ANNIVERSARY DAY SPORTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 9

ANNIVERSARY DAY SPORTS

A FINANCIAL SUCCESS MISS WILSON'S GEE AT RACE (Notes by “Discus.”) From the spectators’, competitors’ and financial viewpoints, the Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club’s sports meeting held on the Childers road reserve on Anniversary Day was an outstanding 1 success. Undoubtedly the beautiful weather and the appearance of leading lady runners from Wairuu and Wellington were largely responsible for the keen support of the public. AiL the events, including sprinting, cycling, relay running, hurdling, and field competitions, attracted good entries, and in most cases developed into close and exciting contests. The writer takes this opportunity of congratulating the club on the splendid manner in which the ground was arranged, especially the marking of the tracks, which gave the competitors that extra amount of confidence. The meeting was well conducted, the lengthy list of events being run off without a break. THE HANDICAPPING. A good amount of credit is reflected 011 the club’s handicapper, Mr. A. G. Swan, for the number of close contests in the sprint, field, and running events. In the cycle races the limit and middlemarkers won by many yards. In the three-mile cycle event, A. Campbell, a strong rider, who competed with average success at the Christmas and New Year holiday meetings, was on a handicap of 200yds. In this event the circular path had to be negotiated 12times, while several parts of the track were heavy. This, however, tended tobe of advantage to a powerful cycla. ist, as it required considerable stamina and strength to complete a race under these circumstances. Campbell made the most of his handicap, and was riding with the limit men before half the journey had been covered. The four backmarkers made several attempts to catch Campbell, but he increased the lead on each occasion. The result was that Campbell won the race by 25vds. A. W. Harvey, the limit man, finished third 100yds. further back, while the scratch cyclists 'wore hunched 200yds. away. Some argue that had Campbell been placed on the 100yds. mark a much closer contest- would have resulted. EVENTS REVIEWED.

A general review of the field, sprint, and running contests shows a collection of good performances. Lively interest was evinced in the handicap events.

G. Hartley, a young sprinter of much promise, annexed the 120yds. flat and 100yds. junior handicaps, lie used his handicaps well in both races. A. Owen, S. Shanks and L. Morrow ran well in the sprint events, the latter finishing in third place in the 100yds. junior and 75yds. flat handicaps. R. Honan annexed the furlong dash from A. Owen in 22 4-ssec.

T. Turbitt (7yds.) defeated S. Shanks (scr.) by Byds. in the 120yds. hurdles handicap, beating the l’overly nav champion by more than his handicapTurbitt gave a inure finished display of hurdling than the title holder, and was undoubtedly the better athlete on the day. Further honors were secured by Turbitt in the pole vault event, which he shared with W. Findlay, both competitors jumping Oft. 6ni., beating the previous Poverty Bay record by 3in., established by themselves on Saturday, January 19, 1929. Both lads gave splendid performances. Findlay succeeded in clearing the bar at 9ft. 9in., but dislodged the cross-bar with bis elbow while descending. It is considered that the title holders would have exceeded their record by several inches had the bar been placed at 9ft. for the firstjump, tis a considerable amount ol energy was wasted in the opening efforts. It is the writer’s opinion that both athletes will be likely contenders for tho New Zealand title this season. If they can clear 10ft. the title should lie held by Poverty Bay for at least one year. The honor of being the fittest and most consistent competitor in the club stands to the credit of V T . Hutchinson. He won the one-mile flat handicap, and finished within inches of C. McDonald in the half-mile. Hutchinson runs a race from start to finish, and when he wins he wins till the way. Only four runners took part in the 440yds. handicap, the event being won by S. .Smith. A. D. HOLLIS’ DOUBLE.

A. D. Hollis registered his first wins this season at last Tuesday’s meeting, when he was successful in the 75yds. fiat handicap off 9yds. in 7 *-ssec., and the hop, step and jump handicap. He jumped 41ft. 6in. from a handicap of 4ft. Tho same athlete took third place in the broad jump event. The writer advises him to put more dash into the finish of his races, as he is inclined to take things easily when the tape is in sight. F. McDonald had one win, beating A. Lockett’s jump by 3in. A. Lockett finished second in the hop, step and jump handicap, but appeared to be off color in the high jump contest, J. Egan being successful with sft. 4in. W. Findlay was second. Misses D. Dixey, Goldsmith, and Norma Wilson were the outstanding in the ladies’ handicap races. The New Zealand title holder ran into third place in each event, while the other two runners seeured a first and second each. Both races were well contested, and had splendid finishes, the placed athletes being separated only by inches on each occasion.

D. Millier, A. Campbell and J. Sutton divided the cycling handicaps evenly among them. T. Campbell finished second in the three-mile race, and third in the one and a-half mile contest, while Pollard secured a third in the •half-mile event. AN BYDS. VICTORY.

Competing against the next best lady runners in the Dominion, on a very good track, and under most favorable conditions, Miss Nonna Wilson, the Poverty Bay and New Zealand title holder, won the 100yds. ladies’ scratch invitation race by Byds. Miss Wilson ran the race in 11 3-sscc., equalling the New Zealand record. When the field of eight was set, Miss J. Willson, of Wellington, broke, necessitating a restart. 7’ho second dispatch was successful, Miss Norma Wilson immediate! v going to the front. At the 50yds. mark she had increased her load to 4vds. Miss Wilson went on to win by Bvds., Miss J. Willson (Wellington) being second, Miss E. Blatherwick (Wellington) third, and Miss P. Stewart (Wairoa) fourth.

Four of the five timekeepers clocked Miss Wilson’s run at 11 2-ssec., which equals the world’s record for the ladies’ 100yds. The fifth watch, however, made

the race a fifth of a second slower, so the time of 11 3 ssec. was taken, equalling the Dominion record.