ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1926, Page 4

ATHLETICS

EVENTS IN PROSPECT. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. (By “Also Started,”) The Boys’ High School will hold their annual steeplechase this year to-day fortnight and their sports on Saturday, October 30. These two events are perhaps the most popular of any sports’ meetings held in New Plymouth, and give plenty of exciting finishes to the many races. >s * * * Although the.’e is not much time left for training, most of the boys are mating the most of what time they have, and when the day of the steeplechase comes there should be a great “go” at tbe finish and for championship points, as most of the competitors in the senior event are very even, and there is no outstanding ofies like “Robby” and Spiers as in past years, although, of course, there may be one or two “dark houses.” * * * * At Wellington last Saturday P. Wilson, of the Olympic Harriers, won the Bennett Memorial road race, defeating Kent (Hutt Valley) by about 300 yards in 36min 3 3-'ssec. This time is nearly as good as Rose's time last year. =* # # # There is a probability that E. G. Sutherland will return, to New Zealand. He is well known here, having held several provincial and New Zealand championships before he went Home. If he returns he will be a decided acquisition to the Dominion's ranks of field events men. In the Scottish A.A. championship at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on June 26, he won the pole valut at lift lin, the high jump at sft 9in, and the running broad jump at 22ft, while he was second in the javelin throw with 160 ft, and third in the 120yds hurdles, won in Ifisee. *,* # ,

After much argument and eruptions, women are at last to be admitted to certain events at the Olympic Games at Amsterdam in 1928. At the Amsterdam Congress of the International Amateur Athletic Federation the following events were decided on for women competitors: 100 metres and 800 metres race, 400 metres relay race, high jump and discus throwing. * Although possessing none of the stellar athletes of tbe world Australia and New Zealand athletes have no reason to feel that they are in any way inferior to those of other parts of the world. At the recent championships at Brisbane some superb athletes were disclosed. No doubt the lowering of Rose’s record for the three miles by Hyde classes him as a champion, while Mason’s record high jump of 6ft l«in brings him to the front rankers, as also does Stan Lay’s javelin record. Then Whyte’s 1.56 for the half mile and Watson’s 56 Lasee for the 440 hurdles are no mean performances. * * * * The winter season for athletes in Auckland was brought to a close on Saturday, when a steeplechase and some other events were held on the Domain. Kells, who recently won the Dominion cross-country championship, won the steeplechase after hurting his ankle. *## ' # A good story is told by Erie Liddell, the Scottish Olympic champion, in connection' with his experiences at the Olympic Games. “Nick” Winter, the Sydney fireman, broke the world’s record for the hop, step and jump, and was at onee asked for an interview on his feat by an American newspaper man. After a little preliminary sparring the reporter came to the core of the subject. “And how did you become so proficient. in this particular branch of sport, Mr. XVinter?” he asked. “Well,” said Nick impassively, “I learnt a good deal from running up and down fire escapes in the Sydney fire department, and. as to style, I picked most of that up by studying the habits of the kangaroos in the Australian bush.” Next day every line of this went into the paper as Nick put it. It was the historic “leg-pull” of the games.

* * * # Details of the English championships, which are to hand by mail, show that the half mile, in which a German, Dr. Peltzer, established a world’s record, was a phenomenal contest. The pace was tremendous. AU of a field of six finished inside 1.56, time which in another year might hate won the event. Peltzer is described as one of those rare athletes who can sprint twice in a quarter or a half. The first time he sprinted Lowe, the great English and Olympic champion, held him, and appeared to be wearing him "down in the straight, but the German came again with a wonderful second effort over the last fifty yards, and won in decisive fashion. No sooner was the news circulated in America that Dr. Peltzer bad broken the worlds record for the half-mile run, than he received an invitation by cable to compete in that country. # » . • # * Australia, may send. XX 7 . M. Whyte, of Victoria, to the Amsterdam Olympic Games. Although he is not yet twentyone, Whyte covered 880 yards in Imin 56sec, at the Brisbane championships recently,' and broke the Australian and New Zealand record of Imin 56 l-ssee set by Lloyd Hahn in New Zealand last season. Needless to say, Hahn has had many years’ more experience than Whyte. Last year Whyte ran second to that other great Victorian. George Hyde, when Hyde won the Victorian five mile championship. Hyde broke the Australian-New Zealand record —and Whyte was only a yard away. It must be added that Whyte wil have to do much better to approach Imin 51 3-ssec, the time put up by Dr. O. Peltzer at' the English championships—but then, he is not yet twenty-one.