ATHLETIC NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 4

ATHLETIC NOTES.

Bt Amateur. THE EVENING MEETING. Monday night’s meeting, although fairly successful, was marred by a thin unzziy rain which fell from about 7.30 onwards, with the result that conditions were anything but pleasant. The racing, nevt-iiuc-less, was good. The attraction of the evening, of course, was the appearance of E. Keskinen, t"he Finnish athlete who represented Queensland at the recent New Zealand and Australian championships. On being introduced to the crowd by Mr E. L. Macassey, he met with an ovation which -was repeated after his splendid performances with the javelin and in the pole vault handicap. In both events, unfortunately, he was handicapped by tne greasiness of the ground, but he certainly gave those present a fair idea of his [ capabilities under favourable conditions. In the javelin throwing handicap his [ actual throw was 149 ft Sin, which, although 30ft short of his distance at I Wellington, outdistanced the actual throw i of the winner by 30ft. In the pole vault he succeeded, after three attempts, m clearing 10ft Bin, but there is no doubt he could have bettered this had the ground been dry. Nelson, oft 250 yards, rode the race of his life in the mjle cycle handicap, and won handsomely, receiving a well-deserved ovation. The win of the veteran W. J. Duff in the 100 yards handicap was the most popular of the evening. There is no I doubt that Duff, despite his advanced I years, is by no means a back number, and his win in the heat, as well as the final, was convincing. Taylor had no difficulty in capturing the mile off the 150 yards mark, and his time (4min 27 3-ssec) was particularly I good—so good, in fact, that the scratch man would have had to register extraordinary time to win. C. W. Frye, from 55 yards, ran his usual heady race, and got into a good fourth place Rolfe ran well in the 440, and for a time looked like beating Taylor from the entrance to the straight. He seemed to tire just inside the distance, however, and Taylor got the verdict by eight yards. MORGAN RECOVERING. At the centre meeting on Tuesday night a letter was received from H. D. Morgan (who is in hospital) stating that his six weeks’ spell in hospital had done his leg a lot of good, but he could not say whether he would be able to return to the track. He expects to leave the hospital in a very short time. THEN AND NOW. At the last championships performances were effected to a large extent by a very strong wind; nevertheless they compare very favourably with the best recorded in the history of Australian and New Zealand championships. There is no doubt that, on a calm day. times in the nat and hurdling events would have been bettered, as, even under the existing circumstances, most of them fell very little short of the best recorded in previous championships For the purposes of comparison, the following list, which gives the best performances at the recent meeting, and the previous best, should prove useful: — 100yds. 1911. —9 4-osec, R. Opie (New Zealand). 1926. —9 4-ssec, L. C. Parker (QueensIcLIld) 1927. —lO l-ssec, J. Carlton (New South Wales). 220yds. 1926. —2l 3-ssec, N. J. Grehan (Queens*aI 1927. —22 l-ssec, J. Carlton, New South Wales). 440yds. 1905. —48isec, N. C. Barker (New South Wales). 1927. l-ssec, C. Stuart (New South Wales). 880yds. 1926. Imin 56sec, W. M. Whyte (Yictol927.—lmin 57 l-ssqc, C. Stuart (New South Wales). One Mile. 1905—4 min 23sec, G. A. Wheatley (Victoria). „ . _ ~T 1927. —4min 25 2-ssec, R. A. Rose (New Zealand). Three Miles. 1926. 14min 42 3-ssec, G. R. Hyde (Victoria). 1927. —l4min 49 4-ssec, R. A. Rose (New Zealand). One Mile Walk. 1911. —6min 32 4-saec, H. E. Kerr (New Zealand). „ 1927. —6min 52sec, E. E. Austen (NewSouth Wales). Three Miles Walk. 1911. —21min 36 3-ssec, H. E. Kerr (New Zealand). 1927. —22min 10 l-osec, W. Lankey (New Zealand). 120yds Hurdles. 1921-22. —15 3-10 sec, L. F. Edmunds (Victoria) 1927. —16 2-ssec, R. W. Lander (New Zealand). 440yds Hardies. 1926. —56 l-osec, A. J. Watson (Victoria). „ 1927. —57 Tosec, F. S. Ramson (New Zealand) and F. Nesdale (New Zealand). Broad Jump. 1924. —23ft 9in, -R. J. Honner (New South Wales). 1927. —23ft 6in, C. M. Ebert (NewSouth Wales). High Jump. 1926. —6ft IJin, L. B. Mason (Victoria). 1927. —6ft 2Jin, E. M. Davidson (Victoria) . Hop, Step, and Jump! No previous performance. ’ 19277 —47ft Sin, J. W. Shirley (New Zealand. Putting'the Shot. 1924. —45ft Sin, P. Munro (New Zealand). 1927.