ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 19389, 1 November 1924, Page 14 (Supplement)

ATHLETICS

(By

“On-side Mac.”)

When discussing the famous “Deans’ try” ities in this country some time ago, he remarked that it worked out all square in the long run—that for every try that w’as disallowed, there was always another thabcontravened some law of the game and still was allowed. This is a principle that can be applied to every branch of sport where the human element enters into it, whether in the capacity of judge, referee umpire, or whatever other ttfle is given to the controlling official concerned. A good example was provided at the Orepuki Sports on Labour Day. I don’t think there can be much doubt about it now that R. S. Harrington did win the 75 yards handicap, but it was a very close finish, and evenbody is liable to make a mistake at times. This was very ' bad luck for such a promising young runner as Harrington, but as compensation for this initial misfortune, a much greater piece of good luck was in store for him. In the final of the Sheffield, he got a clean ; break away from the rest of the field, and was just getting nicely into his stride when This young athlete, who is a cousin to | put up a series of brilliant performances I throughout the afternoon, culminating in a dead heat with Les Blakie in the quarter, after a great run over the last fifty yards. The tura in the round track races were verv slow, and even taking into account the fact that a 220 round track does not ! is inclined to think that the competitors I were running more than the scheduled disC. A. Bone, a bulldog finisher, won both distance events, and was not unduly press- i ed in either race. A brother, H. A. Bone, made a creditable debut by running a good second to him in the mile. C. A. Bone’s style is open to improvement, but there is no doubt about it, he can stay the distance with the best in the land. M. Dixon, who won the furlong, was se- [ co nd in the Sheffield, for which he hail been I strongly fancied. But for Harrington get- j ting away as he did, Dixon and Skerrett ■ would have been hard to beat at the finish. Taylor, who filled third berth in the 75 and 220, is a promising runner, who will do better yet. The aftermath of the High School sports for which events cannot be conveniently worked into the Sports Day programme

are set aside, produced a brilliant performance by Shireffs, one of the best cricketers the school has ever produced. In the throwing the cricket ball event, he hurled the little sphere a distance of 106yds 3ins, which shattered the previous record by over six yards, and incidently marks the first occasion on which a throw of 100 yards has been made at the School. The old record was held by Dan Holz, who in 1914 was just a foot or so short of 100 yards. Shireffs had a wind to help him, but nevertheless his performance was a meritorious

one. The world’s best, it may be mentioned is 140 yards 2ft, by R. Percival, at Durham Sands Racecourse in 1884. Australian aboriginals also put up some great performances, the best on record being 140 yards by an aboriginal named Billy King, at Clermont, Queensland, ond Boxing Day, 1873. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that with a bat a ball has been sent 150 yards, this being credited to Bonnor, the Australian giant and hard hitter of the eighties. Running the heats of the 12inch Standing Block into one straight-out final suited Jack Pont down to the ground at Orepuki on Monday, the veteran winning by 2 1-5 secs from J. Smith, who also chopped a good second in the 15 inch Under Hand. Pont did not have a very good log in the final of the 15 inch event, but nevertheless Te Au would have been very hard to beat whichever way it went, as he had chopped with great consistency right through the afternoon. He very nearly repeated his brilliant performance at Otautau last year, when he won the double there, but on Monday W. Bennett divided first money with him in the 12 inch Under Hand. Talking to Mr Bone, the well known Otautau Society’s starter, the writer was informed that this progressive Society has spent some £9O in improvements to its grounds. The tracks have been topdressed, and should be in great order when the annual sports come round early next year. Five new world’s records, all in track and field events, were accepted by the Congress of the International Athletic Federation on July 24, and the approval of seven records made at the recent Olympics was also given. Four of the new world’s records were hung up by Americans, and the fifth by Stenroos, of Finland. Charles Brookins of lowa was officially credited with making the 220yds low hurdles in 23 1- on June 2, 1923; University of Illinois the 440yds relay in the time of 42 2- on April 28, 1923; the two-miles relay record made by Boston College on April 26, 1924. at the Penn relays in the time of 7min 47 3-ssecs; and the fourmiles relay record made by the Illinois Athletic Club on June 23, 1923, in 17min 21 2-ssecs. Stenroos’s honour was derived through his making the 20,000-metres distance in Finland in Ihr 17min 11 4-ssecs on September 9, 1923. Cyril Coaffee of Canada was given the credit of running the 100yds dash in 9 3-ssecs in Canada on August 12, 1922, thus placing his name alongside of Drew, Paddock and Kelly, all of whom are American sprinters.

The running of the mile on Wednesday decided the school championship of the Southland Boys’ High School for 1924. J. Manson, who in winning the mile, secured the championship as well, scored most of his points in the running events, the jumping being overshadowed by the brilliant performances of C. Rout. Manson is a younger brother to a previous championship winner, the late Dave Manson, who was kililed in the Great War.

The Edendale Sports Society have been splendidly supported by the good people of the district in the matter of trophies for the annual sports on Christmas Day. Mr Jno. Eades’ Cup, valued at five guineas, is atttached to the President’s Handicap, which carries £25 in prize-money. The Cup must be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. Two guinea trophies have been given by Matheson’s, Ltd., and Wright, Stephenson & Co., Ltd., for most points in athletic and dancing events respectively, and Mr T. Monaghan’s medal will go to the competitor gaining most points in cycling events. The mile is worth £9 10/-, and the half £B. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr R. A. Marshall, on December 12, and handicaps will appear in the Southland Times of Friday. December 19.