HALF-MILE RECORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26077, 14 February 1946, Page 3

HALF-MILE RECORD

The outstanding athletic performance of the present season was the New Zealand half-mile record established by D. M. Harris, of Auckland, at Wellington last Saturday. Harris ran the first 440 yards in 54sec, and the full distance in lmin 52 3-ssec, surpassing the previous mark (lmin 53 4-ssec), set by the Olympic representative and Empire Games champion, V. P. Boot, in 1937. Harris is a brilliant runner, who won the New Zealand 440 Yards championship last season in 49 3-ssec, and holds the national record (47 4-ssec). At the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney, when Boot won the 880 Yards, his time in the final was lmin 51 l-ssec. The Auckland provincial championships will be held on Saturday, and the meeting between Harris and J. C. Grierson should result in a memorable race. Golf Championships The South Island Golf Championships will be held at the Shirley golf course from April 20 to 23 this year, it was decided at a meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Golf Association last week. They will be run in conjunction with the usual Easter tournament organised by the association. Grange-University’s Collapse When Old Boys closed its innings at the total compiled on the first day of the match on the North Ground—22B for eight wickets—it was considered sufficient to enable the side to defeat GrangeUniversity, but there must have been some anxious moments when the latter team had 185 on the board with only four wickets down. This total was largely achieved by some hard hitting by T. A. Freeman, who made 57, and a dogged 54 by C. Donovan, aided in no small way by misfielding and dropped catches on the part of Old Boys. At this point, however, a change came over the game, and Old Boys pulled itself together- to dispose of the last six wickets for the addition of only seven runs. The bowler principally responsible for this was D. St. John, who got four for 11 off 7.4 overs. St. John, who was making his first appearance in senior cricket, was an outstanding all-round player in the Otago Boys' High School first eleven last year. Grange this year has disclosed a fairly weak “ tail,” and most of the scoring has been done by the first, four or five batsmen. Good Round at Shirley The Christchurch golfer, J. L. Blair, who recently returned from overseas, showed that he is in fine form by playing an excellent round of 73 on Shirley links. His score included four " birdies.” He is the son of H. R. Blair, the Shirley professional, and before the war was regarded as one of the Dominion’s promising golfers. Timaru in Yachting News The South Canterbury representative at the Sanders Cup contest held on the Lyttelton Harbour, Gallina, has brought Timaru into the Dominion’s yachting news, for this boat, sailed by Harry Kingham, gave a good account of herself in strong company, and shared with the Otago boat, Evelyn, the honour of wresting a win from the successful Auckland yacht, Davina. Kingham sailed good races throughout the contest, but was handicapped by the fact that his crew was not ideally balanced for flukey or uncertain weather, and on several occasions • he was caught with too light a crew to enable him to sail his boat at her best. He showed a good appreciation of sailing tactics, and preferred to sail his own course rather than follow in the wake of the leaders, this contributing towards his win in the fourth race of the contest. Gallina and another X-class boat from Timaru, Jannet', also did well in the 14-footer championship, which was sailed at the completion of the Sanders Cup contest, ar.d it is anticipated that their performance will give a fillip to yachting in Timaru. Outstanding Record In winning the Vincent Men’s Singles Lawn Tennis Championship on Saturday, S. Leask, of Lauder, took the honours for the nineteenth time. At the same tournament Miss Jean Harvey won the Women's Championship after displaying hard hitting and consistent lawn tennis throughout.