—43 ft lOiin, P. Munro (New- Zealand) . Throwing the Hammer. 1926. —l43ft 6in, W. Harvey (New Zealand). . 1927. —l43ft 2iin, W. Harvey (New- Zealand). Throwing the Discus. 1924. —132 ft 6in (P. Munro (New Zealand) . 1927. —125 ft 84in. P. Munro (New Zealand) , Throwing the Javelin. 1926. —l9Bft 74in, S. A. Lay (New Zealand). 1927. 218 ft 2Jin, S. A. Law (New Zcaland). Pole Vault. 1908. —lift lin, L. M'Kay (New Zealand). 1927.—1ift, E. Keskinen (Queensland). One Mile Relay. 1926. —3min 33 2-ssec, Victoria. 1927. 3min 35 3-ssec, New South Wales. Decathlon. 1926. —6306.766 points, M. W. Kroger (Victoria). 1927. —6433.78 points, E. Keskinen (Queensland). Aggregate Wins. 1896. —Eleven firsts. New Zealand. 1927.—Ten firsts, New Zealand. SPRINT CHAMPIONS. Although New Zealand has turned out many fine sprinters since 1909 (says “Sprinter” in the Evening Post), onlv two —W. A. Woodger and R. Opie—have figured as winners at the championships of Australia and New Zealand. There have been times, of course, when New Zealand’s best sprinters have not been able to take part in these meetings; even so, the “ speed merchants ” have come mainly from the Australian States, starting off with W. T. Macpherson (NewSouth Wales). This great sprinter at the first championship meeting in 1893 set those of later years a very hot order in cutting out the 100 yards in 9 9-10 sec, time w r hich was not beaten at the championships until R. Opie w-as credited with 9 4-ssec at the meeting on the Basin Reserve in 1911, when a record was not allowed owing to the track not being level. At the Brisbane meeting 18 months ago, L. C. Parker (Queensland) cut out the distance in 9 4-ssec. Over the furlong W. T. Macpherson’s time of 22 7-10 sec in 1893 has been bettered more frequently, and at Brisbane last year the best performance for the championships of Australia and New Zealand was brought down to 21 3-ssec by N. J.

Grehan (Queensland). A fraction better time than this was made by E. W. Carr (New South Wales) over a straight course in the 1921-22 season. New Zeae land’s only championship wins in tM sprints were as follows: — 100 YARDS. 1909. —W- A. Woodger, lOisec. 1911. —R. Opie, 9 4-ssec. 220 YARDS. 1909. —W. A. Woodger, 23 l-osec. 1911.—R. Opie, 24 l-osec. SAVIDAN'S GREAT EFFORT. “It is unfortunate for Savidan that he was not born a year or two later,” said an onlooker after the Savidan-Ros® encounter in that epic three miles race. The race was probably the greatest distance run ever seen in the games, and the whole crowd was upon its feet at the finish. Savidan’s sprint at the bell, his terrific pace round the back of the ground, when he swung round with the wind behind him, Rose’s pursuit, Savidan’s extra bit at the turn. of the' straight, Rose’s lengthened stride, and Savidan's last great effort up the final 40 yards at the tape were worth watching. Rose was all out, and it looked as though the smaller man would hold his own, but the judges say that Rose just got there. It was no disgrace to be beaten after such an effort; Savidan ran like a winner and was entitled to as much honour as his opponent. The Aucklander is unlucky. In almost any other generation he would have been the finest distanca runner in the Dominion. SPECIALISATION NECESSARY. That New Zealand has a wealth of promising material for field gauges was the opinion expressed by E. Keskinen, the Finnish all-round athlete who competed as the Queensland representative at the recent championship meeting, but while the standard is higher in New Zealand than if is in Australia, it is still a good deal below Olympic standard. To achieve success in field games he considers that specialisation is largely necessary, and he also said that for the standard to reach a higher level in the Dominion ■it would be necessary to hay® more implements, more competition in field games, and greater opportunities for practice. In Finland every small centre had its implements, but as far as he could ascertain there was a decided lack in this direction in New Zealand. Implements were certainly very dear in New Zealand, and the best way would be for the Council of the New Zealand Amae teur Athletic Association to import them in large numbers. CYCLING NOTES. Two athletic meetings at which cyclist* will bo well provided for are to be held at Mosgiel on February 16 aJid March J.Q. Last season a meeting under the control of the Taisri A.A. Club was staged, and a large' number of Dunedin athletes took part. An unpleasant feature of the day was the insufficient dressing accommodation, and as