ATHLETIC NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20974, 13 March 1930, Page 4

ATHLETIC NOTES.

By Amateur.

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. T[;c Otago championship meeting, held on Saturday, will go down on record as one of the most successful ever held by the centre. The sun shone brightly all day, and the only drawback as far as the climatic conditions were concerned was that a strong north-easterly wind was persistectly in evidence until the programme had been almost completed. The ground was as good as it could be made, ami all the preliminary arrangements were carried out to the last detail. The attendance was very fair, and those who were present had the pleasure of witnessing many excellent performances in all branches of the sport. The programme was a very full one; iu fact, it was too big to be crowded into the time allowed for it, even though several preliminaries were decided on Friday evening. Those in control did everything possible to keep up to schedule time, spending a very busy afternoon, but the size of the fields necessitated so many heats in numerous events that their task was a herculean one. The present position, however, must be very gratifying to the centre, which has worked hard, and with. a great measure of success, to encourage amateur sport in the country districts. This year the usual strong contingent from Southland as supplemented by numerous competitors from the youthful clubs in Milton and Palmerston, in both of which districts the sport had made remarkable' headwav in a very brief space of time, the result' being that several of the fleKls were exceptionally large. / The centre officials are undoubtedly anxious to conserve the interests- of all competitors, but it seems to me that if the fields are as large in future years as they were this year it will be necessary to consider the question of extending the meeting over two days, or at least devoting an afternoon and an evening to it, bringing all the competitors under equal conditions to a greater extent than exists at present. For instance, some of 'he Southland compettiors finished up a train journey of 140 miles about 6.30 on Friday evening, and were called upon to compete in events some three-quarters of an hour 'later. It must be difficult for an athlete to appear at his best under such conditions. There are other drawbacks associated with holding the preliminaries on a day other than that on which the finals arc decided. Take the Javelin throw as an example. It might easily happen that those who take part in the preliminary have to compete against adverse conditions, while the men who come on the scene the next day mav have everything in their favour. The point is that i. k< - competition were, decided outriglic there would be a very much better chance of all the competitors being on level terms as for as. conditions are concerned.. Twenty-three championships were decided during the afternoon, and titles changed hands in no fewer than 13 cases. , , v ? ® ve pt ß last year's winners did not defend their honours. Bert Geddes (Inverftirgill), who won tile two sprint championships last year, did not compete on Saturday. The new 100 yards champion is M. G. Valk, who has been running exceptionally well of late, and_ the 220 yards title has passed to C. W. Rout (Invercargill), a wellknown performer. L- C.M'Lachlau retained the 440 Yards and 880 Yards Championships, He has come on remarkably well in the last few weeks, and in both races he showed speed,, determination,. and judgment. He is evidently in excellent form, and may fce depended T upon to put up a good showing at t he New Zealand championships this week His wins on Saturday were extremely popular. In the absence of J. G. Barnes, there was a good deal of speculation regardin'l- - claims of J. J. Morris, L. A. Wood and J. Lovelock as the best miler. Love locks recent performances, coupled with ms determination, led many good judges to the conclusion that lie would be very hard to beat... .Their opinion proved to be correct, for he. asserted his superiority in a decided manner, winning coraforta n^. ln rr, 0 under tbe ota K° standard, t il e Three-mile Championship was one of the best races of the day, and provided an exceptionally fast finish considenns the distance traversed, Lonj before the finish it was apparent that the issue lay between J. J. Morris, J. MLaren, and E. J. Johnston (last year’s winner). In the concluding stages these three were running practically