TRIUMPHANT ATHLETES

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 5

TRIUMPHANT ATHLETES

THE BRITISH CHAMPIONS LORD BURGHLEY’S FINE RECORD. OLYMPIC GAMES OUTLOOK BRIGHT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) . London, July 9. Lord Burghley remains the hero ot athletics. As this fair-haired favourite of the track came striding gracefully, and with thrilling pace, over the hurdles in the British championship, 40,000 people took up the cry “Burgh- , ley! Burghley! Burghley!” and he did not disappoint them. For the fifth year in succession he won the high hurdles so finely that iu his heat h® equalled his own British record of 14 7-10 sec., and in the final beat the figures at 14 4-ssec. Half an hour after running in this race over 120 yards, Burghley came out again to attempt the double in the 440 yards hurdles. In this event he was opposed by the. Italian champion, L. Facelli, who, in order to save himself, did not compete in the shorter race. Completely fresh, .. Facelli beat Burghley, but, as soon as he broke the tape, he collapsed, and . it was Burghley who first went to his assistance. As soon as he recovered from his temporary exhaustion, opened, his eyes, and saw Burghley leaning over him, the Italian jumped to his feet and embraced his rival. Needless to say, this human and sporting touch made a big appeal to the vast crowd of spectators. It was a good day for British athletics. Success followed success. ' Dr. Peltzer came from Germany to run in the 440 yards and half-mile races, but he is no longer the worldrbeater of five years ago. A young Army man, G. L. Rampling, took the quarter-mile. He . was challenged by the European champions for the distance, and he beat them all with remarkable ease. Only once before at the British championships had his time of 48 3-ssec. been beaten. In the half-mile Peltzer stumbled near the start and largely destroyed any chance he might have had. Again an English youth, T. Hampson, won with surprising ease.

It is believed that R. E. Thomas is the finest mile runner in the world, and he was not really extended, the margin in his favour being over 30 yards. The t crowd, admiring his beautiful stride, urged him on in the hope that he might establish a fresh record, but he finished three seconds outside it. Still, his time of 4min. 16 2-ssec. on a gusty day, with no one to pull him out, represented a fine performance. English runners filled the first three places in the sprint, and a Glasgow University student, R. Murdock, gained the 220 yards. Altogether, the day offered, great encouragement for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles next year.