Amateur Athletics

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7104, 13 March 1933, Page 10

Amateur Athletics

[By “Amateur.”]

The evening meetings held by tho amateur clubs are nearing an end, and as the clocks have to be put back on the 19th. of this month only two more meetings arc likely to be held. Next Wednesday the Kia Toa Club will hold their usual meeting, and the following Monday the Manawatu Club will finish the track season, when a programme of great interest will be run, including tho 440 yards open handicap for tho “Bankers’ Cup” at present held by W. Gimblett, and the SSO yards fiat handicap for the points cup at present held by N. Dixon. Tho events should prove a great draw, as members arc all secretly training, and fast times aro expected. Ladies’ events of 50 yards and 75 yards will also be run if sufficient entries come forward. The one gaining most points in both events will be awarded the Weston t.l.nith Cup for the next 12 mouths. The usual cycling events will be held and in addition a two lap cycle event for officials will be got off. This event last year proved a great race, and some of the old riders showed they still knew how to pedal. The meeting will have to start sharp at. 6 p.m. to allow of the programme being finished before dark and members should make a special effort to be on time for the la 1 1 meeting. Last week’s meeting was up to the usual standard. Entries in both cycling and running were good and the races proved very interesting, close finishes being evident in all events. Among the runners Finlay proved the best, winning the 220 yards and dead-heating for second placo in the 100 yards. If this runner had started earlier in the season, he would have won a lot of races at the different meetings held in. the district. The same can be said of Thompson, another late-comer. Claridge showed his best form this season, but on looking over the performances of tho different runners during tho season with the exception ofono or two, training has not been taken very seriously, and until it is, there cannot be any improvement rn tho standard of running in our city. We hear the athletes, both runners and cyclists, and the amateur code should be able to hold its own with other clubs in the Dominion if things were taken seriously. However, as the track season is now nearly over, no improvement can bo looked for now, but next season the writer hopes to see our oily among the foremost in New Zealand. There is no doubt the idea of tho three clubs working together, as they have done this season, has been the means of improving the evening meetings, and has not only done good to the sport, but has also brought about a healthy revival of that friendly spirit that should prevail in amateur athletic circles.

The efforts of the combined clubs in trying to get the Auckland team to compete on their way back from the New ZealaigL championships at a meeting on tho Sportsground, was not successful as the team returned yesterday, the ferry boat being delayed on .Saturday to enable them to catch a train on Sunday to be back at Auckland to start work 'to-day. Another New Zealand championship has past, and the Championship Shield has been won by Canterbury, who have not held it since 1909. Wellington, who have won this shield every year since 1913, Avere last this year. The great surprise of the meeting was the defeat of EJliott' (Auckland), who was beaten by Macfarlano (Canterbury) in both the 100 and 220 yards championship. Other new champions are Barnes (Otago), 1 mile, McGregor (Canterbury), 120 yards hurdles; Anderson (Canterbury), 440 yards hurdles; Spiilanc (Otago), hammer throw; Crcrson (Otago), javelin; Miss Wilson, .TOO yards ladies’. The last of the series of summer road racing will take place next Thursday, when the final race will be held. These events have proved very popular, as many as 25 entries being received for each race. The winter scries will commence early next month, and in the meantime a rest will benefit the cyclists who have had a very strenuous season on both the track and road.