ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 50

ATHLETICS

By

Amateur.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. A recent message from Wanganui stated that the Executive Committee o. the Wanganui-Taranaki Centte of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association had decided to the New Zealam amateur athletic championship fixtui e at Hawera on Saturday, March 1. Apparently, this message was the result of a misunderstanding ,?°^ e .Y- !, itv 1 am informed on the best of authoi ity available here that the fixture will be held at Wanganui on the dates otiginally mentioned —March 14 and to. A hauof date to March 1 would have been a serious matter for many athletes who have regulated their training to tit in with the later date. If the championships were held a fortnight earlier Juv would have to speed up their training and would probably have to do so much that they would be prejudicially affected. KEEN SPORTING FAMILY. The Lawsons who were recently seen in action at the Tuatapere sports come irom a keen sporting family (sajs the boutli land Times). F. G. Lawson who was first in the mile and hali-nule at that meeting is a son of the former wellknown miler, Mr IL Lawson (Amateur Athletic Society, Invercargill), ami a grandson of Mr J. Field, who was one and two-mile champion in the eighties. F G. Lawson is only 19 years ot age. His younger brother Harry ran second in the mile at Tuatapere on the same day. let another brother, Joe, was third in the 220, second in the 440. winner of the 1-0 consolation, and fourth in the Sheffield Joe formerly won several mile and haltmile events but had left off running tor the past two years. At the last meeting of the Caledonian Society some years ago he won the mile and half when a youngster of 17. Tuatapere was the first occasion on which Fred and Harry Lawson had competed at sports, and the president ot the society (Mr J. M'Lcod), former champion sprinter, states that Fred shows great promise. NOTES. Or. his arrival in Sydney, Lermond said he was unable to explain the failure of Osborn to join the steamer for Sydney at San Francisco. He had expected Osborn to join him at Chicago. Osborn, however, did not appear, and at San brancisco he had merely been informed by telegram from New York that Osborn would not be making the trip. Lermond added that he knew nothing of the report that Osborn had been detained because of h»s wife’s illness. . At the national championships at Denver in July last year. Lermond won the Half-mile in Imin 53sec, and in the previous month he put up the fastest time for the Mile in ordinary competitions in the United States at the Yankee Stadium, New York, his time being 4min 13sec. Lermond is particularly proud of this performance, which was watched by 30,000 people. Among the other feats of his recent athletic career are the winning of the Two Miles indoors in Oniin 16sec, at Madison Square Gardens, New York, the 3000 Metres in Bmin 36sec, at Stockholm (fastest time by an American) ; and the 1500 Metres in 3min 56scc, beating Harry Larva, the Finnish Olympic champion. The Canterbury championships will be decided on March 1. The Otago Centre s championship fixture is set down for the same day. It is quite possible that C. M. Olson, former New Zealand half-mile champion, will make at attempt to regain his New Zealand title. Olsen is the present holder of the Auckland 880 yards title. Malcolm Leadbetter, ex-New Zealand sprint champion, competed at a recent sports meeting in Wellington. He was matched against C. AV. Jenkins and J. T Fleming, two runners at present in fine form.

At the annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union it j was decided to make a recommendation to the executive that cycle and running championships be allocated to one centre annually. S. Lindsay, of Napier, has come on re cently at shot putting, and should give Peter Munro a good run for the event at the national champinships. Recently he put the shot 43 feet, and it is stated that he will probably improve on that distance before long. Miss E. Martyn, of Canterbury, who holds the New Zealand ladies’ sprint title, has done very little racing this season (says the Christchurch Times), but she is fortunately able to get into trim with very little preparation, and, if she goes to Wanganui this year she should have no difficulty in retaining her title. If Randolph Rose carries out his intention to train for the next New Zealand championships, he will add a good deal of interest to the meeting (says a northern writer), but he will have to regain top form to beat J. W. Savidan, the present mile and three miles champion. The little Aucklander was outstanding at the last title meeting. L. A. Wood, Otago’s best miler at the present time (says the Christchurch Press), competed at Timaru at the New

Year Carnival, and showed that with good coaching he should run about 4min 30sec for the distance. He made a few tactical errors in his races, putting in his finishing efforts rather early, but according to a Christchurch enthusiast he should develop into a very fine distance man. While the Auckland sprinter A. J. Elliott did not succeed in winning a race at Wellington on Boxing Day he had a splendid opportunity of testing his form against C. 11. Jenkins ( who hag run so successfully at several New Zealand championship meetings Elliott conceded Jenkins half a yard in the 100 yards, and one yard in the 220 yards, ami beat his riyal on both occasions. The local champion is near his best form (says the New Zealand Herald), which should retain him the Dominion sprint, championship titles. The Christchurch Press states that Canterbury should be well represented in the sprints at the New Zealand championships by J. H. Murphy and R. Cordery. and in the distance events by J. G. Barnes, but there is no one who appears likely to gain a place in the middle distances. If interest in field events can be Bastained there is no reason why

