ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 19184, 1 March 1924, Page 12

ATHLETICS

(By “0.M.”) 4 ' FIXTURES. March I.—Otago A. A. Championships. March 8 and 10.—N.Z. Professional Championships at Greymouth. » March s.—Mataura Sports. I March 15.—N.Z. A. A. Championships. March 15 and 17.—Taihape Sports and Christchurch St. Patrick Sports. It was very pleasing to see the extent to which the townspeople and residents of the district supported the Otautau Athletic Society on the occasion of its second annual gathering on Wednesday. The attendance and the fine collection of trophies the Society was able to present is sufficient testii mony to this, and the president C. G. C. Sinclair, the secretary, Mr R. R. Walker, and other very capable officials such as Messrs G. Bone, J. T. Brooker, Wilscn, W. Fraser and others that could be named must have been very gratified with the way the sports were carried out. It was one of the best and most enjoyable gatherings of the season, and everything went off in a manner which reflects great credit on the organisation of the Society. The sports ground is in an ideal location with a splendid natural grandstand on one side. I was very much interested in the improvements that have been carried out since last season, which a member of the Society was good enough to explain to me. The ground has been extended on the northern side, and the enthusiastic manner in which the Society has tackled the work by means of working bees and the like has been responsible for the carrying out of work that I was informed would have cost about £l5O to do by contract. From experience of the ground in the football season, it is one of the best areas in Southland. On Wednesday the straight sprint tracks were in excellent order, and although the circular course was a bit rough in places it could hardly be expected to be at its best so soon after the work referred to above, and it ought to be in good shape next season. The running was of a high standard, and Messrs Murdoch have every reason to feel gratified with the success attending their efforts to assess the relative merits of the competitors. The winner of the Sheffield, S. Hagerty, of Winton, was a bit lucky to get off the mark in the Sheffield as he did, but he would have been hard to beat in any case, although if the field had got away on even terms, I think Skerrett and Matheson would have given him a great go for it at the finish. Hagerty has been a rather d'sappointing runner in the past—l am reminded of the great first heat he ran in the Winton Sheffield seme little time ago, only to fade out most unaccountably in the final. He is a well-built young runner, and moves very nicely I do not think this is the last race he will win by any means. Some fine running was witnessed in the 75 yards dash, which concluded with one of the best finishes that have been seen this season. The first four finished half a yard of one another, and the judges had a hard job of it to separate the men. The winner, N. G. Saunders, member of a well-known Western District sporting family, got the verdict, and as he had already won the Maiden Hundred, his debut in the cash sport was attended by more than average success. His performances were rather in the nature of a “come-back act,” as I understand he has been out of the running game for years, having been well-known in amateur ranks in pre-war days. In this, as in one or two other events, there was a noticeable tendency on the part of outsiders to “assist” the judges in their deliberations, and societies would do well to see that their officials are not hampered in their work by anything of this sort. On Wednesday the judges in both running and bushcraft had a particularly arduous time of it with so many close finishes, and I think I will have the majority of unbiassed onlookers with me in stating that they carried out their duties in a very capable manner. There was only one event, in the placing of which I thought there was any cause to disagree, and that was the 75 yards final, in which Harrington was not placed, but the race was so close that it was a difficult matter to be really sure on the point. That improved runner, C. Pointon, led the field from start to finish in the furlong, but he had only half a yard to spare from S. Hagerty and Lawson at the finish. Lawson has confined himself to sprint events at the last two or three meetings, and has run very well indeed. I think, however, that he will develop into a high grade long distance man in time, in which case his experience of spriniting over short distances will do him good. Trembath, who was lucky enough to land a five yard start in the Quarter, which has been his beat race thia season, made no error about this event. He is a fine judge <4

pace, and young runners can always learn something from him in this respect, particularly how to run a quarter mile, the hardest race of any in my opinion, when run at a good fast clip. J. Archer won the two distance events in convincing style and in excellent times at that, considering the conditions of track and weather. He is running better just now than earlier in the season, and judging hia rates better, although still inclined to make the pace a bit too hot in the early stages. Lawson, on the other hand, was showing a tendency in the opp<»ite direction, that is, leaving his finishing run a bit too late. Both of these runners should waitch these two faults.

