AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1933, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

BLACK REGAINS FORM.

RADFORD'S EASY WIN.

(By

“Also Started.”)

Though naturally on the slow siae after the heavy rain in the afternoon, the track at the Pukekura Park sportsground was in excellent order on Tuesday evening for the commencement of the New Plymouth Club championships. Still it was wet enough to make cycling rather risky, and these events were all postponed until next week. • Running in much better style than on the occasion of the Canterbury University visit, S. A. Black won both the 100 yards and the 220 yards in dashing fashion, his finishing effort in both events being very impressive. It transpires that his indifferent showing on the night of the electric light meeting was due to a cold, but now he has shaken that off and is down in earnest for the more Serious business ahead of him. J. Kinsella, who filled the bill of run-ner-up in both races, is the “find” of the season. He .commenced competing only in December and is improving with every outing.' He lolts like providing a really good second-string to Black at the Taranaki championships on February H. ' H. L. Thomson is not running as well as he was at the beginning of the season, but he has had a much interrupted preparation. He is doing better* again, however, and should do' quite well in the 440 yards flat and hurdles events next week.

R. Hoby was much too good for those opposed to him in the half-mile. He had run a splendid race at the electric light meeting but did even better on Tuesday. He trailed his field for a lap and a-half and, assuming command 300 yards from home, went on to win as he liked. He should just about carry off the Taranaki title this year. The three miles looked like being a good race for about two-thirds of the journey, but with, four laps to go Radford said good-bye to Saddler and Broad and went on to win by a furlong. This boy gives a lot of promise as a distance runner and his meeting with Hoby over the mile journey on Tuesday next should be an interesting contest. Radford’s best chance would be to go to the front and force the pace over the last two laps.

Saddler, as game as ever despite two attacks of stitch, finished too strongly for Broad, and took second place. BrOad. gave a good display for a youngster and would do a lot better if he adopted a style of the type of Radford. At present he lifts his feet far too much. A very, pleasing feature of the evening was G. Sullivan’s fine effort in the hop, step and jump, when at his third attempt he covered just over 45 feet. It looks as though he is coming back to his best just at the tight time. He also carried off the javelin throw, but his effort was 60 feet short of Lay’s great throw on. January 7.

The high jump was very disappointing, none of the competitors managing to clear five feet. They were all worried by the damp and slippery ground, and it is unlikely that the selector will pay much heed to these showings.. The remaining events will take place in . the evening of Tuesday next,. when great interest is being taken in S. A. Black’s effort in the 440 yards as it is on this distance that the Olympic representative is concentrating.

Bayne Leaves Amateurs. Among those closely connected with the sport, not much surprise was occasioned by the cabled report received from Melbourne. on Monday last, states the Wellington Evening Post,, that G. Bayne,, the Petone miler, who left before -the Christmas holidays.for Australia, has decided to leave the 'ranks of the amateurs in favour of the cash side of the sport. It will be interesting to see how he fates in the big races at Melbourne and elsewhere. Bayne’s decision removes from amateur athletics in New. Zealand one of the finest mile runners of recent years and a competitor who, probably because of the advice he received, clashed with those in charge of the sport more often than falls to the lot of most athletes. A long story could probably be written regarding Bayne’s relations with the officials of the Wellington Centre during the past two or three years, including his refusal to run in the three miles event at the Dominion championships at Auckland last year and his consequent exclusion from the Wellington team, but it would , serve no useful purpose. Bayne at his best was a runner to be admired, and most Wellington followers of the sport will wish him every success in competition with professionals.