New Zealand Davis Cup Team Interest throughout New Zealand lawn tennis circles is centred on the selection of a Davis Cup challenge team. While the fact that New Zealand has entered a challenge does not necessarily mean that a team will actually take the courts, it is reasonable to assume that the challenge will be backed up by active participation. The team should consist of the two best Singles players and the finest Doubles team available. One player picks himself —R. McKenzie, of Hutt Valley—who not only won the Singles title but also showed himself to be the outstanding Doubles exponent. Probably S. Painter, of Wellington, will fill the position of second Singles player, but, assuming that McKenzie would be considered capable of playing in the Doubles as well as the Singles, there appear to be four contenders for his partnership with fairly even claims — N. V. Edwards, of Hutt, who was McKenzie’s partner in the winning of the New Zealand championship Doubles title. Owen Bold (Wellington), J. Robson, the youthful Otago player, and P. Smith, of Auckland. Although Edwards is a titleholder, it has to be remembered that McKenzie so dominated the play that a number of other players might just as successfully have assisted him to victory as Edwards. If Painter were chosen for the Singles, the outstanding young players who would meet the demands of such strenuous play as their selection would entail are P. Smith (North Auckland) and J. Robson (Otago). Both have good claims. Smith is particularly consistent with his ground shots as well as effective at the net, while Robson is the more deadly overhead and perhaps a little more brilliant in his volleying. Exciting Finish When ,the score in the final of the Ladies’ Falconer Cup match between Misses Lungley and Beard and Mesdames Johnston and Gilkison was called at 29 all. with one point only to play there was an air of excitement among the spectators at Logan Park last Saturday. The final point, however, provided a sensation worthy of the occasion. Mrs Johnston’s service was fast and placed on Miss Beard's forehand, with Mrs Gilkison in the net position covering Miss Beard. On such a vital point most experienced players would have returned the service either with a deep drive to Mrs Johnston or a lob over Mrs Gilkison's head, but Miss Beard, noticing a slight movement of Mrs Gilkison toward the centre, produced what was probably her best shot of the match, driving a fast, low ball straight down the side-line to win the match and the Falconer Cup. Championship Prospect A new national swimming title-holder is on the horizon. She is Miss P. Stannard, of Wellington. At a recent carnival in Wellington, Miss Stannard just failed to beat Miss Betty Casey, the national title-holder, for the 220 yards senior women’s event by a hair’s breadth. The only other entrant, Miss A. Seagar, was not in the picture. Miss Casey made the pace, and the final 50 yards produced a thrilling contest. With a great burst, Miss Stannard drew level with the champion at the last turn, and the pair raced back neck and neck to the rope, Miss Casey just managing to get there. In the past couple of seasons, Miss Stannard’s opportunities for training, it is stated, have been restricted, but provision has now been made for her to work out regularly. Her recent effort made it clear that she is going to take no end of beating cnce she gbts into her stride. She has always been a potential champion. Now, she may prove she is one in actual fact.

Kaikorai Suffers Another Defeat Kaikorai, who were the premier team in 1943-44 and 1944-45 esasons, suffered still another defeat when Alblon-Y.M.C.A.-North-East Valley, after bringing its score from 166 for four wickets to 225 for five, disposed of the Kaikorai team for 156. For Albion, L. Watson, one of the most promising of the younger players, added 32 to his first day's score, and finished with 63 runs to his name. The outstanding batsmen for Kaikorai were G. G. McGregor and L. Watt, who added 103 for the second wicket. McGregor compiled 61 before he was caught by Miller off Silver, and Watt reached 45 before he was caught by Smith off Duncan. McGregor’s usefulness has repeatedly been displayed this season as in the past, both as a batsman and bowler, and Watt is one of Otago’s promising young players. Both played brigh tcricket as indicated by the fact that McGregor hit four 6’s and three 4’s and Watt seven 4’s. Kaikorai had eight wickets in hand with only an hour to play, but K. Burke and C. Welham were the only others to reach double figures. Welham was dismissed by a brilliant one-handed catch by R. Jones at long-on. R. Silver and S Duncan both bowled very steadily for Albion, the former taking four for 54 and Duncan, who mixed his deliveries well, finished’ with five for 47.

Plunket Shield Profit Auckland cricketers this year have had a touring season in the matter of Plunket Shield matches, but in spite of the abnormal difficulties of travelling and accommodation, the Auckland Cricket Association Iras managed, with the co-opera-tion of the other associations, to come out with a profit. This was due largely to mutual arrangements made by the several centres for the billeting of players. At a recent meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association, the secretary estimated that the profit on the Auckland representative team's tour and the home game against Wellington would run out at about £3OO. The Auckland Association’s share from the gate at the extra match played in Wellington was £l2O,