together. Laren led into the straight, but Morris passed him in the concluding stages. The sprint to the post was more like the conclusion of a short-distance event than a three-mile race, and with a fine burst of & . lor V s mossed the line less than a ahead of MLaren. The time was gopd, equalling the Otago standard, and £ ® in -£ , 38 2 ‘ ss< f c better than that recorded by Johnston last year. vw th ?,, first . ll ®''} t . of the Ladies’ 100 Yards Championship Miss V. Nichol L Go , r , c >™ comfortably in the slow time to , vhlle f he scc . ond beat went , w , hose tlrne "'as 2-ssec better. Miss Nichol was slow in getting a way ln the -final, in which she was unto e nrl c Set T\?‘T P a ? e ’ the tit!e Passed ,i SS *i MLeod (Invercargill), who covered the distance in 12 2-ssec. HnwiioViu co T, lost the 120 Yards Hurdles title, which was secured by E. fln-,1 n ,V-£ 1 (University), whose time in the final nas equal to that recorded by Mal-ds-Tl aS vV V ) ea T’ but lmder the Otago stanw d ii -' la!co!m . annexed the 440 Yards wW T S but he was somewhat lucky m doms so. I. O. Mansnn intnTb Carff } winner, led hu t rdlt he 'ind r flu lt Vi bllt I l e . stnick the last tin i ’ thus giving Malcolm an ® a ® y Mans , oa sot going again, howevor, and secured second place. foAC, b - La bot, who appeared in his best torm, retained the One-mile Walking m le mP i?f n |e ~Pf and . al < 0 J ook the thre£ Slav l/ r ° m ,- 11S brotber - "'hose a T p i aj na ?, a . disappointment, being a long way inferior to what we have seen from him in the past; In the mile event Fraser , and Henry were not far bohin 1 Slkd a lifJ ?P ’ but , they "’ erc both cauea on tor lifting, ami this left n,., winner assured of an easy victory. Fraser made a good effort to keen un witli m the Three-mile Walk? b?t the Htte fo>tobh Wa fiT l ?n u- the - last lap ' and won comtortablv. finishing in good stylo. Civil Service had an easy win in the Into y a C st a rnn 10 r h i P - L ' £ M'Eachlan ran thon4, w VI lea d °yer the half-mile, and gap "over *b r ( Un ‘>’ ers 'ty) reduced the tru.-n I ■ ; Farr and Valk u^T, R ° ut d,d n ?t defend his title in wpof- V?! J i\V m S’ and ,t be championship M -Soinerville, whose best effort was Jin over the Otago standard. ibe outstanding performer at the mcetine was R. O. Johnson, who collected event tbird ip -otlu-r event, u. it i,. Stevenson, who won the broad jump last year, did not defend his eolinJu 11 ? " as se - cured by Johnson, who onfV PS | d the previous winning effort of - f t 3 ' nby 3m though he was 6in. short “ the Otago standard,- Johnson’s best performance was m the hop. step and orfv-fnt” Wh f Cb bc bas sho ’ n 'ed a P to great advantage for some time. He won the title last year with 45ft 2in. but on Satursfn ‘, mp t ro ': ed ° n that to the extent of n "' r K of t be, ?T the P taso standard by ’ 5 , mac le an exceptionally good effort covering 47ft 2in. but as he overstepped the board by a very small margin this performance did not count, ilns effort, which was only 2}in short of the New Zealand record, was so good that action was immediately taken to extend the pit. Johnson s third championship L 3 3- c al . ned the Pole vault, in which "? I>ls title, negotiating the bar at 10ft lin as compared with Oft 6in a year ago. B. Provo, who secured second place, also beat last years winning effort, while L. M. V right equalled it. Johnsqn - secured a p ace in the discus event his best throw being 85ft 3Ain. , The shot-putting event was again won by H D. Morgan, who covered 35ft Sin as compared with 34ft 04in last year All the placed competitors eclipsed last year’s winning performance. As was expected. J. G. Leckie had no trouble in retaining the hammer-throwing title. His best throw this vear was 142 ft 2in. as compared with 127 ft 7in in 1920. Leckie did better at Milton and Palmerston within the last month, when he exceeded 151 ft. but considering the strong wind which prevailed on Saturday his performance was a really good one.' P G. Ward repeated his success of last year bv winning the javelin championship. He covered 13ft Ijin this year as compared with 133 ft lin in 1020. H. H. Letliaby, who won the discus championship last year, did not defend

