AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

APPROACH OF TRACK SEASON MEETINGS ON LABOUR DAY WELLINGTON MARATHON RACE Now that the harrier season is closed all interests in amateur athloties are centred in the coining track season, which promises more and bigger meetings than over. All the old clubs in the city will again bo competing, while many now clubs are being formed in the provinco. Whangarei, in its second year, expects to bo much stronger than last year, while the formation of a club at Dargavillo will give more com{>etition that is so necessary to maintain the interest of the runners. Thames also has formed an amateur club and, as there have been many fine performances at the High School there in the past, the new club should not lack in talent. It is probable a club will bo formed at Pukekoho, and if teams from there and Thames could mako trips to Hamilton and Cambridge, it would give a great impetus to athletics in the Waikato. A club has also been formed at Otahuhu, and this season it will conduct its own meetings. It is the intention of the club to conduct night meetings regularly throughout the season at St urges Park. There should be keen rivalry between this club and its neighbouring club at Papatoetoc. With yo many clubs to conduct meetings, athletes should not lack competition, and consequently some great racing can be expected throughout the season. Official Opening The official opening of the season will be on Labour Day, when, in addition to the usual meeting at the Domain, a gymkhana will be held at Whangarei. Both programmes include a full range of the various athletic events, while there is also an attractive list of trophies. At Whangarei the feature event of the programme is a two miles handicap, in which Savidan and A. 11. Wilson will oppose each other on the scratch mark. Both men are reported to be in hard training for the event, which will bo their first clash over this distance. In the past there has been very little racing done between the Labour Day meeting and the New Year, but this year competition will be provided in plenty. The inter-club scratch racing will definitely be held this season and the first meeting will be on Saturday, October 27. Three other scratch meetings will also be held before Christmas. A further incentive to athletes to perform well this season is the prospect of gaining a place in the New Zealand team that will go to Australia in February, and of doing ivell against the various overseas men who are likely to tour .Now Zealand early next year. It appears certain that a number of the American and Continental runners who will he appearing in Australia will also bo seen in action in the Dominion. There will be a tour of the Auckland Province by a team of Victorian athletes, later in the season. Tlie New Zealand championships will be decided at Wanganui on March 1 and 2 next. With the extra racing before the New Year the season will be much longer than usual and athletes wishing to perform well at the championships will have to use the utmost discretion in their training and racing. Promising Young Eunqer The Mount Albert Grammar steeplechase, which was run last week, was won by L. Kemp, who shows more than average promise as a distance runner. Two years ago he won the junior steeplechase title, last year the intermediate and this year he annexed the open in fine stylo. A point of merit about his run was that ho defeated several old boys who are prominent runners in open company. An old boys' race is run each year in conjunction with the school event. Only one event of interest to winter athletes is yet to bo decided, this being the annual 20 miles cross-country marathon, to be run at Wellington on Saturday week. Although it is slightly later in the year than usual the event has again drawn a good entry and another sterling contest promises to eventuate. E. C. Browne, of Dunedin, was the winner in record time last year and after his marathon victory in February ho is Burc to be the most favoured runner for this year's contest. J. Nicholson will probably again be v the only Auckland entrant although it is not yet definitely known whether he will make the trip. In his absence A. L. Stevens, the first winner of the race, will bo Browne's most dangerous opponent.