ATHLETES GETTING BUSY

NZ Truth, Issue 1043, 21 November 1925, Page 11

ATHLETES GETTING BUSY

Americans' Visit and Prospects

CAN REDOUBTABLE ROSE DEFEAT HAHN?

If He Does Will He Meet The Great Nurmi?

(By "Starter.") ; The Amateur Athletic and Cycling season has not yet warmed up properly, but by Christmas-time the- really big events will be on and athletes will be tuned "up to top." The forthcoming tour of American athletic stars, Scholz and Ham, is creating Dominion-wide interest. ''_-'.

Cheering, indeed, is % the news that Jackson Scholz,. of U.S.A., American and world's champion, and Lloyd Hahn, the great Yankee distance runner, will make a comprehensive, tour of the Dominion commencing m January. Scholz is the man who has soundly trounced the meteoric Paddock on several occasions. ■ He is the finished product of skilled American coaching methods and will have much to show our New Zealand sprinters. Hahn is a famous distance runner and his appearance against the evergreen and enormously popular Rose is being eagerly awaited. The last American team were pastmasters at their various distances, and were particularly adept at passing their knowledge on. They left a very deep impression indeed on many athletes. The standard of athletics m New Zealand at present is such that the [Il!fl!llll!l!lllillll!ll!lllllllll!t:::iilllllll[!lilllfit!lll

visitors will by no means have a walk over; . They will be up against some very hot. material. First and foremost, of course, comes R. A. Rose, the Wairarapa idol. He is right at the top Of his form, and taking climate, tracks, etc., into consideration, we expect him to beat Hahn, great athlete though the latter is. THE ONE AND ONLYROSE. If Rose does defeat Hahn the former's international reputation will be enhanced and his supporters have cause to clamor louder than ever for a match between him and the phenomenal Nurmi. Whether or not Rose is capable of even extending the flying Finn is a problem that only a meeting between the two will solve. Comparison of times does not get one very far, because there are so many other considerations that have to be taken into account. So many things that have been advantageous to Nurmi— -scientific training. windage ; fast tracks, for example, have to be considered. Besides Rose we have splendid distance runners who may be depended v»pon to perform well m any company. Priestly, the -University champion, has never yet given us his best, and Dufresne was very disappointing last year. The Levin boy, however, is now m Wellington, and the extra competition be will get should bring him on.

Dunedin has two first-class men m Brown and Tapp, and m Christchurch that good runner, Nalder, is putting on his shoes again. GOOD HALF- MILERS. Hahn also runs a splendid half-mile, and m this distance he will also strike some torrid competition. Campbell, the present N.Z. champion, can break two minutes, and trainer. Jim Cotterill, of Petone, reckons he has got the boy to beat Campbell m young Mitchell, late of Hawkes Bay. Another good. "Wellington boy is F. W. Large, late^of Christchurch. In Canterbury Sergeant McHolm has taken charge of Archie Laing, for training purposes only, of course, and the Sergeant reckons he can improve Laing just enough to make him a real champion. C. H. Taylor has also been training again, but it is probable that he will confine his appearances to relay events. Kyle, of Wellington, is the outstanding <iunrter-miler, and he is showing no signs of losing form. . Leadbetter, Paris, Jenkins and Tracy (Wellington), Brownlee (Christchurch) arid Morgan (Invercargill) will be the' main contenders m the 100 yds and.furlong distances. • THE WHEELMEN. The interest' taken m cycling , showsno sigrt of abating, and the clubs are thriving. '. The Christchurch Club seems particularly healthy with*its membership of over 200. „ ' Flett is still the best grass track rider, but he will get some stern competition from the Oakleys, of Wairarapa. ; The Gisborne Club also has some promising colts, notably young Her r bert, \vinner of the 50 -mile road championship. x Auckland is bringing some good new material along. '•' .. . The best raised-track rider will probably turn up m Christchurch or Wangariui. Young Gray, of the latter city, showed particularly promising form Jast year. , Another attempt is being made at the forthcoming annual meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. i to have a 100 yds. ladies* event placed on the N.Z. championship programme. The world's record for this distance stands at 11 seconds, arid the equalling* or breaking of this should not be beyond our N.Z. girls. Miss Swinburne already has 114/5 seconds to her credit, and Miss Eastwood, of Gisborne, did 12secs lead m hockey togs on a rough ground one day m the middle of last Winter. A truly - remarkable performance this! There should be a wonderful race when these two girls meet. ' COLLEGE PERFORMANCES. Every now and then 'some college boy puts up a good performance and his connections immediately claim a record. ' Then the telegraph wires are kept busy with counter-claims from all over the country. We have had several letters on this subject, and next week will publish ashort review of some of the best recorded performances of ,New Zealand secondary schools. .