Ins title, which passed to J. G. Leckie whose best throw was 99ft Gin, as compared with Lethaby'e 9Gft 9Jin. Honours in the cycling events were well distributed, the three titles being spread over three riders. Fogarty retained the one mile title, but he lost the half-mile to G. Smith, and the three miles to J. Parsons. -All the finishes were close. The Southland eontipgent was a strong one from the point of view of quality. The titles in the 220yds and 100yds ladies’ events went to Invercargill runners, and the Southland competitors secured places in several other events, scoring 14 points for the List Shield. Manson and Rout quite upheld their previous reputations, while Gardiner and Creeser showed excellent promise of developing into champions in the near future. THE OTAGO TEAM. The performances on Saturday indicated that Otago would be represented by a strong contingent at the New Zealand championships at Wanganui this week, but the inability of J. J. Morris, G. Smith, and J. C. Fogarty to participate has weakened the strength of the team perceptibly. However, in M. G. A all>, L. C, MTiachlan, J. Lovelock, it. O. Johnson, J. G. Leokie, and A. L. Price the province will be worthily represented and all followers of the sport here will’ wish them every success. On the form shown on Saturday more than one New Zealr.nd championship should be won for Otago, THE HALF-MILE TITLE. Present indications are that the halfmile championship of New Zealand will be the feature of the national amateur athletic meeting at Wanganui (says the Christchurch Sun), and Canterbury supporters are wondering whether N; J. buckling, last year’s uncrowned champion’ will again lead home the field. Sucklhi" will be right out to win again the title that was taken away from him so unfairly last season, and he is running better than he was at this time last season His 1.59 4-5 was the first time he has broken 2.0, but ho should be able to clip some or the fractions off that time at Wanganui, Don Evans, of Taihape, will go to the mark a favourite as the result of his recent 1.55 4-5 effort. Evans probably ig the fastest runner who will contest the race, but he may be beaten by tactics, and Suckling is a master of tactics. Another menace from the North Island is L. Hack, of the Wairarapa, who will run round about 1.59. If L. M'Lachlap of Otago, holder of the title, runs with better head than he did last war he should also be in the hunt. What a race it should be! Suckling, M'Lachlan, iSicoll, Harley, Evans, and Hack are all capable of running under 2.0. If somebody goes out, to make the pace a cracker trom the start the time might be sensational. CENTRE RECORDS BROKEN. Eight of the centre records were broken at the eighth annual championships of the W anganui-1 aranaki Centre held at Hawera. The new centre records wore:— Three miles run, lomin 41scc, by 11. J. Brown, New Plymouth; previous best, lunun. vr Hurdles, fiOscc, by F. C, Gilmour, New Plymouth; previous best, G 1 l-ssec. Mile relay, 3min 51 l-ssec, by New i lymouth; previous best, 3min 54sec Javelin throw, 193 ft, by S. A.' Lav, Hawera; previous best, 189 ft Sin High jump. sft GJin, by F. Gilliver, otratford; previous best, sft Gin. Long jump 21ft 71in, by G. Sullivan, New Plymouth; previous best, 20ft Ilin. Hop, step, and jump, 46ft Tin. by G. Sullivan; previous best, 43ft. Three miles’ walk, 24min 25 4-ssec, bv no oV Us ' tavern; previous best, 25mih oJ 3-ssec, CONTROL QF CYCLING • ‘ Various matters in connection with the control of cycling and several recent happenings were discussed at a meeting of the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. last week (says the Post), It was decided that a special meeting ot centres be held at Wanganui to-mor-row to be presided over by the chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council. The cycling delegate from each centre, as well as the .m! de , le ßates from the Manukau Club, will take part in an earlier round-table conference of cyclists’ representatives alone, and members of the council will be present to obtain a first-hand knowledge of the feeling of cyclists all over the Dominion. NOTES. Messrs A. C. Kitto and J. S. Stalker will represent the Wellington Centre at the conference of centres in Wellington tins week. The Canterbury Centre will lie represented by Messrs C. H. Tavlor jun.. and G. L, Austin. . * i f°"°witig athletic events will be decided at the Otago Cricket Association’s sports day to be held at Forbury Park on featurday afternoon and at Carisbrook v i a^T- y evening:—Afternoon—100 \iirds, 400 \ards. Mile Medley Relay 100 \ards Ladies;, and Half-mile Cycle ilaa-i-napv Evening—22o Yards. One Mile, Handicap. ’ “ d Two Milc Cycle The javejin throw at the Canterbury championship meeting was wou by A E Joseph with M. Collier second, and