HONOR'S SAKE

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 12

HONOR'S SAKE

Varsity Athletes In Annual Clash (From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) The University athletic championships held on the Basin Reserve on Easter Monday were marred by rain, but despite this, some sterling performances were put up. THE competition was very keen throughout and the teams were more evenly matched than they have been for some years. The fate of the Athletic Shield which was held by Victoria College hung m the balance until the finish of the relay race. Before this event the points were: Victoria 11%, Canterbury 11%, Otago 11, Auckland 5 points. The wildest excitement prevailed during the progress of this event. Priestley and Eastwood gave their team a lead which gained for Victoria College the race and the shield with a total of 13% points. Only one record was broken, but it is not too much to say that had the weather been fine and the track hard, other new marks would have been set. J. G. Leckie, Otago's well-known boxer, threw the hammer ] 40ft. 3ins. The previous record was made m 1914 by J. M. Boyne, also of Otago, with a throw of 131 ft. Sins. Leckie, it will be remembered, represented New Zealand m the hummer throw at the last Australian and New Zealand championships, gaining third place to Harvey and McHolm. By far the best race of a day of "best" races was the quarter-mile. In this event the competitors were very evenly matched and it was only m the last twenty yards that E. B. Smith and E. K. Eastwood, both of Victoria, asserted their superiority over a bunched field, Smith winning by inches. Some surprise was caused by Priestley's failure m the one mile. His form has been consistently good this season, but m E. B. E. Taylor (Canterbury) he met a foeman who proved more than worthy of his steel. At the tournament at Auckland last year Priestley broke the record by running 4min. 26 4/ssecs., which was 3secs. less than Taylor's time at the Basin. In the sprints Leadbetter Avas the outstanding figure. None anticipated, nor did he have any difficulty m winning easily. It is regrettable that he and C. H. Jenkins are the only really outstanding sprinters m the Dominion. The standard of performance m the high jump was low. Had the N.Z. champion, G. J. Sceats been competing, something better would have been done, but the AVinner could only get over sft. lin. Mention must be made of the walkers. The Cabot brothers (Otago) are performers of class and it is to be regretted that m the University there is no one capable of extending them. Unfortunately the art of Avalking does not entice many • competitors and m some quarters there is talk of removing the event from the programme. This Avould be a retrograde step Avhich the dearth of Avalkers does not Avarrant. The remedy lies m encouraging the, sport.