Sutherland filled second berth each time. He came down here last season with a bif reputation, and is undoubtedly a useful man over a half and mile, but it was a case of showing that cash running in Southland ifl probably at a higher standard than anywhere else in New Zealand. F. L. Malcolm, winner of the district 220 yards, in which he defeated two such good performers as R. 8. Harrington and J. J. Lawson, is a promising young runner. Ho was only beaten by Saunders in the Maidoa Hundred, and is the cut of a good runner. Young Max Harrington, who made his debut as a sprints competitor, ran very well* and it was no discredit to him that he failed to score a win, as he was up against some pretty hot competition. He should watch a tendency to get his head up in the air and fight the air with his hands in a close finish. He has a beautiful style in long distance events, and should remember that a good action is a big thing to a successful sprinter. In the amateur events, Bews made no raca of the half, although he was not running aa well as usual. He moved rather stiffly. C. Taylor, who is better known as one of the best amateur boxers in the province, scored two creditable seconds in the two amateur events, and if he goes on with the game, there is no reason why he should not turn out a good runner. The Marist School’s crack schoolboy runner, Wybrow, competed in the amateur hundred, but he was set an altogether too difficult task, when it is considered that the first three home were off ten yards, with the bare-footed schoolboy on eleven. Wybrow runs nicely, but schoolboys who have the courage to come out in open company should be encouraged as far as possible. In the bushcraft events that high-grade controlling combination, Messrs M. Dowling, T. O’Byrne and W. Young, had a difficult task, but it is a tribute to the ability of this trio, which I would back against any bushcraft committee in New Zealand, that they emerged w’ith flying colours, everything going off without the slightest trouble, and some of the finishes were the most difficult I have seen this season; in fact for a long time past. 'The ground arrangements were hardly as good as I expected. In fact, one must confess to a feeling of disappointment in this respect. It is half the battle in conducting a bushcraft programme to have all ground arrangements made beforehand, as far as possible. Otherwise, it throws a great deal of unnecessary and trying work on competitors and officials. This was the case at Otautau on Wednesday. Then, again, when experienced men like the three gentlemen referred to are asked to take charge of the section of the programme, it ought to be understood that what they say in relation to carrying out the programme goes without question. .

