OFF TO OLYMPIC GAMES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1932, Page 8

OFF TO OLYMPIC GAMES

5. A, BLACK LEAVES TO-DAY

REMARKABLE ATHLETIC RECORD.

WELL-DESERVED SUCCESS.

(By

"Also Started,”)

En route to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles, where he will represent New Zealand over sprint distances, Stuart Black leaves New Plymouth by the mail train this morning for We.lington. He sails from Wellington by the Monowai on Monday for San Francisco. Though he now occupies the proud position of being probably the best quarter miler the Dominion has so far produced, success did not come early to Stuart Black, and his early efforts' did not give any indication that he would eventually achieve fame on the running track. Neither at primary nor at secondary school was he ever a really prominent runner, and he was never successful in winning a championship, or even a race as a schoolboy. As is often the case with those who reach the highest 'pinnacle, his development w.s gradual, and has been the result of clean living and assiduous training. Black made his first appearance as a runner on the ground of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School back in 1922, on the occasion of the visit of the South African athletes. As a youth from the Central School he competed unsuccessfully in the primary schools 100 yards off the Syd. mark. At that time the star performers among the boys were F. C. Gilmour and T. Taunt. In 1923 he went to the Boys’ High School, and during the three years that he attended that institution he gave little promise of ever being a Dominion champion. In his final year, 1925, he did take part in the senior champion-, ship, but finished fourth out of the five competitors, F. C. Gilmour, J. Medley and E. Jackson all being too good for him at that time.

Upon leaving school he joined up with

the New Plymouth Amat.ur Athletic Club, and that season won his first race when he led/the field home in a three hundred yards handicap on the racecourse on the day of the Round the Mountain Cycle race in 1926. The writer ■was the handicapper at that time, and was therefore the first adjuster to place him on a mark from which he could win.

It was not until the spring of 1927, however, that Black really burst into the limelight. He had been steadily improving, and when he went to the West Coast championships it was thought that he might show up, but few expected him to win the 100 and 440 yards championships. But he did so in brilliant style, and was sent to make his first appearance in a Dominion championship at Christchurch in December of that year. Ho was second in his heat of the 100 yards to Jenkins, and fourth in the final behind Leadbetter, Jenkins and . Elliott. He competed unsuccessfully in the quarter mile. In the "1928-29 season he won tho West Coast titles for the 100, 220 and 440 yards, but did not compete at the Dominion Championships. The next season was not so good. He was third in the 220 yards at the West Coast Championships behind Cambie and Hamilton, but won the 440 yards. He again failed in the quarter at the New Zealand Championships at Wanganui, being unplaced in his heat. Black never seemed to get properly gding during the 1930-31 season, even though he won, the West Coast 220 yards event and defeated the crack American Simpson over the same distance (in receipt of five yards). He did not run a quarter mile that season at all. Owing to illness he was unable to make the trip to the New Zealand championships at Dunedin. . At the commencement of the present season Black came under the charge of Mr. Mark Comber, a man with a thorough knowledge of the training of athletes and a fine runner himself in his day. Comber had seen Black in action in the New Zealand Championships at Wanganui, and had at the time' been greatly impressed with his possibilities as a quarter miler. Black put himself in Comber’s hands, and soon found that he had a stern taskmaster. He had to train as he had never trained before. He was rather disinclined to give iip the hundred, but Comber insisted that he must concentrate on the quarter mile. It was not long before he commenced to improve out of all knowledge, and hopes began to be entertained that he would be able io give the .Dominion champion, Don Evans, of Taihape, the task of his life in the quarter at the West Coast Championships. About a week before the event ja- special trial was arranged at 7 p.m. on the sportsground, and the writer was asked to be present to time him. The track was slightly on the damp side, and the pick ups by the other runners were very poor, yet Black recorded 50 4-'ssec for the distance, ■ a really wonderful performance. His supporters were naturally elated, and it was realised that unless Evans had improved a lot since last season Black would beat him.

So it proved when, much to the astonishment of New Zealand Black beat

the champion by four yards. Of course, excuses were made for Evans. They always are. But when Black shortly afterwards recorded 50sec. at evening meeting on the sportsground good judges w’ho witnessed the performance declared that he would win at the Dominion Championships at Auckland. How Black ,went on to. win in brilliant •style first his heat and then the final of the championship, making a record each time, is still fresh in the minds of all. He was also runner-up to Elliott when that speedy Aucklander, who is also going to the Games, made fresh figures for the 220 yards. After these performances it was a foregone conclusion that the New Plymouth runner would be accorded the great honour of representing the Dominion at the tenth Olympiad at Los Angeles, and it came as no surprise when his name was one of the three sent by the Athletic Association. to the New Zealand Olympic Council. Black carries with him the best wishes of the whole community, no matter to what branch of sport they belong. He is not only a runner; he has played football for the Old Boys Club and has shown great promise at golf. He is an all-round man who will prove a credit to his province and to his country both off the field and on.