AMONG THE ATHLETES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 4

AMONG THE ATHLETES

CHAMPIONSHIP OUTLOOK BETTER FORM DISPLAYED; SOME LIKELY ASPIRANTS.

(By

“Watcher.”)

With thp approach of the West Coast Centre championships at Hawera, the at-, tendance and form displayed by the competitors at the meeting on Tuesday evening acted as a tonic after the slow beginning of this season and the slow times registered. The attendance was the best yet, and despite the holidays there arc several who have been training, as was shown by their improved form. The Caledonian sports will be held in a fortnight’s time, and as there are likely to 'be runners from the other clubs of 'the centre, competitors should get into good form now,' so that tho public of New Plymouth will know what sort of a chance the local club have at the championships. Of course there are bound to be runners from outside who will be better than our own, but there are three places to fill at the finish of a race and each place counts points for the banner, which goes to the club making the most points. Is it early to forecast the winners of the various events at Hawera on March 1,. but so far there are several who will be in the picture on their present form. , Black seems to be going well, though he : ■er go better.'. His time on 'Tuesday was equal to a little over 10 2-ssee- for the full distance. This year tho time for tho centre 100yds will be 10 1-5 or under. .Wanganui, possesses some runners who are equal to that time even now. Another runner who will be a certainty for the mile and half mile, and quar- : t‘dr too,"if ho participates in that , distance, is Evans from Taihape..' Evans is a reinstated professional, though how he came to be reinstated I do'not know especially after the head centre’s new rules on reinstatement. He is-a great runner and in the professional ranks won/dozeiis of races from lOOytls up to a mile, At ’Taihape on St. Patrick’s. Day he won all the races on the programme except the 'Sheffield Handicap, in which he did not start. He possesses a beautiful style, too, just skimming over the ground with the ease of a perfect runner. In training he never leaves off for any sports meeting and even goes for a,run the morning of the sports. He is also a believer in “drying out,” which seems to have a benefit on him. This process is to reduce gradually tho amount of liquid taken each day, until the day before the sports the athlete has no drink at all. This has its advantage in that it stops the weight

that is naturally in the stomach when there is liquid there from pulling or stretching the diaphragm 'when- in motion, thus stopping all the puffing and very heavy breathing! With! no liquid there, of course, there is no-weight to extend the diaphragm. Though it may help ■wonderfully in some 'eases I would not advise any one to try unless he is in for. a,n.\extra special race and can go without ‘drink for som;e considerable time. The best method is not. to .'drink too much' in training right through the season, and perhaps when a sports meeting approaches cut the drink down as much as is comfortable. 11. Fookcs looks a likely man for the hurdles; . If his foot will hold and he has

good' chance to get fit. ho will be a hard man to stop. His high jumping is of a high order, though he could not do himself justice on Tuesday night owing to his foot. Mills should develop into .a first-class man in field events. In putting the shot he has had no training and was makiii#' his initial.'b.bw to this class of • athletics. He has everything in his favour in the way of strength and agility, which cotint a lot. Everything should be done to help, and , encourage those who are keen to go in for the field events. The New Plymouth club is weak in this department and cannot expect to win the centre banner until this is rectified. Godfrey is still in good form and is keeping pace with his handicap in the quarter mile. Only consistent training

can do this.- With proper coaching and strict training ho should develop into a good quarter runner, though the half mile is a bit-too long for him. He has pace and judgment and needs training now to get him into the championship team.

Brown ran fairly well off 75 yards in the mile to cut it out in the time of 4.35, equal to 4.45 for the full distance. Brown held on to his first sprint at the start of the race too long. It is certainly all right to catch the field early in the race, but it not •so good as gaining a fair distance by a smart start and then settling down to an even pace that is not too fast to tire the runner before the final sprint. It is in this way that the distance men gradually eat up their handicap and arc up amongst the leaders before the time comes for the final sprint. Of course, all this will come with experience and plenty of competition. As yet Brown should not do too much hard and serious training as his age is not ripe yet.- Many good and promising young runners have been spoilt by being run oil' their feet before they Were fully matured. Training up to a certain point is all right, but then the athlete must not have too long a season. Heatley is fast improving in cycling as are Goodwin and several others. On a .grass track the local riders have a lot in the’. 1 favour. The Wanganui riders have a banked asphalt track, that is equal to any in the Dominion. The points allotted so far for the aggregate in the series just started arc as follows:—• ■ Sprints.—lT. Wyatt 5, S. Fookes 3, S. Black 2, J. A. Pankhurst J / 2 , J. Warner %, N. Webster J. Perry-Keene J / 2 . Middle Distance.—T. Godfrey 5, J. Perry-Keene 3, J. Pankhurst 2, R. J. Smith y>, A, Hunter */,, K. Perry A, Warner %, Rogers A. Long Distance.—lf. Brown 5, 11. Gorringo 3, A. J. Thompson 2, R. J. Stewart A, R. S. Smith J / 2 , Kingston, Sadler i. Cycling. — Heatley 10, E. J. Goodwin G, L. Reed 2’/ 2 , J. Gillies 2A, E. Hartley I, J. Dickie 1. Jumping. —Pankhurst 5, IT. Fookcs2 l / 2 , S. Fookes2 2,2. / 2 . Hurdles.—lf. Fookes 5, S. Fookes 3, R. Smith 2. Field Events. —Pankhurst 5, Perry 2J, Mills 2'Z?, S. Fookes, R. Stewart, Heathy, Reed, Dickie, Goodwin, Webster, Perrt Keene, Thompson, Gillies, L. Heatley •/„ each. The next evening meeting will be held mi Tuesday, when all intending competitors for the West Coast championships should be there for training as well as racing. Soon it will be too late. The entries for the Caledonian sports close to day. Daie MeLellaml seems to be in great

form at present, as was shown by his performance against Lynch Cooper at Christchurch. Cooper is the world champion sprinter. The time of 9 4-ssec for tliG century is rarely done in New Zealand nor for that is even time broken ih other sprints. At the •present time McLelland is by far the best man in the Dominion. Getson, who ran well last year at heiin, was not up to Fitt in the distar o races and his time would be equal to ‘i.3O for the full distance. Waitara lias restarted after the holidays and has very successful evening meetings. The next one is on Thursday. The runners are not yet lit, though C. Tata seems to be riming well. Grant, Watson and Durant also are going well, all securing places last Tuesday. The running races arc for a cup awarded on points. Cycling' events are held also and numerous riders, .from New Plymouth, cycle out for the sports. This club should develop into a first class one with enthusiasm from the members and support from tho townspeople.