ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23811, 18 May 1939, Page 5

ATHLETICS

By Amateur

FIXTURES June 10.—Lovelock Trophy Relay Race, at University Oval. June 17.—Edmond Cup club trials. June 24.—Edmond Cup Race. July 15.—Club Cross-country Championships, at Wingatui. July 22.—Otago Cross-country Championships, at Wingatui. August s.—Ness Cup mile race, at Carisbrook (tentative). August 12.—New Zealand Cross-coun-try Championship. September 2.—Port Chalmers-Dunedin Road Race. September 16.—Modified Marathon, at Mosgiel. December 2.—Marathon Championship, at Mosgiel. NEXT SATURDAY'S RACES Some Interesting Events The Celtic United Club’s Three Mile Handicap for the Geddes Cup will be held on Saturday, and a big field of entries is expected. R. Carroll. E. Paterson, R. Thomson and J Daly will probably be among the backmarkers, and as two of these men have had the benefit of running in the track season, they should perform creditably. A. E. Dyson, winner of the Mile Maiden this year, and R. Baker winner of the Three Miles last year, should find the distance to their liking and, as both have been training consistently, they should be right in form. D. Ryan, A, Dyson and E. Byrne seem to have struck form early in the season, and -if their performances at the weekly runs are any indication all three will have to be considered If

W. Beauchamp, T. Gerrard and J., Purton had been out from the begin* ning of the season, they would have been hard to beat. Some of the juniors should have an excellent chance. D. J. Clements, runner-up in the Otago Junior 220 Hurdles Championship this year, came In first, followed by H Coombs, in a fast run home with the juniors. Clements may not be a starter in the Three Miles, however, as his leg has been troubling him lately. On their present form. Coombs, McManus and O’Brien, a very consistent trio, are liable to turn the tables even in the best of company; while Fettitt and R. Dyson, who is new to the club, should do well. The Civil Service Club’s Three Miles Handicap for the Railway Cup, which, will be held next Saturday at Forbury Park, should prove an interesting contest. Although it is some time since a back-marker won this race, the pace is on from the start, as it is a guide to form for the selectors in picking the Kennett Cup team. L. Carter, who has been training consistently for the past two months, should run well. In former years Carter has been found lacking in pace and determination, but an improvement in this direction has been noticed, and he should bo among the S laced men. C. McKersey, who nished second in the Maiden Race and the Postal Cup. should again prove a hard man to head off, J. G. Barnes has been showing good form, and, with W. Mackinnon, who has won the Railway Cup twice, should push A, R. Geddes for time honours. In addition to the Railway Cup next Saturday, the juniors under 17 years will be catered for by a half-mile handicap, which should give them a. chance to show their ability. On Saturday the Caversham Club will hold a half-mile colts’ race and the three-mile Vice-president’s Handicap for the Morris Cup. From the latter race a team will be selected to represent the club in the Kennett Cup event, to be held at Christchurch on May 27. In the colts’ race, McGregor, Beatson, and Mercier should be hard to beat, with Clark, Knox, and Brown the best of the others. The three miles should be a hard-fought race, but the three front-markers— Simpson, Broadbent, and Rackley—will take a lot of catching. Freeman, Harwood, and Morrison, on the middle marks, should run well, and further back three juniors in Gerrie. Flockton and Turner should team successfully Of the back-markers, McGregor. Barr, and George have the best chances of catching the field, while the scratch men—Austin, Colston, and Donovanshould have a great tussle for time honours. Everything considered, Gerrie, Flockton, and McGregor appear to have the best chances of being in the places. All runners are advised to bring both spikes and gym. shoes on Saturday. CLUB CHAT Memberships Still Increasing At a meeting of the Civil Service Club’s committee held during the past week 18 new members were accepted into the club ranks the majority of them being juniors. R. Wilson, who returned one ot the fastest times in the Mornington Club’s Open Mile last Saturday, had to travel all the way from Gore to run in the race. It is understood that he is the only active harrier in Gore. He hopes to come up to Dunedin quite often this season. A, Clark, the Hanover Baptist Club s enthusiastic secretary, is showing considerable improvement in cross-coun-try running. He is principally a shortdistance man. but. as was proved on Saturday last, he is capable of maintaining a good, solid pace over the longer distances He is seen at his best over the stretches of road whore the pace is made willing. In the fastapproaching Vice-presidents’ Threemile Steeplechase on Saturday week he should show further improvement H. Benfell. although unable to do any training through the week, always looks forward to the Saturday runs This is his tenth season with the club With the Mile Open and Mile Maiden Races last Saturday, a considerable amount of encouragement was given to the Mornington Club’s milers tor the forthcoming Lovelock Relay Race. The winner, W. Burrows a first-year junior, ran a magnificent race to win by about 600 or 700 yards in the teeth of a strong south-westerly gale in 4min 48sec. T, O. Kennedy who gained the fastest time of 4min «tssec. ran very strongly against the gale along Victoria road, and ended with a great finish. Eric Lundquist. another firstyear runner, ran a great third. C. L Moore (scratch) ran very well, and J. Marett, T. Wallace, A. DeCourcy, and A. Holmes were prominent throughout. The Anglican Club should have a strong junior team this year. L. Sharpe, Maydon and the Mitchell Bros.. after the experience they gained last year, will be the backbone of the team, but they will be extended by J. Carathers, J. Caradus, J. Pringle, and C. Andrews, all new members who are showing promising form The Novice Mile will be held shortly, and this race should produce some fine racing, and this year should attract a very big field.

