AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 19

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

CLUB HARRIER RUNS TRAINING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP PROSPECTS FOR TEAMS' RACE Under splendid conditions all harrier and athletic clubs continued their activities last Saturday and had the final outing before the teams' championship at Avondale next Saturday. Ground conditions were the best they have been for weeks and the opportunity was taken to make all the runs fast in preparation for the coming races. Technical had a good mixture of road, cross-country and hill work in the five miles run at Epsom and around One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park. The regular fast pack was properly out of commission, as, besides the three who are already away, L. Barker and Harding were also absentees. The former has a strained knee, but will be able to take his place in the field for Saturday. In the fast pack, Mortimer, who has been a trifle off colour all the season, at last returned to form and from now on he will again have to be seriously reckoned with. A. White again won the run-in, showing plenty of speed. Wesley had its usual good muster and covered a stilf seven miles course around Three Kings and Mount Poskill. Any course around these districts is hard and provides a. wonderful training run. Wesley is another club that will show to better advantage in races across country than 011 the road. Papatoetoe, in anticipation of repeating its road race victory, had a strenuous run over six miles of country and followed up with a run-in over 220 yds. A. Morton won from S. Andrews, with R. French a close third. Good Harrier Trial The Presbyterian harriers journeyed to Otahuhu, where there is plenty of broken country available for harrier work. J. Neil and H. Crawford were again moving very freely in the fast pack, Vhile Ross, Linfoot, Elder and Davidson wore others who showed good form throughout the run. The Lynndale and University Clubs combined at Avondale and held a run over the miles course to be used next Saturday. Taken on the general form shown the Lynndale Club appearod much the stronger of the two,, but too much notice cannot bo taken of a club run, and Saturday's race may see the positions reversed. Briggs and Fowlds, however, were the fastest men on the day and toward the finish they opened a good gap on the leading University nien. Thompson, Kay and A. Ball were threo men from the latter club who showed up well, while Crompton and R. Henshall were other prominent runners. The home club conducted a 75yds. sprint prior to tho run and the final saw R. Crompton win narrowly from liriggs and Harris. Savidan's Easy Win

At the Domain, with the track in a firm and fast condition, J. W. Savidan, running from scratch, made no race of the 5000 yds. steeplechase, which was run over five laps of the usual course. A field of 18 started, with the limit men 011 200 seconds, but Savidan had the lead early in the last lap and then, running easily, ho went on to win by 60yds. and easily register fastest time. O. Mills was next, one second ahead of G. Hill, who was second fastest runner, 44 seconds behind the winner. Four heats were run in the 75yds. sprint and the final resulted in H. Rigg, off 12Jyds., winning from Copeland and Carroll. J. B. Prendergast scored a double in winning both tho shot putt and the discus throw.

The provincial team selectors will get a better idea of possible members next Saturday after the annual teams' championship has been run over the usual 10,000 metres course at Avondale. Any number of runners from each club can start in the event, but only the points of the first 10 to finish will count for the championship. This makes the event purely a teams' race, as it is practically always tho points of the eighth, ninth and tenth men that decide the championship. Lynndale Strong

Last year Lynmlale scored an impressive victory from Technical and University and on this occasion it will again be hard ,to defeat. Lynndale will probably not have more than two men in the first 15, and 011 the points of the first four or five m<m of each club to finish it will more than likely bo well down the list. From then on, however, its members are very even and it will probably more than make up the leeway. Technical, after a series of successful years, is having a lean period, and cannot be given as good a chance as Lynndale. Papatoetoe seems sure to bo the leader with six men home, but the chances of the other four retaining the position look doubtful. Auckland is in the same position as Papatoetoe and although it has a good combination for early placings, the last five men will increase the points considerably Calliope is an unknown quantity, as it did not have a team in the'road race. Calliope defeated the Hamilton Club a few weeks ago, but is milikoly to bo the winning club on this occasion. Presbyterian, Wesley aud University all have a number of new men in their ranks who may cause surprises. While none of these three clubs is expected to win, any one is capable of gaining a second or third position. Summed up, it looks like a close struggle between Lynndale and Papatoetoo, with the former'being slightly the more favoured. For the individual result no, one should win but Savidan, as he is running aa well as over. BOWLING NOTES DECISIONS OF COUNCIL BY SKIP The annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Bowling Association held in Auckland last week covered a great deal of business in tho one day allotted. On this occasion the order paper was of more than ordinary length and there were several items of a contentious nature. The date decided upon for tho opening of the championship tourney, January 7, would appear to bo on the early side, but all things considered it will perhaps be quite suitable to the majority of placers. There will 110 doubt lie much joy in local bowling circles at the council's decision to play the singles in sections on the first day and on the second day to play those who come forward on the two-life principle. The guarantee of five games at least will be a big inducement for moro players to enter and tho nominations will probably be a record this time. It was rather pleasing to note the council ruled that all who came forward from the first day's play, ties or wins 111 sections, should start olf on tho samo level for the second day's plav. The Auckland Centre's remit provided that winners of sections should have two lives and ties for sections only one life, but such a procedure was a little drastic as far as tho latter wcro concerned. Another important matter is that at last some law will prevail 011 the score of howl production, relative to size and weight. Tho council did not adhere entirely to the Australian scale, this being the ease particularly with regard to Sin. nnd 0 l-16in. bowls, which are allowed 1 oz. 11101*0 latitude, the new weights being respectively 31b. soz. and .lib. Go/,.