ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 47

ATHLETICS.

By

Amateur.

June 14. - Edmond Cup Steeplechase. June 28. Port-Dunedm Road Race. At the 1 'nited States inter-collegiate indoor championships at New York there were several good performances. In the 16lb shot putt R. G. Hills (Princeton) won at 46ft C|in; E. Enek (Penn Stale) won the mile run in 4min 24sec; and C. 1 ■ Flahive (Boston) the running high jump at 6ft lin. A remarkable feature was that nine others cleared sft but could do no better. In the two miles run V. Booth (John Hopkins) won in Smin 36seo ' a record for the colleges. Three polevaulters cleared 12ft 6in. At the United States indoor championships at New York in March, many fine performances were produced. Loren Murchison (Newark A.C.) won the 60 yards in 6 3-fisec, and 300 yards in 31 3-ssec. In the 60 yards event O. W. Coaffee, the onetime Canadian (credited with 9 3-ssec tor 100 yards), finished second in the colours ol the Illinois A.C. Join Ray (Illinois A.C.) again won the two miles —and won as he liked in 9min 32 l-ssee. W. Plant (Mormngsi.de A.C.) won the mile walk in 6niin 43 2-ssec, and R. G. Hills (Princeton University) the 161 b shot putt at 47ft 111 in. Those old opponents, 11. M. Osborne (Illinois A.C.) and R. W. Landon (New York A.C'.), tied at 6ft 4in in the running high jump, Osborne winning the jump-off. In the standing jumps H. 8. Sweitzer (Syracuse) won the high at sft 3in, and W. J. Reid (lie broad at 10ft 9in. In the relay championship (15 furlongs) the Illinois A.C. team finished first, but they were ruled out owing to one of their team fouling a New Yorker, and the race awarded to the New York A.C. team —time, 7nun 45 4-ssee. From the above it will be seen that the U.S.A. team at Paris is going, as usual, to be very warm. The chances of the American Olympic team have been enhanced through the reinstatement, the other day, of Charles W. Paddock, of California. This great sprinter has been on the suspended list for some time because he went, to France against, specific instructions from 'the Amateur Athcltic Union covering all atheltic affairs in U.S.A. At a recent meeting of that organisation Paddock’s request for reinstatement was acted upon favourably. At the South Australian championships the chief results were: —BSO Yards—P. Glynn 1 R. Lea 2. Won by Time, 2min 4 4 ssec. 100 Yards —E. Howard 1, L. Nesbit 2, G. Crowie 3. Won by a yard. Time, 10 3-10 sec. Ono Mile Walk — G. H. Wilson 1, P. M'Cavanagh 2, T. Terrill 3. 220 Yards—E. Howard 1, L. J. Nesbit 2. Time, 22 2-ssec. One Mile— P. Glynn 1, L. Brooks 2. Won by 4ft. Time, 4min 4owe. 440 Yards —E. Howard I F. Ecliold 2. 120 Yards Hurdles—E. Shunter 1. Time, ISsee. Three-mile Run —Won by K. Jolly by 2Coyds in 16rnin 8 l-ssec. A Hand Daily 7 Mail (Johannesburg) writer figures it out that E. G. Sutherland is capable of scoring anything up to 7610 points in the decathlon at Paris. Such a score would have won at Antwerp in 1920. Another member of the South African Olympic team who will be hard to beat, is Mac Master, the walking master. Cabled news states that he walked 10,030 metres in 45min 4 5-Bsec, which is better than the 1912 Olympic record N ews from England has come to hand about the Cross-country International. The following is a description of the historic eon. test by ’ a well-known English sporting writer: There is nothing in the annals of crosscountry7 or team racing comparable with the performance of England in this year’s international cross-country race. A more delightful and vigorous race no one could have hoped to witness. Prior to the race there was nothing to suggest we should see anything out of the ordinary. What actually did happen was a performance that may never be equalled in these times. Ne~or before have six countries competed in this event, France, the holders of the title, defended. Belgium came along for the second time, and we had England. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales all intent on wiving of their best. As the signal for starting was given to the runners the sun shone brilliantly and made the scene one to rememoer It was soon demonstrated that at leastone Irishman was determined to test the endurance of bis opponents. J. J. Ryan was the man, a Tipperary harrier, and the Irish champion for the past two years. The representatives of other nations looked on in wonderment, especially the Englishmen, whose hopes were centred on Cotteretl. Blewitt. Harper, and company, ityan went ahead, and at the end of the first circuit, n k. Je over three miles and a-hnlf, be led from Cotterell - Harper and Webster being 100 yards behind, the time being lomin o2sec. After traversing the same course a second time Ryan had maintained his position, but, 1 Turner had got a lead of 25 yards from Col. tereil both travelling nicely, so also wt-rc Blewitt and Webster, who lay fourth and fifth, with Schnellman (France) next and i{. Stanton (England) seventh. Time, 37min Bsec. The countries’ positions for the first round so far had been : England 30 points, France 76, Ireland 142, Belgium 162, Scotland 182. and Wales 184. When they passed the post for the last circuit here had been many changes, and England, packing well, had gained Iwo points, the position as the runners went into the country for the last time being: England 28 points, France 82. Ireland 148. Scotland 151, Wales 179. and Belgium 193. It was then made clear that unless something unexpected happened England was sure to win the team race. Most of the old followers of the sport hoped that Ryan, who had run so gamely, would be first man home. He had so far run a real crosscountry race. He had set a rare pace, and he looked as fit as any of the others. Alas! it was not to be so. The consummate skill and cunning of Cotterell, the shrewdness of the youth Harper in always being where Cotterell was, had not gone unnoticed. When the men entered the straight with six furlongs to go Ryan was in front with a decreased lead of about 60 yards. Col tereil and Hamer were almost alongside each other, both looking happy. To the consternation and horror of the four odd thousand spectators Rvan faltered and then fell, just as the last 600 yards had to be covered. So unexpected was it that for a minute or more no one believed it.