larger numbers of runners and cyclists intend to compete at the meetings this year, it is hoped that some extra shelter will be erected. As only the more financial of the looal amateurs can afford to purchase track racing wheels (known as sprints), those not using them should be given from 15 to 20 addi- ' tional yards start. As they were attending military camp at Matarae, A. Rosenbrock and J. Fogarty were not competitors in the cycling event* on Monday evening. Everyone will agree with the assertion that Mr W. H. B. Hobbs, the. centre handicapper, is thß right man in the right place. Though not actually voicing anything against Mr Hobbs, many cyclists, on reading the handicaps for last Monday * meeting, -were puzzled by the poor mark* given them. A true amateur should nde from any mark dealt to him, wlietlier sucu mark b© considered fair or otherwise. In thia instance, several riders appear to have cause for complaint. For instance, Tom Dillon has had 20 odd unplaced performances, and yet he had to concede to F. Nelson (who has been placed) 105yds in the Mile and 160vds in the Two Mile race on Monday. The last occasion on which a certain rider contested a milo race fie was given 80yds, and without being placed since, he" had to start from the 40yds mark on Monday. The names of five new riders appeared among the handicaps for lase Monday, and strange to say two were rriven 120yds for the mile and 180yds tor the two miles, while the remainder weis handicapped on 80yds 120yds respwtivelv for the two races. The handioapper has a very difficult and thankless task, and there is no wish to add t 0 his burdens. Those remarks have the object of pointing out that there are many seemingly small. incidents which have no doubt been overlooked All cyclists have every confidence in Mr Hobbs, and are emphatic in stating their opinion of his worth as a handiCa 'n l e r Taicri A.A.C. is giving prizes to tho value of £1 (first) and 10s (second) for the cycle races be staged at the evening meeting rod. here . ye.r or two ago, intends to resume track riding next g as £^ eyj Xew Zealand’s represen. tative, R. W. Lamb, C. I. Foster, T. EL Marshall, and J. L. Gourd vere the scratch men in the Colac to Melbourne amateur road race held some time. ago. This is said to be the greatest quintet ever seen starting from scratch in an, amateur race in Australia. , ■ The drizzling rain which fell during the progress of the Otago Centre’s meeting held at the Caledonian Ground on Monday evening was against the recording of fast times by the 17 cyclists who contested the one mile and two mile cycle races Nevertheless, many riders will have to put on more pace before they deserve the applause of the public who patronises that sport. The second beat of the two mile race comes in for particular mention in regard to the slowness of tne pace. Such riders as Templeton, Ravenwood, and Hodge have had a good deal of experience in such races, and should know that they will have to play their part towards the spectators to place the sport in the position it deserves. There was only one man in the one mile race on Monday night, and that was Nelson. Off 250 yards, he never looked like being caught, and as he has been training seriously for some time past his win was well deserved, Bremford, who took second place in both the one mile and two mile races, is riding better than ever, but to be classed as one out of the ordinary he will have to improve his sprint. The ex-professional rider (W. S. Hodge) gained second place in his heat of the mile and third in the final of the two miles. As Hodge is not yet fit, he should do well at the meeting dated for February 4. , Templeton, who, along with Hodge, rode sprint wheels, came down in the final, after gaining second place in his heat, and showed that the frack is not yet ready for the use of the lighter wheels. P.' Traill, who won the final of the two miles in smin 40see, is not afraid to make the pace, and this rider was one of those who made the race worth watching. Within a short period Traill ‘has won a mile, a half-mils, and a two-mile L. Grindley, who has been oat of the sport for some time, qualified for the final of the mile, and should do well in forthcoming races. W. Scott, who rode well in both races, is in good form, and might have' dene better had he ridden a higher gear. Others who rode with credit wore Dillon, Harris, Ravenwood, Lucas, Smith, and H. Mussen. H. Ockwell, Fraser, Wix, Harvey, Ewing, and Holmes, for various reasons, were nonstarters at this meeting.