Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26719, 13 March 1948, Page 9

Sports Commentary

By The Sports Editor

The Olympic Team

A correspondent, Mr L. Shenken, has written to the Sports Editor expressing the opinion that S. R. Dawson (Otago) should have been included in the New Zealand Olympic team before J. M. Holland (Auckland). He bases his opinion on the relative performances of the two athletes, drawing attention to Dawson’s 23ft lljin in the broad iump, which is only half an inch below the qualifying standard set by the Olympic selectors, whereas Holland’s time for the 440 Yards Hurdles was two-fifths of a second slower. Mr Shenken asks how the selectors reached their decision.

Unless the Olympic Association or the selectors themselves make a statement to the press, it would be difficult to answer the last question, but it is well known that many athletic supporters are in agreement that other athletes—among them Miss Noelene Gourley (Otago)—were worthy of inclusion in the team.

Although there was controversy over the matter in Dunedin, the selectors would probably be influenced in the case of Dawson by the official ruling that he was assisted by the wind in his best broad jump. Further, while Holland has consistently approached record figures in hurdle events, Dawson has failed on subsequent occasions to reach the distance achieved at the Ctago championships. The performances at recent Olympiads may have had a bearing on the selectors’ decision. In 1928 Lord Burghley (Great Britain) won the 400 Metres Hurdles (437.35 yards) in 53 2-ssec, R. Tisdall (Ireland) took 51 4-ssec in 1932, a record not being allowed because he knocked a hurdle down, while in 1936 G. Hardin (U.S.A.) established the present Olympic record, 52 2-ssec. The equivalent time for 440 yards is obtained by adding approximately three-tenths of a second to the figures for 400 metres. At the same Olympic festivals three American athletes—E. B. Hamm, E. Gordon and Jesse Owens—won the broad jump at 25ft 4fin, 25ft OJin and 26ft 5 21-64 in respectively. Empire Games records are more in Dawson's favour than Holland’s, that for the broad jump being 24ft 43in and for the 440 Yards Hurdles 52 9-10 sec, both being established by Canadians —H. Brown and J. Loaring respectively—in 1938.

Mr Dean to Retire Mr S. S. Dean announced on Thursday night that he had definitely made up his mind that he would not seek re-election this year as a member of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, of which he has been chairman for many years. Many requests have been made to Mr Dean that he should stand for election to the New Zealand Rugby Council and his comment was that he was giving it consideration and it was just possible he would seek re-election to the council. There were certain factors upon which this depended, and he was unable to give a definite decision at the moment. Mr Dean could not become chairman of the council, as that office must be filled by a member of the executive or Management Committee.

Ex-champion Cyclist in Dunedin Visiting Dunedin for the New Zealand amateur cycling championships, which will be concluded on the Caledonian Ground to-day, is F. J. Grose, of Christchurch, who was one of the most popular wheelmen ever to. appear in Dunedin when he rode here in his heyday which was from 1926 to 1939, when illness brought his career to a close. Grose had a remarkable record of success on track and road, and won his first national title at the New Zealand track cycling championships in 1926 when he was only 16. During the next 12 years Grose collected 16 New Zealand championships on track and road, and 54 provincial titles. He was fourth in the three events in which he represented New Zealand at the British Empire Games ,in London in 1934, and four years later he captained the New Zealand cycling team at the Empire Games in Sydney. Grose was renowned as much for his sportsmanship as for his brilliance as a rider, and there were many occasions when he won races in Dunedin and handed his trophies back to the body controlling the meeting. Many promising young cyclists in various parts of the Dominion owed much to his advice, and it is good to know that he retains his interest in the sport. At the present time he is a member of the Wakari Sports Club in North Canterbury.

South Island Titles With the South Island tennis championships to be held in Dunedin at Easter, interest follows the form of local players who will be competing against players from both islands for the various titles. Very little has been seen locally for weeks of either J. E. Robson or Miss Mavis Kerr, but their more recent performances against the Australians in the north suggest that, in spite of their disappointing form when they met the visitors in Dunedin, they should be capable of reaching the finals at Easter. Both J. Paterson and J. C. Robertson are in their top form. D. Radford, who dropped from second to fourth place on the Otago ladder recently, signalled his return to form in no uncertain manner by defeating Robertson to regain third place. Radford’s display in the third set, with Robertson playing well, was, to say the least, extraordinary. Allowing as few balls as possible to bounce, Randford used a drive-volley from all parts of the court and he hit winners from what appeared on Robertson's part to be well-placed passing shots. So aggressive was his play that he did not allow his opponent to score a game in the final and vital set. If he is capable of producing that form at Easter he is liable to upset any player from any part of the country.