When there was no doubt about it. and the calamity had to be recognised, all thoughts and eyes were on England’s team, and there it was —one long string of white jerseys with no break of colour until the seventh man was counted, and he was <i Frenchman, Julien Schnellmann, accompanied by Gaston ITevet, the captain of the French team. Then came A. N. Sewell (England). To everyone the situation came so much in the nature of a shock that instead of instantaneous cheers quiet words passed one to another. No one seemed fully to realise what had happened. Quick glances, subdued exclamations from one nation’s representatives to another, a gripping of hands, and the race was nearing its end. All attention was centred on the duel that was taking place between (he English champion. Corporal Cotterell, and the youthful Hallamshire harrier, E. Harper. At 50 yards from home they were side bv side, Cotterell with a look of easy confidence on bis face, and Harper with a smile of satisfaction (hat seemed to betoken the will to win. Ail was changed in the last 20 yards. Cotterell took one swift glance at the light figure alongside him, and with a bound left the youth as though ho were standing still. Candidly for the moment it looked like a contest between the lion and the lamb. Cotterell, with set jaw and a long stride, gained yards. Harper, still smiling, made his one last supreme effort, found it was unavailing, and toddled home beaten in a great race by a more powerful and accomplished colleague. The final placing was. —England, 21 points (possible). France 80, Scotland 133, Wales 163. Ireland 180. Belgium 181. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLASSIC. His Majesty the King had a great reception when he drove up to the historic Queen’s Club, Kensington, to witness the fifty-sixth annual track and field battle of the Blues. He became so engaged by the keenness and alternating nature of the struggle for victory that he remained to the end of a, very prolonged programme. Royal weather favoured the event, too, so we were all ready to settle down to what promised to be one of the most enjoyable struggles of this classic series. For instance, four of the Light Blue first strings were beaten by second, or even third Cambridge nominations, while there were two reversals in regard to the Oxford selections. Then there was the somewhat surprising result in the high jump which, being halved contributed so unexpectedly to the tie of five ana a-lmlf points each that resulted in the eventual points aggregation. There were many events during the afternoon. These deserve to be told in proper sequence. The King was in time to witness a great race between the Cambridge first string (C. F. Harrison) and the Oxford second string (A. E. Porritt) in the introductory event -the sprint. At half-way in the race Ren wick arid Porritt, for Oxford, and Harrison, for Cambridge, were just about level. Then. I believe, Renwick sacrificed what chances he had by looking across at Harrison at this stage, for the Cambridge Blue wont straight to the tape, just to beat the New Zealander, Porritt, by inches, Renwick appearing unbalanced and failing to get nearer than two yards at- the tape. There was an oblique wine,, which would just catch the runners’ left shoulders in the sprint, but I do not think this w 7 ould make much difference to them. The track (cinder) was in good condition, for the season, so this would not be an adverse condition either. Officially the winner was timed to no worse than 10 l-ssec. The second hem was (he high jump. Again this w 7 as decided on the cinders. Dickinson (Oxford) and Van Geysel (Cambridge). tied at sft llin. Thus we got the tie which meant so much waste to both sides. Cambridge, however, then went ahead by means of D. G. A. Lome’s half-mile. He had been expected to win this event, and he did not disappoint. Tire Oxford pair, J. A. Watts and H. W. Kerr, did not display good judgment. The latter soon raced himself out and Watts tried to give too much start away. Lowe went to the front at the right time—with a furlong to go—and won brainily. The time, Imin 57 l-ssec, by the way, was a great improvement on the time lie returned to win last year. The next item was the shot putting. I liked the way the winner, S. 11. Thomson, used the .weight- of his body and the power of his shoulders. The winning distance ha.s only been beaten four times previously. Thomson, by the way, later on won the sprint hurdles and also competed in the pole jump. Then O. E. Mackintosh, by winning the Long Jump for Oxford, balanced the points account, Sir T. G. Levitt improved in his leap of last year, when second to Harold Abraham®, but this time Mackintosh was far too good for him, and will do better still when he has developed a faster approach. Cambridge again set the pace—for the last time—by means of the Furlong Hurdles. The rival presidents fought out this issue, and they were on terms of equality 50 yards from the tape Bristowe, however, " produced a great finish to win by the margin of a yard. The time was moderate. Oxford became equal again, however, as a result of the Three Miles. After 2i miles had been covered, Starr (Cambridge) started to sprint after Bryant (Oxford), and, passing him on the top bend, raced down the straight, evidently believing he w 7 as on the last lap, to open up a big gap. He stepped on to the grass, all out, after passing the officials, only to realise there was another lap to go, and so Bryant was enabled to win with ease. Then Oxford went in front for the first time with the Sprint Hurdles, Thomson doing 15 4-ssec, or only l-ssec short of the inter-’varsity record. Still another Oxonian success followed. D. M. Johnson, after a false start, getting the lead in the Quarter, and sticking to it, Marshall (Cambridge) making a great effort to catch him over the last furlong. Oxford now led by two points. G. S. Baird and J. H Campbell, both of Cambridge, duly cleared 10ft 6in in tho Bolt Vault, Baird winning at lift. Thus Cambridge hopes were revived, and a tie or defeat for Cambridge rested on the last event —the Mile. Therein D G. Lowe, like 8. Thomson (for Oxford) accomplished a double event, using all the pace that was offered for three laps, and then sprinting away from the field. Meritoriously he had saved the day for Cambridge, and deservedly he was chaired back to tho pavilion.

