AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 10

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

BY “DECATHLON” (Special to the "N.Z. Times.") COMING EV.ENTS Feb. 28. —N.Z. Championship, Wanganui. March 2. —livening Meeting, I’etone. March 9. —Evening Meeting, Athletic Park. March 11. —Ten Mile Teams’ Cycle Race, Basin Reserve. March 14. —Afternoon Meeting, Athletic Park. March 17. —Otaki A.A.C., Otaki. March 28.—’V arsity Inter-facuity Sports. Athletic ParkApril 11.—Porirua A.A.C., Porinia. April 13. N.Z. University Championships, Christchurch. Conditions were anything but ideal for the,athletic contest between the visiting Australian athletes and our champions. The strong northerly wind (which was very chilly) made things very , unpleasant for both athletes and spectators. There were four tost races - —7syds. 220yds, one-mile cycle, and the mile relay—and all resulted in victories for Wellington. In addition, a full programme of handicaps was (staged, the visitors appearing in the 830yds, one mile, and three-mile handicaps. In the 75yds test the. competitors had to run-in the teeth of a gale. The Wellington champion, Leadbetter, was quickest out of the holes, and, running strongly, won by a yard and a half. The two Queenslanders were out before Paris and Jenkins, and had a clear yard at the 50yds mark, hut the Wellington men came up well over the last 25yds, finishing practically in a line with Grehan. Jenkins was placed second and Grehan third. Several who were in a line with the tape consider Paris was third; at any rate, there was not much daylight between them. In the 220yds Tracy made amends for his stupid race in the championships the previous Saturday. When the runners straightened up in the straight, Tracy had a clear yard on the next man, and, running strongly, won by a yard from Leadbetter, who beat' Grehan by inches. The provincial champion, Paris, could only got fifth. Leadbetter was least affected by the strong heacj wind. He is usually not at home over this distance, and although last at the bend into the straight, finished in second position. In the mile cycle test, Cyril Flett repeated his performance of the previous Saturday. Going, down the back straight fa the last lap he clapped on the pace, and ran home tli6 easiest ot winners by ten lengths from Blaketray, who heat Burness by four lengths. Burness did' nofc 'seem to he at home at any part of the journey, and was possibly affected by the wind. The previous week he was riding very easily, but seemed to be making hard work ot it on Saturday. In negotiating the bend, at the 220yds mark tho first time round his pedal struck the ground twice, but he is such an accomplished rider that he remained seated. This would Have the effect, however, of making him over-cautious in taking the corners.

In the half-mile handicap Whyte started off scratch with Campbell and Priestley. There were 12 starters, and the limit men made the pace a corker. Campbell ran exceedingly well to gain third place, beating Whyte by about 6yds. The winner turned up in ,’Bill Scatchard, With his clubmate, Perston, second. Hoy Scatchard received 60yds start is a mystery to me. The time, 2min 2 3-ssec, was excellent under the adverse condition's.

Whyte and Priestley were on the mark in the mile handicap, and ran together for the greater part of the race. Whyte ran on Priestley’s shoulder all the wiry, and in doing so covered a lot or extra ground. A furlong from home Priestley opened out, but could not overtake Scatchard and Donovan. The veteran won the double by heating Donovan by syds. Priestley had another struggle with the St. Pat.’s College hoy, R. Anderson, but this time beat him by inches for-third place. £ A poor field contested the three-mile handicap, in which Priestley started off the scratch mark with Hyde. These two kept together for a mile, when Priestley retired. At the end of the second mile Hyde took command, and running with a nice easy action, won with ridiculous ease. It was rather unfortunate that the visitors were asked to contest a relay race. The Wellington team was practically the best that could be obtained in Now Zealand, whereas the Australians are not a well-balanced relay team. Had a good quarter-miler been included in the team, they then would have had a quartet second to none. As it is now, both Hyde and Whyte have to run distances quite foreign to them. They would be a good match for the ’Varsity relay team, but against a representative team, never. Hyde was called upon to take the half mile 20 minutes after the finish of the three-mile handicap. That no was not further than 10 yards behind Campbell speaks volumes for his grit and determination. Whyte, xyho is a half mile and a miler, had no chance in the world of catching Kyle in the quarter, the Petone hoy sending Tracy away with 30vds. The two, who were running their correct distances, had no possible .chance■ of reducing the lead, but nevertheless ran all out till the finish.

