AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 15

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

OPENING OF WINTER SEASON. ELLIOTT IN BRILLIANT FORM. Tlio 1930 series of winter spoils, under the control of I lie Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, commenced at the Domain last Saturday under ideal conditions. The ground was very springy and with little wind blowing, several athletes showed really good form. The outstanding feature of the 75yds. handicap was tho brilliant running of Alan Elliott, tho New Zealand sprint champion, who took only 7 3T>s to win, i;i both his hen 1, and the final. In both races lie moved very fast from the holes and never left tho final result, in doubt. His present form indicates that lie is fully worth a place in the New Zealand athletic, team for the Empire Games in Canada-. If. S. Roper and R. G. Kirkwood were the other place-getters in the final of the sprint, both being at. the lop of their form.

A moderato fir-Id of twelve runners faced the starter in tlio mile steeplechase and of these six were recruits to the game. With (lie exception of A. B Brown, none, of last year's backmarkers appeared. At. the finish of the first, lap, .7. Hall, off the 32s mark, was leading the field, closely followed by Adams, Clark and McNiel, while the virtual scratch man, Brown, was handy, and already looked a likely winner Hall, who was i minim; wil.h a long, slow stride, stuck to his lead for the next quarter mile, but after that Brown asserted himself and opening out ovor the last hundred yards he won easily by ten yards from Hall, who was a similar distance in front of Adams.

Brown has just finished a very successful track season and the easy manner in which lie won his first steeplechase suggests that he will he very hard to beat in the bigger races later in the season. Of the others in the Held. Hall showed

up best, ami should be heard of again, while Thomas, who finished fourth, is a strong runner who should be seen- to advantage on the heavier tracks later in the season I 'l'he field events were well patronised i and a new exponent was discovered in 11. Hogg who won the shot putt with a fine, effort of 35ft. 7in. Competition was very keen in the discus throwing event which was won by J. W. Turn bull with a throw of 116 ft. i The sports will be continued at the Domain next Saturday when a sprint, a milo and a-half steeplechase, and three field events will comprise the programme.