ATHLETIC REMINISCENCES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 4

ATHLETIC REMINISCENCES

A TARANAKI CHAMPION. DUNCAN ROOM’S CAREER. (By “Physical Culturist.”) It is now some months since in this column I reviewed the performances of Waitara’s own “Tommy Taylor.” I mentioned that at Pihama from virtual scratch he won the 100 and 150 yards forced handicap. Incidentally I wrote: “Duncan Poole, of Auroa, had a strong following that day. Duncan, who had 7yds, looked on it as ‘home and dry,’ but the unexpected happened. Poole, who was a fine cut of a man, being nearly s : x feet, won a number of good quarters before getting disabled at the war.” Evidently Poole has had a strong following of admirers ever since that day, judging by the letters I have received requesting me to review his performances as an athlete. Duncan Walter Poole was born in the Manawatu nearly 47 years ago —in 1883, to be precise—spent his early days in the athletic atmosphere created by such men as the elder generation of Sexton brothers, of whom James was for many JPears a resident of Stratford, followed in quick succession by Billy Watts, Billy Arnott, Percy Cuff, Bob Belfit, Bob Oliphant, Charlie Mexted, Len Furrie and numerous other “near champions.” In the Manawatu the seed was sown to germinate and grow at the base of Mount Egmont, on a farm at Matapu, where, he arrived with his parents in 1895. . . .

Here the 12-year-old boy, with his eyes ■ and ears wide open, heard the elders tell j wonderful stories of the Hemptons, Websters, Julians, Minhinnicks, Goods, i Waite, Pearson, Skeet and others w'bose I names, were , legion. On the way to school his subject was running. Getting the cows in he would' race to beat the band, and then to bed to dream of running. But it was not until 1902 lie won his first maiden, race, running round tho' stumps at Mangatoki. In his own district he soon made his mark, often being the scratch man. From the place of honour he ran second in 100yds at Auroa and third at Mangatoki. In 1904 at Kapuni he won the 440 from 10yds in 53sec from Claude Capel (scratch), one of Taranaki’s best from 440 to a mile. At Hawera in 1916 he won the 100 -and .220 off syds and 11yds respectively, the scratch men being those cracker-Jacks, Mexted and Chivers. Poole ran in only one half mile, to get second at Pihama to Claude Capel, his motive being to oblige friends who had laid a wager that he would beat A. Cooper, of Mangatoki. He did the trick, but the distance nearly “did” him, and wise in his generation, he said, “never again.”. .

QUARTER MILES AND SOCCER, The quarter was his best distance. The same year at off scratch, he won the quarter, giving away 46yds in 52 4-ssec, In 1907 at Okaiawa, from scratch,, he won the 120yds hurdles and was third in the consolation handicap from scratch. The - same year, lie represented Taranaki at Soccer football. He also ran third in the 120yds hurdles at Auroa, From 1907 he stood down for two years to become au amateur. In 1909 he opened rather badly in the amateur ranks, going to Palmerston North and winning the first heat of the 100yds off syds. Then he started in the first heat of the 120yds hurdles and was near the leader when a hurdle was kicked under him. -With full pace on, he struck the hurdle on the rebound, and down he went, .spraining his ankle and straining a tendon,, which put him out of action. It was truly unfortunate for him as he was lifted from scratch in the professional ranks to good marks in the amateur. Dormer, Auckland’s crack distance man, won the half and mile that day —a great runner. Being on the temporarily retired list at running, Poole took a turn at swimming that year. While living at Richmond, Nelson, he went to Tapuwera, winning both the 50yds club and the inter-club races. In 1911 he took another turn with the spiked shoe. Going to Motueka, he won the 100yds club race and the lOOyds.open and was second in the 220yds, and with his brother, Mastyn, he won the three-legged race, mastyn winning the- 220yds and the long jump. That season Duncan Poole played for the Waimea Football Club’s senior team, being , vice-captain. At,. Nelson he played in the seven-a-side tournament, scoring seven, tries for the winning team. In 1912 he took another turn at swimming, getting second and third in the Appleby 50yds chib and inter-club races. In 1913 he ran at Tadmoor sports, getting second in the 10 yds. On the way up in the train who should be on board but the one-time Taranaki champion axeman, Con Casey, who, surprised to see another Taranaki man, said, “Well, well, what the deuce are you doing here? Getting after something off the dark mark, I guess.” • Of course, Duncan said, “Ditto, Con.”

