AMATEUR SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 21

AMATEUR SPORTS

'MAORI POLE YAULTERS ENTHUSIASM IN PROVINCE CHAMPIONS FROM COUNTRY WHANGAREI CLUB ACTIVE Mention was marie in the Hkrai.d on Monday of the visit of the great old Maori champion pole vaulter. H. Te Paa. to his old school's annual sports tt St. Stephen's College. It is a long time ago since all New Zealand and Australia was amazed at the exploits in pole vaulting of this great Maori athlete. Te Paa was really world-famous as an exponent of the spectacular art. He was assisted by the equally great iticcess ot Hori I'.ruera. Back in 1897 Kruera won the Australian and New Zealand pole-vaulting championship and two years later Te Paa collected the same title. Forty-one years ago these two great Maoris vaulted 10ft. tiin. and 10ft. 11 Jin. respectively, and to-day, in spite of all modern technique, the Dominion record is only a few inches more. From 1896 until 1899 Kruera anil Te Paa dominated pole vaulting, each winning a Dominion title and dead-heating for another. In their day the two natives were well up to world standard.

Perhaps if Auckland was to regularly fiiit on its programmes athletic events or Maoris only, it would prove the means of coaxing more natives out on the track. Surely some of the big Maori forwards playing Rugby football could make champion hammer, shot and discus men.

Sport-, contests are now taking place in every part of the province. In the city and suburbs evening meetings are being lipid regularly. Reports indicate that the ladies' section or the sport is progressing very rapidly. Already rumour has it that present lady cham.pions will have to train hard to retain their titles.

Whangarei has reformed its amateur club. It will be remembered that A. R. the well-known Wellington mile champion, was an original member ot this 'club. A. L. Tressider, one of the founders of the club, is now taking an active interest in the sport in Nelson.

The work of enthusiasts in the country is very valuable. When it is remembered that Miss Mary Mitchell, one of the best Empire lady javelin throwers, comes from above Dargaville, and Miss Ida Campbell, the best lady sprinter in rears from Morrinsville, country officials' must be thanked for their enthusiasm. Then away down in Taumarunui is J. Maher, the champion high jumper.

A Dare, a scratch competitor at the Labour Day sports on Mondav, hails from Waihi. while C. C. Keillv,* scratch in the sprint events, learned his athletics in the Te Awamutu club. The Labour Day si>orts, held at the Domain, provided k«*sn racing, hut lack of training, the wet weather, and the absence of many prominent performers, caused only lair performances. W. Kyall, however, ran a nice 440 yds. to win in 51 off 10yds. Considering that this race was the last Hat event of the day and the wet track had been well churned up hv the cyclists, JRvall's time was really good. He was clear of the field coming into the straight and won easily. He has a bad habit of turning his head near the finish, and this may cost him a race One day.

An interested spectator was Sergeant Doll, a well-known past Auckland representative athlete. He followed life Constable W- J. Meehan in the field events. Quite a big nnmber of the Auckland police are now taking an active part in athletics. Auckland looks forward to the day when the force can. produce men like J. W. McHolin,' formerly of Canterbury, P. Munro arid K. G. Sutherland, of Wellington, all Dominion and Australian champions, and all members of the police force in the capital city.