RECORD UNRECOGNISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21495, 19 May 1933, Page 12

RECORD UNRECOGNISED

AUSTRALIAN HIGH JUMPER ATHLETIC BODY'S RULING Officials of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association have decided that J. P. Metcalfe's Australian running high jump record of 6ft. 3Jin., established at the Sydney University athletic championships recently, cannot be accepted. The decision has caused indignation among members of the University Athletic Club, officials of which intend to press the matter further. The association has ruled that, before the date of the fixture, an athlete must announce his intention of attacking a record, and association officials must be appointed to supervise the event. Tho university championships were considered to be a club fixture, and as the association was not informed of the attempt on tho record its acceptance, it is stated, cannot be endorsed.

Commenting on tbe association's decision, Mr. K. S. Jones, captain of the Sydney University Athletic Club, said that all conditions for the granting of the record had been complied with. . No notification of an attempt ou the record had been made to the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association before tho event, as it was not necessary. Tho university championships had been held under the rules governing the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association, and the officials of tho meeting were quite competent, under those rules, to recognise tho performance. The breaking of tho record was pyrely incidental to the event, and, therefore, required no notification to tho association -before the event, since it was "Trot a special attempt on tho record figures.

Mr. Jones added that the University Club would make a determined effort to have Metcalfe's wonderful performance recognised. If there was any question of tho conditions not having been complied with the club's representatives would bring tho matter up at tho next meeting of the council of the association.