ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALAND V. SOUTH AFRICA.

TEST MEETING TO-DAY. The New Zealand tour of the South African athletic team will he concluded at Wellington to-day, when the South Africans will meet a specially-selected team representing the best of New Zealand athletes in iv scries of test races at Athletic Parit. Since their appearance in Auckland, ' the South Africans have gone from sucress to success, and are now at the lap ol their form. The five test events .1 elude tho lOOydSj 220 yds, 410 yds, one mile, and onemile relay. In view of the South Africans' performances throughout tho tour, keen interest is being evinced in tho contest. George Davidson, the New Zealand champion and representative at the Olympic Games of 1920-. who was indisposed at the meeting of the South Africans in Auckland recently, is now running up to his best form. In a 100 yds handicap at Wellington on Monday evening Davids.m ran a eplendid race. Running with a slight breese in 'the final, ho got within 2ft of the winner in 9 4 ss. On this form he 6flould be - at his best to-day and U certain to run prominently. In Oosterlauk, Bukcs, and Kinsman, South Africa is represented by three of the finest sprinters ever se-jn in New Zealand, and will take a power of beating. With Davidson, Wilson, and Tracy representing New Zealand, the apnnt racing will be a rare feature of the contest. C. H. Taylor, of Canterbury, will be the first string for New Zealand in the quarter-mile, and will meet Johnson, the South African quarter-ffiiler, •who .has been showing splendid form on the New Zealand tour. Tayior is reported to bo running as well as ever, which means that he is in good form. Webber, of Auckland, the one and three-mile champion of New Zealand and the Australasian threemile champion, will meet Leathern in the mile, when a great race may be expected, The half-mile has not been included in the tests, hut will be the first distance in the relay races, in which Taylor and Leathern will meet to fight out a finish. Taylor previously defeated Leathern over tho halfmile, but the South African has since established a New Zealand record of lm 57 4-ss, and is running up to his best form. The relay race will be the principal attraction of the meeting. In the teams will bo three men who have earned international fame in relay races. Oosterlaak and Davidson were two of the British Empire team that defeated the United States in England after the last Olympic Games, and Wilson was a member of the Now Zealand Army relay team, which, in winning the International Service Belay Bace in England in 1919, established a world's record.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Considerable interest is being taken in the Auckland Provincial Club Championship Meeting, which i 3 being arranged (or Saturday, March 11, at Cadaw Park, and a large number of athletes are in training for the occasion. For some years past little interest has been taken locally ill field events, but the coming championship fixture promises a revival in this direction. Athletes taking part in the carnival will .compote not only for the individual championships but also for the club championship of tiio province, points 6, 8, and 1 being awarded for first, second:, and third positions in each event, ■with tho championship trophy going to the club whose members Becuro the greatest aggregate The programme for the meeting is advertised elsowhere in this issue. Nominations close on Monday, March 6.