A. E. Joseph, R. H. Neville. J. W. < Batsstone, and one or two of the pro- 1 mising Technical men should not be ; placed. So far this season R. A. Rose, the ex- ( champion long distance runner, has not competed at any meetings in the district, but it is reported that he is in training. 1 An endeavour is to be made to secure Jiis services at a meeting to be held in Wei- ; lington on January 29. There have been few runners in New Zealand more discussed than Rose, and during his somewhat lengthy career the mile record holder has not appeared in Auckland. It would prove an attraction should the Auckland Centre once more make an effort to match Savidan and Rose. The pair have met on three occasions, the Aucklander winning twice. The following officers were elected at the annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Un : on: —President, Mr J. Collingwood (Wanganui) ; vice-presidents—Messrs W. J. ■AV alter (North Canterbury), R. B. Meek (Oamaru), A. J. Hansen (Taranaki); committee — Messrs 11. H. Fraser (Timaru), J. AV’. Worthington (North Auckland), G. E. Perkins (Greymouth), J. Forbes (Oamaru), C. Church (Gisborne), J. T. Qualter (Pyramid). A. J. Fisher (Blenheim); secretary, Mr J. Kennedy (Geraldine) ; auditor, Mr I. B Stewart (Geraldine). The third International Ladies' Games are to take place at Prague from September 6 to 8 next, and arrangements are being made already for the coaching of Great Britain’s girl athletes, who have fallen somewhat behind such countries as Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland in the field events section of athletics. Great Britain won the first women’s games at Paris in 1922, scoring 50 points, the United States being second with 31 points. Ten nations were represented at the second International Ladies’ Games at Gothenburg in 1926. ami again Great Britain won, scoring 50 points. Frame being second with 27. Our girls did not, however, take part in the general Olympic games at Amsterdam in 1926, and last year they suffered their first international defeat at the hands of Germany. They will make a great effort to retrieve their lost laurels at Prague. The Germans have definitely established themselves as the leading Continental athletic nation, for following their victories over Great Britain and France, who have just defeated Finland—even with Paavo Nurmi .in the team —they have overcome Japan, and an overseas writer now fully expects them to challenge the United States before the Olympic Games of 1932. The Germans have made a really surprising advance since the war. but they deserve to do so if only for their perseverance and their wonderful enthusiasm in the matter of training. But the surprising thing about the German-Japanese struggle was the form of the Far Eastern athletes in the field events, in which they proved rivals. A long superior to their jump of 24ft one of 6ft 3in high, and a pole jump of 12ft 91in. is certainly good enough to go on with, and we shall undoubtedly see better performances still in the near future. This makes one think, for the Germans were better than we were in these events. and one can only come to the conclusion that either we are not temperamentally or physically fitted for jumping ami " strong man stuff,” or there is little interest taken in them. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. FAST TIME IN 120 YARDS EVENT. CHRISTCHURCH. January 13. The Australian professional runners. “ Lynch ” Cooper and J. D. Fitt, made their first appearance at English Park this evening, when they met D. M’Lennan and J. Getson, the New Zealand champions. Cooper beat M’Lennan by inches in the 75 yards race in Bsec after a neck-and-neck race. M’Lennan broke three times

before a good start was obtained, and then Cooper was away with a slight advantage which he held all the way. In the 120 yards, M’Lennan was first out of the holes and led by inches at halfway, when Cooper came with a magnificent finish and won by a foot in 11 4-ssec. Fitt was a little too good for Getson over both the 880 yards and the mile, but these were excellent races and only three yards separated the runners in the mile event. The times were Imin 57 2-ssec and 4min 29 4-ssec respectively. ACTION AGAINST MANAKAU CYCLING CLUB. VISIT OF NOTED ATHLETES. WELLINGTON. January 15. The following motion, proposed by Mr E. G. Guy and seconded by Mr L. A. Tracy, was passed by the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to-night:—“That all officials and competitors taking part in any way iu the meeting held by the Manakau Cycling Club on December 30 be suspended and asked to show cause why they should not be disqualified from acting or competing in any sports meetings held under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and that centres be advised of this position, so that the officials and competitors in question are not permitted in the meantime to take part in any meetings held ’by such centres.” This action follows the endeavour of certain followers of cycling to break away from the control of the association as the result of an impromptu conference on January 8 between four members of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and Mr E. S. Marks, of Australia. A definite offer was made by cable to the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association regarding the proposed appearances in the Dominion of Dr Otto Peltzer and Leo Lermond. So far there has been no renlv. Mr Marks, however, who was present at the meeting of the council to-night, has agreed to approach the Victorian Association at Melbourne on his arrival there next week if no reply is received before his departure on Friday. SECRETARY STATES CLUB’S POSITION. AUCKLAND, January 16. In reference to the action of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in suspending the members and officials

of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club for holding a meeting at the Western Springs Stadium on December 30, Mr L. Wilson (secretary of the Manukau Club) writes:

“In Thursday’s Herald I noticed a telegram referring to my club. This was my first intimation that the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was still interested in the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. Apparently it is the policy of this body of sportsmen to denounce and ridicule the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club through the medium of the press whenever it can seize an opportunity. However, the latest threat of disqualification can carry no weight whatever with the officials and members of the Manukau Club, by reason of the fact that the club resigned as a body from the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last April. “ The Manukau Club was fully justified in taking such drastic action at the time on account of the poor administration of amateur athletic affairs in general in Auckland, and the fact that the Auckland association was under an obligation regarding outstanding trophies to several members of the club. Many requests were made to the association, both by the individual riders concerned and by the Manukau Club, but no satisfaction was obtained, while several of the letters were not even acknowledged.

