ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 23141, 6 March 1937, Page 21

ATHLETICS

PROSPECTS FOR N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS

(By

“Spike”)

Prospects for the New Zealand amateur atheletic championships and for the New Zealand Empire Games team are discussed by Sam Gudsell in the following article from The Weekly News:—

The sprint champion of New Zealand, G. L. Tapley, of Dunedin, is young, and many think he will improve. Actually, the talent in the short events is only moderate. We have no Elliots or Leadbetters, on this season’s form. Gisborne’s Graham Quinn looks a rival for Tapley. He holds the furlong title. Bainbridge and Roberts, of Auckland, will have the advantage of a home track and no long travelling. Wellington will most likely , pin its hopes upon Robinson.

Otago has lost Tyrie, Dominion 440 yards champion, to Auckland. Most of the good quarter men are in the north, as Baker, of Thames, has already defeated Tyrie. Bainbridge is an unknown quantity, but always dangerous. Kerr, of Rotorua, is one of Baker’s greatest rivals. Only Price, of Otago, seems capable of challenging these strong northern quarter-milers. Don Evans is again running well at Wanganui. He is joint holder (with Anderson, of Canterbury) of the New Zealand 880 yards record, but may prefer the mile.. He won this event at the 1930 championships.

Boot must have learnt a lot from his Olympic trip to Berlin, and as- he won the half and mile titles easily last year, he has only to be fit and Canterbury can look forward to some points being scored.

Lachie McLachlan is at Napier. It is not so long ago that this runner was only beaten on the tape in 4min 18sec by Gerald Backhouse, of Melbourne. With McLachlan, Evans and Boot in a mile, anything may happen, but Wellington has a miler who is capable of beating them all. Luke Wilson is as good a miler as lias stepped on a track in New Zealand.

Billy Savidan’s work will interefere with his training this year, but he is always fit and too good a man to be left out.

Norman Cooper is staging a comeback and not only will he have a chance in the mile, but may secure another three-mile win. Pullar, of Otago, is always a “ball of muscle” in this event.

Matthews (Canterbury), who earned an Olympic trip last year, is the best two and three-miler we have seen since Savidan, Cooper and Rose. He now has experience tacked to his youth and undoubted ability. Stan Lay still throws the javelin, but he will have to be back in the form which enabled him to set a British record of 222 feet in 1928, if he hopes to overthrow C. P. Clegg, who holds the title. Clegg has the spear out to

200 feet, while Aucklander Gillespie has reached well over 180.

ST. PAUL’S CLUB NOTES

With only eight competitors entered, the St. Paul’s club did not expect to figure very prominently at the Otago championships, and it came as an agreeable surprise that six of these secured a place in at least one of their events. Of the remaining two, G. Henderson has been suffering from a strained leg muscle, and after trying it out in the 100 yards, decided not to start in the 220 yards; G. Mcßeath is still on the young side and had not previously competed away from Rugby Park.

W. J. Atley struck a head wind and heavy track and was also completely off colour. After running third in the 100 yards and his heat of the quarter, he was compelled to retire from the

final of the latter 50 yards from the finish.

C. F. Harvey made J. Gerken race all the way to beat him in the 220 yards low hurdles. He is only 18 years of age, and with more attention to style, should soon be prominent. R. D. Jenkins won his fourth junior open championship when he leapt 19ft s£in in the broad jump under 19. If he continues to improve he will make his presence felt in senior ranks within the next few seasons. R. M. Atley and J. M. Langham finished second and third respectively in the 220 yards B grade event. They have both shown consistent improvement and should be heard of next season. Club Championship Results

The following are results to date of the club championships:— HAMMER THROW. (Record, 91ft

6in). — A. Bridgman 1, R. L. Wood 2. Distance, 73ft Oin. ONE MILE SENIOR. (Record, 4min 45sec).—W. L. Miller 1, R. L. Wood 2. Time, smin ssec. Wood was far from fit and the slow pace suited Miller, who won on his sprint up the straight. ONE MILE JUNIOR. (Record, smin Osec). —J. Berry and N. J. Dorman (equal) 1, S. W. Walker 3. Time, smin isec. This was a hard fought race, with Dorman and Berry hanging together right to the tape. 220 YARDS SENIOR. (Record," 23 2- W. J. Atley 1, W. L. Miller 2, R. Atley 3. Time, 24 l-ssec. 220 YARDS JUNIOR. (Record, 25 3- C. Harvey 1, J. M. Langham 2, G. Mcßeath 3. Time, 25 l-ssec— a club record.

440 YARDS HURDLES. (Record, 66sec). —W. L. Miller 1. Time, 66sec—equals club record.