AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22045, 27 February 1935, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PROVINCIAL TITLES

CONTESTS NEXT SATURDAY

FINE RUNNING OF ATTON

The most important meeting of the season as far as Auoklanders are concerned will take place next Saturday at the Domain, when the provincial championships will be decided. With good fields .competing competition promises to be as keen as in the past. In the majority of events? the title-holders are defending their championships, but from the results of the racing so far held this season, indications point to a change in titles. Technical Old Boys is the present champion club, but the Auckland and Grammar Old Boys' Clubs are this year starting strong combinations that look likely io displace leehnical. V.' R. Walker is in Gisborne and will not be back to defend his 100 yds. title. The strongest of the competitors remaining are A. J. Elliot and W. S. Bainbridge. The latter filled second position last year, but Elliot appears the most likelv winner. W. Roberts will be the best of the other Aucklanders, while challenges from the province will come from T. 11. Kerr and T. Eraser, of Rotorua.

The same men should provide an equally hard contest for the 220 yards title and all will receive further opposition from two other brilliant provincial runners in A. M. Wall, of Hamilton, who was third last year, and M. Baker, of Thames, who made a fine debut at the Domain when competing last Saturday week. Form, however, points to Elliot also regaining this title. Brilliant Quarter-miler

The 440 yards will see Bainbridge receiving strong challenges for his title from Baker and A. J. Sayers, the brilliant Grammar boy, but the champion who is running much more freely than last year, should prove a little too fast and win this race for the third time. There are several other good quarterinilers, but the three runners mentioned appear certain to be on top at the finish.

The 880 yards always provides a good contest, and this year, with E. Kedglev not showing anything like his past form, there will be a big attempt by several runners to win the title which is really very open. Most likely to succeed is A. J. Sayers, while G. Midgley is reported to have concentrated his training on this event. J. Valder, who wps most fancied last year, ran second, is a possibility, but he also has so far failed to produce his old form. From Hamilton a runner with strong claims will be P. Lindsay, the runner-up two years ago. The surprise which is always possible iu any rac.e might come from G. Whye, who sometimes provides a sensational finish.

A. R. Wilson, formerly of Whangarei, is not' defending his mile title, nor Savidan his three infles, and form points to N. F. Cooper regaining the titles he did not defend last year. Lindsay, F. Watt and Valder will be hard to beat in the shorter event, in which L. Barker can also provide hard opposition, while in the three miles, with Atton also absent, Bertwistle, Valder and Niel will provide the strongest opposition. W. BriggSj of Lynndale, if he competed, would undoubtedly be well placed in both events. Pinlayson's Prospects

F. A. Finlayson should retain both the 120 yards and 220 yards hurdles titles without much difficulty, akhoimh in the latter event 11. McGregor and H. Funyell, of Lynndale, and B. Munro, of Auckland, are fast men capable of surprises.

The 440 yards hurdles is another very open event. H. Ball's loss of form of late will make it easier for Malcolm to retain his title, but good races are expected from 0. J. Richardson and W. Stevenson, who fell last year when leading two hurdles from home. The two walking events should see Cameron win without difficulty "vyith McCarthy in second place on each occasion. Miss J. McConnell should win the ladies' sprint chompionships with most opposition coming from Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Moore. A high standard slfould be revealed in all the jumping events, in which there has been a marked improvement in Auckland. H. K. Brainsby will no doubt account for the broad jump and the hop, step and jump, but contests for the minor places should be very keen as Prendergast, Spittall, and McGregor, of local clubs, Bowline, of Dargnville, and Morgan, of Whangarm, an ex-title holder, J live all been showing exceptionally good form. P. Hackett is working into form nicely now and should win the high jump with Chadwick and Speake, of Hamilton, contesting second place. Field Competitions

•J. Hedley, of JRotorna, should trouble the title-holders in the field events, and in the shot putt and javelin throw, especially, is a likely winner. K. Gillespie will not relinquish his javelin title without a good fight, however, and this event should produce some good throwing. On his performance last Saturday week, A. E. Sutton must bo given first chance in the discus throwing, although Lynch and Hedley will be hard to defeat. Times and performances should be well up to standard and with the national championships at Wanganui only a week later, competition will be made keener in the finlit for places in the provincial team. M. Atton's running in the Canterbury championships during the past week-end was outstanding, and his brilliant victory over C. H. Matthews in the three miles event in the fast time of 14m 42 4-os.'makes him a serious contender for New Zealand honours. He won the mile nicely on Friday evening and defeated Matthews on his merits on Saturday.