SPORTS MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 3

SPORTS MEETING

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES One of the greatest mile races ever seen in Dunedin is anticipated on Saturday when the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association will stage its meeting of international athletes. Gerald Backhouse, V. P. Boot, and W. Pullar, Empire Games representatives, and several other good performers will take part, and it should not be a surprise if the New Zealand record of 4min 13 3-ssec is seriously threatened. Backhouse will be out to turn the tables on Boot and Pullar, and an homeric struggle may be looked for. E. W. Best, Australian Empire Games sprinter, who has produced brilliant form throughout the present tour, will appear in the sprint events and may also contest the quarter, in which he has been handicapped on the mark with H. J. Tyrie. the New Zealand Empire Games quartermiler. A. A. Cameron, one of New Zealand's best field athletes, and R. Watson, champion walker of New Zealand, will also be competing, and with cycling races and other attractive events included on the programme the meeting should be one of the best ever held in New Zealand. As an additional attraction, a 20-mile race will be held at 12.30 p.m.. the starters being Otago's marathon trio—G. L. Austin. C. G. Gibbons and G. R. Colston. Miss Betty Forbes, Empire Games athlete, will compete in the women's high iumip.