d’. A. r ®?P ectiv e distances were 139 ft 5m 125 ft 2m. and 123 ft Sin. ■ ' won tlie hammer throw, covering 9.ft Gim with C. AVelsh (91ft KMm) second, and G. T. Alley (79ft lOin) third. C * On A PCt T tOr tur ''e<l up for the - W iw k if- 1 * he Eermond-Golding meeting in WeUmgton (says the Dominion!, and this race had to be cut out. The centre has always done ite best in the encouragement of walking, but if this state ol affairs continues it looks as if walking races will be eliminated from future nrofframmes, * The cost of sending the Canterbury team of 12 competitors to the championships will be about £65 10s. At a meeting of the centre last week it was deemed that each member of the team bt asked to contribute £2 towards the cost. The executive of the Wellington Centre decided last week to suggest, to the Wanganm-Taranaki Centre that instead of having the three cycle championship finals on Saturday evening, the Half-mile final be decided in the afternoon The Canterbury Centre has decided to forward the following remit to the conference at Wanganui:—“That the 50

Miles New Zealand Cycling Championship be replaced by a 100 miles championship.” R- A, Rose was unable to go to Auckland. for the meeting there last Saturday. He is anxious to make an appearance in Auckland,, and negotiations are in hand w, th a view to having him compete at the Auckland championships next week, W. J. Lamberton, an amateur cyclist, has been suspended by the Canterbury Centre for a year on a charge of interfering with T. O’Brien in a race, and for allegedly using insulting, behaviour towards. an. official. The Christchurch Sun says it is reported that Lamberton intends to turn over to the cash ranks. There is no doubt (says the Dominion that Rose is a freak runner, for, with only a few weeks’ hard training, he gave one of the races of his career against Leo Lermond, and fully deserved the plaudits of the spectators at the finish. Though beaten by inches, he was not disgraced.. and by. New Zealand championsnip time he. will be at his best. At a meeting of the Canterbury Centre last week the secretary reported that at the Peltzer meeting there was a profit, ot £29 5s Gd, at the first Lermond meeting a loss of £63 15s 4d, at the second Lermond meeting a loss of £29 0s Gd. and at the Canterbury championships a profit of about £3. The chairman said that they would have to make an effort to raise the £C3 loss before next season. CYCLING NOTES. On Saturday gratification in a very pronounced form could be seen in the faces of all those officials and persons who have for several seasons past devoted so much time and energy in the interest of amateur cycling in Otago. No wonder, for the large gathering of cyclists from all over Otago was a sight which must have aroused the heart of everyone who takes an interest in such a clean, pure, and manly sport. The feeling of' good-fellowship that exists and the unselfishness and good sportsmanship created in amateur cycling is second to none, and while Otago riders can claim such, the future is assured. Four seasons ago the total number of riders in Otago was, at the most, 15, while to-day it is somewhere in the vicinity of . 100, and to Mr E. C. Isaacs, the enthusiastic and most assiduous secretary of tbe Otago Centre, must go a good' deal of the credit for the headway gained. Immediately on- taking up residence in Dunedin .Mr Isaacs entered wholeheartedly into the secretaryship, and no one can deny that amateur athletics have made rapid strides due mainly to big efforts. • To Messrs E, L. Macassey, J. A. Johnston, and R. Thompson, too. do the riders to-day owe a good deal for splendid work done in their interests and about which few know. Although the tunes recorded in the cycling championships were an advanceraent on those, of last year, owing mainly to the prevailing weather conditions anil the improved firmness of the track, in at least two instances the riders did not give of their best. Nevertheless all the performances were meritorious and some sterling finishes resulted. Congratulations to Gib. Smith, who. by gaining first place in the Half-mile, and second place in the Three Mile, was the successful competitor on the day. He holds for the following year the cup presented to the O.A.C.C, by Messrs W. A. Scott and Sons for most points in championship cycle events. Smith was originally selected to represent Otago at Wanganui but .was unable to obtain the neeessary leave. The improvement in Smith’s finishing sprints was certainly