ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23717, 26 January 1939, Page 5

ATHLETICS

By Amateur

FIXTURES January 30.—Centre’s evening sports, at the Caledonian Ground. February 1,8, and 15. —Caversham anu Civil Service Clubs’ championships at the Caledonian Ground. February 25. Otago Championship Meeting, at the Caledonian Ground March 10 and 11.—New Zealand track and field championships at Napier. March 23.—Caledonian Society’s annual snorts. MEETING AT BRIGHTON The Brighton Caledonian Sports Club is to be congratulated on the success of its first meeting last Saturday afternoon. There was a large attendance at the meeting, which was a pronounced success from every point of view. A lot of credit for the success of the meeting is due Mr H. Griffiths, who, as treasurer and supervisor, put in a great deal of hard work. Officials of the Otago Centre carried out a first-class programme of track and field events, many of which produced excellent competition. The tracks were very rough and uneven, and the measurement of the distances did not seem very accurate. This was to be seen in the times recorded for several events. A. R. Duff, for example, won the 100 Yards off half a yard in 10 l-ssec against a fairly strong southerly. Although Duff seems to be improving with every outing, he has not the ability yet to turn in such time on a very rough track and against a strong wind. Similarly brilliant time was recorded in the furlong. One heat was won in 21 3-ssec, but this time, which would have made E. W. Best and other champion sprinters feel very discontented with their ability, was amended slightly to make it sound and read a little more likely. The furlong was won by R. Emmerson (16yds), followed by R. E. Nauman <Byds), who seems to be in good form.

An excellent race was the quarter, which was won by H. J. Tyrie (scr) in 52 l-ssec, Nauman was again second off 12yds. Tyrie is getting nearer true form with every race. The 880 Yards also produced an, interesting struggle. E. Williams ran strongly off 70 yards to win from the virtual scratch man, R. S. Moody (30yds), who got up well over the last 50 yards to head off I. L. McLennan for second place. The time was 2min 8 l-ssec. The Mile attracted a large field, including several well-known runners. T. Beatson (155yds) and H. W. Coombs (130yds) made things fairly difficult for R. McLachlan (60yds), and filled first and second places respectively. McLachlan ran a solid race and made up a lot of ground over the last 100 vards to finish third. The time for the race was 4min 34 l-ssec.

The police force was well represented in the field events. G. H. Bilbrough gained first place in the Broad Jump and the Javelin Throw, and was third in three other events. Another member of the force. P. McCalman, won the Hammer Throw and was second in Tossing the Caber. A. A. Cameron and J. Dalgleish also competed in various fields events, and both showed fairly good form. From every aspect the meeting was a pronounced success, and it is, to be hoped that it will be the forerunner of many similar gatherings. NEXT MONDAY’S MEETING The following is the programme for next Monday evening’s meeting:— 100 Yards (under 14 years), 220 Yards Junior, One Mile Junior, 100 Yards. 880 Yards, 440 Yards Hurdles, One Mile Walk, 75 Yards Women’s, Pole Vault, Hop, Step, and Jump, Relay (440yds, 220yds, 2 x 110yds), Footballers’ Relay, and Footballers’ Shot Putt (121 b). OPPORTUNITY FOR BROAD JUMPER If there is one event on the New Zealand track and field championship programme the winning of which does not call for any singular ability, it is the broad jump (says a writer in the Sports Post). It is, and has been for years, the easiest national contest to win. In the whole history of the event. 23ft has been exceeded only once by a New Zealander. The late Gerald Keddell did 23ft 3in as long ago as 1906, and his performance still stands as the best ever made by a New Zealand athlete. Yet there is no great reason why jumpers in this country should not get up around 24ft. The trouble, of course, is that no one really gives broad jumping specialised attention. This observer has always been surprised that a more than average sprinter, but one definitely below New Zealand championship class, has not made long jumping his forte, with sprinting an incidental. Speed to-day is the essence of the contract in broad jumping. With very few exceptions, the really great postwar exponents have been particularly fast men.

Gourdin, de Hart Hubbard, Johnson, Owens, some of the “ cracks ” of the past 20 years, and incidentally all negroes, were brilliant runners. Sprinters in New Zealand have always fought shy of jumping, and it is not suggested that men with championship aspirations should attempt it, but any athlete falling just short of the top class and keen to win a national title, could hardly fail to do so if he cared to master the mechanics of broad jumping.

INVITATION TO MISS D. NORMAN A decision to invite Miss Decima Norman, of New South Wales, to Auckland was made at a recent meeting of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amaleu Athletic Association. If Miss Norman accepts it is intended that she should arrive on March 6 and compete at the Auckland provincial women’s and junior championships at Carlaw Park on March 11. It is also intended that she should appear at Hamilton on March 18 and at Auckland again on March 25, when the national women’s and junior championships will be contested. In addition to three individual victories at the Empire Games in the 100 Yards, 220 Yards and Broad Jump events, Miss Norman was a member of the Australian team which won the 440 Yards and 660 Yards Relays. It is claimed that this achievement has never been equalled by any other athlete in the world. Miss Norman broke the Empire Games record in the 220 Yards, winning her heat in 241 sec and the final in 24 7-10 sec. In the Broad Jump she established a new Empire Games distance of 19ft Ojin. which is only 7' n inches outside the world record. She equalled the record of 11 l-10sec in the short sprint event.