At a general meeting of the Baptist Harriers Club last Saturday, it was unanimously decided to delete the name of Hanover from its title, so that the club will be known as the Baptist Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club. The reason for the change is to make it clear to the public that the club draws its members not only from the central church, Hanover Street, but from all the Baptist Churches of Dunedin. It behoves Baptist Bible class men to support their clpb. The club’s uniform has not been altered except that a red “B ” will replace the red .1 JLJ »)

One of the keenest members of the Anglican Club is George Armstrong, and his consistent training is an example some of the others should follow. F. Dunn and F. Sutherland, two new members, are both very keen, and should develop into good club men. It is time A. Downie and J. Smith commenced training. These two are just up from junior ranks, and if they get down to steady training some of the seniors will have to watch out to keep their places in this winter’s teams. Some club officials have been doubtful as to the exact distance of the inside track at Forbury Park. They may be interested to learn that during the week some members of the Caversham Club measured it and found it to be 940 yards. • Last Saturday the Caversham harriers had as their guests the Toko harriers, and an enjoyable run was held. No. 1 pack had a non-stop run. and Freeman (Toko) proved himself to be a good runner. In the junior pack. R. Martin (Toko), who is the Otago junior cross-country champion, ran well, and looks like retaining the title this year.

G. McKersey (Civil Service), who nad a spell from running lad season, was out again last Saturday He ran some gcod races a season or two back, and with training is quite capable of improving on his best performances Coutts has an excellent stvle and plenty of pace, but he should train over longer distances for better results.

