AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19918, 11 April 1928, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

PAST SEASON REVIEWED. CHAMPIONS IN THE MAKING. POOR SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC. The amateur athletic season has now closed. No outstanding performances have been recorded by the runners, but there is a wealth of young athletes who have shown promise. Next season a champion may be produced to win honours for t-he province at the New Zealand championships. Again public patronage at meetings fell below expectations, r and it is difficult to enderstand the apathy of Auckland's sporting public. Tho Auckland Club's jubilee meeting was an excellent gathering, and no finer programme could have been seen. The attendance, however, fcas disappointing, and the officials, whose aim was to lighten the financial burden of the club, worked in vain. Sprint racing showed considerable improvement during the season. The fields were large, and the talent good. No serious rivalry was offered A. J. Elliott for his sprint title, and it will take a particularly good hundred yards runner to bring about Elliott's defeat in a scratch race. At the latter end of the season Elliott showed improvement, and his victory in tho 100 yards handicap on St. Patrick's Day was most meritorious. Next year Elliott should be at the zenith of his career. Promising Young Sprinters. Little was seen on the track of L. C. Williams, who is perhaps the most brilliant sprinter, up to 75 yards, in the Dominion. Consistency has been a feature of tho sprinting of L. H. Meredith, A. G. Bond and J. R. Hook. It is a long time since a trio of sprinters have figured so prominently in handicap races. Meredith is the most likely to develop into a champion. He showed excellent form over 220 yards, a distance over which he has won on four occasions this season. Bond and Hook have both improved, and the latter has on numerous occasions shown form which places him in the championship class. Several additions to the ranks of sprinters were noted in the last two meetings, and Cooper, who won at St. Patrick's, displayed more than average ability. Larger fields were attracted by the middle distance events, and at almost every meeting 14 to 18 runners started in the 440 and 880 yards handicaps. The quarter-mile titlfe was annexed by, u. L. McCoy, who quite recently, at a young age, decided to retire. His retirement is a distinct loss to amateur athletics, for in two seasons ho became an Aucaland and New Zealand title-holder. Henry's Fine Performances. The outstanding performanc of the season, however, goes to the credit of T. E. Henry, whose debut as a 440 yards rudner was so promising that it is not too sanguine to expect the ex-Rotorua sprinter to hold a Dominion title in the near future. For several seasons Henry performed creditably as a sprinter, but at the latter end of last season he trained for middle distances. Success immediately came his way and twice in succession he •won 440 yds. handicap off scratch. Hurdling has also claimed Henry's attention and it is in this department that the local man should become proficient. Becently he registered 595. for the 440 yds. hurdles, and with more experience as a jumper, Henry should have great prospects for establishing a fresh New Zealand record. There has beer, no noticeable improvement in the runners seen in the half and one mile events, and no fast times were recorded during the season. J. W. Savidan has no equal over the mile. He could make even better time over this distance with more concentration on the times taken to cover each lap. Savidan is always fresh at the finish. The precedent, set by Nurmi and others, of carrying a stop-watch, would probably assist the local champion when racing against time. L. C. Barker wan prominent on several occasions this year and won three races. Barker can stay well, but he must show better judgment in timing a finish. G. Kells failed to reveal the dash shown a .few seasons ago, and-the ex-New Zealand cross-country champion is evidently feeling the effects of his early racing. Some Excellent Jumping. Some excellent jumping was witnessed during the season, and competition was unusually keen. J. W. Shirley proved himself a high-class exponent at the hop, step and jump, which title he again won afc the New Zealand championships. Honours at broad jumping were well distributed, and on almost every occasion a different competitor was adjudged the -"inner. Lack nf practice appears to be the fault with jumpers, and the provision of better facilities at the Domain may result in improved jumping. It is pleasing to record greater interest in field games, and the encouragement given to this branch of athletics last winter has undoubtedly been rewarded. Increased number of competitors have been a feature of the season's sport, and each meeting saw better results. E. S. "Wills was perhaps the most consistent performer and at one meeting won three events. Wills shows considerable promise at javelin throwing and improved 28ft. on Lis earlier efforts. With more experience Wills may become a high-class performer. Pole vaulting has almost disappeared from the programme at local meetings, and not once this season did sufficient competition offer to warrant an event being held. It is understood that no poles are available for use of intending competitors. Perhaps the, importation of one would assist to produce aspirants in this spectacular event. GOOD AUCKLAND BATSMAN. HIGH PRAISE FOR A. GEDYE. The 120 runs compiled by A. Gedye for the Newmarket Railway Workshops' team against Petone in the Myers Cup match played during Easter was a fitting end to the suburban batsman's efforts this season. Included in Gedve's score ■were eleven fours and one six. Gedye has been one of the most prolific scorers in (he Suburban Association's club competition, and many followers of cricket thought he should have been given an opportunity in the first Auckland eleven. L. T. Cobcroft, an ex-Australian and New Zealand representative, who captained the Petone team, made some interesting remarks in connection with Gcdye's performance. "I have seen Gedye bat on several occasions prior to Saturday's match, and I have no hesitation in saying he is in the first flight, of batsmen, His innings was one of delightful cricket, and, with two exceptions, all his strokes *rere correctly made. He has the scoring shots of a good batsman, and I am tk® opinion no Auckland eleven is pfjjgg"Pl®te without Gedye.'-