ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 53

ATHLETICS

By

AMATEUR.

NOTES. The first athletic meeting of the 1927-28 season in Christchurch will be the spring meet of the Canterbury College Amateur Athletic Club, on September 24. The Otago amateur track and field cham* pionships will be decided on November 26, a fortnight before the New Zealand championship meeting. The Dunedin Harrier Club, which was revived early in the present season, has changed its name, and in future will be known as the Dunedin Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club.

At a meeting in Invercargill an organising committee was set up to take the preliminary steps in connection with the formation of a Southland Council of the New Zealand Olympic Association. AVith M. E. Champion and G. N. Hill in 1912, Miss V. Walrond, D. Hadfield, and G. Davidson in 1920, and C. Purdy in 1924, Auckland has furnished six out of the eight competitors whom New Zealand has sent to the Olympic Games. It is understood that O. Morgan, a member of a well-known family of athletes, may take up his residence in Dunedin in the near future. While attending high school in the north he cleared 21ft 4in in the long jump and 4.3 ft 2in in the hop, step, and jump. Although only 16 years of age at the time, he beat the great American, Jackson Scholz, in the 100 yards from the 6yds mark, covering the distance in lOsec.

A. J. Elliott, Auckland sprint champion, intends to have a rest for a month or so in preparation for the serious business of the forthcoming provincial championships (says the Sun). Elliott has run at every meeting since last Labour Day.

The retirement of Miss Manttan, the New Zealand lady champion sprinter, is announced. Last season Miss Manttan decided to take her running in a serious manner, and, under the capable hands of Mr S. Murray, she improved her speed in a remarkable style, and won the New Zealand championship at Auckland in the record time of 11 3-ssec. In company with Misses N. AA 7 ilson and Eastwood, of Gisborne, she was nominated for the Olympic Games, and the meeting of these champions has been eagerly awaited. For family and private reasons, however, Miss Manttan has decided to give up running. “A tribute by the amateur athletes of

New Zealand to the memory of Gerald Percy Keddell, who, for many years, was holder of the Australasian record of 15 3-10 sec for the 120 yards hurdles and of the New Zealand record of 23ft 3in for the broad jump. Not only a great champion, he was a serious and intelligent . student of athletics, and the finest of sportsmen —modest in victory, generous in defeat. He was born in 1885, served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in the Great AVar, and died in 1923.” That was the engraving on the bronze plaque which is known as the ‘'Keddell Memorial,” and which will be a perpetual challenge trophy for the 120 yards hurdles championship of New Zealand. Roger Lander is the first holder. At the last meeting of the AVellington Centre Lander was presented with the trophy, but few of his fellow-athletes knew of the ceremony, and it is to be hoped (says the Auckland Star) that-when die next presentation is made it will be done at a suitable function. INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS.

PARIS, August 21. I'lie German athletes defeated the French at Coloinbes Stadium by 89 points to 62. The German, Kohn, won the 5000 metres in 15min 3sec, which is a record. The German relay team (Schmidt, Neumann, Stor, and Peltzer). running 400 metres each, won in 3min 18 2-ssec, which is also a record. The Frenchman, Martin, won the 800 metres in linin 53 l-ssee, beating Peltzer: and the Frenchman, Sempo, won the 110 metres hurdles in 15 l-sscc., The German, Trossmach, was second. SYDNEY MARATHON RACE. SYDNEY, August 28. In a Marathon race yesterday 25 out of 40 original entrants started. Bruton (New Zealand) was a non-starter. The race for the first time carried with it the Australian championship. The weather was fine, and the course was in good order. Gainsford and Hayden (New South AVales) were the most prominent up to 10 miles, where Gainsford struck leg trouble and dropped out. Hayden carried on, with Bateman and M'Murdo next. At 23 miles Hayden had a lead of overfive minutes, and looked an easy winner, but he tired, and at 25 miles his lead was reduced to under a minute. M'Murdo, going strong, won by 500 yards. The course was 26 miles and 385 yards. The placed men were: —M’Murdo (Queensland). 3h 6m 235, 1; Hayden. (New South AVales). 3h 9m 365, 2; Bataman (New South AA'ales), 3.