The Tuatapere axeman, J. Te Au, put up a meritorious performance in winning the double, a rare performance these days, and which, speaking from memory, has only been surpassed this season, by Archie Chisholm’s brilliant performances at Winton at Christmas. Te Au won the maiden at the latter gathering and was fourth in the big chop at Tuatapere. A combination of the winner’s improved form, a good mark and nice timber, probably accounted for his victory yesterday. It was a difficult matter to separate that consistent performer, A. Laurie and Martin Forde, for second place, but finally the judges placed them in that order. Forde has been chopping very well this season foi a man of his years. D. Coulston chopped a very fast heat, which he won in a very convincing manner, but he must have struck tough going in the final, as he could not get a place in a 20 seconds slower chop. However, he had consolation in the Double Handed Sawing, which he won in nice time with his brother at the other end of the saw. Handicapper Dowling excelled himself in the Standing Chop in which he produced an historic finish, J. Te Au, W. Pollard, and V. Smitherm heading a field of 18 in a wonderful finale, the three blocks going off one after another, with not a seconds difference between the three. It says much for the judges that they were able to sort the men into their places under such circumstances, with the consensus of expert opinion that they had made an absolutely correct ranking. It was a pity that there were not enough logs to enable third men in the heats of the big chop to take part in the final, but of course one recognises that this question of getting logs is one of the biggest that a sporte society has to face. All the same, it is interesting to note that more big chops have been won this year by men who were placed third in their heats than by any others. It would also have been better if the logs had been graded by the committee responsible for the ground arrangements. The work of getting the logs was in the hands of Mr T. Burns, who had a heavy day of it, being ‘hip to his neck in work ’ all the afternoon, and he stuck to his job in an enthusiastic manner. However, adequate arrangements beforehand would have made a great deal of this unnecessary. Altogether, the sports were a great success, and the worthy president, Mr C. G. C. Sinclair and his fellow members have every reason to feel pleased with the prompt and efficient manner in which the sports were carried out. There was no suggestion of the programme dragging, and everything was finished off in good time, with the result that by the time the rain came down in earnest, the big crowd had had ample time to seek shelter. The “gate” was in the vicinity of £5O, a very satisfactory result in view of last year’s deficit. The only improvement I can suggest for next season’s gathering is to keep the ring clear of everybody—save officials. The crack Tuatapere axeman, Maurice Bone, has been away north for some time. I understand that he is travelling with Australian Bill Peck, giving exhibitions of chopping. There were some who disagreed with the methods of Starter G. Bone at Otautau on Wednesday, but the writer is not with them. To my mind, he handled his big fields in t refreshingly firm manner, and the only man I can think of as his superior in Southland as a starter of running events is Mr Muii of Balfour, and the latter is one of the most capable men we have ever had in Southland. I am right against snap starting, as I contend that a starter should take the runners into his confidence, making it perfectly clear to them all that he will hold them at the “set” position for a perceptible moment, so that nobody ought to have reason to complain of not being prepared for the gnn, at the same time making it equally clear that that anyone who breaks will go back a yard without further warning. To my mind snap starting savours of tricking the field, and no high-grade starter should descend to it. At some meetings this season starters have been at fault in this respect, but I think it has been more a case of carelessness and easy going than anything else. But, as it was, a number of runners at Otautau on Wednesday, being used to different methods from those favoured by Mr Bone, were not up with his style of starting, consequently there was a good deal of breaking and fatee starts, but I don’t think that this should be laid at the door of the starter. In only one case did a runner succeed in getting away before the gun sufficiently enough to have reflected on the result of the race, and it would be hard to say whether he would not have won in any case. It requires a good deal of courage to break away from the conventional method of doing things, and I think Mr Bone is to be congratulated on the way he dealt with a very diflieult proposition. A word of praise is also due to his two very capable stewards.

