GERMAN ATHLETES

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7201, 26 April 1930, Page 13

GERMAN ATHLETES

THEIR STRONG BID FOR WORLD HONOURS PERFORMANCES COMPARED A December issue of “The Field” gives some interesting information regarding Germany’s strong bid for world’s championship athletic honours. It states:—After the war, hundreds of thousands of Germany’s unemployed were turned on to prepare proper stadiums in every town that had a population of 0,000 or over; orders were issued to the ‘Deutsche Sportsbchorde Leichteathletik’ to Institute junior and women’s sections among athletic clubs; coaches were employed, and the fullest facilities for training and instruction were provided.

As one outcome Germany was able to defeat both 4 the British men and women's teams this year. Incidentally, this was first time a team of British girl athletes had ever suffered defeat.

In. the field games particularly, Germany has shown marked superiority to Britishers. Taking 30 to 34 men an event in Germany for 1929, cleared 24ft Tin, 16 others beat 23ft, while the 30th cleared 22ft 4tin. Although two Britishers upon occasion beat 23ft, the A A.A. title went to H. J. Cohen (Cam. U.). at 22ft Tin. With the high jump, while there are three or four men capable of beating 6ft, the best jump in the last English championship by a native was sft llin. On the other hand, Germany’s best man cleared 6ft 3 l-sin, 15 others cleared 61't, and the 30tli man did sft 10 l-10in. In pole vaulting the British record is lift lOJin, made by L. T. Bond (Cam. U.), in 1928. H. Bond this year was the first Englishman to win the title in competition for 30. years. He won at lift 9in. In Germany, G. Wegner made a new national record of 13ft 2 3-sin, nine men cleared lift lOin, and the 34th man did lift 1 4-sin, which beat the winning performance of the last Oxford and Cambridge sports. R, E. Howland (Cam. U.) this year reached the farthest distance with the 16th shot of any Englishman, 46ft, but the best putt m the championship was 42ft 2in. Germany is building up a constant supply of field games exponents, constant competition and competent coaching, whereas the British schools and colleges provide very little competition in many of the events, and as often as not no coaching at all."