EMPIRE GAMES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1934, Page 5

EMPIRE GAMES

FIRST RESULTS

SEVERAL RECORDS BROKEN.

?U»iied Press Association— By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, August 4. F.ive hundred men and women athletes, representing sixteen Empire countries, paraded at White , City this afternoon, led by their own national emblems and colours, and headed by tho Guardis Band. They matched round the track, thus opening the second Empire Games. 'Canada, as the first hosts in 1930, led the procession, and it'hc other countries came in aipha-bctji-Tal order. Lovelock carried the New Zealand flag, leading a stalwart little company in black with the silver fern on the breast. A crowd of fifty thousand warmly welcomed the competitors, who are of all ages, from girl swimmers, some of whom are in their early ’teens, to grey haired bowlers. It ‘Howland, the captain of Englands’ athletes, took the oath on behalf of the competitors, viz. : “We, loyal subjects of the King-Emperor, will participate in the Games in the spirit of true sportsmanship fox- the honour of the Empire and the glory of sport.” The Guards’ trumpeters sounded a' fanfare, and tho Union Jack was then hoisted on the flagstaff, and three .pigeons, one of each colour, red white and blue, were released, after 'vjfhich fifty thousand /racing pigeons, valued 'at two hundred thousand pounds, emblematic of doves, rose from baskets round the track to take a mcs-. Sage of peace /t!o Marions homes throughout the country.

Lord. Lonsdale read the Prince of Wales’ reply to a- loyal message which the athletes had sent after a visit to St. James. ‘He .also read a message from the King, wishing success to the Games. Lord Lonsdale then introduced Sir George Truscott, the Deputy Lord Mayor of London, who declared the games open. . .

The A/ustralian, Clark, did not qualify for the final ! °f the 100 yards backstroke.

’Most of the Australians are /below their best form, as the result of a lack of proper training. A brilliant finish enabled Miss Dennis to .lower the British breaststroke record by 1 4-ssee.

Ryan in the 1500 made a plucky effort, but Pine's form was superior. As time is insufficient for Ryan to reach the top ei his form before, the final, it can hardly b>* expected he will turn the tables on the Canadian p.irie’fl time ‘Was ten seconds better than when Rvan won in 1930.

Jn tlhq ’athletics, the |Australian ’-inters wore handicapped owing to the -lack of recent racing. Dempsey and Horsfall were eliminated in their he-ibs of the 100 yards, but Yates entered the final, wherein he was left at the start, and was unable to make up the ground lost. .In the heat of the 880 yards, the New Zealander, Broadway, and t-?ie Australians, Reillys and Lander, were eliminated. * The New Zealander, Whareaitu was unplaced. Following .are the results of the first day’s finals : —- ONE HUNDRED YARDS. A(. W. Sweeney (England) I N. W. Theuniissen (South Africa) 9 I. C, Young (Scotland) 3 Time' lOsec. Sweeney won -his heat. in 9 9-10 sec, thus equalling the British record. 440 YARD HURDLES. F. A. R. Hunter (Scotland) ... 1 c. p. Reilly (Australia)' ... ... 2 Won by three yards. Time 55 1-5 see. THREE MILES FOOTRACE W. J. Beavers (England) 1 C. K. Allen (Enel and) 2 J. A. Burns (England) 3 Time 14min 52 3-ssec. HOP, STEP N.ND JUMP. J. Metcalfe (Australia) 50ft 3-Jin, was first. A British record. N. Richardson (Canada) was second with 48ft OJin. H. K. Bra.insbv (New Zealand) wa« third with 47ft, 111-in. DISCUS THROW. TT. Hart (South 'Afri-M l#>ft, 3in 1 p. R. Belt (England) 132 ft Sin ... 2 B. L, Prendpmst, (Jamaica) 132 ft 3 WOMEN’S BELAY RACE. 660 YARDS Canada- (M'sse« Palmer, White, Meagher and Dernlov) 1 England (Misses Hiscor-k. Walker,

Halstead and Johnson' 2 Time Imin 14 2-ssec. A British record .

SWJMMING

1500 Yards Freestyle. first -hent R. Pirie (Canada) 1. Ryan (Australia) 2. Time 18min 45 2-ssec.

200 Yards Breaststroke, second heat. —N. Hamilton (Scotland! 1, Higginson (Australia) 2. Time 2min 4?>sec. The New Zealander (Smith) did not qualify in the first lw>t. Women’s 200 Yards Breaststroke, sec- - 0. , (1 heat.—C. Dennis (' ustralia) 1. P 11-aslnm (Canada) 2- Time 2m : n 52 iA British record. Women’s high diving final. Aliss E. Macrea-dv (England )L Miss Thomnson (Australia) 2, Miss C. Cousins (England) 3, Miss !L. Adams, the thirtcen-yeai'-old Canadian, 4. IRISH ASSOCIATION’S PROTEST. AGAfINST SWIMMERS’ EXCLUSION LONDON. August 5. The Irish Amateur -Swimming Asso-

eiation has protested -against the Empire Games council’s action .as” being

“absurdly illogical and entirely unsustainable,” in its refusal to accept the entry of Irish swimmers for the Games. The vefiisal is because the Irish Free State and Ulster a*e different political divisions. Therefore the council holds it could not consistently accept the Free State entry a« it must keep to a political style of title for the various territories. The Jrisli Association declares that there has been a campaign to discourage Irish entries. It adds that the Empire Game s council has accepted (Ireland’s team from the Irish Bowling -Association, while Alll-Ireland jurisdiction prevails in regard to rugby, golf, hockey and cricket.