-, 3. Time .1.50. There were six entrants for this event but Godfrey was treated generously and won by two yards from Scotney who was four yards ahead of the Victorian. Hyde made a splendid sprint up the straight but the placed man had established a good lead. One -Mile Handicap.—R. Godfrey (Bunnythorpe) J 40yds., 1; G. Hyde. (Victoria) scr,, 2; H. Montgomery (Kauwhata) 155yds., 3. Time 4.32 1-5. This was perhaps the best flat race of the day although there were only six entries. The winner made the pace pretty warm at the start and maintained a good lead to win comfortably' by 13 yards. It was the great race run by Hyde that made the spectators wish that the Victorian would win. He was severely handicapped but he diminished tiu lead in groat style. Coming round the bend for the last time ho was third and amid great applause ho sprinted in a manner that would have been a credit to Grehan, but the great race told on him and he finished 40 yards ahead of Montgomery, who had to sprint to gain his place ahead of Pronse who was 4th. Sack Race. —O. Batcholar (Linton) I, C. Burness (New South Wales) 2, H. Sanies (Linton) 3. Four starters. Hop, Stop and Jump, —A. Moyes (Linton) 2ft. 6in., t; Ross (Tokoluartt) lit. Gin., 2; • Walker (.Manawatu) 1 ft. Gin.. 3. Distance 39ft. 4ni, Ross jumped 3Gft. llin Long .lump. 'ferry, Ift. I; McDonald, scr,, 2; Sutherland, 2f(. Gin. 3. Distance 19ft. llin. McDonald jumped 19ft. sin. .Members’ Race. A. 'ferry, scr., 1; S. Sutherland, 3yds. 2; A. Merriman. 9yds., 3. Five start its. Married Ladies’ Race, - Mrs J. I’cterana 1. Airs M. Conquest 2, Mrs T. Lynch 3. Singh' Ladies’ Race. Miss G. niyili 1. Miss Williams 2, Miss I, Moyes 3. Cycling. one Mile Cycle Race. Dixou (■Manawatu) 40yds„ J; J. D. Scobie (Levin) Gsyds., ?: C. Burness. ser., 3. Time 2.15. There wore twelve starters for this event and it looked like a gift to the Sydneyite, who at the half mile was in the sixth place and at the threequarter mile was in the load by a wheel, but Dixon and Scobie came up with several others and Burness was caught in the bunch whore lie was somthored with dust as he turned into the straight. Dixon then broke away and won by two vards with Burness coming at full

speed a yard and a half behind Scobic. Two Mile Cycle Knee. Curtis (.Manavvatu), 40yds., x; Scobie, 100 yds., 2; Wildbore (Covin) 70yds., 3. Time 4.45 4-5. There were nine starters in the event and the race developed into a contest between the placed men for Burn ess pulled out at the end of the mile owing to stiffness caused by an aciddent. At this stage the order was Scobie, Wildbore and this order was maintained for another half mile when Curtis displaced Wildbore. On • altering Hi. straight the winner took Hie lead tail was hard pushed to win by foui yards, a yard separating second and third. Five Mile Cycle Race. ] 70yds., 1; F. Powell. 2<R(yds.. 2; K Wisnofski, ttooyds., o. Tinn 12.30. The New South Welshman was unlucky in this event as lie and Curl is wen; obliged to do practically all (lie pacing of the “crack" bunch. Curtis, al'iei his great win in the two mile event was placed on scratch with Durness, and for the first five laps the competitors were divided into two bundles, those on the limit having a lead of about 151) yards. In Hie fifth lap led by Durness, the scratch men gained well over 3(1 yards, but in the next lap they lost it. When Curtis look the lead in the seventh they gained a good 50 yards For the next two and a half rounds Bumess gradually diminished the haul l>ul, the limit, men, who had remained in the same position, were a little too far ahead of him and he failed to win by about 12 yards. It was a gland race and bad the pacing been equally divided in the carlief stag: of the exent the 'dsitor would have won comfortably. The winner won by six yards, with four yards separafins second and third „ Horse Events. Hun err’ Competition. --- 'A'. Scott :; Coker’s Prince 1; F. Edmund’s Coker's Chestnut 2, H. Batchelar’s Rococo o. Five starters. Uni- Mile Trot (saddle). P. Chadwick's Victor Hova 1. A. R. Ora miner’s Silverside Lass 2, P. Sheridan’s Blue Pedo- 3. Seven starters. Mile and a half Trot (saddle). P. Chadwick’s AHcfor Hova 1, J. Hill’s Sea Nymph 2, G. Craw’s Nelson Fame S. Six entries. One and a quarter Miles Trot (saddle). P. Sheridan’s Blue Pedo I, G. Craw’s High Seas 2, A. R. Grammer’s Silverside Bass 3. Five starters. Turning Competition. O. Batchelar 1, H. Batchelar 2. Six entries. Flag Race. ■ — F. Edmond 1, G Johansen 2. Four entries. Driving Competition, M. Rix I A. Terry 2. Six entrlesl.