NEW PLYMOUTH ATHLETES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 5 (Supplement)

NEW PLYMOUTH ATHLETES

PROSPECTS OF CASH CLUB.

OPENING MEETING HELD.

(By “Cash Amateur.”)

The first evening meeting of the New Plymouth Cash Athletic Club was held on Wednesday evening and for the initial meeting must be considered a success. If tho success is any criterion, cash athletics are here to stay. For the first races ten starters are considered very good, especially when the aniateuis f are strong in the town. The Waitara lelub had three representatives compct- ) i u 'A , . , The handicapper had the worst job of the lot but carried out his duties perfectly and' the' finishes w'ere’as close as could be expected anywhere where the runners have not been running for seasons. To handicap runners for an opening meeting when no one’s performances or abilities are known is a most arduous task and one where easy wins might, .be expected. . At Wednesday’s meeting, however, each winner had to rim hard and though one or two may have been treated a little harder than they expected for a start, they should not think the handicapper is unjust. Mr. O’Byrne did fine work and as the lunriers* improve it will be easier for him to handicap them; at present it is exceptionally hard and a thankless job. C.‘Wilson ran -well to annex the 100 yards race from Dowsett and Morgan. The finish was exceptionally close. Dowsett is striking good form early and should have a'successful season. Morgan is just starting-but 1 .went well With training he should soon regain his form. L. Hoffmann, still has' plenty ot dash despite a 'long spell from active sel " vice. In .the 100 ' yards he was" well back .in the handicaps ’but .finished well. His effort in' the quarter mile was very good' but lie, has not had the training out "the.-- distance. ' ' j Bob’Wilson came'to light in the quar-ter-niile and was- just, beaten at- the post after having the* lead for some distance. It'.is-'a- 'long time since Bob raced but he still has plenty of stamina. Aroa, ’ winner of the quarter, ran a pluckv race. -Without-the aid of running shoes lie‘hung ! ori till .the last, putting in;.a very fast sprint at the finish -to vi'in bn.'the post.-. Riley, the third man, i was: atrifle ! unlucky. : He. goes well for an ! untrained man-and" his two thirds show that he should have a win with gome training. He has a good stride and plenty of pace. • Woodhouse, Waitara, went well in the furlong. He is fairly fit and with more training will be a good runner for the Waitara club. Among the' maiden runners Ken Ward and’ R. D. Sole showed up well. Both have' plenty of dash and will soon be heard of among the first places. The officials carried out their duties well and helped to get the events off quickly. Next Wednesday the races will sthrt.'at 6!30 to'give everyone a chance tio'-be ‘on '.time. ‘lf possible some field evente wili be added to the programme, such as putting the shot and high jump, so that runners will have a spell between races.' On Wednesday evening the races were run off very promptly. The starter was Mr. Roebuck and the marksman Mr. Bob Lovell. ‘ . The Stratford A. and P. Association is holding a sports meeting at Stratford bn March 12. There are four cash running events. This meeting vpll most likely be the first of the big meetings in Taranaki for the season. Manaia has decided on March 28 as sports day but the programme is not out yet. The f' ac ®s for . Stratford’ are 100, 220, 440 and 880 yards.