J. Stephenson (Leith) is running with a nice easy style at present and with constant training should improve in stamina. On the other hand, F Hodge has plenty'of stamina, but lacks slightly in style. This runner is advised to study relaxation, the gaining of which would make him one of the club’s outstanding harriers. Another member who should study his style of running is L. Divers, who was first in the Cross-country Sealed Handicap last year. Divers should prove to be a* very handy man this season. NORTH OTAGO CLUB There was a larger pack of harriers out last Saturday for the weekly run of the North Otago Club. L. Fagg again led the pack, this time over an increased distance, A. Aitkenhead, C. Beattie and Fagg were the outstanding performers, several new members showing promise. The members have been exceptionally keen to increase the membership of the club and thus make the runs more enjoyable, and in this respect they have been successful as several juniors have announced their intention of turning out. It is gratifying to see the members at the; “ Keep Fit ” classes, as this is a splen-. did way of attaining physical fitness 1 and a great asset to an athlete. The next run will be from the Motor Camp at 2.30 on Saturday. LOVELOCK TROPHY RACE The Lovelock Trophy Race- Is to be held on Saturday, June 10, and it has been decided to run the race on the University Oval instead of Carisbrook as previously. The University track is in better condition than that at Carisbrook and should allow for a better race. Teams are to be reduced from eight men to six, as it was thought that this would improve the chances of the smaller clubs and also make the race more interesting for spectators. Each man will run 1500 metres. The Sealed Handicap event for the centre’s baton will be decided on the race also. Last year’s trophy winning team was Anglican and Civil Service hold the baton. SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Brilliant Marathon Performance To win the South African Marathon Championship at an altitude of 6000 feet above sea level in the great time of 2hr 35min 7sec is the distinction earned by Jack Gibson, the Johannesburg athlete who made such a host of friends at the Empire Games at Sydney last year. In creating a new Transvaal record. Gibson caused the Empire Games champion. Johannes Coleman, to crack up a few miles from home—a remarkable happening after Coleman’s great run at Sydney. In a letter just received by Mr B. R. McKernan, of Dunedin, who accompanied the New Zealand team to Sydney as trainer, Gibson mentions some of the highlights of the South African championships and reveals what a high standard prevailed at the meeting. He also describes the Marathon, but treats his own performance very lightly, despite the fact that the Johannesburg Sunday Times says that the race “ will go down in the annals of South African athletic history as one of the classic Marathons of all time.” “The South African championships were held during the Easter week-end at Krugersdorp. in the West Rand, he writes, ‘‘and some fine performances were recorded. Here are a few of them which should interest New Zealanders after the Empire Games in Sydney. M. Vandecar scored a double in the sprints, winning the 100 Yards and the 220 Yards in 9.7 sec and 21,5 sec respectively. D. V. Shore won the 440 Yards in 47.45ec. Tom Lavery. who figured prominently at the Games, won two hurdles title ß ” the 120 Yards in 14.5 sec and the 220 Yards In 24.1 sec. His time for . the furlong equalled the South African record. Eddie Thacker cleared 6ft 4m to win the South African title, but l he had cleared 6fin Sin in an interclub meeting two weeks earlier. Another Empire Games man, Du Pleasis. did 12ft Hin to win the Pole Vault. Two police athletes, P. L. de Bruyn and Van der Linde set up new record figures in the Javelin and Throwing the Hammer. De Bruyn's winning effort in the .javelin was 215 ft 2-2 in — more than Oft better than Courtwright’s Empire Games performance. Van der Linde threw the hammer 149 ft sJin. The mile was a fine race between McLelland and Wabeke. the former winning in 4min 21sec Bendzulla. of Natal, won the half in Imm 55,6‘iec from Bob McClelland with a late finishing burst. The 440 Yards Hurdles resulted in a win for B. Benjamin in 54sec. which equalled the South African record. On Easter Saturday Gibson ran one of the greatest Marathon races of his career. Coleman. Hampton, Malan. and several other good distance men coirpoted in this event, which started at E a.m “ Coleman was running up here for the first time, and found the altiUide of the Rand too much for him.” Gibson writes. "Wo are up 6000 ft above sea level here, and Coleman arrived in the Transvaal from Durban at the last possible moment for the race to beat the altitude bogey I managed to lead from start to finish and won in the new Transvaal record time of 2hr 35min 7sec. which was 4-min 22sec outside my South African record put up at Bloemfontein 4000 ft above sea level, in 1937. Hampton was second in 2hr 43min 17sec. and Coleman third in 2hr 45min 53sec “Coleman clung to me for 15 miles before he 'cracked up The 10 miles was covered in 56min 25sec. and I covered half the distance in Ihr 27inin At 20 miles I was well under 2hr Coleman stopped in the last few miles for a massage, and this probably lost him second place, as Hampton got on terms with him in the middle of the massage. Coleman immediately got up und tried to fleht him for second place, but be found Hampton too strong to hold. The altitude definitely affected Coleman whom 1 still consider one of the greatest Marathon men in the world. Hampton is on- 5 of rnr new Marathon sensations.

“ There were many other notable nerf ■wmances at the championships. L A. Fouche. who was at the Games competed in the Shot Putt, which was won by Harry Hart, a former Springbok. who registered 46ft 11 Jin Boy Coelzee was second with 43ft 3'in, and Bolton third with 43ft 6;Jin. Fouche.

however, had only recently undergone an operation for the removal of a cartilage and could hardly be considered at his peak. The Three Miles track event was won by ‘ Smiler ” Nel who beat Wally Hayward in a great last lap The time was lomin B.Bsec In the six miles 1 led for five miles but then Hampton and Hayward got ahead of me and we 1 finished in that order. Gibson concluded his letter by sending greetings to the New Zealanders he met at Sydney and expressed regret at Matthews’s operation and hopes that he will soon be fully recovered. He also takes a great interest in the Marathon running of George Austin and Rod Colston, and predicts that Colston, from what he has heard, should go far “ if he does not try to overdo thing? but hardens himself steadily.”