AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19230, 20 January 1926, Page 13

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

SCHOLZ AND HAHN. SATURDAY'S SPORTS AT DOMAIN. Tho visiting American athletes, Jackson Scholz and Lloyd Hahn, opened their Dominion tour by competing at Hamilton last Saturday. " Scholz was successful in ■winning tho 220 yds. handicap in 225, although ho gave away as much as 24yds. to several competitors. The Olympic sprint champion was seen to good advantage, beating his field with a great burst of speed over the last 50yds. Scholz also started in the 100 yds. handicap, but the prospects of a good race were spoilt by most of the runners " beating" tho pistol. In fact several were well on their way before the report of the gun was heard. That the visitors were set some impossible tasks is revealed by the handicaps of several well-known performers. In the 880 yds. handicap, W. Savidan, who ran second in the half-mile and one mile Auckland provincial championships, was generously treated with 45yds. Hahn put up a great race, only to be defeated, as might be expected, by the Aucklander. However, ifc was only by a short distance and, witli the winner's time lm. 575., it is evident that the American compassed the distance well under 2m., which, on an uneven track, is a splendid performance. Before the tour is completed Hahn should surely register fresh figures for the 880 yds. New Zealand record, which is now lm. 58 l-55., held conjointly by A. W. Dormer and H. G. Burk.

The New Zealand Athletic Association has circularised all centres drawing attention to tho handicapping of the visitors and pointing out that some handicappers aro prone to underestimate tho form of local runners in considering the visitors' best performances. It is to be hoped that on Saturday tho Auckland public will see Scholz and Hahn given reasonable opportunities to win races.

Tho two Aucklanders, J. W. Shirley and W. G. Kalaugher, had an exciting contest in the high jump at Hamilton. Kalaugher, who filled second position, received a twoinch handicap from - Shirley and jumped sft. 10£ in., a splendid effort. Kalaugher has often shown good promise and with closer attention to his style while crossing tho bar, he should go very near to clearing 6ft. His Hamilton performance is the best of his career. If he goes to Dunedin he should win tho Dominion high jump championship. Both jumpers will meet again at. tho Domain on Saturday and their appearance in tho 120 yds. hurdles will be an added attraction.

One of the best athletic attractions over made available to the Auckland public will be the appearance of Scholz and Halm at the Domain next Saturday afternoon. Each evening large crowds have watched the visitors training. It is apparent that they are both rounding into their best form. Scholz will appear in the 100 yds. and 220 yds. handicaps and in each event will be opposed by several of Auckland's selected best sprinters. The field to 9ppose Scholz over 100 yds. will probably consist of L. C. Williams. I). P. Deere, J. R. Miller, H. McCoy and two others. Williams is the local sprint champion, but at present it is micertain whether an injury will prevent him from competing. Deere is Auckland's most improved sprinter and at the Domain last week impressed Scholz by the manner in which he won the 100 yds. at the Auckland Club's evening meeting. He is a smart beginner and with a reasonable handicap is likely to oxtend his great opponent. The same field will toe the mark in the 220 yds. handicap, but here Scholz will be seen at his best distance and it will occasion no surprise if he runs the fastest furlong ever recorded at the Domain. George Davidson has this distinction, as in 1921 he won the New Zealand 220vds. championship in 21 4-ss. It will* be remembered that on this occasion the track was 4ft. over the 220 yds. Hahn will bo called upon to do a solid afternoon's work, as he is nominated in three handicaps, 440 yds., 880 yds. and one mile. It is not expected that he will start in all three, but that he will elect to run in the 880 yds. and one mile, events. T. M. Wilson, W. Savidan and G. Kells will be Hahn's most dangerous opponents. It. will all depend upon the handicaps allotted to the local men whether even or uneven races are witnessed.' Hahn did not compete in the mile at Hamilton, and his appearance over this distance is eagerly awaited. A splendid programme has been arranged and good entries have been received. the fields in the three cycling ! events being unusually large. A