ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1925, Page 4

ATHLETICS

SPORT IN TARANAKI.

EVENING MEETINGS. (By “Spike.”) The programme of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club’s meeting to be held on Saturday afternoon, next is to hand. The events listed include all distances running and cycling and a linst-clas-s variety of field and novelty events. Special attractions will be: K. A. Rose, the Australasian chahipion, in the distance running events and K. Grey, the New Zealand cycling unampion, in the cycling events. Given fine weather, the afternoon should prove most enjoyable. The electric light meeting held on Western Park last Saturday night proved a distinct success. Altltough the weather conditions through the? day were threatening, the rain held off, and a large crowtf gathered at the park and were duly rewarded by a series of firstclass events. The Citizens’ Band was early on the scene and enlivened the evening by a variety of delightful’’selections. The recent dry weather has done a lot- of harm to the cycle track, but notwithstanding and the unfamiliar night riding, the League Cycle Club's events produced big fields, very keen competition and remarkably few spills. \ The amateur running events were well contested, and it speaks volumes for Handicapper Stephenson’s work that only one runner during the whole evening succeeded in gaining two places. S. Shore, of Hawera, was the lucky one, and by running second in the 100 yards and winning the 440 yards he won the ■points prize. - . ;.. • ,; Taking the times all'round they were satisfactory. Western Park is not adapted for fast times, and most iof the competitors had never run under electric light before. It is quite safe to predict that on the occasion of the next meeting, which will be held on December 5, a distinct speed-up all round will be noticed. The Hawera Club’s electric light, meeting of the 14th proved another success. All events drew big fields, and the trophy list was well divided. Hawera, Patea and Wanganui competitors taking practically a third each. A feature. of the meeting was the excellent times recorded. For so early in the season they are remarkably fast and show the boys have taken up serious training. Patea lias a very handy distance runner in G. Fraser. Fraser’s time for the half-mile at Hawera was particularly good. Maitland, the Wanganui sprinter, is early out and is putting up good performances. By running beats and finals in both 160 yards and 220 yards and then first in the 440 yards in 52 1-5 he showed hirnself to be full of girit. Mr. G. H. M'eir, the popular Hawera secretary, is taking a full team to Wanganui for Saturday'* meeting. f Ernest Barry, ex-champion sculler of the world, who recently was coaching in Germany, says that the sports eraze has properly gripped the German people, it being Hindenberg's wish to encourage sort of all kinds. Barry, having been in touch with most of the leading amateur dubs, finds they; have come on ap-aee. The German A.A,A. is holding a sports examination in practically every town on certain dates. These are open to all who care to try their hanr* ihe test* are quite easy, which is vubtedly having the effect of attracting many thousands. The following are a few of the tests; Run 100 metres in 13sec; 400 metres, OSsec; 1500 metres, Jmin 20sec; 10,000 metres, 50min; 16ty shot, 26ft; high jump, 4ft 9in: long jump, l'sJft. Swim 300 metres (3218 1-8 yards), Oniin; 100 metres. Im in 40sec. Sculling, 2000 metres (1 mile yard.®), 9min. and so on. Special stamped books, with the athletes’ photos, are issued. All performances are witnessed by members'of clubs, who sign the books. Badge* are issued and worn on the left side of the coat. A small badge is for youths under 18 years, and a larger one for those over that age. A silver badge is given for those over 35. and a gold badge over 45 years. Last year over 12,(XX) men and women received badges in Berlin alone. In connection with this season’s New Zealand championships, "Spike,” in the Dominion, says:—“The much maligned parent body will have to awaken front its lethargy and decide before the day ie too late where the forthcoming Dominion championships are to be held. The question cropped up at the last meeting of the council, when Otago Centre, in making application for the meeting during the Exhibition period, pointed out that it was already advertised that the championships were to be held in Dunedin during March. The reply of the chairman (Mr. A. T. Davies) was that the allocation had not yet been decided upon. He was reported to have said that the conference of centres at Wanganui had approved of the Otago Centre having the championships, in ’view of the exhibition, but that did not mean that they were going to be held in Dunedin. The matter was one for consideration at the annual meeting. The centre entitled to this year’s gathering is the Wellington Centre, but they are too live a body to place that obstacle in the way of the championships receiving the boost they undoubtedly will if they take place at Dunedin during the exhibition period.”

NOTES FROM HAWERA. (By '"Stop Watch”) The electric light carnival which took place on show night was a success in every way. The attendance was not as large as that of the previous show night carnival, but this no doubt is accounted for by t'lie fact that the Australian Band had the grounds booked for the two -succeeding nights, making tliree consecutive nights' entertainment on the grounds. The meeting generally was well conducted, but the announcing of . results could be speeded up. The club’s starter had a tendency last season to hang on to his fields too long, but Showed a decided improvement in this respect on show night. Of the cyclists Griffin stood out as the star performer. His perormance in the two-mile race, ater being put back 60 yards on his previous win in the mile, was a, meritorious one. and the crowd was not slow in recognising the fact. If Griffin retains his form he must be given a great chance in the championships this season. Or the newcomers Shearer and Nicholas shaped best, and should bo heard of later on. Congratulations io Desmond Ryan on

his performances at Wellington College sports. Ryan won the 120 yards championship hurdles and “Stop Watch is not surprised, as he had noted Ryan’s efforts over the battens when competing with the Hawera Club last season By the way, hurdling seems to be extinct in Hawera. Why? This is the most spectacular form of racing. Sid Shore. Claude Shore, Tubby Owens and Jerry Weir journeyed to New Plymouth last Saturday night to compete at the electric light meeting and incidentally brought home some of the spoils. * The 100 yards was a good thing for the Shores. Each brother won his heat and finished first and second in the final. Weir, who had not had a run for ' : mc. made the pace a cracker n** the 440'ciO'ds, but failed to see the journey out, fini-Jiing third. No doubt a larger team will go north to the next meeting. What about the New Plymouth Club putting on some amateur cycle racee? Good entries would be assured from Hawera. About 20 members of the Hawera Club go to Wanganui on Saturday next to assist at the Wanganui Club’s meeting, and it will be surprising to “Stop Watch” if they do not make their presence felt. The Patea and AVanganui clubs wore strongly represented at the last Hawera meeting, but the New Plymouth Club was eoiiS’Pieuous by its absence. The propeeted visit of the American star athletes, Scholz and Hahn, is creating a lot of interest in athletic circles. Followers of the sport are anxiou-sly awaiting to see Sr'holz, the man who lowered the famous Paddock’s colours on several occasions, and also Hahn, t'he famous distance runner who will measure strides with the New Zealand champion, Bose. It is said that should Rose defeat. Hahn an endeavour will be made to arrange a meeting between Rose and Nurmi.