AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PERSONAL AND GENERAL (By “Hurdler,” for “N.Z. Times.”) COMING EVENTS. October 22—Labour Day sports (Newtown Park). October 22—Labour Day sports (Wanganui). October 22—Labour Day sports (Levin). November 17 Secondary Schools Championships (Athletic Park). SPORTS AT NEWTOWN PARK ON MONDAY. A fine athletic programme will be carried out at the gathering to be held on Newtown Park on Monday. The first open race is the 100yds handicap, which is timed to 6tart at 2.15 p.m. The fields null be exceptionally large for a first-of-season meeting. In the 100yds, 29 competitors have been handicapped. C. H. Jenkins (the Wellington College champion) is the virtual scratch man, with Byds. Other well-known runners competing are:— L. C. Elliott (6yds), S. H. Bird (syds), H. Wilkins (4yds), P. G. Thomson (6yds), F. Hill (7ydsi. O. Louis (syds), and M. Trower (7yds). Those likely to show good form amongst the new blood are: J. Dean (7yds), B. Hume (7yds), H. Chadwick (Byds), D. A Mills (Byds), and C. Leer (10yds). In the 220yds event, 20 competitors have entered, and the marks range from: C. H. Jenkins (on 6yds) to P. Levy, L. Ayres, and K. R. Goddard (on 20yds). The 880yds has 25 acceptors, and most of the runners are of Unknown quality. C. Campbell and D. Priestly are the virtual scratch men, on 15yds. Other known starters are: C. Bowler (20yds), W. Scatchard (20yds), H. Kent (35yds). R. Morton (40yds), G. W. Dome (40yds), J. Pereton (50yds), and F. Hobbs (50yds). The limit man is B. A. Barker (100yds). The one mile has drawn over 20 nominations, and includes most of those mentioned in the BSoyds. C. Campbell, D. Priestly, and W. Scatchard are on the 30yds mark, and B. A. Barker is again the limit man on the 200yds mark. The hop, step, and jump has been deleted from the programme and a javelin-throwing competition included, for which post entries will he received. Two ladies’ races are set down to take place during the afternoon. The probable winners seem well hidden in each event, but I predict the following to he close wp at the100yds—Trower, Hill, and Dean. 220yds—Jenkins, Sergeant and Elliott. SSOvds—C. Campbell, G. W. Home, and H. Kent. One mile—R. Morton, G. W. Dome, and L. Todd. 75yds (ladies) —E. Posselt, Q. Wardle, M. Hayviee. 100yds (ladies)—M. Wilkins, F. Martin, and E. Posselt.

BASIN RESERVE

THAT CRICKET PITCH: UNFAIR CRITICISM. At the last committee meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association some of the members had a terrible lot to say on how to preserve their pet cricket pitch in the centre of the Basin Re serve. _ If they had kept to the point and given suggestions worthy of such, a body, I would not have had to pen these notes in protest. Every year the same old cry:—That the sports bodies are ruining their pitch. Now the question is: Are these allegations correct? I say that, they are not, and what is more, the members of the committee who made the statements should be forced to withdraw their false accusations against the amateur athletes. If the cricket body took the trouble to look back to last season they would find that very little use was made of tho Basin Reserve by the local sports hodies, and perhaps they might remem her that when not in use the “pet” pitch was roped in and guarded by theii worthy supported, Mr Brewer. Then they may also remember that last season they claimed to have one of the best wickets in New Zealand. Now, why try and throw the blame on the sports bodics when they find, before the season opens, that the wicket does not look up to their expectations? Surely it cannot be that tlie groundkeeper at the Banin Reserve is complaining of the conduct of the amateur athletes. For I can say without fear of contradiction that never at any time were our field events held anywhere near the sacred pitch. It was ever the aim of all athletes to help the custodian in preserving the ground, and for certain members of the ticket Association to level such unfair and unsportsmanlike criticism at a kindred sports body is, to say the least, just over the odds. There seems to me only one way of satisfying out Cricket Association, and that is to give them (in their opinion they are entitled to it) the Basin Reserve for cricket alone, notwithstanding the fact that £20,(K)0 of ratepayers’ money is to he spent on a new grandstand. Now does it seem feasible that other sports bodies will give up the Basin Reserve without a fight ?

