Northlanders Prominent in Desert Athletics

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 7

Northlanders Prominent in Desert Athletics

“The Desert Championship” was the proud title of a 100yds. race on the programme of an athletic meeting in the Middle East. It was described by Driver W. S. Bowers in a letter to his parents in Whangarei. Although he had not done any running for a considerable time, Driver'; Bowers came first in the fourth heat and finished fourth in the final, and ended the day by taking the points prize. “After the first race we all felt stiff and sore,” he wrote. In the high jump event, competition was keen and the scratch man reached 4ft. llins. and missed'the sft. mark because of the soft ground giving way. This man tied with Les Donaldson—another Northlander—who had a 2ins. handicap. Driver Bowers cleared sft. to win the event without need of his 3ins. handicap. The Long Jump In the long jump he secured third place for a 16ft. jump, and took second place in the hop, step and jump with 33ft., off 2ins. ,» He took the points prize with six points and Des Codling, of Hikurangi, came an equal second with another sergeant, each with five points. “We hope to have more of these sports among ourselves as it gives us something to talk about besides providing keen racing,” he said. Each competitor in the sports meeting paid an entry fee of two piastres (sd) for each event and the money collected was used to secure prizes.