surprising. : J- S. Parsons, who holds the Three Mile title, rode the best race of Ins career-as a cyclist, and. in the hands of Mr C. M'Gill he shows a long looked-for improvement in judgment. Parsons has always looked a likely sort, but has in the past thrown away many a race through lack, of judgment. The Mile title again fell to “ General ” Fogarty, and in consideration ot this his mends have decided not to deprive him of his “stripes.” In al] his cycling career, which has • been so successful, Fogarty has never given a worse exhibition than that of Saturday, and it shows that no one should attempt to ride unless feeling in the best of condition. Whether success attends him or not tbe genial General ” is. always the same, the leader of them all, in smiles at least. For Charlie Conroy, too, must excuses be made. In the heat of the Three Mile ridden on- Friday night, he made snort work of “ Joe" Parsons, who won the final. Conroy is a stylish and dashing rider, and is perhaps the second fastest sprinter in Otago, but apparently he. loses all confidence in himself when about to take part in an important race. One of the most likeable chaps with whom. Dunedin cyclists- have come in contact is Roy Eastlake, the Invercargill rider, who gained a second and third in the One Mile and Three Mile Championships respectively. Under the circumstances the writer has. no hesitation in saying that Eastlake’s performances were more creditable than those of all who beat. him. Astride a cycle more suited for the purpose ■ which an armchair serves, 6u a strange track, and pedalling a gear about eight points too high, he showed that he possesses both courage ana what so many riders lack — the will to win. When Eastlake remedies these defects he will make all riders put up fast tiines to beat him. It was pleasing indeed to see Colin iraser gain the verdict for second place m Ole half-mile over so. notable a rider as Fogarty. The decision was doubtful, but no one, least of all Fogarty, will begrudge him his victory. Both these riders have suffered similar ill-health caused from spills obtained earlv in the season. ‘ ' The country riders who competed in the championships found the track to their dislike, and the ' high gears used by most were a decided disadvantage. Alec Forrest and Ray Barrett, of Palmerston and Invercargill respectively, were perhaps the best of the unplaced riders. Forrest is a fine sport and a game one. He is always a trier, but did not appear at his best on Saturday, Ray Barrett appears to have lost the form displayed last year, tor, while the times were faster on Saturday, the standard was certainly not as nigh. as that displayed - at the previous meeting. . Lucas the “ lion-hearted ” also did not best. He, .like Conroy and Fogarty, rode a great race in the heat decided the night before. Ron Taylor rode surprisingly well in Ins heat of the mile championship, beating Barrett for second place. As Taylor is a. middle-mark B Grade rider, it points to irregularity somewhere. Twenty-eight riders contested the oncmile cycle handicap, won by M. Gordon, Palmerston, and this number excluded most of those contending for titles. “Morrie” Gordon must feel proud of himself, for this is his third win in succession against Dunedin. riders, and the sprint with which he finished marks him as a, rider who will with care rise above the average. “ Old man ” Jack Gordon, father of “Morrie,” was certainly pleased with all concerned with the meeting, and expressed that pleasure fully when he stated that lie had started professional cyclists for many years, but never had he come in contact with such a “ sportsmanlike crowd ” connected with the sport for the sport’s sake as the cyclists gathered at the Caledonian Ground that day were, and he was already looking fofward to next track season, when Palmerston would again be staging a meeting at which Dunedin lads cquld take part. Many of the Dunedin riders also are looking forward to that day. The veteran Charlie Smith crashed two Snturdays in succession, luckily escaping without a scratch. What is he made of? When it was known that Gib. Smith could not make the trip to Wanganui, Fogarty, who was originally passed over, was offered the opportunity of representing Otago, but declined in favour of staying at home to continue hi s study of the bends on the Caledonian cycling track. The O.A.C.C.’s B Grade five-mile championship will be held on the Caledonian Ground on Tuesday, March 25, and the 10-mile championship on Thursday, March