High Standard Of British Athletics

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27151, 5 August 1949, Page 4

High Standard Of British Athletics

“ Never in the history of Britain has the general standard of athletics been as high as it is to-day; and it continues to rise.” So writes Mr G. H. G. Dyson, chief British athletic coach, in an air mail letter to a Dunedin friend. Six men are now under 4min 15sec for the mile; one over 6ft 7in and three others over 6ft 4in in the high jump—with about eight over 6ft or a little better; seven men over 190 ft with the javelin; four over 140 ft with the discus; four Englishmen over 45ft with the shot for the first time ever; one man lmin 52tsec for the halfmile and two others inside lmin 54sec (and then there is Harris, of course); five men inside “evens” in the 100 yards and three inside 22sec for the furlong.

The pole vault sees two men over 12ft 6in —although that is not good—and a general standard rising rapidly (about seven men over lift 6in>. Hurdling standards are very poor, however, and Mr Dyson is anxious to have the 220 yards low hurdles introduced into future AAA programmes to encourage this type of event. The women continue to do well. Hurdling has caught on*—although there are only two girls inside (just inside) 12sec. About four sprinters have clocked 12.1 sec for the 100 metres, and Sylvia Cheesman has proved just that bit better than them all, including the Olympic runner. Miss Manley. Miss Reed managed a new record for the shot (just over 40ft) and Miss Taylor managed sft 3in for the high jump, with a pulled leg muscle. Another girl, a WAAF, has also cleared this height. Long jumping shows one girl well over 18ft and several at 17ft. The facts which have contributed to this desirable rise in standards are numerous. “We get a better press now than we have ever done before.” Mr Dyson continues: “ the Olympics of last year have helped to make people more athletics minded —and so on. But far and away the most important reason for the change is that our national coaching schemes have caught on like a forest fire raging through a brittle-dry -wood. In two years and a-half I have visited over 250 towns and cities, addressing many thousands of people. Since then I have been joined by four other professional coaches, and Scotland and Northern Ireland also have coaches.” This year Mr Dyson is now coaching a marine corporal by the name of. Savidge in weight-throwing. This marine, he says, is undoubtedly one of the greatest “ finds ” in the throwing events in the,British Empire. Six weeks ago he put the shot 43ft when on form. He has since improved to 48ft 4in—just 2),in off the British national record. He has a standing put of 46ft. He is 6ft 7in in height and weighs 15£st. He has yet to be coached with the discus, but broke the British Navy record with a standing throw of 129 ft recently. He may not be available for New Zealand next February, in which case Dyson intends to work with him all the winter in the hope of getting his shot beyond 50ft. Forgetfulness Two teams in the Intermediate Grade of the women’s hockey competition were drawn to play last Saturday morning. The time set down apparently did not suit one of the teams, so arrangements were made to start at a later time. So far, so good—but the teams concerned forgot to notify the appointed umpires of their changed plans. There were two somewhat disgruntled player-umpires and it is to be expected that questions will be asked at the next meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Womens Hockey Association.