VETERAN WINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 727, 29 July 1929, Page 13

VETERAN WINS

DOMAIN STEEPLECHASE TO CLARKE GREEN WINS SPRINT Tho three-mile steeplechase on the Domain on Saturday saw the ’‘oldtimer,” Alf Clarke, win his first longdistance race this season. Alf is now numbered among the old stagers as far as age goes, but he runs consistently week after week, despite his 50 or so years, and showed some of the younger hands how to do things on Saturday afternoon. It is probable that no win so far this season has been as 1 popular as Alf’s victory on Saturday. Naturally he started well up in the handicap list, but two rounds had passed before he began to shine as a likely winner. His predecessors, B. Whitten and McNeil tired after tho first two rounds, and this left Clarke a j clear run ahead. Not satisfied with a hundred-yard lead, he went even further ahead before the last round commenced. Scown, Henshall, Cooper and, of course, Savidan, were all running well, and gradually wore down the men in front of them. At the beginning of the fourth lap Scown, Barker and Henshall were bunched together after McNeil and C. R. Wilson. Wilson was running third when the last lap commenced, and after him came Barker, Scown, McNeil, Cooper, Savidan and Henshall in that order. Clarke now had a substantial lead, and it soon became evident that few of the men further back would have much chance of heading him off. During the last half-mile, Savidan could be seen making big efforts to run up to his accustomed place, the van, but Clarke was one too good for him. Running like a champion 20 years his junior, Clarke held on to his position, and finished 15 or so yards ahead of Barker, with Savidan ifiree yards back third. Then followed Scown, Cooper, Whitten and Henshall in that order. Savidan did the course in 17min 12sec, the fastest time. Cooper was next with 18min 6sec. Contrary to usual procedure, all the entrants in the 75yds handicap sprint were run off in one heat. Eleven men started, and consequently there was a little crowding. Jack Green proved to be the winner, with A. E. Kerrisk following him a close second. W. Stewart, another veteran of the amateur athletic fold, carried off both the shot-putting and discus-throwing events. Following are results: 75YDS HANDICAP J. It. Green CLOJyds) l A. E. Kerrisk ( —), 2 L. C. Barker (lOJyds) * E. C. Wooller (2£yds) * •Dead-heat, third. STEEPLECHASE (About three miles) A. Clarke i L. C. Barker 2 J. W. Savidan 3 PUTTING THE SHOT W. Stewart, sen. 33ft 9in 1 La. C. Barker, 33ft 4in 2 B. T. Murray, 32ft Tin 3 THROWING THE DISCUS W. Stewart, sen., 102 ft, 4in 1 C. R. Wilson, 100 ft fin 2 J. W. Turnbull, 99ft 4in ** 3