After having been sent all the way to Hobart for consideration by the Australasian Amateur Athletic Association, the application for reinstatement by R. C. Morgan has been turned. I understand that the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club is going to try and have the matter reopened, stating that the application is on similar grounds to that of H. D. Morgan, the All Black footballer and crack sprinter, who was reinstated some time back. To be perfectly candid, however, it is a mystery to me how this application ever came to be granted. Mataura Sports on Wednesday. This society had bad luck in having to postpone their gathering at New Year time, owing to bad weather, and it says much for the progressive spirit of the Eastern District centre that another gathering was arranged. Recognising thia fact, a goodly number of local runners have signified their intention to help the society along, although in cases I know of it will be at acme inconvenience to themselves. This is a fine thing, and it is now up to followers of the sport to do their bit to keep the cash game going in the Eastern District, where it suffered a setback recently through the inability of the Gore Society to hold a gathering. Train leaves Invercargill at 10.15, and return train from Mataura at 6.30. That good runner, Arthur Tretheway, was operated on a few weeks back for appendicitis, but he has made a great recovery, and is at present out and about again as large as life. to being in excellent physical nick, he surprised the doctor by his speedy recovery, and one hopes that next season he will appear on the winning list once more. Strange to relate, when New Zealander H. Wilson came down in the hurdles at Hobart and fractured his leg, he did not touch the hurdle. He over-jumped the flight, came down awkwardly, and a sharp muscular contraction caused the broken knee-cap. The Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club has gathered together a useful team to represent the province at the Otago Amateur Athletic Championships in Dunedin. Last season the Invercargill Club won the Reed Cup for most points by an individual competitors, thanks to some brilliant performances by H. D. Morgan. This year Morgan will compete as a Dunedin representative, and I hardly think the team is as strong as it was then, although Wayte, Kean and Bews should be very hard to beat if they show their best form. The team should give a good account of iteelf, and I wish them the best of luck. Champions P. O’Shea (cyclist) and W. F. Trembath were present at the Otago Athletic and Cycling Club’s Sports at Dunedin on Saturday, while the Hoffman Bros., of Gore, kept Southlands end up in the cycling events. Trembath accounted for the furlong and quarter in convincing- fashion and was third in the 120yds handicap F. Hoffman won the mile cycle handicap, with j. Hoffman third. The two-mile race vas won by O’Shea, with F. Hoffman third. It was a good trip for Trembath, but he aad bad luck on the way back by motor n losing his bag containing togs and a valuable camera. J. Steel is an unlikely starter at Greymouth next month (says ‘Half-Miler” in Christchurch Star). He injured his ankle at football some time ago, and it is troubling him again. Good judges are picking W. Kelly to win the 100 yards. The modest American, Joie Ray, noted C.S. distance runner, sends in his entry for a 3000 metre race, thus:—“Am enclosing my entry for your 3000-metres race. Im going to win it for the third time and take the Hirshon Trophy home for keeps. Please make the distance of the race two miles, the same as last year, as I expect to break the world’s record for that distance, as well as those established last year. lam also out to win the meritorious trophy again ” WAITANE SPORTS AND PICNIC. Halliday s mill held its annual picnic and sports on Wednesday last at Waitane. There was a fine crowd of about 400 people present, visitors coming from all parts of the province, and but for the Otautau >ports being held the same day, there would probably have been considerablv more. Results of the sports are as follows:

BUSHCRAFT. Novice Chop, lOin logs—Graham McKay loeec. 1; J. Halliday saec 2: A. Sands 12sec 3. 'lime, 62sec. Double-handed Sawing, 13in logs—First heat: R. Ford and J. Smith scr, 1; F. Goodall and J. King ssec, 2. Time, 12 2-ssec. Second heat: J. Halliday and A. Burton ssec, 1; T. Findjay and W. Thorny son ssec, 2. Time, 21 2-seec. Final: R. Ford and J. Smith sex, 1; J. Halliday and A. Burton ssec, 2. Graham McKav and A. Sands lOsec, 3. This provided a fine contest, the scratch men ripping through their log ahead of Halliday and Burton in 9 4-seec. Ladies’ Double-handed Sawing—First heat: Mesdames Goodwin and Munro 3see, 1; Misses McLeod scr, 2. Time, 19 3-ssec. Second heat: Mesdames Dixon and Murdoch 3sees, 1; Mesdames Bishop and Find, lay scr, 2. Time, l&aee. Final: Mesdames Bishop and Fmdlay scr, 1; Mesdames Goodwin and Munro 3eee, 2. The ladies gave a very fair exhibition, and the successful pair won comfortably. Time, 1-feec. Ladies’ Chop—Mm A. O. Ross 2sec, 1; Mrs Findlay 2sec, 2. Ten competitors. Time, 48sec. Waitane Championship Chop. 13in blocks —J. Smith scr, 1; A. Sands 20sec, 2. Also competed—M. Thompson 25sec, J. Fmdlay 2Cteec, Graham McKay 15sec. ' This event created much interest, and the scratch man earned to have a big task in front of him Once he commenced, however, the chips flew, and he worried through his block winch went through a few seconds before Sands. Time, 51sec. Stepping Distance (exact distance 42 yards i inch)—A. Parker (42yds Ift) L Married Ladies' Race—Mrs L. Ross L Mrs Munro 2, Mrs Dixon 3. Single Men’s Race, 100yds—R. Ford 1 T. A. Irving 2. Young Married Men's Race—L. Ro® I J. Smith 2, A. Robb 3. Young Ladies’ Race—Miss McLeod 1 Miss V. Mason 2, Miss McLeod 3. Young Ladies’ J. Gilmour 1 X Kitols’ Race, 100yd»-i. Scott (9yds) 1, T. A. Irving (9yds) 2, L. Kay (6yds) 3. High Jump—B. Harraway (2in) 1 T A. Irving (3m) 2, a Giller (3in) 3. ’ A guessng competition for the liveweight of a lamb was held. The exact weight, 60« be, was correctly assessed by rJ Jo , h ™ T aylor (Maiaura), and Miss Halliday (Gladstone, Invercargill), who divided the prize of £L

