AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 February 1939, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS WELLINGTON TITLES DECIDED NELSON RUNNERS COMPETE 1 f.'dilmi Association! WELLINGTON, This Day. A record number of athletes competed in the Wellington provincial amateur athletic championship under ideal weather and track conditions at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. The McVilly Challenge Shield, contested by the clubs in senior events only, was retained by Wellington, with 94 points. The other clubs scored the following points:—Kiwi, 30; Combined Old Boys, 19; Wairarapa Sub-centre, 18; Olympic. 16; University, 15; Hutt, 6; Nelson, 2. ‘ Masterton won the McVilly Country Club Shield with 95 points. Nelson scored 18 points and Eketahuna C. A number of events, particularly the senior quarter-mile, senior and junior 100 yards, and women’s 100 and 75 yards, were run in fast time, and there were good performances also in the field events. The longa-awaited 440 yards event went to the national sprint champion, G. Quinn, in the fast time of 49 2-5, and Quinn also won the 100 yards, in even time. C. Robinson was untroubled in the 220 yards, and in the 440 yards he finished strongly in second place. The quarter-milers got away to a per- I feet start, and J. Eastwood, in No. 4 lane, went right out to win. At the end of the straight he passed Quinn, in the outside lane, and led into the straight. He was tiring, however, and Quinn passed him 25 yards from home. Robinson, who appeared slow on the back run, finished strongly and beat Eastwood, -who struggled to the tape for second place by two feet. J. Evans and J. M. Walt were surprised by the early pace. From a perfect start in the 100 yards Quinn was two feet in front of Eastwood at 50 yards, with Adams two yards from Eastwood. These positions were about maintained, with the rest well together. Both junior sprints went to A’Court. the 100 in fast time. 10 1-5. Miss Joyce Crampton was easily the best of the women, and her 100 yards time was one fifth of a second outside the New Zealand record.