AMATEUR ATHLETICS IN ENGLAND SCOTTISH CRACK BEATEN. Hugo crowds were present at Stamford Bridge on August 6th when the meeting of British athletes in support of the Olympic Games Fund was brought off under very favourable conditions. One of the surprises of the afternoon was the defeat of E. H. Liddell in the 100 yards. The Scottish crack won his heat, hut in the second round was beaten into third place by Nichol and Mntthewman. The last-named proved the winnor, with Nichol second, in a desperately contested race run in 10 l-10sec. Liddell finished fourth in the final. H. B. Stallard did not run in the mile, but in the half-mile he took command. and won as he liked in lmin 55 3-ssec. or 1 3-ssec outside British record time. Had he been pressed there is no doubt that Stallard could have established a new record. M. C. NQKES: FINE HAMMER THROW. During the afternoon M. C. Nokoa, the English champion, beat the A.A.C, record by throwing the hammer a distance of 172 feet 7£ inches. The previous beet from a seven-foot circle was 172 feet 3} inches, thrown by C. Y. Lundh (Sweden), at the A.A.A. championship meeting in July last year, though Y. Y. Flanagan (Queenstown) threw 179 feet 10 inches from a ninefoot circle in 1908. Unfortunately Nokes’s throw wna an exhibition and not a competitive one; it is not* there-

fore, likely to be recognised a® an official record. Several events .were confined to [athletes selected as pupils to be train■ed under the scheme of the British I Olympic Association. \ The chief results were : i 220 Yards —T. Matthewman, 22isec. 1 440 Yards—Or. M. Butler. ! One Mile —C. Y. Webber, 4min 28 4-sseo Three Miles—G. Y. Webber—l4min 120 Yards Hurdles —R. S. Sole, 16 I 'ffigb Jump—R, A. Nicholas, sft Bin. LADY ATHLETES AT HOME. The following results and times of lr.dy athletes at Home may prove interesting reading to our fair sprinters at this end of the globe:— 100 Yards Championship of besex Miss Thompson, Ist; time, 11 3-ssec. High Jump—Miss Hatt, Ist; height, Yards Hurdles —Miss Symons, let; time. 16 3-oseo. Throwing the Javelin —ADaa Wilson, let; 86ft 4in (women’s record).

EVENING MEETINCB

Club delegatee have met and decided on the following list of evening meetOctobor 29th.— ’Varsity Club, Kelburn Park. Events: 100yds, 1 mde, javelin throwing, 75yds ladles race,

and boys’ race. _ November sth. —Athletic Club, Basin Reserve. Events: 120yds, 880yds, 1 mile walk, 100yds ladies’ race, 1 mile cycle race, and hoys’ face. November 12th.— Brooklyn and Olympic Harriers, Newtown Park. Events: 220yds, 2 miles, 1 mile cycle race, ladies’ relay race, and boys’ race. November 19th.— Wellington . Amateur Athletic Club, Athletio Park. Events: 100yds, 1 mile, 220yde hurdles 100yds ladies’ race, and boys

Novembeer '26th.—Selwyn Club, Kelburn Park. Events: 100yds, 440 yds, 3 miles, 120yds ladies’ race, discus throwing, and boys’ Taee. December 3rd.—Hutt Valley A.A.C., Banin Reserve. Events: 300yds, 1000yds, 1$ mile walk, 100yds ladies’ race, 2 mile cycle, and boys’

December 10th. —Old Boys’ Club, Athletic Park. Events: 120yds, 600 yds, putting the shot, 160 ladies’ race, 3 miles cycle, and boys’ race. These dates and grounds are subject to confirmation by the reserves committee of the City Council and Wellington Rugby Union. “Tom” Oates has been appointed judge and handicapper for all cycle events.

Entries close at 12.30 on the Saturday preceding the meeting. All trophy orders are to be presented on the night of the meeting. Late entries entail an extra charge of sixpence.

JOTTINGS

HERE AND THERE. B. A. H. Barker has broken hi* maiden statue by winning tho final harrier race of the season under the Hutt Valley Club’s jurisdiction. J. Dean, ot the Selwyn Club, is a

sprinter of promise, and with judicious training may turn out a champion. “Dave” Paris is still trying to make up his mind as to which club lie will run for this season. The secondary schools’ championships are to take place at Athletic Park on November 17th. This meeting is one of the heart; held in this city and should not be lost sight of. Wellington College is fortunate in retaining its strong boys-—Jenkins, Lawson, Tait, and Bailey—a quartet that would hold their own with any college in the Dominion. Local clubs are endeavouring to oh. tain the Basin Reserve for training purposes, hut up to the present time no satisfaction can be got from the reserves committee of the City Council. It is more than likely that Athletic Park will be available for club members to train on this season, and in view of tho uncertainty of obtaining the Basin Reserve the offer should bo jumped at. It is impossible to start training operations at the Basin Reserve before 7 p.m. on account of the cricketers. Athletic Park could be utilised from 4 p.m. A great consideration. Where can our cyclists do their training? E. Guy has accepted the position of secretary to the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club. Under his guidance 1 predict a good season for the club. ‘ If Athletic Park is accepted this season for training purposes, I can foresee a forward move in our standard of field event performances. Recent additions to the active competitors list of the Wellington Amateur Athletio Club are B. Hume, F. Calvert, A. Riggs, E. Quinn, W. Taylor, E. Ogilvie, C. W. Butterfield, C. Leer, D. Campbell, R. Lewis, C. V. Osgood, J. T. MeCaw, and F. Hislop.