AMATEUR SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 16

AMATEUR SPORTS

LABOUR DAY CONTESTS M. C. BAKER'S EARLY FORM. PROMISING JUNIOR RUNNER The annual Labour Day athletic meeting conducted at the Domain last Monday by the Auckland Athletic Club attracted yjnod fields for most ot the events. Conditions for racing were good and the track last, but it is as yet too early in the season to expect outstanding performances. The louyds. final was won in 10 l-5s by R. Skeen, who was given the liberal handicap of 11yds., and won both his heat and the final. There were no outstanding performances in any of the three heats of the sprint, the other two of which were won by D. Armstrong. off :s.vds. in 10 l-">s. and A. Davis, off (iyds., in 10 3-r>s. Skeen also won his heat of the '-'lioyds., and was third in the final, but the times were not fast. The former New Zealand champion M. C. Baker made an appearance in the I loyds. handicap, which he won from scratch in •>- His performance in overcoming the handicap of ■_! lyds. which separated him rrom the next competitor was very creditable. Baker is already in good form, and has won three events this season. I The Stioyds. handicap provided probably the best race of the day. It was won in -'in 0 3-5s by A. O'Neil, a junior runner who is making his first appearance on Auckland running tracks. He was liberally treated with a handicap of 50yds. (He won a race off this mark some weeks ago.) He gives promise, however, of developing into a runner well above the average. In the second lap of this race, A T . Ambler, virtual scratch of 15yds., had gone through to the front, but from there O'Neil stayed with liiui. challenged bun round the bend, and drew away to win by oyds. The time was fast for so early in the season. Ambler's performance was a fine one. He has just finished a successful cross-coun-try season, and sso.vd.s. is rather too .short a race for him. but his time for the distance would compare very favourably with that of the best half-milers in Auckland at this time of the year. O'Neil gavo further evidence of his ability by winning the 'J/j niiles steeplechase by 100 yds, J. Howells started favourite in this ovent, which drew a field of 12 athletes, mostly harriers. O'Neil took the lead in the last lap and led Howells. It. Henshaw and A. Melnness, all of whom bad worked their way steadily through the field. O'Neil increased his lead over the last lap and was not challenged. Howells, who is in top form after a successful winter season, ran very well to finish second. Mclnnes, virtual scratch, returned fastest time and gained third place. Howells gained second fastest time and O'Neil third fastest. The fields in the 1-20 yds. and '2'JOyds. hurdles events were small. V. Amoretti being the winner of both events. The field events generally were not well contested. W. Median's performance in putting the shot just over 3<irt. was very creditable, as he will undoubtedly improve. W. Hookway, the provincial discus throwing champion, reached 11 aft. Oin. and took second place in the discus event, which was. won by Median with a throw of 100 ft. -1 in. 'Phe ladies' events were we!) contested. Both the 75yds. 'and 100 yds. sprints were won by Miss E. Short, off rather liberal handicaps. Miss J. George, one of Auckland's leading lady sprinters, appears already in good form and gained second place in both sprints off short marks. In the ladies' discus throw. Miss M. Grindrod provided a surprise by throwing the discus SSft. lin., which is almost two feet further than Miss D. Mullins' winning throw at the last New Zealand ladies' cnampionship. Miss Mullins was third in the event with a throw of STft. loin.