EMPIRE GAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 15

EMPIRE GAMES

OUTSTANDING ATHLETES f _____ SUCCESS OF ENGLAND GROSE'S GOOD AVERAGE WONDERFUL ORGANISATION BT H. K. BRAINSBY , LOXDON, August 12 The British Empire Gaines for '1934 ■were brought to a close yesterday, when the cycling events were contested at the Fallowfield track, Manchester. The /three championships decided were the 1000 metres time trial, the 1000 yards and the 10 miles. Ten champions and jnany ex-champions from nine countries competed, including Duncan Gray, the Australian Olympic champion. Although he did not actually secure a first, second or tljird place, New Zealand's representative, Frank Grose, of Chirstchurch, rode with very preat credit, and fully justified his selection in the team. He finished in fourth place in each of the three Events, and thus returned the second best average of all the competitors, E. Clayton, of South

Africa, being the best all-round per- , former, with a second and two thirds ' in the three championships.

The cycling events were held a week ifter the athletic and swimming contests, and this extra week of training allowed ' Grose to approach nearer his New Zealand form than was the case

with any other member of the team, /although even then I do not think he was quite at his best. However, he rode really well, ,and put up a performance that in particularly gratifying. Although comparatively voung in years. Grose is a veteran of the New Zejiland tracks, and has probably done more in his time than any other cyclist to assist the sport in the Dominion. The 1934 Games have been a conspicuous success in all ways. At the threeday athletic /meeting some great performances were witnessed, and the recults indicate that the standard of athletics in the British Empire is in many equal to Olympic and world standards.

England was - the most successful competing country. A large English team, the largest at the meeting, assisted greatly in this respect, but included! in; the team were some really brilliant performers. The Army athlete* Godfrey Rampljng, was outstanding for his victory in the quarter-mile. He ran " the distance in 48g, a new British record and a time that is remarkably fast for the White City track, which is regarded by competent judges as being a little slow. The ease with which Rampling scored was the feature that impressed most. He is a great q nartermiler, and should be a bright prospect for England at the 1936 Olympic Gameß. Rapid Rise to Fame A. W. Sweeney (England), winner of both the sprint races, has had a rapid rise in athletics. He has been playing Rugby football and, having been unlucky in receiving several injuries, he recently decided to try his •lack at running. Coached by W. Thomas, the famous Oxford University co&bh. looked after the New Zealand athletes, he has developed into Britain's .fastest sprinter for years. He has an abundance of power and dash, and finishes his races with a tremendous burst of speed. If he continues to improve as he'is now, great things are expected of this athlete. Mr. W. Theimisson, the tall South African runner who ran two seconds to Sweeney, is another very fine sprinter with an exceptionally long stride. With a little more experience he will be difficult to beat anywhere. Perhaps the most spectacular event of the meeting was the half-mile, won in characteristic style by Phil Edwards, the coloured runner from British Guiana. Edwards was an outstanding Performer at the 1932 Olympic Games, when, he ran for Canada, and was a v <?ry popular figure at this meeting. Edwards led from start to finish in the half-mile. He runs with an abnormally - long stride, a,nd makes a terrifically fast pace over the -first quarter-mile. His was the most comfortable victory of the meeting, and he got a great reception from a public who welcomed his spectacular race-winning methods. Varying Fortunes

The varying fortunes of athletics were never better illustrated Ahan in the case of Jack Metcalfe, the Australian jumping Btar. After his brilliant success in the hop, step and jump on the opening day, when he jumped 51ft. 3Jin.,_ an increase of a foot over his previous hest, Metcalfe was very confidently expected to score an easy win ih the high jump. Yet this was won by E. Thacker, of South Africa, who cleared 6:ft. 3in., and Metcalfe failed to get into a place. On the concluding day Metcalfe could do no better than 22ft. 9in., to take third place in the long jump. Thacker, dinner of the high jump, is 6ft. 4m. in height and uses the scissors method or high jumping, as is employed t by Phil Hackett, Now Zealand champion, who has cleared 6ft. lin. Thackers leap of 6ft. 3in. is a remarkable one for an athlete jumping in this now antiquated fashion. It is interesting to note that the three miles chamnionship was won by the Englishman W. J. Beavers in 14m 325, which is several seconds 'slower than the time put up earlier this year hy J. W. Savidan. The latter would undoubtedly have been successful in both this event and in the six miles event if he had made the journey. Incidentally, the members of the New ZealaTid team received numerous inquiries for Savidan and S. Lay, the javelin thrower, who represented the Dominion on previous overseas tfips. Another performance at the KmPire Games worthy of .special mention is that of S. C, Wooderson. who ran second to Jack Lovelock' in the mile, won in 4 m 12 4-s=. Wooderson has only just left school. To have run second in

the Empire Games in a race that all but resulted in a British record is a magnificent achievement for a young runner in his first year of open competition. He should prove a worthy successor to Lovelock.

Meanwhile, the New Zealander continues on his victorious way. Yesterday at Amsterdam he defeated Bill Bonthron, the crack American University miler, in a special match race. Lovelock is to compete in further races at Paris and Copenhagen. S. Richardson, of Canada, winner of the long jump, is a young negro. He' possesses speed, an amazing spring and is very versatile. He should go far and is a likelv Olympic winner in the future.

The 120 yards high hurdles was won by the English athlete D. O. Finlay. H. J. Viljoen, the popular South African, veteran ot many campaigns, fell when going comfortably in second place behind Finlay. He was extremely unfortunate in injuring his shoulder so badly that he was unable to compete in the long jump, in which he must have had a very good chance. His team mate, H. Hart, also an Olympic veteran, won the discus and shot put, in the latter of which he threw over 48ft. The swimming events of the Games also produced some stirring contests and fine performances. One race in particular, the 1500 yards free-style, will long live in the memory of those who saw it. Noel Ryan, Australian champion, defeated B. Pirie, of Canada, by two vards after an exciting duel, during which no more than a few feet separated the swimmers at any stage until the final 20 yards. Canada has some exceedingly promising swimmers. Their representatives, G. Burleigh and Miss P. Dewar, were successful in the 100 yards free-style events. Both are fine young swimmers returned fast times. No summary of the features of the 1934 Empire Games would be complete without mentioning the wonderful organisation and the unflagging hospitality accorded the visiting athletes. Sir .Tames Leigh-Wood, chairman of the Games Federation, and the secretary, Mr. Evan Hunter, in particular, were thef moving spirits in the able and unremitting work which made these second Empire Games such a success.