Cleghorn Outstanding Prospect For The Games

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27221, 26 October 1949, Page 4

Cleghorn Outstanding Prospect For The Games

Sports Commentary

By the Sports Editor

Weight lifting in New Zealand is becoming more popular, both as a sport and as a means of body-building, and it seems certain to ,be given a considerable stimulus by its inclusion in the programme of the Empire Games. The sport is exceptionally well controlled by a band of enthusiasts who have done much to ensure that qualified instructors are available in well-equipped gymnasiums throughout the' Dominion, and this fine spirit of co-operation and helpfulness was evident when the New Zealand amateur championships were decided at Dunedin last Saturday. There were 50 competitors from all parts of the Dominion, and the consistently good standard of performance should do much to popularise further a sport which is drawing many of its adherents from other branches of sporting activity.

Harold Cleghorn, of Auckland, has been breaking records so regularly in the past 10 years that one is apt to overlook that he is in world class, a fact he demonstrated again in winning the heavy-weight title last week with a total for the three Olympic lifts of 9001 b.

This is the first time any lifter in the British Empire has attained a 9001 b total in. contest, and with just a little luck he would have established fresh New Zealand figures for the snatch and clean and jerk. Cleghorn, a man of splendid physique, is a. beautiful lifter to watch, and on present form he must rate as one of New Zealand’s outstanding prospects for an Empire title.

The influence of a good exponent of any sport is often shown by an increase of interest on his advent to a new district, and this appeared to be one of the reasons for the strong contingent bf lifters from Northland, where E. Norton, winner of the lightweight title for the past two years, is now school teaching. Norton was not quite st his best on Saturday night and managed to.retain his title because he was half a pound below his Northland team-mate, L. Snooks, in bodyweight. Both, however, totalled GOOlbs Norton was consistent, but Snooks proved superior in the two hands’ snatch in which he equalled his,New Zealand record with a lift of 19511 b. There were no fewer than five Northland lifters in this class and from them came all'the place-getters. . The middle-weight class produced very good lifting, as.. was expected, and B. R. George, of Auckland, who was considered in many quarters to he unlucky not to win a place in the New Zeal?nd Olympic team, showed outstanding form in recording his 7201 b total. George holds records in both, middle-wgight and light-heavy-weight classes, and on this occasion exceeded the best performances of the light-heavy-weight competitors for the snatch and clean end jerk and equalled the best light-heavy-weight for the press. George finished with a total of 1251 b higher than his nearest attendant, who was W. Harper, a lifter from Newcastle (England) who is now, living in Dunedin but represented Auckland at the championships. Harper is capable of improving considerably on his total of 5951b5. but George appears to be in a class of his own in either middle or light-heavy-weight divisions, and the merit of his lifting was enhanced because of the fact that he was suffering frcm a cold. Trevor Clark, of Auckland, who was one of the most experienced lifters at the meeting, performed very consistently, and had a comfortable margin of supremacy over the next best, H. Morrison, who is to represent Scotland at the Empire Games, but is now resident, in Christchurch. Clark attained at total of 6851 b compared with - Morrison's 6151 b and was ahead of his opponent in each lift. . The Auckland feather-weight, L. Lawn, was one of the most impressive lifters at the meeting and won the title fairly comfortably as well as establishing a New Zealand record for the snatch. The only South Island winner was the West Coaster, F. May, who showed a remarkable retention of form to win the bantamweight title, which he had previously held in 1941. The youngest lifter was P. Ridgely, of Auckland, who is only 15. Although having a body-weight of only 9011 b he recorded a total of 2851 b in the bantam-weight class. Another young lifter who should be prominent at future meetings is E. C. Carter, of the West Coast, runner-up to Cleghorn with a total of 6401 b.

Question Of Status There seem to be grounds for the suggestion that the boxing authorities in New Zealand should reconsider their interpretation of the rule that led them to declare a northern boxer ineligible for for the Empire Games because his amateur status was affected by his employment a;: a pliysie.al welfare officer. The implication, of course, is that the person concerned is engaged full time in the teaching of recreational activity, but it would not take much investigation to show that the duties of a physical welfare officer include a considerable amount of administrative work apart altogether from their instructional activities. This comment is made because it has been announced that Scotland’s second choice for the Games is Bert Kinnear, a lecturer in physical education at Loughborough College, who is well up in European backstroke ranking, and was placed eighth in the Olympic backstroke final at Wembley. According to the interpretation given bV the boxing authorities, a physical education lecturer would be ruled out. whereas the reasonable interpretation of the rule, as given in England, .apparently is that so long as a man is not engaged full time in teaching physical education subjects, his status is not affected.

Fine Community Spirit A further example- of the fine community spirit displayed by Wakan residents is seen in the generous assistance given to the newly-formed softball club in that district.. When Mr G. Nelson began organising- a Wakari team, he was faced with serious difficulties in providing for uniforms and equipment. An oiler of assistance from'the Community Centre was gladly accepted and the practical effects of this gesture are to be seen when the Wakari team takes the held in its smart uniform and with full playing equipment. Much of the credit for the good performances of this team in the grading games is due to Mr Nelson and the, bearing of the young Wakari players augurs well for the future of the club. In keeping with the association's plans to arrange Saturday morning games for juniors and schoolboys, the Wakari Club will commence, a training programme next Saturday at the Nairn street ground and the club expects an excellent response from boys in the district.

