ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21531, 31 December 1931, Page 4

ATHLETICS

By Amateur. COMING EVENTS February 27. —Otago Championships. March II and 12.—New Zealand Championships at Auckland. THE OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS Among the clubs training is now almost general in view of the Otago championships, which will take place at Carisbrook on February 27, and it is expected that a really first-class meeting should result, as athletes will be present from Invercargill to Oamaru. The appearance of A. A. Cameron, of Oamaru, who was recently reinstated to amateur status, will undoubtedly render some of the events very interesting, as he is a really good performer in his particular field. He has cleared six feet in the High Jump, and 48 feet 6 inches stands to his credit in the Hop, Step, and Jump, while he has done 21 feet 6 inches in the Broad Jump, and he can run a good 440 yards. The first time he tried himself out with the discus he covered 100 feet, so that it may be expected that he will be well to the fore at the championships. ' J. J Morris, who is still feeling the effects of a recent illness, has not yet commenced to train for the championships. If he is fit on that date it is doubtful that there is anyone in the province who will beat him oyer three miles, while he would probably provide some stiff competition in the mile. ENGLISH UNIVERSITY ATHLETES While it might not be possible for such an English athletic team as that which will compete at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles next year to tour New Zealand, it is possible that if the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association issues an invitation the public may have the privilege of seeing some first-class English University athletes in action, according to Mr C. S. Thomas, of Christchurch, who recently returned from a trip abroad. Speaking to a Post representative, Mr Thomas said that while be was in London he had a chat with the head of the Olympic Council (Mr E. Hunter) about the possibility of a team of athletes visiting New Zealand. ' He had pointed out that such a visit would not only be beneficial to the sport but also to the Empire. Mr Thomas said that Mr Hunter gave it as his opinion that it might not be possible for Rampling and other well-known English champions to tour the Dominion, but that it might be possible for New Zealand to get a first-class team from the universities, such tour to take place doling the university vacation. ATHLETICS IN VICTORIA The following 10 athletes have been selected to represent Victoria at the Australian national championships at Sydney on January 16 and 18. It will be observed that W. M.' Whyte, the Victorian and Australian mile champion and Oiympic and Empire Games representative, is excluded from the team;—loo Yards and 220 Yards, E. M. Davidson; 440 iards and 880 Yards, Alan R. Elston; One Mile and Three Mile, A. J. Hillhouse, 120 Yards Hurdles, D. M Lardy, 120 Yards and 440 Yards Hurdles, A. Watson; Pole Vault and High Jump, F. I. Woodhouse; One-mile and Uiree-mile Walk, J. J. Mulcahy; Javelin and ohot Putt, G. A. Bronder; Hammer and Discus, A. D. MTntosh and J. P. Wallace. That he failed to show to advantage in the Half-mile Victorian Championship is advanced as one , °j J' he T / e 1 Whyte has been excluded. Holder of the national title, Whyte defeated Dr Peltzer (Germany) on the Melbourne Cricket Ground early last year, doing a mile in the remarkably, fast time of 4mm 21 l-ssec —a record. This hag since been bettered by Basil Coombes Whvte was runner-up to the German champion in the Half-mile, won in Imm 57 l-ssec. Whyte has- had a remarkable career on the track. He represented Australia in the Olympic Games at Amsterdam in 1928. Although he failed to score a rictory, he played a big part in Great Britain’s winning of the mile race against America at London, tollowing the Games, r a R f year he was a member of the Aus tralian team at the Empire Gamea in Canada. He finished second to that brfi Hant English runner, R. H. iuomas, m the Mi e. At the bell Whyte TO about 50 yards away, but he cume with one: of his characteristic dashes and nnisnea within six yards of Tho™fsclocked to do the journey in,4min X4sec. It is likely that representations will be made to the selectors to K^e £urt herconsideration to the claims of Whyte, in view of the fact that he shows promise of being in excellent fettle in January. Hu supDorters claim that his winning of the Vic torian Mile in 4min 23 2-ssec. three weeks ago when he defeated Hillhouse by seven yards, is sufficient to justify his place m the team. STAMFORD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS While ho was in England Mr C. S. Thomas, of Christchurch attended the amateur athletic championships at Stamtoui Bridge, and also the Harvard and Yale v. Oxford and Cambridge Universities tournament. He said he had gained the impression, that if a British team could get away to Los Angeles it would provei difficult to beat in the track events, although there undoubtedly would be a weakness m the field events. Rampling, Hampson, and Thomas, he thought, would be strong competitors in their distances— Rampling had llone the quarter-mile ill 48sec; Hampson probably would run the half-mile m Imin 52sec; and Thomas probably could beat his own time of 4min 12sec for the mi e. Lord Burghley was still a force to bt reckoned with in the 120 yards hurdle event, but he could not now last out the longer distances. The army champion. Finlay, was a first-class hurdler, and had run Lord Burghley to within feet for .he 120 yards event, under 15sec. CHAMPION TURNS PROFESSIONAL A bombshell has been thrown into amateur athletic circles in Australia by the dramatic exit from amateurism, and entry into the ranks of professionals, ot H A. Bascombe, the Australian ouartermile champion runner. Bascombe has automatically forfeited his amateur status by entering for the Maryborough Highland sports on New Years Day, and whether he withdraws his nomination or not, he has lost his amateur status Bascombe is 28 years of age. He created a sensation last year bydefeating George Golding (New South Wales), the Australian quarter-mile record-holder, iu tne Australian national games in Melbourne. He represented Australia at the British Empire Games in Canada and was regarded as a possibility for selection lor the Olympic Games next year. NOTES The following is the programme of athletic and cycling events for the V\ airio Athletic Society’s meeting, which will be held on Saturday, January 9; Maiden Handicap (100 yards), 75 Yards Handicap, Sheffield Handicap (IJ.> yards, first £5, second £2, third £D. 220 Yards Handicap. Hurdle Handicap (150 yards), Half-mile Handicap, One Mile Handicap, Hop, Stop, and Jump, High Jump, Putting Shot, Married Ladies Race, Single Ladies’ Race, Married Men s Race Half-mile Bicycle Race (for boys under 15 years). In addition, the attractions at the meeting include children’s events and whippet races. Entries for the first seven events will dose with the secretary at Waino on Monday addition to the list of amateur athletic bodies in Auckland is the Mount Albert Grammar School Old Boys’ Club, for the formation of which a great amount of credit is due to Mr H. L. Towers, secretary of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. There was a big attendance at the club’s first meeting, including some of the best athletes iu the province, and the New Zealand Herald forecasts that this club should have the strongest relay teams in Auckland to compete in the interchib contests later in the season. J. R. Atkinson, who recently retired from competition, has been appointed handicapper to the North Canterbury .Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and

