ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 32

ATHLETICS

By

AMATEUR.

MORGAN RECOVERING.

At the centre meeting on Tuesday night a letter was received from H. D. Morgan (who is in hospital) stating that his six ■weeks’ spell in hospital had done his leg a lot of good, but he could not say ■whether he would be able to return to the track. He expects to leave the hospital in a very short time. THEN AND NOW. At the last championships performances were effected to a large extent by a very strong wind; nevertheless they compare very favourably with the best recorded in the history of Australian and New Zealand championships. There is no doubt that, on a calm day. times in the flat and hurdling events would have been bettered, as, even under the existing circumstances, most of them fell very little short of the best recorded in previous championships For the purposes of comparison, the following list, which gives the best performances at the recent meeting, and the previous best, should prove useful:— 100yds. 1911.—9 4-ssec, R. Opie (New Zealand). 1926. —9 4-ssec, L. C. Parker (Queensland). 1927. —lO l-ssec, J. Carlton (New South Wales). 220yds. 1926. —2l 3-ssec, N. J. Grehan (Queensland). 1927. —22 l-ssec, J. Carlton, New South Wales). 440yds. 1905.'—48Jscc, N. C. Barker- (New South Wales). 1927.—50 l-ssec, C. Stuart (New South Wales). 880yds. 1926. —lmin 56sec, W. Al. Whyte (Victoria. 1927. —lmin 57 l-ssec, C. Stuart (New South Wales). One Mile. 1905.—4 min 23sec, G. A. Wheatley (Victoria) . 1927.—4mih 25 2-ssec, R. A. Rose (New Zealand). Three Miles. 1926. —l4min 42 3-ssec, G. R. Hyde (Victoria) . 1927. 14min 49 4-ssec, R. A. Rose (New Zealand). One Mile Walk. ‘ 1911. —6min 32 4-ssec, H. E. Kerr (NewZealand). 1927.—6 min 52sec, E. E. Austen (New South Wales). Three Miles Walk. 1911.—21 min 36 3-ssec, H. E. Kerr XNew Zealand). 1927. —22min 10 l-ssec, W. Lankey (New Zealand). 120yds Hurdles. 1921-22.—15 3-10 sec, L. F. Edmunds .(Victoria). 1927. —16 2-ssec, R. W. Lander (New Zealand). 440yds Hardies. 1926. —56 l-ssec, A. J. Watson (Victoria) . 1927. —57 l-ssec, F. S. Ramson (New Zealand) and F. Nesdale (New Zealand). Broad Jump. 1924.—23 ft. 9in, R. J. Honner (New South Wales). * 1927. —23ft 6in, C. Al. Ebert (New South. Wales). High Jump. 1926. —6ft IJin, L. B. Mason (Victoria). 1927. —6ft E. M. Davidson (Victoria). Hop, Step, and Jump. No previous performance. 1927. —47ft Bin, J. W. Shirley (New Zealand. Putting the Shot. 1924. —45ft sin, P. Munro (New Zealand) . 1927.—43 ft 104 in, P. Munro (New Zealand) . Throwing the Hammer. 1926. 143 ft 6in, W. Harvey (New Zealand). 1927. 143 ft 2iin, W. Harvey (New Zealand) . Throwing the Discus. 1924.—132 ft 6in (P. Munro (New Zealand) . i —l2sft BJin, P. Munro (New Zealand). Throwing the Javelin. 1926. 198 ft 7Jin, S. A. Lay (New Zealand). ZealandT^ 8. A. Law (New Pole Vault. land) 8 ‘~ llft linj L ‘ M ’ Kay (NW Zea * 1927. lift E. Keskinen (Queensland). .One Mile Relay. *926. '2 m ’ n 33 2-ssee, Victoria. WTffes" '’ lnln 35 3-ssec, New South Decathlon. (Victoria') 306 ' 766 points > W. Kroger iqSf points ’ E - Keskin - Aggregate Wins. 1896.—, Kleven firsts, New Zealand. 1927.—Ten firsts, New Zealand. - -X • SPRINT CHAMPIONS. Although New Zealand has turned out many fine sprinters since 1909 (says i- in the Evening Post), only two—W. A. Woodger and R. Opie—have figured as winners at the championships ot Australia and New Zealand. There fiave been times, of course, when New Zealand s best sprinters have not been able to take part in these meetings; even bo, the “ speed merchants ” have come plainly from the Australian States, startnig off with W T. Macpherson (New South Wales). This great sprinter at tne first championship meeting in 1893 set those of later years a very hot order in cutting out the 100 yards in 9 9-10 sec time which was not beaten at the championships until R. Opie was credited with J.4-jsec at the meeting on the Basin Reserve in 1911,. when a record was not allowed owing to the track not being level At the Brisbane meeting 18 months ago, L. C. Parker (Queensland) cut out the distance in 9 4-ssec. Over Bo e h,, r on| ? Wacpherson’s time of 7-10 sec in 1893 lius been bettered more

