AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 15

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES

NEW ZEALAND TOUR APPEARANCE AT MILTON The two Victorian runners, E. Best and G. Backhouse, who were included in the team which represented Victoria at the Olympic Games at Berlin in 1936, and who are visiting New Zealand under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the Amateur Athletic Association, made their first appearance on the running tracks of the Dominion at the Toko Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club's evening sports meeting at Milton last night. Civic Welcome Arriving at Milton by the morning express from Invercargill, the two athletes were met and welcomed by representatives .of the local club, and by Messrs B. McKernan and E. C. Isaacs, representing the Otago Centre. During the lunch hour they were tendered a civic reception at the Coronation Hall, where several members of the local Athletic Club and interested residents had assembled. The Mayor (Mr D. M. Mawson), extending a welcome to the athletes, referred to the keen interest taken in amateur athletics locally, and expressed the hope that the visit of such famous runners as Messrs Best and Backhouse would prove beneficial to the amateur athletic clubs which they visited. Mr V. Walker, president of the Toko Swimming Club, extended a hearty welcome on behalf of the various local sports organisations. This was the first occasion on which Milton had been honoured by a visit from overseas athletes. The local Swimming Club had, however, received two visits from overseas swimming champions, which had served to arouse greater interest, whilst the lessons learnt had proved of incalculable value. He expressed the hope that the tour would prove successful. Brief welcomes were extended by Mrs James Gray and Mr T. L. Floyd (presidents of Milton and Bruce Hockey Clubs respectively), and also by Mr J. R. Wilson (president of the Toko Amateur Athletic Club). Mr B. McKernan (Dunedin) extended a welcome on behalf of the Otago Centre, and remarked that about two years ago the desire had been expressed for a visit to Otago of an athletic team from overseas, but the negotiations then were unsuccessful. The Otago Centre had, however, succeeded at last in obtaining a visit from Messrs Best and Backhouse. He (Mr McKernan) had seen these runners in action at Sydney, was greatly impressed by their style, and could assure Otago supporters of amateur athletics that they would witness some excellent competition, and that the visit of the champions would prove beneficial to the sport in the cities and country towns which the runners visited.

Messrs Backhouse and Best expressed appreciation of the heartiness of the welcome, and of the hospitality extended to them since their arrival at Invercargill. They appreciated the fact that their first appearance in competitions was at one of the smaller towns before testing their calibre against competitors in the larger centres. The civic reception was concluded by Mr E. C. Isaacs expressing gratitude to Mr and Mrs J. K. Wilson, whose guests the visiting athletes were during their short stay in Milton. During the afternoon Messrs Best and Backhouse gave short addresses on athletic matters generally to an audience of school children and adults. They afterwards paid a visit of inspection to the Bruce woollen mills. Evening Sports Meeting Owing to the heavy rains experienced locally during recent weeks the track at the Domain Ground was very heavy £or the sports meeting, for which a comprehensive programme of field and track events had been arranged. A number of Dunedin athletes also competed in the various events. Unfortunately the climatic conditions were unfavourable; heavy rain fell throughout the evening, and militated against the complete success of the function. The results of the events wer* as follows: — 100 YARDS First Heat.—E. W. Best (Australia), scr, 1; W. Bellaney (Toko), 7yds, 2; J. Stafford (Ang.), 6yds, 3. Only starters. Time, lOsec. Second Heat.—A. Stewart (Toko), 10yds. 1; V. Idour (Civ. 3.), 4Jyds, 2; A. R. Martin (Toko), 7yds, 3. Four starters. Time, 10 l-ssec. Final.—E. W. Best 1, W. Bellaney 2, V. Idour 3. Time, lOsec. Best caught the field at the halfway mark and won by four yards. 220 YARDS First Heat.—C. Keppel (Toko), 10yds, 1; A. Stewart (Toko), 16yds, 2; J. Stafford (Ang.), 13yds, 3. Four starters. Time, 25sec. Final.—E. W. Best, scr, 1; G. Davie (Ang.), 6yds, 2; A. Stewart, 3. Time, 24sec. Best took the lead 50 yards from home and won easily. 440 YARDS G. Davie (Ang.), Byds, 1; H. J. Tyrie (Civ. S.), scr, 2: W. Bellaney (Toko). 20yds. 3. Four starters. Won by a yard. Time. 54sec. 880 YARDS R. J. Pilling (University), 20yds, 1; G. Backhouse (Australia), scr, 2; R. S. Moody, 10yds, 3. Backhouse took the lead 200 yards from home, but Pilling won in the sprint home by four yards. Time, 2min 4 2-ssec. ONE MILE I. W. Coombs (Celt.) 110yds, 1; R. Freeman (Toko), 135yds, 2; Carroll (Celt.), 135yds, 3. Freeman went to the front in the last lap, but tCoombs won by a yard in the sprint home. Backhouse ran alone all the way and made no impression on the leaders. Time, 4min 41sec. WOMEN'S 75 YARDS First Heat.—H. Ferguson (Dunedin), scr, 1; E. Cuff (Toko), 4yds, 2; S. Allison (Toko), syds, 3. Four starters. Time, 9 2-ssec. Second Heat. —M. Dodds (Dunedin). 2£yds, 1; H. Morris (Toko), 3yds, 2; J. Flett (Toko), syds, 3. Five starters. Time, 9 2-ssec. Final.—J. Flett 1, H. Ferguson 2, M. Dodds 3. A "blanket" finish. Time, 9 4-ssec. BOYS 75 YARDS R. Flett 1, J. Flett 2, A. Fagg 3. Seven starters. GIRLS' 75 YARDS L. Martin 1. L. Craigie 2, J. Flett 3. Six starters. Mr S. Saunders gave medals for the competitors placed first and second in these events. The medals were presented by the two Australians. FIELD EVENTS Discus-throwing Handicap.—J. Olver (Toko), 28ft, 1; E. Currie (Toko). 38ft. 2; J. Dalgleish (Nth. O.), scr, 3. Eight entries. Distance, 112 ft lOin. Putting the Shot Handicap.—J. Dalgleish (Nth. O.), scr. 1; G. Billbrough (Civ. S.). 4ft 6in. 2; A. J. Barr (Cav.), Bft. 3. Six entries. Distance. 43ft sJin. Throwing the Javelin Handicap.—H. Whitaker (Toko.). 13ft. 1; R. G. Pilling (Univ.), scr. 2; R. Emmerson (Cav.), 13ft. 3. Distance. 132 ft 9in. Broad JumD Handicap.—E. Currie (Toko), Ift 3in. 1; R. Roy (Toko), Ift 6in. 2; H. Whittaker (Toko). Ift 3in. 3. Five entries. Distance, 19ft 3in. Hop. Step, and Jump Handicap.—A. R. Martin (Toko), Ift 6in, 1; R. G. Pilling (Univ.), scr. 2; R. Roy (Toko), 3. Nine entries. Distance, 39ft OJin. At the conclusion of the meeting the president of the Toko Club (Mr J. R. Wilson) thanked the comoetitors and the spectators for their interest. A supper for the officials and competitors was held later in the evening.