AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 19

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

SCRATCH RACES DECIDED REAPPEARANCE OF COOPER JOHNSTON'S IMPRESSIVE RUN Although times and performances at the Auckland Athletic Centre's first .scratch meeting of the season at the New Lynn ground were nothing remarkable, they were, considering the soft am! heavy condition of the quar-ter-mile clay track and the overgrowth of grass on the inside sprint course, really Very satisfactory.' The attendance of athletes and spectators was disappointing, but this was no doubt <1 uo to the inclement nature of the weather and the fact that practically all the Auckland Club's members were attending the opening function of that body's now elubrooms. Although the retirement Irom competition of N. K. Cooper was announced last year, the former brilliant, miler and throe-niilor and New Zealand oross-countrv representative made a reappearance on Saturday to win both the A grade mile and dead-heat for first in the B grade quarter-mile. Cooper has gained considerably in weight and may now find it difficult to reduce to correct racing trim. He still retains all his former balance, and power in the straight, however, and if he can overcome the difficulty of weight he will take a power of beating in the championships. It is not yet known whether J. W. Savidan will run on the track, but it would be a fine thing to see the Savidan-Cooper duels over three miles revived. A glimpse o! the line finishing ability he revealed when he won the provincial half-mile championship in 1935 was given by L. H. Johnston, of the Old Grammarians' Club, when he scored a decisive victory in the A grade HO yards. He remained in fourth position until the field had covered half the distance before racing through to the front with a brilliant burst to lead to the finish. Johnston has been training steadily for more than a month now and the manner in which he is capturing his form of two seasons ago shows that he will have every chance of regaining the provincial half-mile title. GOOD SPRINTING PERFORMANCES OF N. FCNNELL In view ol the rough nature of the track, N. Funnell, Lynndale, ran well to return 10 4-os for the A grade 100 yards, for his time on a good track would have been at least a fifth of a second faster. Funnell scored a double bv covering 19ft. sin. in the broad jump. He is one of very few broadjdiapers in Auckland to use his speed to the best advantage in the take-off. The holder of both provincial walking titles, R. Cameron, of the University Club, started in the three miles walk, but treated the race merely as a training outing. He could have cleared away from the field at any stage, but was content to remain in fifth position practically throughout and finally finish second to C. May, Lynndale, who sprinted very strongly in the straight. Judging by his excellent half-mile walk at the Technical Club's evening meeting at the Domain last Wednesday, Cameron is moving as well as ever. It will be interesting to see how he fares against 1. Driscoll, of Napier, and the fast southern men next March. Two outstanding performances were registered in the field events section, K. Gillespie, University, throwing the javelin 151 ft. 7iu. and It. Coxhead, Dominion schoolboy representative in field events at the Melbourne Centenary Games in 1934 and a member of the Old Grammarians' Club, putting the ! shot 33ft. Sin. In making his effort Gillespie had to contend with a very uneven run up to the throwing mark. He is certain to offer C. Clegg, holder of the Auckland and New Zealand titles, good opposition this year. NEW ROOMS OPENED AUCKLAND CLUB'S PROGRESS Many prominent athletes of the past and present day attended the official opening ceremony of the fine new clubrooms of one of the oldest sports clubs in the southern hemisphere, the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, established 59 years ago. Situated on the second floor of Alston Chambers, Queen Street, the new quarters occupy no fewer than seven rooms, all of -which will be used for different purposes. Among the club's equipment, which is always available to members, are an athletic reference room and library, a ping-pong room, gramophone and private office lor the club's secretary. On the walls are numerous photographs of old-time athletes and meetings. The fine record of the club since its inception was referred to by the president, Mr. W. Morton, who performed the opening ceremony. He said that the new rooms Would be a splendid gathering place for members, while the athletic lectures and demonstrations that would be given would achieve a great deal of good The club had had a varied career and had produced a number of New Zealand champions. Two Olympic representatives, A. J. Elliot, sprinter, and J. W. Savidan, distance runner, who represented New Zealand at Los Angeles : n 1932, were still active members. Next year the club would celebrate its diamond jubilee, said Mr. Morton, and it would be the jubilee of a club with great traditions. The president introduced a number of former champions and also Mr. N. Douglas, who represented the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis Many old-time athletes and former officials of the club spoke, and all paid tribute to the tine workaccomplished during the lean times of the club by Mr. Morton.