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. WELLINGTON, May 12. A meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Atnletic Association ( moil wn s held tonight. The recommendations of the recent conference held in Dunedin during the | championship meeting were considered. In connection with the proposal that the | cycle events should be included in the cnampionship programme, it was decided that j it be a recommendation to the annual meet- | ing that two events—a one-mile and threemile race —be put on at the next, championship meeting t he quostion of overseas athletes coming over and winning New Zealand championships was referred to, Mr S. Dean stating that it was certainly intended that the New Zealand championships should he held only bv New Zealand residents. There was no oojection, he stated, to their being awarded | a special medal, but they should not be awarded a championship. It was decided that this view should be supported by the council. It was decided to support the proposal that in future championship meetings should extend over two days. The council of the Australia and New Zealand Union advised that, the executive had appointed the following delegates to represent the Amateur Athletic Union at the International Athletic Conference to be field in Paris in July next: Messrs n. J. Parkinson. S. J. Jackson, O. G. IT. Merritt, Dr R. Homier, and the manager of the New Zealand Olympic team. A suggestion was made by the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia and New Zealand that a standard programme of events should_ bo drawn up for future Australasian championship -meetings, and the following programme was submitted-First Day—--100 Yards. 440 Yards, One Mile Flat. Three Miles Walk, 120 Yards Hurdles, Hammer Throw, Pole Vault, Discus and Javelin Throwing. Second Day.—22o Yards. 880 Yards, Three Miles Fiat. One Mile Walk. Running High Jump, Putting the Shot, Running Broad Jump, 440 Yards Hurdles, and Relay. Decathlon.—First Day—loo Metros, Broad Jump. Putting the " Shot, High jnmo, and 400 Metres. Second Day: —Hurdles, Discus Throwing, Pole Vault, Javelin Throwing, and 1500 Metres.—The council decided to approve of the proposal as submitted. The matter of amusement tax on sports bodies was referred to when a letter was received from the New Zealand Sports Protection League urging the abolition of the tax which had been justified only as a war measure. This view, the letter stated, had been admitted bv Mr Massey, who as far back as 1922 had expressed the hope that it would be possible to do away with it in the following year. It appeared necessary, therefore, that further pressure should be brought- to Dear upon the Government to impress it with the necessity of giving the question urgent consideration. " The league was organising a representative deputation to wait upon the Government for this purpose. The deputation was to be hoard, if possible, during the first or second week in June. —Mr T. Davies said that the movement had their sympathy and should have their support.—Messrs Davies and Sievwright were appointed to act on the deputation. RECORD HIGH JUMP. CAPETOWN, May 14. At the Witwatersrand University sports at Johannesbuhg G. Stott cleared 6ft lJin in the high Jump, breaking Sutherland’s South African record of 6rt Ogin. [Sutherland is an ex-New Zealander.]