Keith Miller As Captain Recent reports from Australia indicate the possibility that Keith Miller, the outstanding personality of the last Australian team to tour England, as well as other former Australian players, will be sc.on in action when the’ Australians visit New Zealand early next year. Muter, who is. captain of the Manly Club's first eleven, has been appointed captain of the New South Wales Sheffield Shield team. The cricket writer of the Sydney Morning Heritld comments that if Miller makes a success of leading ‘ the State team he will almost certainly be made captain of the Australian team to tour New Zealand. E. Toshack, left-hand, slow-medium spin bowler, is fit again, and has rejoined the Nevv South Wales team for its first Sheffield Shield game. Erom Victoria it is reported that Ken Meuleman, who was seen here in 1946, will probably open for the State, and that Doug. Ring will demand consideration when the selection committee meets to choose, the contain of the Victorian team-

Veteran Hammer Thrower May Reappear Soon

Although Jim Leckie resolved to retire from championship athletic competition last year, he is again showing form comparable with his very best and may yet be persuaded to illumine the twilight of a brilliant sporting career by throwing out a challenge to the younger decade of hammer throwers who will compete for representative honours in the 1950 New Zealand Empire Games team. One of the,most popular sportsmen who has ever represented New Zealand, Leckie has already hild the distinction of captaining the 1938 New Zealand Empire Games athletic team, and like Britain’s veteran athlete, Donald Finlay, he may be prevailed upon to change his resolution for this one auspicious season.

/Both Donald Finlay and Jim Leckie won their first national titles in 1932, and although Finlay’s ultimate record is more consistent, Leckie’s active participation in sport has been limited by domestic responsibilities, vocational ties and his own unselfish enthusiasm for promoting and coaching all types of recreational activities in the country communities with, which he has been associated.

Leckie is now a schoolmaster at Rivcrsdale and he has a family of two boys - and two girls. Among the many communal organisations which have flourished under the stimulus of his enthusiasm, is the athletic' club at Riversdale and he has launched the first move to establish another one in the western district of Southland. As a supplementary method of training his young Rugby players, he introduced the elementary leading up stages of hammer throwing throughout the past winter. Judged by the results recorded at (he opening meeting of the Riversdale Athletic Club, the policy is destined to pay rich dividends and this year’s New Zealand junior hammer throwing champion seems certain to bear the Leckie stamp. Best performance was recorded by a youngster having his first throw in competition—the distance, 142 ft 4in, only a few feet short of the New Zealand junior record! Jim vouches for the authenticity of the throw as he measured it himself. Leckie himself hurled the senior implement 140 ft Bin, which is also a fh - st-class effort for the initial “wind-up” of the season.

The “ Takapuna Girl ” “Come on, you Takapuna boys, the ladies are waiting to give you afternoon tea,” was the cry from the North-East Harbour Boating Club's shed, at the end of the Takapuna Class Race, when the Otago yachting season was opened at Macandrew Bay on Saturday. “ Wliat about the Takapuna girl? ” came the retort courteous from one of the boats clustered at the jetty. The Takapuna girl was Miss Val Sturmer, still, the only girl skipper on the Otago Harbour, who had just brought her boat, Oakie, across the line to take third place in her class race. First, place was taken by Firefly, a boat owned last year by another girl member of the North-East Harbour Boating Club, Miss Erances Elliott. It is now the property of D. Marr, and it isunderstood that Miss Elliott has given up the sport. Praise For Cricketers

“ The New Zealand team which met with success mn its recent tour was, in my opinion, one of the best that ever visited England,” said J. Hardstaff, the Notts professional cricketer, who arrived in Auckland by air from Sydney last week. Hardstaff is back in Auckland to fulfil his duties for the second season as coach. The success of the New ZealandeVs should give the game here a great impetus, said Hardstaff. The players were immensely popular, both on and off the field. There was no doubt that the fielding of the team was absolutely brilliant, and this was responsible in a large measure for some of its victories. Hardstaff said that the standard in England at present was good as far as batting was concerned, but there were no bowlers, up to the required mark with the exception of T. E. Bailey and A. V. Bedser. There did not appear to be any bowlers in the offing who would develop enough tp reach the highest flight. One of the best was I. Bedford, the Middlesex amateur legspinner, who was still in his 20's. Unfortunately for his cricket, he was in the navy. The Auckland coach enjoyed one of his best seasons in England last season. He scored over 2400 runs and topped the county averages with 74. Keen Softball Supporter '

The'2nd NZEF Softball Club is fortunate in having the services of a keen supporter in the person df Mr W. Tyson. Although prevented from playing the game because of the loss of a limb through war service, lie displays a very lively interest iu the club's activities. In recognition of his past services, he. has been elected a delegate to the Otago Men’s Softball Association and his enthusiasm should be as great an asset to the association as it has been to the 2nd NZEF Club. - ; Under-water Lights

Under-water lighting will be installed jn the Olympic Pool for the Empire Games next February by the Newmarket Borough Council. This was confirmed in a letter received by the organising committee for the Games last week. The committee will provide other facilities which will include crush rails, a hot-water shower system, new diving boards, non-skid tiles and a judges' stand.