AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11411, 6 January 1923, Page 8

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PERSONAL AND GENERAL ;By "Hurdler," for “N.Z. Times.”) COMING EVENTS. January 6th.—American visit; Athletic Park. January 13th.—Americans, at Masterton. January loth. —Evening Meeting; Basin Reserve. January 22nd —Masterton A A.C., Masterton. January 22nd. —Levin A.A.C., Levin. GALA MEETING ATHLETIC PARK 0-DAY This afternoon shopld see a record attendance at tbe Athletic Park to witness the fret appearance of the American athletics—Maurice Kirksey, Geoige Krogness and Jack Merchant. Being champion athletes and real gentlemen, they should make themselves popular whereever they go. The Athletic Park is in fine order and is an ideal place for the siectators to view a gathering of this kind. To-day the field events will not ho rushed in with other items, but will have separate times allotted for each, so that the public may follow each event in which our visitors are competing. Jack Merchant will be practically in the jimelight all the afternoon, as he is do vn to take part in putting the shot, thro.ving the hammer, discus and javelin, long j limp and relay race. To many people the event of throwing the hammer has been a bore, but with Merchant throwing it will prove otherwise, for I have never witnessed more spectacular work

This remark also applies to high jumping, but to watch Krogness with his katgaroo hop and hmis graceful agile leap and turn makes one look for more) The tit-bit of thp day, however, will be the meeting of H. E. Wilson and G. Krogness in the 120yds hurdle race. This race has been set aside for these two alone, and should result in a good contest and fast tune I have been ’o-ked who will win but having seen both in action, I would not like to predict the result. - Wilson, to my mind, is the fastest on the flat and cho prettiest nurdler. but KrognesS is much the supenr-r over the sticks, wasting absolutely no time in iumomg. Maurice Kirksey is a sprinter of outstanding merit and alter SJ W. Paddock is the fastest in the world to-day. He should have no difficulty in winning .ho laOyds invitation race to-day . Kirksey is a great' y believer it the mar who bieake at the.-start Icing penalised. Our local-champions are yn great form just r ow, and will let our visitors know it cet'ore the dry is finished .1.. A. Tracy lias oiie yard off M. Kirk sey in the -OOjds and 220 y is, and as his best distance is the Utter, he should go hear winning Peter Mnnro will beat J. Merchant in the shot-putting event: Our best distance runners will Be competing, notably Barclay, McKinlay, Scat-. ebard and Rowe. J. H. Nalder, the Canterbury crack, has promised to be here, and I am looking forward 'to see how he will ehape alongside our champion, R. Rose,-who is a sure starter, i - The cycle races, which are always popular witfi the spectators, drawn competitors from Masterton, Levin and Palmerston North.' Our local champion, S. Harrison, is on the scratch mark. The Ladies’ Amateur Athletio Club members are competing in a 75yds handicap and a relay race’. The first event starts at 2.15 p.m. sharp, and the meeting will conclude about 5 o’clock. Be sure and buy a programme; they are well worth keeping as souvenirs. PARAPARAUMU SPORTS' The above shorts were , held on Now Year’s Day, and qmet a. hundred competitors and enthusiaets at tended, from, this city. It is the first time that I have attended this yearly gathering, and I do not regret making the trip. The officials were more than courteous to us all, and nothing seemed a worry to them. In fact they could not do enough for one’. ■ ’ 1 The meeting went off very successfully, and a good credit balance should be the just reward. E. C. Elliott won the cup for most points in the sprint events, and, to my mind, he is the most improved runner here this season. I was pleased to see him get it. - Cl W-.. Lander won,the 120yds hurdles from a fair start,' and _ could Lander be-' persuaded to change his style he would make a champion. Tbe country lads did hot show np tod well on the day, But one exception was G. Hayward, who won the half-mile off 40yde. " It is pleasing to see the way thlß club Is encouraging the jjjnior runners, quite a number of events being put on for their benefit, and good fields and finishes resulted. On behalf of the local athletes I have to thank the Paraparaumu officials, especially Messrs Barnett, McLean, Clark, Cluhie. and Howell, find the ladies, who kindly provided tea, for their many kindnesses. '

JOTTINGS 4 / All athletes will, I feel sure, extend their deepest sympathy to B. A. H. Barker in the loss of ihis brother. / H. S. Whyte made a gallant attempt to rescue the young lady'who was carried out in the surf at Titahi Bay.; He was nearly a gonner himself. Local clubs should follow the lead of the Paraparaumu Club and form a branch for junior menibers in their ranks.. L. A. Tracy could not manage the right-handed course at Paraparaumu. D. Paris always wins well in a heat, but is a poor finisher in a final. , The Wellington Amateur Athletio Club's crack team again won the relay race. . v A small team attended the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's gathering at Masterton on New Year’s Day, but did. not meet with much success. They were rot impressed with the handicapper, or the way the meeting was controlled.^ One case in pefint re the handicaps: Ri. Gully, when he Competed here at Christmas time, 'had 10yds in tile quarter mile, and Candy syde. Gully ran second to Scott in 52sec, with Candy third. At Masterton Gully goes up to 13yds and 'Candy to Byds. Aitcheson (who's was' unplaced there) comes batik from 25yds to 23yds. Nbodless to say Gully again finished in front. I hope that for the meeting on January/ 22 nd our Wellington lads will get «a fair deal. i When are the' Wellington provincial championships going' to be held ? Now that the Americans do not leave New Zealand till March 6th, will the New Zealand championships he 'held in Wellington on March 3rd? The Otago Centre is going to -call a meeting of the South Island Centres to discuss tbe methods of the N.Z.A.A.A Perhaps they would like the council in Dunedin I

Wanganui will have a visit from the American athletes on January 22nd, and Palmerston North on . February 10th. “Peter” Munro is going to do the two meetings. The married men’s race at Paraparauinu brought out some promising talent, notably “Dad” Heenan, “Joe" Heenan. H. C. Murray, -“Trainer” Warner, and “Dolph" Kifto. Was the handicap.per getting a little of his “own” back,

when he put “Dt ph.” on the scratch mark?

F. C ; Hickling has struck form at last, and liis brother “George” is the fairest walker here at the present time. .Rollings, the College champion walker, is to he a competitor to-day. The ladies* race at Paraparaumu was a beauty—a perfect start and a close finish. Miss Dawson hag soon worked her way to the scratch mark. J. W. Marsh (our policeman sprinter) is out again, and ran second in the 100yds last Monday. Good-bye to McHolms’s hammer-throw-ing record to-day. R. Rose won the Wyeth Cup at Masterton on New Year’s Day. "Charlie” Taylor will be the manager of the American team on their trip to Invercargill. “Charlie” is getting married early in February. “Fred” Juno, who trained the New Zealanders in the army service games at Home, is looking after the Americans in this city. Those I hare noticed seeking advice from our visitors at Athletic Park are D. Paris, H. .Sergeant, J. Scatchard, C. Louis, P. Munro, F. S. Hill, and L. A. Tracy. A. Barclay ran two pood races at Masterton, second in the mile and two miles. The Americans appear here again on February 17th.