“ Realising that by its resignation it would be an isolated hotly the Manukau Club, affiliated to the New Zealand Union of Amateur Cyclists, which newly-formed body had been granted provisional affiliation to the Union Internationale Cycliste in Paris—the controlling body of cycle racing throughout practically every country of note which, sensing such action by a New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, which sensing such action by a New Zealand union of amateur cyclists, applied for affiliation at the same time but was unsuccessful. Respecting the running of amateur and professional events on the same programme, such is permissible under the laws of the Union Internationale Cycliste, provided the sanction of that body or its agencies has been first obtained. In England, the home of amateurism, the National Cyclists’ Union allows such competitions at the same meeting. “As soon as the amateur cyclists throughout the Dominion realise the advantage of separate and direct control the better for the advancement of the sport of cycling. The dictatory attitude adopted by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association toward the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club can serve no useful purpose.”

GERMAN CHAMPION. DR PELTZER IN SYDNEY*. I'YDNEY, January 15. Dr Otto Peltzer, the German champion runner, made his first appearance in a comnef ;+ ivr> event to-night at an International Athletic Carnival at Manly Sports Oval. Light rain fell. He participated in a heat of the BSO Y'ards Invitation Scratch Race against six prominent Australian runners. Peltzer won easily, fii ishi’"- with a burst of speed that simply smothered the opposition. Time, Imin 59 4-sscc, which was slow owing to the track being heavy. Peltzer stated afterwards that he was not used to a grass track, and he mentioned that local runners would do much better on a cinder track, the record for which is Imin 51 3-ssec.

Peltzer will compete in the final of the 880 Yards on Saturday night.

LERMOND WINS IN SYDNEY*. SYDNEY, January 16. At the Manly athletic meeting the international three-quarter mile scratch race resulted:—Lermond (U.S.A.) 1, Hyland (N.SAV.) 2. Dillon (N’.S.W.) 3. Time, 3min 10 2-ssec.

DR. PELTZER HOOTED. ATHLETIC CARNIVAL AT SYDNEY. SY’DNEY, January 19. Dr Peltzer was hooted near the close of a wonderfully successful athletic carnival at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. He refused to run against the local champion, Golding, in the quartermile section of a relay race on the ground that he was suffering from rheumatism and heart trouble, and when the official announcer made the fact known the huge crowd hooted him.

The officials were compelled to find a substitute for Golding in order to keep faith with the public, who came to see Peltzer, and their choice fell upon R. D. Norman. During the progress of the relay contest, when Peltzer began to overhaul Norman, the crowd began hooting, which never ceased until Peltzer reached the dressing room, where he was obviously distressed. He explained that he did not feel up to the task of meeting that great 440yds man Golding, adding: “ Any doctor will tell you that an athlete should not run in my state of health.”

The official announcer prior to the race had told the crowd that Peltzer had flatly refused to race against Golding. A section of the press expressed the opinion that this was brutally candid and. that language less discourteous could have been used. Other press opinions do not spare Peltzer, whom they describe as extremely temperamental. The chief events of the meeting resulted:—

100 Yards Junior Invitation Race.— R. Ashbarry 1. Time, 10 l-ssec—a State record. G. Emton was fourth in this event.

100 Y’ards Invitation Handicap.—J. Carlton 1. Time, 9 4-ssec. This time equalled the Australian and State records.

220 Yards Invitation Handicap.—J. Carlton 1. Time, 21 3-10 sec—an Australian and New South Wales record. International Mile.—First division: Leo Lermond (U.S.A.) 1, J. Dillon 2. Won by 25 yards. Time, 4min 26sec. Second division: C. Jeppeson 1. E. Brooke 2. Won by 10 yards. Time, 4niin 36 4-ssec.

International 880 Yards. —Dr Peltzer (Germany) 1, S. Stuart 2, A. Heath 3. Won by 16 yards. Time, Imin 56 4-ssec. International Challenge Relay (1430 yards).—lnternationals (Lermond, Peltzer, and Emton) defeated the Australians (Heath, Norman, and Power). Time, 3min 10 l-ssec. 440 Y’ards Scratch Race. —First division: G. A. Golding 1. Time, 48 3-10 sec —an Australian and New South Wales

record. 1000 Metres Walk. —W. J. Clarke 1 Time, 4niin ssec.

Hop, Step, and Jump. —A. W. Winter (47 ft 3in) 1.

Throwing the Javelin. —J. Boyce (164 ft 21in) 1. Throwing the Discus. —M. Saar (107 ft Ulin) 1. Among the womens events, Miss Clarice Kennedy won the 81 metres hurdles in 12 l-6sec, equalling the world's record. Miss C. Dahn won the 100 yards scratch race iu 11 3-10sec — an Australian record.