ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 4

ATHLETICS

By Amateur FIXTURES June 18—Edmond Cup trials. June 25—Edmond Cup race. August 20—New Zealand Universities’ Harrier Championships at Wingatui (tentative). August 27.—New Zealand Crosscountry Championships at New Plymouth. AMONG THE HARRIERS Leith The Leith Harrier Club held its Three Milo Handicap on Saturday at St. Kilda. The winner, D Fincham, ran a very strong race and thoroughly deserved the first place. This runner will be concentrating more on the longer distances later on, but his even running on Saturday kept him comfortably ahead of the field F Hodge was second, and, with a little more attention to training, he should go better next time. He has the finish but not enough experience to have held on to the first man. J Stevenson was third from a back mark and also took the time honours. This runner has taken things seriously this year, with the result that he has developed a very easy style, and with more experience in distance racing a lot should be heard oi him in the future. N. Dryden was the limit man, but is a first-year runner, and was unfortunately unable to hold his lead. The club’s veteran. R. N. Watson, turned out and as usual ran a very solid race. E. Pridham unfortunately did not reproduce the form he has been showing on training nights, and towards the latter stages dropped back a little. This runner should do well in the shorter distances. D. Scott, the scratch man, had a hard race to run but did well to finish so near the leaders B. A. Timms was unfortunately unable to compete owing to a slight injury to his foot. This runner is exceptionally fit at present, and. although the shorter distances suit him better he would undoubtedly have been a hard man to beat. Civil Service Although the weather was extremely bad for Saturday’s run from Sim Street Hall, Maori Hill, a good muster turned out for the 1 weekly run.

Great interest is being shown in the Edmond Cup Steeplechase, which will be decided over the three-mile course at Wingatui. The club will field a well-balanced team consisting probably of N. Coutt, A. R. Geddes, J S Asher. B. Wilkinson. L. Whittleston. W

Mackinnon. M. Mackinnon. G. Watson. K. Baird and D. Mason. M Mackinnon, who is training steadily, is expected to show improved form this season. Out with the fast pack last Saturday he was in the van all the way and finished well up In the run home. . . . G. Watson, who is now living In Dunedin, has commenced training and his running will benefit accordingly. He will be a big asset to the No. 1 team. Dunedin The Dunedin Club held a combined run with the St. Kilda Club from the George Street School. It was a very cold day. and this no doubt accounted for the very small attendance. If the members do not turn out is not very encouraging to the captain who tries to keep things going. E Coomer has been running very well lately and should give a good account oif himself in the three-mile on Saturday _, , _ The entries for the Edmond Cup will close at the Sports Depot at 5 o clock on Monday Toko Last week's run of the Toko Club from the High School was up to the usual high standard, despite the depressing weather conditions In a handicap run home the honours went to A Dowie who has been most consistent throughout the season V Krett again showed to advantage, in spite or being unable to devote time to training H Magee was out on Saturday and appeared to revel in the moist conditions. J. Keen is training steadily, and was moving nicely over the whole journey. Caversham With the Edmond Cup only a little over a week away everyone in the Caversham Club is putting his energies into final training. The trial on Saturday will probably develop into a really liard race, as can be expected when the tussle for the tail-end positions in the No. 1 team will be more evenly contested than usual. It is perhaps a trifle early to discuss the personnel of the team, but seven members who arc practically certain of selection are L. K Donovan. S. I. George. L L. Hebbard. A Barr, J. Maddocks, G. L. Austin and ,G. R. Colston. As previously mentioned, the fight for the remaining positions will be keen, but among those who are likely are W. Young, A. G. Hebbard. E. Freeman and S J Bartlett E. P. Brown has had the misfortune to strain a leg muscle, and it is-un-likelv that he will compete until later in the season. Another unfortunate runner is R. C Knox, who has stated that he will be unable to run for some considerable time. Both these runners have had similar troubles for several seasons and wil’ probably continue to do „o until they train on more scientific and patimt lines. Their absence, however is regretted by all members as they are well aware of the difference these two men would make to the teams if they were fit and well. Caversham juniors will not take part in the trial, but will run over the crosscountry course with Deputy Captain Hebbard.

