ROSE RETURNS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10354, 28 September 1926, Page 5

ROSE RETURNS

FLU SPOILT THE TRIP EXPERIENCE TEACHES, Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. From a tour of England and Europe Randolph A. Rose, New Zealand champion distance runner, and J. W. McHolin, returned to Wellington to-day by the Tahiti. The returning athletes were met at the wharf by a representative gathering. Rose, interviewed later, said: “We did not see Nurmi, but it was perhaps just as well. After the severe cold which I suffered, I must now get down to hard work on the farm, and that will keep me fit this season without doing a great deal of running, though I'cannot let George Hyde’s record go.” BROKE THE FRENCH RECORD. Referring to some of the events in which he participated, Rose said that in one case he had 95 opponents, and to clear this field meant an added handicap in a race framed on a 4.20 basis. In France where the heat was terrific, he struck something like true form, and succeeded in breaking the French record and beating the holder and champion, Guillemot. At the meeting at Rotterdam, he (Rose) was going well in the’ 5000 metres race when he was forced to give up on account of an attack of influenza. This affected him in subsequent races.

At Oslo, though he won the 2000 metre steeplechase, it was then that it was decided to return home without meeting Nurmi'. Rose did not compete anywhere on the return journey. He considered that the New Zealand athletes would compare favourably with those of Britain and Europe if they would only cultivate style. HINTS FROM DR, PELTZER.

Speaking of his own work on these lines, he said: “Dr Peltzer, the German champion, put me on the right track so far as running on cinders is concerned. As you know, I have a forward lean when running on grass, ad spring from my toes. Peltzer pointed out to me that I should be more upright on a cinder track and spring off the flat of the foot. I was just getting nicely going when the attack of ’flu came on.”

ENGLISH TEAM NOT LIKELY. W ith regard to the suggestion that an English team of athletes he mvited to New Zealand, Rose did not think it would meet with much favour from the Home authorities, who were apparently disinclined to encourage touring. Athletics in England were confined too much to the Universities, and that was why England would never get to the top. Lord Burgh ley would not have been available for a visit to New Zealand, had be been invited, and he was going to South Africa for a couple of years. “We heard in America that Harold Osborne is being invited to New Zealand,” Rose added. “You could not get a better man. He can do almost anything. Locke is a good man too.” It was also mentioned by Rose that McHolm had been able to pick up some good hints on hammei throwing, mainly from McGrath, the noted American hammer thrower, and by bis recent efforts he appeared likely to regain the championship title in the coming season. GERMANS GET GREAT HEARING McHolm was impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by the" English people at Stamford Bridge championships, and added: “A remarkable thing to me was the reception given the German athletes, particularly Peltzer and Corts who won the 880 yards and 100 yards championships respectively. It seemed to me that the crowd gave Peltzer a better hearing than they gave some English athletes.” McHol in was very much impressed with Corts and Peltzer. Questioned with regard to the cinder tracks, McHolm said they were undoubtedly faster than grass tracks, but a runner who had no experience of cinders required time to become accustomed to them.

Rose and Mcllolm were officially welcomed back to New Zealand at a luncheon this afternoon.