ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23082, 7 January 1937, Page 5

ATHLETICS

By Amateur

FIXTURES January 13, 20, and 27.—Centre’s evening sports meetings. January 16.—Centre’s meeting at Milton. January 23.—Centre’s scratch meeting at Caledonian Ground. February 3, 10 and 17.—Caversham and Civil Service championships. February 13.—Soutmand centre’s championship meeting (tentative;. February 20—Caledonian Society’s sports meeting. February 27. Otago provincial championships, at the Caledonian Ground. THE JAPANESE TOUR Owing to the delay by the Japanese athletic authorities in replying to the inquiry from New Zealand as to whether any athletes' would be available for a tour of New Zealand this season, the cablegram from Japan recently announcing that the distance runner Murakoso and a hurdler, Togami, can come to the Dominion has placed the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in an unfortunate position, in view of the fact that only a short time before the association had decided to co-operate with the Ne.v South Wales A.A.A. in a tour by the two Americans Foy Draper and George Mackey. It is a great pity this situation has arisen (says the Evening Post), but it is due solely to the time which the Japanese allowed to lapse before advising the N.Z.A.A.A., whose cablegram was forwarded as far back as the beginning of September. It was only when it appeared that the association would wait in vain for any word from Japan that the council decided to seize the alternative offering of securing a visit by an overseas team by co-operating with New South Wales.

The N.Z.A.A.A. Council has not heard officially, but it has been reported by cablegram from Sydney that the two Americans were expected to arrive in Australia at the end of last month. The council at the annual meeting last week decided that something more definite was necessary from New South Wales, for unless the tour by the two Americans, to which the council has committed itself, is absolutely assured it is not desired that the opportunity of having the two Japanese should be lost. Under the circumstances no decision has yet been made on the offer from Japan. It is unfortunate that the cablegram from Japan was so long delayed. A Japanese combination was the council’s first choice, and there is no doubt but that Murakoso, who represented Japan at the Olympic Games and ran fourth in the 10,000 and 5000 Metres, and a good hurdler would be great draw cards. The cablegram asked for an allowance of £1 per day, and this is something which it can be taken for granted the N.Z.A.A.A. would not countenance, unless, of course, it is meant that the £1 should also include accommodation expenses. It has been suggested that, even though the council has decided to cooperate with New South Wales in a tour by Americans, the council ought to be able with advantage to bring the Japanese to New Zealand as well, particularly if it is possible for them to be in the Dominion at the same time. Such an arrangement certainly would be a big attraction, but as the president (Mr R. W. M’Villy) pointed out last week, there is the question of the expense that would be involved to be considered- The position, therefore, seems tj be that the N.Z.A.A.A., having undertaken, through force of circumstances, to co-operate with New South Wales, there is little likelihood of the Japanese being seen in New Zealand, except in the event of the N.Z.A.A.A. not being satisfied with the information or arrangements in connection with the proposed visit by the two Americans. THE EMPIRE GAMES The intimation given at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that the Dominion would be represented at the Empire Games at Sydney in 1938 by probably the largest athletic team ever seen abroad should give (says a northern writer! definite encouragement to those performers who just fall short of Olympic standard. There is any amount of talent in this country, and the prospect of a visit to Australia should give just that impetus necessary for those in the running to produce their very best. New Zealand, indeed, should do well in Sydney. In fact, she might well carry off the track and field honours. This may seem a tall statement, but her men will have things much to their liking. They will be far different competitors at the 1938 Empire Games than they could ever be in the northern hemisphere.

V. P. Boot and C. H. Matthews, much greater athletes than their form at Berlin would lead one to believe, will provide all-comers with opposition just as stern as they would be likely to encounter anywhere. Boot and Matthews are good There should not be any mistake about that. They were yards outside their best form at the Olympic Games, just as Jack Lovelock and Paavo Nurmi would have been had they been “ dumped ” unceremoniously as it were, in this Dominion and asked to produce efforts in keeping with their reputations after a few weeks’ preparation under strange conditions. If Boot turns on a Imin 53 3-ssec half-mile and Matthews a 14min 18sec three miles in Sydney, there will be few if anv men ahead of them in these events. They are likely to do better than this as each has his best years before him.

But the two Olympic Games representatives do not by any means exhaust the talent that should be available in 1938. New Zealand sprinters may perhaps not make the grade, but there is a wealth of promising middle and long-distance men. youngsters who might do anything if given the chance. Then there is the field events section. New Zealand may be weak in the jumps, but taken all round the standard in this division of snort is probably as good as that to be found anywhere in the Empire.

Right now the Dominion has excellent chances of winning Empire titles in the Javelin and Hammer Throws. C. P, Clegg, easily the best javelin exponent developed since Stan Lay, should this season get the implement out well beyond 200 feet, and M. R. Spillane, with the former Olympic champion Dr O’Callaghan a most unlikely starter, will have few if any peers with the hammer. And with the discus and the shot New Zealand might easily develop men capable of capturing Empire crowns. After all, Empire standard, especially in field events, is only a shadow of the level demanded at the Olympic Games. MILTON MEETING CANCELLED The athletic meeting which was to have been held at Miltor\ on January 16 under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has been cancelled owing to the infantile paralysis epidemic.