W. Wilson, below Little Bush, secured 7 good fish on the natural lure On the Lora, Messrs A. Butt and E. Keast were rewarded with a dozen nice fly fish. A party visiting Lake Waituna were not .se successful, the strong wind encountered apparently making the fish difficult to hook, although some hefty specimens were observed on the move. * On Wednesday the final Oreti river competition was held under the control of the Southland Club. The anglers congregated at Ry al Bush and were conveyed to the Lochiel, Wilson’s Crossing and Ryal Bush reaches of the Oreti. Although the day was not very suitable, a fair w’eigh-in eventuated, the Diptin representatives once again running out winners from the Southland Club. It was unfortunate that Lumsden were unable to raise a team for this particular competition. After the weigh-in the visiting anglers were hospitably entertained. and a word of praise is due Mr Dawson and Mr L. Whelham for the excellent arrangements made for the carrying out of the competition. Following are the detailed results:—

15 6 6 The heaviest fish caught weighed 3 Iba 3 ozs, and it was taken on the Otamita fly by Mr N. R. McKay at Lochiel. The Waiau river is reported to be in good order at present. Conditions for the past week-end could not have been better, as there was a slight fresh in the river. Some fair bags were caught, a s}lb salmon being included in one catch. Another angler fishing below the bridge at Tuatapere landed five nice-conditioned fish, one of which was a 7jlb salmon. It would seem therefore that salmon are getting more plentiful At the time of writing the final results of the eeling competition are not available, but I understand, the largest catch yet reported, is 360 heads sent in by Mr N. R. McKay (Dipton). As substantial prizes were offered, viz., £5 donated by J. W. Smith Esq. for first prize; £1 for the second prize; and 10/- for the third prize; the Southland Anglers’ Club had every reason to anticipate a record return. All Anglers that could possibly do so, should assist in carrying on the good work of reducing the number of the trout’s natural enemy, Mr Eel. An incident was related to me from a reliable source, in connection with the gaffing of an unusually large eel recently. It appears that when struck and secured with the gaff, the eel in question wound its body around the staff of the gaff, and eventually fastened its teeth in the top of the gum boots worn by the weilder of the instrument. To relinquish the hold of the eel, it had to be decapitated, and eventually the portion of the gum boot had also to be cut away. Nice gentlemen to put one’s bare foot on, eh what? One of the anglers fishing in last Wednesday’s competition, caught a large minnow between 6 and 7 inches long on the fly. It is freely reported that there has been several shoals of these small fish observed in the Oreti and Aparima rivers. The writer has noticed them in the Makar - ewa river also, and at once marked the exceptional size of these small fish. They should be great natural feed for the trout, and perhaps their presence in the rivers may be the cause of the “speckled bauties” being so slow to move for some little time past. Be that as it may, prospects are good for a satisfactory back-end season, and the fish captured should be in excellent condition.

DIPTON. No. of fish lbs. OKS. R. Sinclair — 16 8 12 N. R. McKay 7 5 11 J. H. Snow — — 3 0 14 —— — 26 15 9 SOUTHLAND G. W. Braxton — 9 4 3 A. W. Clark — — 7 2 7 A Cowan — — 6 2 4 G. Dawson — — 1 0 9 — —_ 23 9 9 WINTON. W. Sands — — 6 2 12 D. Jenkins — — 5 2 4 R. Boyd 3 0 15 D. O’Malley — — 1 0 7 —