Morniiiglon All the Morninglon junior members ran together on Saturday under Acting Captain Taylor, and although the pace may not have been very fast, good experience of teamwork resulted, the pack being bunched all the day. It is to be hoped that this is the forerunner of many such runs. F Tombs, a new member this year, was running well on Saturday, but will find the going much easier if he relaxed more. The remainder of the harriers formed a single pack, and, although road work predominated, some good cross-coun-try was traversed in the vicinity of Vauxhall, the pace being much slower than usual because o' the bad weather conditions. G. Munro is running very freely just now, and never appears to be distressed no matter how difficult the ‘going is. A. Ferry and L, Armstrong were out again on Saturday and did not appear wanting even though they had been away for a few weeks. The Edmond Cup team is as follows: —L. Armstrong, J. Callister. r Crooke, A. Ferry. A Gillon. F S Graveson, G Munro. C Moore. N. Kroon and R Wilson: emergencies. S Bragg and F. Sanders. All the members wish this team the best of luck on Saturday week. It is to be hoped that a good muster of members will be present at Wingatui to support this event which the Dunedin Club sponsors year by year. University Last Saturday’s road races were sufficient to indicate that the University harriers are beginning to strike form. In the One Mile Club Handicap. N. S Mclvor ran a well-judged race to gain the fastest time (4mm 45sec).

showing that he will be a useful runner later on in the season. R. _H. Wade and C. W. Warburton (the limit men) wisely maintained their lead as long as possible, thus both getting placed, and the way in which Wade responded to Mclvor’s challenge indicated that he must have been taking his training seriously. R. S. Miller and M. V. Rout also ran promisingly. D. Foord and R. G. Pilling, both running from scratch, gained the first two places, and since this was Pilling s first run of the season, it looks as though he will be better than ever. T. E. Dorman (ssec) ran well, and had he not had a severe cold he would have figured better at the finish. R. S. Anderson was running well at halt wav, but did not have enough condition to keep up the fast pace. Celtic United Last Saturday's Three-mile Race of the Celtic United Club produced some excellent distance talent, the most notable being that of R. Baker and Coombs, two juniors, who ran brilliantly to finish first and fifth respectively Both put up remarkable times under the worst possible conditions W Higgins, the limit man. ran his best race to date, although he was unfortunate in taking the wrong turning. He tried hard all the way and finished a good second R Baker was the surprise ot the day Being off the 3min 45sec mark he made bis own pace throughout, and after leaving Lovers’ lane, was never troubled. He won by 50 yards, and finished easing up T. Gerrard. a newcomer to the sport, also ran a welljudged race and finished third. He is a solid stamp of runner, and should be prominent over any distance D Ryan proved himself a sound runner, as he started from 45sec and finished in fourth place a meritorious run for a junior His time for the distance would do credit to most of the seniors in the club.. H. Coombs off Itnin. soon got rid of his comarkers, and went right out for a win His handicap was too much for such a young runner, but he ran a great race to finish fifth. W Kennedy the scratch man. was right on form. and. although having to be content with ninth place, made fastest time with ease He was still gaining near the finish, and it was evident that longer distances will be more to his liking

TRAINING COLLEGE ATHLETICS The annual sports , contest between, the Dunedin and Christchurch Training Colleges, held at Christchurch on, Tuesday, was marred in the athletics section by unfavourable weather arid, heavy tracks. Nevertheless, Dunedin athletes showed up brilliantly, and scored 15 points, compared with Christchurch's 8 points. The groundl was so wet that the hurdling and jump ng events were abandoned. This was unfortunate, as it was probable: that in these events, too, Dunedm competitors would be prominent." " R. G. Pilling was the outstanding,’ Dunedin competitor. He won the 100 Yards from his college mate, J. S. Allan, in the good time, for such conditions, of 11 2-ssec. Allan came to light in the Furlong, and won • ini 25 2-ssec. Filling’s effort in winning the 440 Yards in 57 l-ssec was outstanding. and his performance at this stage of the year has caused considerable comment in Christchurch. The Canterbury College miler. K. W. Robinson, was in good form in the Half and Mile, winning each event from T. E, Dorman in 2min 14sec and smin 2sec respectively. H. W. Fraser (Dunedin) threw the javelin ,121 ft lOin to win this event from W. Oldham (Christchurch). The Relay Race went to Dunedin, the team comprising Allan, V. Kirby, J. Robertson, and Pilling, who covered the mile in 4min 12 3-ssec. There is no reason why the Training College should not form a strong athletic club in Dunedin, and it would be a welcome addition to the athletic organisations in the city.