ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 60

ATHLETICS

By

AMATEUR.

South Africa appears to have unearthed a wonderful youngster in its fourth annual marathon race over the regulation distance which took place recently. H. J. Phillips, who may be considered as getting towards the veteran stages these days, had won the three previous races and was a warm favourite for the fourth, but he came up against a youth of 18 years—a young farmer from Vryheid, Natal, who with remarkable restraint held himself well in hand until the crucial period of the race, and then let himself go to win from Phillips by no less than seven minutes. Africa has sent Home other notable Alarathon runners in K. Al’Arthur and C. W. Gitsham, but it would seem that by the time the 1928 Games come round young W. Steytler, providing he does not in the meantime overdo things, will come in th? guise of a “world-beater.” It seems that young Steytler has a brother, older than himself, who is a tolerably good Marathon runner, but he has only been at racing for a year and a-half. On the Mondav prior to his Marathon run he won a 10-mile road race at Maritzburg. and immediately turned out again to win a mile race for youths under 18. Ste.vtlers’ time over the Marathon course was 2hr 48min 18sec_ and the South African record is 2lir 42min 58 l-ssec. made by K. M‘Arthur at Cape Town in 1910. but tn comparing these times there has to be taken into account the great difference that exists between running a distance race at the sea-level and at the altitude of Johannesburg. His performance appears to verge on the extraordinary. He refused to be hurried in the early stages even when well behind, but insisted on running his own race, which, quite unlike most voting nnd many experienced Marathon performers. was at such a pace as enabled him to finish tolerably fresh. In these days when there seems to be a certain, amount of uncertainly abort the actual position of amateur athletics io America, it is reassuring to hear that the Americans, have sent an invitation to Cam bridge. University to compete in the Pennsylvania relays on Anr.il 29 nnd 30. It Is understood that the Light Blues have accepted, and the present intention is to send _ovcr. a hurdles’ team. Lord Burghley. the British amateur 220 vards hurdles chant nion and present Cambridge president, who is nearly as popular in America as he is in England, is reported to be willing to make the trip, and G. C. Weighimatt Smith, the South African, who finished second to Gaby in the A.A.A. 120 vards hurdle? championship, will also be able to make the journey. Cambridge is rich in good hurdlers just at present, and it should not bn a_ difficult matter to make up a strong team. CAPETOWN WALK. Th? second Canetown 50 miles walking race was productive of a very fine peiformance by G. G. Fick, who soon set up a big lead, and was 20 minutes ahead.of the rest at half-distance, which he increased to nearly an hour at the finish, winning in Bhr.29min 11 2-ssec. Therp was a.strong wind, which at one exnosed part of the course bowled over the horde of cyclists attendant 'on the leader, and sent them sprawling to the detriment of a number of machines, and the relief of Fick. A. TTamnson was second, 9hr 24min 15sec.: W. H. Lipsett third* 9hr 31min 40sec; C. S. Barlev fourth. 9hr 35min 6sec; W. Silverman fifth. Shr 56min 34sec; and G. F. Joliffe sixth. 9hr 59min 15sec: those alone out bf the 54 starters beatiag 10 hours, but 15 more beat 11 hours,, including one of t.he two ladies who walked. The South African A.A.A. had been appealed to as to whether it was permissible to allow, ladv competitors, but having no rule against it, left the. matter to the discretion of the promoting . body. Both finished, the course, one in . 16hr 43min 50 sec, and the other jtist outside 13 hours.

LEVY FOR OLYAIPIC GAMES. : AUCKLAND, January 17. ■■ The lew of one shilling per member paid by the New Zealand Amateur Ath- : letic Association to the Olympic Games Council was -taken ■ exception to by . the Canterbury centre .at- a - -‘meeting of theNew Zealand Council The Canter-

bury centre, through its delegate, moved a resolution that the rule providing for the payment of the levy be deleted, but after discussion the proposition was de-, feated. Air H. Austen stated that the Canterbury .centre’s objection to the rule was that individual runners resented the pay-’ thent of a special fee for an object in which they were not particularly interested. He thought that if any levy were imposed on amateur athletics the sport should get any benefit that was to be obtained from such a fund. It was wrong in principle to impose a levy on the runners themselves. He was of the opinion that the council should not tie up amateur athletics so that the funds accruing from fees would not be available to the sport from which they were derived. The Chairman (Air R. W. ATVilly) stated that he could not see any serious objection to the present rule. The various centres could run one meeting a year for Olympic purposes, and the money raised would be for the nucleus of a fund for sending a team of athletes to the Olympic Games. He could see no cogent objection to the proposition that earmarked the levy, and surely it was not too much to ask of the competitors, for any one of them might be fortunate enough to be selected to represent the Dominion at the Olympic Games. There was a big principle involved in the establishmnt of the Olympic Fund, and there was the necessity to emphasise on the public that the competitors themselves realised the position, and were prepared to make a email donation to the fund. After further discussion the majority of the council considered that they should stand behind the Olympic Council, and the motion was lost. MEETING AT NAPIER. NAPIER, January 17. Two champions, R. W. Lamb, the Australian amateur champion cyclist, and Randolph Rose, of Masterton, one mile and three miles amateur athletic champion and holder of the world’s one mile record on a grass track (4min 13 2-ssec), were competitors at the Napier Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club s illuminated meeting held on M'Lean Park fo-night in the presence of some 2000 spectators. Both put up very fine performances, Lamb showing great speed and going right away from the field in the mile and one mile and a-half cycle handicaps, both of which he won very easily. Rose, conceding starts up to 240 yards in the mile handicap, ran second to Henderson 17 yards, Rose’s time being 4min 29sec. He ran the first quarter in 60sec, the second and third each in 70scc, and the last in 69sec. He won the half-mile handicap easily from scratch, giving away 60 yards’ start. Both performers were accorded a hearty demonstration by. the spectators, who recognised the merit of their performances by enthusiastic cheering. CYCLING RECORDS RECOGNISED. WELLINGTON, January 18. The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last night decided to recognise cycling records for the quarter, half, one, two, three, and five miles only. These events are to be competitive, and not paced.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Otago Centre) was held in the Y.AI.C.A. rooms on Tuesday evening, the chair being occupied by the president (Air E. L. Alacassey). The President announced that owing to the Forbury Trotting Committee's meeting being held on January 25, it had been decided that the Otago provincial championship meeting be held on February 5, on the Caledonian Ground.—Approved.' A telegram was received from Frank Grose accepting the association’s invitation to ride at the association’s meeting on February 19.—Received. A copy of R. W. Lamb’s itinerary for his New Zealand tour was received. This showed that this noted cyclist would leave Christchurch on February 17, and would compete in Dunedin on February 19. A sub-committee consisting of the chairman, hon. secretary, and Alessrs MTndoe, Nicolson, Clark, Breen, and Thomson was set up to arrange for the entertainment and billeting of Grose and Lamb while in Dunedin. It was decided to invite R. A. Rose to compete at the meeting to be held in Dunedin on February 19. It was decided that the matter of a suitable inscription for the Cabot Cup be left in the hands of the secretary and Alessrs Hooper and Alaloue. The President announced that he had received a suggestion from Air Peter Breen urging that competitors run in colours.—After considerable discussion it was decided to write to the Canterbury Athletic Club and obtain further information before coming to a decision as to the adoption or otherwise of the suggestion.