DUNEDIN PROTEST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 March 1937, Page 9

DUNEDIN PROTEST

USE OF CAMERA' AT ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS (United Press ABuociation) DUNEDIN, 16th March. A strong protest against the judges reversing their decision about the placings in the final of the 100 yards championship on Saturday at the national meeting at Auckland was made ’ this evening by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur • Athletic Association. It was stated that Tapley (Otago) was placed second without hesitation I immediately the race was run, but when films were developed later the decision was reversed. Quinn being placed second and Tapley third. The opinion was expressed that it must be certain that the camera was correctly placed in film finishes and the use of a camera would set a precedent for all meetings. According to | the rules, the first decision should j stand, and if there were any doubt about the placings the decision should ; be withheld, as was done in the 220 yards race. It was decided to forward a protest to the New Zealand Council, asking for a full report of the decision by it before the precedent created was recognised.

JAPANESE AT NAPIER TWO RECORDS LOWERED NAPIER, 16th March. An athletic meeting held at Napier this evening at which the Japanese athletes, Kohei Murakoso and Kenshi Togami appeared, attracted a crowd of nearly 2000, who saw Murakoso lower R. A. Rose’s 10-year-old record of 9min 20 l-ssec for two miles by 2-5 sec, and the New Zealand champion walker. lan Driscoll, easily lower A. Brady’s New Zealand record of 14min 12 3-ssec, for the two miles walk, set up 41 years ago at Auckland, by 15 seconds. Driscoll had previously unofficially broken the record by eight seconds.

Togami found great difficulty in adapting himself to the powerful searchlights, and in the hop, step and jump, his favourite event, he could not sight the take-off mark. His best effort was 46ft lOJin. Murakoso ran an excellent race and after leaving the field well behind raced home to beat the record narrowly.