AN ATHLETE IN NEW ROLE. In 1914 war was declared, and in 1915 Duncan Poole went into camp, leaving* with the 9th Reinforcements and serving until put out of action. He ultimately found himself at Rotorua, where he was sufficiently patched up to take an interest in the game of bowls. Inter alia, while bedridden in one of the many hospitals of which he was an .inmate, tyo learned the art of raffia work. I have before me a picture of Duncan propped up in bed with pillows, in company with his nurse and. doctor, his bed being covered with articles he had made. In 1919 at Rotorua he skipped the pairs and fours at the bowling tournament, winning both. Like so many youths reared on bush farms, nothing seemed to stick him in the way of games or sport. In 1914 he represented Tauranga against Waihi at Rugby. There were five brothers in the Poole family and all five went to the war, Mastyn making the supreme sacrifice on Gallipoli. Mastyn Poole was also a fine athlete, with a record of 44ft 4in in a hop, step and jump and 22ft in the long jump.

GETTING A FLYING START. Somewhere* about 24 years ago—l think it was in 1905—Duncan Poole, with Tommy Fowler, was picked to represent South Taranaki in the Taranaki championships at New Plymouth. In the 100 yards championship he had to meet “Darky” Morris, one of the fastest men out of the holes New Zealand has ever seen. For 50 yards Morris was like greased lightning, after which he used to fade away. Pool himself was not slow out of the holes, but to beat Morris he knew he would have to beat the gun -play second fiddle, so he determined

to get a fly if possible. As soon as “set” was given Duncan said to himself, “here goes for a break,” and away he went. The starter yelled, “Come back, Poole?’ Three times they were set, three times Poole broke. The starter, rattled, said, “Break again, Poole, and off you go.” “I am sorry, sir, but I was excited; I’m all right now.” “Very well, now get set.” The gun went, .but not before Poole had got a 2yds fly. At 50yds he was in front, but no more, after which Morris faded and Poole carried the tape by a bare 2yds in 10 seconds dead.

All the brothers were fond of jumping. When tlie day’s work was finished, after tea, their favourite pastime was doing jiimping stunts such as standing long jumps with 51b weights, hop, step and jump, three jumps forward and three backward. The best jumps were: Standing, lift 4in; hop, step and jump, 33ft 4in; three jumps standing, 34ft. Like most of the Taranaki farm youths they had little idle time. When going to a sports meeting 70 or 80 cows had to be milked first and that meant an extra early start. Then they must either ride or drive in a gig, run their race or. races, and race home again to the everlasting cows. There were no cars and no tar-sealed roads. When they used to begin bustling extra early in the morning they would hear, “What’s wrong with you boys, what’s in the wind?” “Oh, there is a sports meeting on at so ami so and Duncan and Mastyn want to run.” “Oh, do they? Well, you had better all go; I’ll get no work out of any of you if you stay at home. But don’t be too late home to milk. I’ll get the cows in.” And off would go the boys, while Dad, as the day wore on, wondered if they had won. When Duncan Poole was in the limelight, Jimmy O’Sullivan was a keen Rugby player, and keen to get into the 1905 All Blacks. His friend Duncan was just as keen to see him there, so he used to race O’Sullivan round and round the paddocks, rub him down and give tender advice.- When the Matapu man was chosen to fill a niche in the Invinclbles, there was no prouder man in all Taranaki thairhis chum, Duncan Poole. The latter also was mainly responsible for the discovery of Eddie Scott, of Kapuni, who became known as one of Taranaki’s foremost representative sprinters. Poole, when at the top of his form, stood sft 9 Jin and weighed around 11 stone. He was one of those men of quick, impulsive temperament who ran on strength. His best distance was probably a quarter, , but I am of opinion his speciality should have been hurdles. Only last winter on the Kaipara line the boys formed a new club and invited the old sport to have a game. Nothing loth, he joincxl in. Getting the ball he streaked off, when a player was overheard to remark, “Look at that grey-headed old hound, he can run yet!” And this after spending eighteen' months in no less than eleven hospitals recovering from war wounds. Duncan, who looks not upon the wine when it is red, believes, in physical fitness, to. whiph he mainly attributes hiA recovery from war wreckage. To prove that he is still on the active list I may add that he skips 500 up morning and night ’ :