ALL-BOUND ATHLETE

Southland Times, Issue 20011, 27 October 1926, Page 11

ALL-BOUND ATHLETE

SUTHERLAND RETURNS. MANY SUCCESSES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. E. G. Sutherland, a former New Zealand champion athlete, returned to Wellington bv the Ulimaroa recentlv, after having spent several years in South Africa and a year in England. Towards the close of the 1921-22 amateur athletic season in New Zealand, Sutherland left his home country for the land of the Springbok, travelling to Africa with the team of athletes which had been on tour in the Dominion. Since then, the New Zealander has gained high honours in the sport to which he is attached. He has had a wide’ experience overseas, and it is likely that amateur athletics in Wellington, and maybe throughout the Dominion, will receive the benefit of this. IN SOUTH AFRICA. On settling down in South Africa Sutherland engaged in farming near Ladysmith, but subsequently had a change of occupation, and was at one stage in the Police Force in Durban. His interest in amateur athletics was maintained, and, showing an all-round improvement, he gained high honours, and was chosen as a member of the South African team for the Olympic Games in 1924. In South Africa Sutherland won various championships at different times, and also established records. At high jumping he put up a record of 6ft Ofin, but this has since been bettered. He, however, still holds the South African javelin and discus record. It was with the javelin that he registered record performances for Australia and New Zealand. At the Olympic Games he secured fifth place in the decathlon, a very meritorious performance considering that there were over forty competitors from various nations of the world. On his way to the Gaines he won the javelin championship at the English AJLA. meeting. FORM IN ENGLAND. Having transferred to England about a year ago, he was again a competitor at the English championships— at the meeting at which Rose, M'Holm, and Porritt competed—and he secured six standards in seven events. Prior to this, as a member of the Glasgow Caledonian Club, he won three Scottish championship—the high jump, the long jump, and the pole vault. And just before leaving England he made an exceptionally fine pole vault of lift 4in at a meeting at Blackpool. It is evident, therefore, that Sutherland has advanced considerably on his New Zealand form. He is eager to get into action again on native soil, and is very keen upon meeting Harold Osborne, the Olympic champion, who has been invited to New Zealand. At the same time, Sutherland is also keen to do as much coaching as possible. “Of course, I have to think of settling . down now/’ he said in the course of an I interview with a Post reporter, “but I would like to carry on with the sport if other arrangements fit in. I have made quite a study of athletics, and I will be able to give some of the -fellows a few hints, especially in field events.” LACK OF INTEREST. Regarding amateur athletics, he stated that there was not nearly the same enthusiasm for the sport in South Africa as there was in New Zealand. While the officials are very keen, the public support | was lacking, and that, of course, was a handicap. On occasions when international meetings, such as the Olympic Games, were coming off, there would be a revival of interest. The material in South Africa was particularly good, but the trouble was to keep the athletes attached to the sport for the time that would bring the best out of them. Many gave up the sport before they were fully. developed. The schoolboys seemed to come on very quickly; in fact some of their performances were phenomenal. The standard of athletics in England, he said, was very good. There had been a marked improvement since the wor. Athletes visiting that country- were, however, handicapped by the climatic conditions, and not infrequently the change brought about a break-down so far as athletic performance was concerned. This applied to changes to other countries as well. “A man always runs better in his home country,” Sutherland added.