ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21828, 15 December 1932, Page 4

ATHLETICS

By Amateub. FIXTURES December 15.—Professional Club’s weekly evening meeting, Caledonian Ground. December 20.—Caversham Harrier, Club’s evening meeting at Caledonian Ground. December) 26.—Amateur meeting at Waipiata. March 4.—Otago track and field championships at Dunedin.

THE NORTH OTAGO MEETING For the initial afternoon effort of the season the sports meeting, held at Oamaru on Saturday by the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association must be regarded as highly successful. Although the fields in the middle distance events were rather small the competition in the sprints was very keen and some good-class, racing was seen. The officials of the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association area very hard-working body of enthusiasts and under their control there should be a decided future for amateur athletics in North Otago. An instance of the keenness of those who. have the interests of the sport at heart is the .task undertaken by one enthusiast—the mowing of a track round the 440 yards oval and the 100 yards stretch in the centre of the field, with a hand machine. A . tireless official was the seeretary-handicapper,, Mr R. E. Dimick, who performed his onerous duties with distinct credit; Several Dunedin athletes visited the meeting and were accorded a hearty welcome. An Oamaru visit is always looked forward to by Dunedin men and the secretary of the North Otago Amateur’Athletic Association left no doubts in their minds as to the quality of the welcome which would be extended to them at other meetings. The outstanding performer of the day was AHster Cameron, who without any sprinting practice this season shattered the New Zealand ’ Hop, Step, and Jump record, setting up 47 feet 5 inches. It wag a great leap and is a plain indication of Cameron’s possibilities. On his showing he must improve by the .time the championship meetings come round. His effort of 5 feet 10 inches in the High Jump was very good and he will be a serious contender for New Zealand honours when he strikes top form. H. Milner, who has sprung into the limelight os a hurdler of definitely championship class, was in good form on Saturday. His flight over the sticks is beautiful and demonstrates the correctness of taking off at least a yard and a-half in f ront of the hurdle. His, striding was also very accurate. Milner is h man w'ho must be seriously reckoned with at the Dominion championships, and many good judges consider him capable of beating either I. 0. Manson or C._ Tapley. The more merit attaches to his success by reason of the fact that he is entirely selfcoached. Milner has studied every book on hurdling ■ he could. procure, and his keenness and tenacity would put many champions to shame. Another record broken was that of the best New Zealand hammer throw of 151 ft Gin, established by J. G. Leckie. This ■was greatly improved on by M. Spill ane, of Palmerston. Spillane put up a great effort to hurl the weight 164 ft 3in, and he should be able to improve on this later in the season. During the afternoon the Otago Pole Vault record went by the _board, R. O. Johnson beating the existing mark by OJin, and establishing a vault of lift OJin. Johnson was also second in the 120 Yards Hurdles and the Hop, Step, and Jump Handicap; and third in the Discus event. ’ ■«*

W. Borrie, a Waitaki High School boy, showed most promising- form. He made an actual jump of sft _ sin in the HighJump and was, second in the 440 Yards Hurdles Handicap and third in the 120 Yards Hurdles event. Borrie would be well advised not to do too much for another season at least, as he has possibilities when properly set. A. L. Price had wretched luck in his heat of the 220 Yards., Lying handy into the straight, he put in a sprint and was rapidly overhauling the field. He had every appearance of being the winner when two men in front unwittingly closed in and Price was forced to come practi-cally-to a standstill.- It was very unfortunate and might have the final result. Price had a good win in the 440 Yards Handicap from scratch, leaving the field in the straight. The Ladies' High Jump was won by Miss Betty Forbes from scratch with a leap of 4ft Tin. For a girl of about 16 years of, age, this is a fine performance, and it is to be hoped she will concentrate on this event, for she should certainly do very well later on. W. W Bnrridge has improved considerably in the Pole Vault and it was unfortunate for him ■ that R. 0. Johnson was in such good form. Burridge would have deserved a win had it-come his way for he indulges in very serious training. ■ ■ ■ - Although there were only three starters in the 880 Yards Handicap, S. King ran a good race to win comfortably from D. Lake, Lake ran well until the' middle of the second lap, when lack of condition told on him. A. 6. Lovelock was in good form, winning the 100 Yards, coming second in the 440 Yards, and third in the 220 Yards Handicaps. REASSURING NEWS In conversation with A. A. Cameron and hia trainer, Mr R. E. Dimick, at Oamaru on Saturday, “Amateur ” was definitely informed that Cameron would be a competitor at the Otago championships in March of next year, and would, as. a matter of course, wear the Otago colours at the New Zealand amateur athletic championship meeting at Christchurch. Inquiry brought out the facta of Cameron's appearance at the meeting in Christchurch on Saturday fortnight last. As was stated in this column last week, Cameron's work took him to Christchurch, and, as he remarked, “A man can’t sit on the bank.” Mr Dimick said that any fears that had been aroused in Otago could be put aside. In reference to H. Milner, “Amateur ” was informed that although he will enter Canterbury College next year, it could be taken for granted that he would compete for Otago over the hurdles, with, it is believed in some quarters, more than a good chance of success. With our other men training on well, Otago’s chance of filling first place should be very bright. NOTES The annual* club competitions for the Roberts and Quennell Cups, for track events and field events, respectively, are being held in conjunction with each other this week by the Anglican Club. The first half of the combined competition wag held on Tuesday evening at Logan Park, and the. remaining'events will be decided to-night. The present holder of the Roberts Cup is A. L. Price, and R. 0. Johnson is in possession of the Quennell Cup.

The various meetings to be held by the country clubs around Christmas and New Year are certain to draw good entries from local athletes. The list of events for the Alexandra meeting is to hand, and comprises a most extensive programme. Entry fees in' most cases are larger than is-usual, but the trophies are of a commensurntely high value. The Caversham Club will hold an evening meeting next Tuesday on the Caledonian Ground. The following is the programme, for which entries closed last evening:—loo Yards Handicap, Threequarter Mile Handicap, Broad Jump Handicap, One Mile Medley Relay Handicap, Three-quarter Mile Cycling Handicap, One Mile and a-half Cycling Handicap.