AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22009, 16 January 1935, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

CLUB MEETINGS HELD f INJURY TO HACKETT WESTERN SPRINGS CARNIVAL Athletes have been well catered for during the past week, the Grammar, Otahuhu, Technical and Lynndale Clubs conducting meetings, which produced some good racing. The Otahuhu Club's first night meeting of the new year proved as popular as all the meetings held earlier in tho season. The open meeting to-morrow night has attracted good fields, which include a largo number of city athletes, and racing should again be well up to standard. L. Johnson, tho Grammar Club's half-mile star, is making an attempt for the provincial title this season and is racing a good deal in sprint events in order to sharpen up his stride. That ho is improving his sprint was seen last week when he won the 150 yards handicap, off nine yards, in 15 1-10 seconds. This is fast running, and is only a second outside even time, and excellent going for a middle-distance man. W. Roberts showed improved form in this event and finished a good third from the scratch mark. The meeting also produced two further contenders for the provincial discus title in C. N. Nicholls, who reached 98ft., and B. Mead, who did 91ft. 6in. J. Hedley, from Rotorua, and J. Lynch, A. Sutton and J. Simpson, from other local clubs, also did round the 100 ft. mark. There will bo keen competition in this event when they all meet. Exceptionally close finishes in practically all events were the main feature of the meeting held at Lynndale last Saturday. Good times were registered in all events, but the only track record to go was in the one mile walk, when R. Cameron registered 7 minutes 7 1-5 seconds. This is excellent time, but a long way off tho sensational 6 minutes 29 seconds walk of I. Driscoll at Napier recently. Briggs' Success „

W. Briggs won the two-miles run from the scratch mark at Lynndale, but it was only in the last few yards that he gained victory, .as B. Scott, on the 120 yards mark, held on doggedly and fought Briggs every inch of the way up the straight. R. McGregor was again in form and won the 100 yards A grade nicely and appeared certain of winning the A grade 220 yards, when he stumbled and fell when only about five yards from the tape. Fortunately, he was not hurt.

Ground conditions were bad and all against fast times at Blandford Park on Saturday when the Technical Club conducted an open meeting of all events. Running from scratch V. Walker showed plenty of speed in winning the 100 yards handicap in 10 1-5 seconds. Auckland athletics will suffer a Bevere loss when this sprinter departs in a few weeks'for Wellington. In that city he should be more than a match for Fitzsimmons and he should win the provincial titles. Second and third places to Walker on Saturday were filled respectively by W. Roberts and A. H. Brown, who ran from the one yard and two-yards mark. W. S., Bainbridge won the 220 yds. from R. Day and A. S. Wilshire in smart style, but eased up in the 440 yds. when he was moving very freely about 150 yards from home. The latter event was won by H. Pearson, who stayed on, well to win nicely from J. Richardeon.

The half-mile and mile events saw the reappearance of N. F. Cooper, who was having his first races of the season. He came from the back of the field in both events to win and although his times were only moderate, they were satisfactory for the first laces. A. H. Brown cleared 20 feet with a beautiful leap to win the long jump: Two star athletes in P. Hackett and T. Eraser, the Rotorua sprinter, have received serious setbacks through foot injuries. Hackett has a sprained ankle, while Fraser has badly dislocated a bone in the too of his left foot. Both will be out of action for some time. Popular Appointment

The appointment of Mr. H. L. Towers, of Auckland, as "manager of the New Zealand team for Australia, has given great satisfaction in local athletic circles and the selectors can be congratulated upon choosing such a capable man for the position. Another Wellington visitor to Auckland at the present time is C. Brown, the star middle-distance runner of the Olympic Club. He was moving very freely in his two races at Blandford Park on Saturday and he showed form which suggested that at his best he 'would be a difficult man to beat. He will be running again at the Western Springs meeting next Saturday. J. Valder is in solid training again and now that he is able to compete regularly at Saturday afternoon meetings he should soon be producing some of the fast times of which he is capable. T. R. Kerr, the crack Taranaki sprinter, who is now stationed at lloto- . rua, continues to produce some very fcist runs and his supporters are giving him a great chance for the Auckland title. By mistake ho was placed on good marks at the Whatawhata meeting on New Year's Day and he scored easy . wins in the sprint events in fast times. The Auckland Club's first open carnival will take .place at Western Springs on Saturday and with extra large fields competing, there will be some good racing. Te Awamutu is again conducting a big carnival on Anniversary Day and a most attractive programme has been arranged. Entries for this meeting, which has proved to be a most popular fixture in the past, will close next Monday.