frequently, and at Brisbane last year the best performance for the championships of Australia and New Zealand was brought down to 21 3-ssec by N. J, Grehan (Queensland). A fraction better time than this was made by E. W. Carr (New South Wales) over a straight course in the 1921-22 season. New Zealand's only championship wins in the sprints were as follows:— . 100 YARDS. 1909. —W. A. Woodger, 10-lsec. 1911. —R. Opie, 9 4-ssec. 220 YARDS. 1909. —W. A. Woodger, 23 l-sscc. 1911. —R. Opie, 24 l-ssec. SAVIDAN’S GREAT EFFORT. “It is unfortunate for Savidan that he was not born a year or two later,” said an onlooker after the Savidan-Rose encounter in that epic three miles race. The race was probably the greatest distance run ever seen in the games, and the whole crowd was upon its feet at the finish. Savidan’s sprint at the bell, his terrific pace round the back of the ground, when he swqng round with the wind behind him, Rose’s pursuit, Savidan’s extra bit at the turn of the straight, Rose’s lengthened stride, and Savidan’s last great effort up the final 40 yards at the tape were worth watching. Rose was all out, and it looked as though the smaller man would hold his own, but the judges say that Rose just got there. It was no disgrace to be beaten after such an effort; Savidan ran like a winner, and was entitled to as much honour as his opponent. The Aucklander is unlucky. In almost any other generation he would have been the finest distance runner in the Dominion. SPECIALISATION NECESSARY. That New Zealand has a wealth of promising material for field games was the opinion expressed by E. Keskinen, the Finnish all-round athlete who competed as the Queensland representative at the recent championship meeting, but while the standard is higher in New Zealand than it is in Australia, it is still a good deal below Olympic standard. To achieve success in field games he considers that specialisation is largely necessary, and he also said that for the standard to reach a higher level in the Dominion it would be necessary to have more implements, more competition in field games, and greater opportunities for practice. In Finland every small centre had its implements, but as far as he could ascertain there was a decided lack in this direction in New Zealand. Implements were certainly very dear in New Zealand, and the best way would be for the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to import them in large numbers. RUNNING IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, January 22. At the Maroubra Speedway, A. Lemon, New Zealand champion speedster, made his first appearance in Sydney, and ran second in the first heat of the race for the Maroubra Silver Helmet. At the Speedway Royal, Van Pragg won the inter-dominion match race against Spencer Stratton. Stratton won the first heat and Van Pragg won the second and also the final. „ EVENING SPORTS. WELLINGTON, January 22.

About 3000 people attended the evening athletic sports meeting on Saturday. C. H. Jenkins won the 100yds handicap from scratch in 10 4-seec.

F. Grose was fourth in his heat of the £Boyds handicap, and won both the mile and the three miles decisively. In the mile, Grose flashed away from the opposition in the last lap as if they were standing still. In the three miles. L. Beere, who was pedalling well, dashed ahead of the field at the two miles and a-quarter mark, and established a lead of 50 yards, but was chased and caught by Grose inside the next quarter of a mile. Grose won by 20 yards.

E. Keskinen, the decathlon winner at the Australian and New Zealand championships, competed in the field events, but was not in good form. The one mile handicap was won by A. D. Priestly (20yds), who beat G Bayne (20yds) by three yards in 4min 30 l-ssec. Putting the shot, P. Munro (scr) made a putt of 42ft lOin.

MEETING OF OTAGO CENTRE.

The Otago Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. met last evening, the president (Mr E. L. Macassey) in the chair. Othert present were Messrs Breen, Gibson, Templeton, Patton, White, Heaton, Swinney, Cabot, Sidey, Thompson, MTndoe, Woods, Emerson, and Melville. The Taieri Amateur Athletic Club submitted a proposed programme for a sports meeting to be held on February 16.— Approved. The takings at the evening meeting on Monday were £22. Accounts for the month were passed for payment. In respect of a proposed visit from Standen, who will be Australia’s cycling representative at the next Olympic Games, the New Zealand Council wrote stating that he was available for Dunedin, subject to provisions allowing of his being accompanied by his trainer. The council had agreed to this. The dates allocated to Dunedin were February 18 and 22.— The terms, including additional provision for expenses, were accepted, and the champion will visit Dunedin on the dates mentioned.

Mr Gibson reported on the visit of E. Keskinen, the Finnish athlete. He had proved himself a good fellow to the sport in Dunedin. He spent a good deal of time at the Caledonian ground on two occasions, giving hints and coaching other men. He was leaving Dunedin on Thursday morning, and the speaker thought the centre should see that he was accorded a good send-off. Keskinen had said that he was not yet sure whether 1 e would be staying in New Zealand, but if he did stay he would settle in Dunedin. The secondary school championships have this year been allocated to Invercargill. It was decided to submit last year’s programme to the Southland High School, and to ask that the schedule when drawn up be sent to the centre for approval.

FEMININE SPORTSMANSHIP QUESTION.

The validity of Miss Stewart’s claim to the 100, Yards Ladies’ Championship is apparently still doubted by two of the other competitors in this event, who wrote to the centre forwarding further evidence with a request that it be sent on to the New Zealand Council. It appears that Miss Stewart missed the two heats, and was given a run in the final, which she won. Flat contradictions were frequent when the meeting discussed the matter. It was stated by several members that the girl in question was too late for either heat, but one or two others were equally vehement in their contention that Miss Stewart was on the spot before the finish of the second heat. What might have developed into an acrimonious debate was cut short by the chairman’s statement that, as referee, he w, within his rights in giving Miss Stewart a run in the final. As there could be no argument -against the referee’s decision, that aspect of the matter was dropped.

As the ladies’ club is not affiliated to the centre, it was held that they had no right of appeal, but it was agreed that the evidence should be submitted to the council, with a covering letter from the centre explaining the position. The Chairman said that the girls concerned were not good sports. It was apparently a case of if they could not win, they must appeal on some ground or other. Such appeals made him wonder whether, after all, they should not eliminate ladies’ events from their schedules.