The 220 yards junior championship, for runners receiving 12yds and over in a 220yds handicap, resulted in a close finish. Both heats were keenly contested, particularly the first, in which Couper 'and Levy dead-heated. The final was won by Couper, who beat Winnie by a yard.' Murphy and Wilkins dead-heated for third place. P. Levy ran well in his heat, but was not sighted in the final. E. Guy showed excellent form in winning the 440yds handicap hy 3yds. He was also second in tne 100yds handicap from scratch. S. Reid (6yds) won this event by three inches. Tho mile walk was won by Postman Jacobsen, who won easily in 6min 53 sec. Tne scratch man, .Mclntosh could l make little impression on the Jimit men and finished up io yards behind Jacobsen. J. Carswell had a day out in the cycle handicaps, being accord in both tne half-mile and three-mile events, and dead heating with Biakeway in the one mile. Biakeway also won the three-mile after a ding-dong strug'gle up the straight with Carswell, whom he ‘beat by naif a wheel. Both ladies’ handicaps were won by Miss Wilds, but in the 100 yards she shared the honours with Miss Ilayvice. The finishes were very close and reflects great credit on the handicapper. Tho 100 yards junior handicap was won by T. Matthews, who wins the majority of the junior events. W. Winnie, the scratch man, filled second place 14 yards behind the winner. The high jump was won. by H. Wihvte (lin), who cleared sft sin. F. Brady (scr) cleared the same height but Whyte's handicap gave him the verdict. In the 120 yards hurdles Whyte had

a nasty accident, which necessitated treatment by tbp. Red Cross attendant. The ’Varsity Oiuh filled all the places in this event. Thomson (syds and 1 hurdle down) 'beat the scratch man, Dunbar, by two yards. Sutherland (3yds and 1 hurdle down) was third. Dunbar also carried off the long, ump, clearing 20ft lin. The WelOoliege champion, .7. Wiggs, toads a jump of 19ft lOin, filling second place. Owing to the javelin being broken this ovent fell through. MONDAY’S EVENING MEETING? Conditions wore just as boisterous for Monday’s evening meeting, held by the Olympic Club, at the Basin Reserve. A, large crowd of spectators watched the various events. The final of the 100 yards was a great race, resulting in a win for the iverafeh man, Jenkirib. Ho ran brilliantly against the strong head win, winning by inches from Murphy, who was l placed second by the judges. Levy was on equal terms with Murphy. H. Wilkins was unlucky in being overlooked. There were seven starters in the mile and a-half. Priestley ran the first mile without any apparent effort and when the 'bell rang was lying fourth, about 30 yards behind Silver, the leader. Lengthening his stride, Priestley soon overtook the leaders, catching Silver at the bend into the straight, and went on to win by 15 yards. The mile walk was another victory for Jacobsen, this time from the 90yard mark. Bowden and Gibbs led into the last lap, but the postman quickly overtook them and won by 2IJ yards ” in 6min 58 4-ssec. Mclntosh and Tonkin again found 1 the condi-

tions and handicaps too much for them.

Carswell was again in the limelight in the wheel race, winning easily by 2B yards. By his performances on Saturday and Monday, this boy, who is only 16 years of age, has shown a liking for strong head winds. Bright secured second place, beating Robinson by half a wheel in the last few yards. ■The 100yds ladies’ race produced close finish, Miss E. Stevenson, beating Miss Porter by inches. Miss Collins (lyd) was a good third. _ In. the relay handicap, Davies (‘Varsity) broke, and at the second start was badly left, losing at least five yards. Olympic led until the final change-over, but Paris soon assumed command, and his club (Wellington) won by ten yards.

A word of praise is due to the starting of Mr P. Thompson, who acted in tlie absence of Mr T. W. Leslie. Handicapped by not having a gun, he had to resort to a clap of the hands for the sprints and a whistle and hell for the distance races. All went well until the last event, the relay. As previously mentioned, Davies broke at the first attempt. At the second attempt, however, the whistle to “go” went before the command “set.” All the runners started with the exception of Davies, who lost quite five yards. After the race the starter was insulted by a competitor who should have known better. He suggested that a deliberate attempt was made to defeat the team of which he was a member. Naturally, the starter resented the imputation, an that the words be withdrawn. After a —second request the apology was Had it been much longer in coming to light, a certain champion might not have been in Wanganui to-day. The starter certain-

ly erred, but for anyone to suggest that it was. intention, or done with the idea of giving anyone an unfair advantage is ridiculous. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS TO-DAY. On the day on which these notes appear in print, the results of the first day’s events will be known. Wellington are represented by a strong team, and should have no difficulty in retaining tho shield. Canterbury and Qtago are represented by small teams. The only other centre represented on a larg scale is +he home centre, the West Coast centre. Very little is known here regarding the doings of Auckland. Given fine weather, a record attendance should bo the result. The visiting Australians will he competitors. If the weather is at all warm they should give a good account of themselves, and 1 expect to see Grelian win the 220yds, NEXT MONDAY EVENING’S MEETING. This meeting will be hold at Petonak The events are 220yds, 2660yds handicap, 1900yds cycle handicap, javelin, ladies’ race, and ladies’ relay, one-mile relay (380yds. 440yds, 220yds, 220yds). Entries close at noon to-day with Mr A. C. Kitto.