Cycling Union (states the Sun). He should be very well qualified for this position. A resolution making a further appeal to the Wellington centre to reopen the question of Mr A. A. Nattrasa’s disqualification was passed at a meeting of the Wairarapa sub-centre of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Association. Mr Nattrass represented the sub-centre for some years past, but was recently disqualified on account of having competed at cash amateur meetings 23 years ago. The subcentre stated in its resolution that it desired Mr Nattrass’s services as a delegate as it recognised the value of the work he had done while in office. The most outstanding performer at a sports meeting held recently at Invercar-. gill was T. Pickering, late of Wellington, who showed good form and judgment in winning both the 220 Yards Handicap and the 880 Yards Handicap. In the latter event he put up the time of 2min Bsqc oft scratch. C. Pierson also showed better, form in winning the 75 Yards Handicap off scratch in Bsec on a dead track, while he got into third place in the 100 Yards behind two front markers. B. Provo, who is well known in Dunedin athletic circles, made a welcome reappearance in the field events and succeeded in winning both the Shot Putt and Javelin. J. Jordan showed the effects of Provo’s coaching by coming second in the Shot Putt. The best performances in these events were those of A. G. Derbie, of "St. Paul’s Club, whd' threw 29ft 6in in the Shot Putt, and 120 ft in the Javelin. -?