ATHLETIC NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19617, 22 October 1925, Page 4

ATHLETIC NOTES.

Bt Am XTsrcra. The track season opened la.st Saturday in splendid weather, but (he attendance Avas not, as good a.s Avas expected. Tho programme itself was not particularly attractive, tho talent for the most part being below average. Exception must be allowed in the case of Brown who, by Avinning both the Milo and Three Miles, showed that he will soon bo in great form. Tho sprint, handicap was won by Campbell. tlio Otago University sprinter, who Avon off 62yds in II 2-ssec. Avhich was fair time over 110 yards, ’ considering the Avind and tho fact that it Avas tho first meeting of tho season. The Milo Handicap, Avas no race at all. Brown had no trouble in heading his field early in the race, and won with a lot, in hand by about 80yds. The time. 4min 35 4-ssec, must be considered satisfactory. Jordan, the New Zealand University mile champion, who beat the Victorian College crack, A. D. Priestly, in 4min 36 4-ssec, last Easter, was palpably out of form. He is the kind of runner who thrives on plenty of strenuous training. R. W, Lauder also showed lack of training. His sterling performances against Morgan last season were tho best exhibitions seen in Dunedin for a long time. The last meeting of these, two was at Christchurch last Easter, Avhen Morgan claimed two A-ictories oyer Lauder in 15 4-ssen and 16eec respectively. In tho 880 Yards Secondary Schools’ Race two boys, in Don and M'Arthur, Avere outstanding. Tho latter runner seems to overstride a little thereby losing something in speed. There was only ono runner in the 300 Yards Handicap, and that Avas Gibbs, aa’lio ran a well-judged I’ace off 6yds. He just failed to head Fraser on the tape. Gibbs shows pleasing form for so early in the season. Tho time, 34sec, Avas distinctly good. * ■ Tho One Mile Walk was Avon by tho Otago champion. Wilson, who did the distance in 7min 17 l-ssec. Tho competitor whose style created faA'ourable comment, was G. S. Cabot, Avho lost the r&ce through not being well enough trained. • With consistent training this man is capable of good 1 results. The Three Mile Race requires no description, Brown being the only man in it, despite liberal handicaps. Tapp cannot pace it Avith Brown on the track. L. Douglas, a member of the Otago CrossCountry Team, showed promising form in the Half-mile Handicap. If he sticks to this distance he should do A-ery well at it. He is built A-ery much on the same lines as D. G. A. Lowe, and E. Mountain, both famous Cambridge runners. The cycling races aroused a lot of interest, but Wills is in a class of his own, and there seems nobody likely to push him. The much travelled E. V. Dunbar easily Outdistanced tho others in the javelin. The distance Avas 131 ft sin, which was not up to Dunbar’s standard.

It is very gratifying- to learn that, thanks to the Wellington Centre, we are, in spite of all, to have American visitors here this season. Their presence at the New Zealand championships would prove a great draw. Particulars of the tour are awaited with interest.. ANOTHER GREAT RUN BY NEWTON. On July 25 last that famous Natalinn long-distance runner, ran over the long course from Maritzburg to Durban (54 miles 1100 yards) in 6hrs 14min 30sec. a wonderful performance when one considers the nature of the road traversed, a perhaps better one relatively than his London to Brighton effort of shr 53min 43sec, for 51 miles 1607 yards, in November of 1924. Eleven counties took part in the first English inter-county relay and team championship at Stamford Bridge, London, in August. The placings were:—Middlesex, 31 points, 1; Kent, 22 points, 2; and Surrey, 21 points, 3. One of the most promising schoolboy athletes in Sydney is C. S. Stuart, of the Church of England Grammar School. I>ast year, at the combined public schools’ sports, he won the 440 Yards in 52 4-ssec, and the 880 Yards in 2min 2 4-ssec; whilst at his school games last August ho was credited with 100 Yards in lOsec, 220 Yards in 23 7-10 sec, 440 Yards in 53sec, and Mile 4min 48 l-ssec.