AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1934, Page 10

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

THE TEAM FOR WELLINGTON / SATURDAY’S FORM DISCUSSED. YOUTH MUST BE CONSIDERED.

(By

“Also Started.”)

The team to represent the West Coast Centre at the New Zealand championships at Wellington next week will probably be selected during the week-end. The selectors have no easy task and there is much speculation as to who will be the chosen few.

The form displayed at the championship gathering at New Plymouth on Saturday last will doubtless be given every consideration. Though there were few really outstanding performers, several showed sufficient promise to justify their being sent to Wellington. S. A. Black is naturally a certainty.’ He clearly demonstrated that he is in a class alone in this part of the country, and despite the fact that he has not quite thrown off the effects of his accident, his form is rapidly nearing his'best. No other runner reached the necessary class; several are promising but that is not enough. Miss N. Clark, however, must be given serious consideration. Her time on a track that was far from fast compared more than favourably with those recorded in the larger centres. She is running better than she was last year and can be depended upon to break 12 seconds in the 100 yards. The Eltham walker S. C. Coleman’s times were certainly the best. put up in any part of the Dominion last Saturday, and he should prove equal to winning at least one title. That is, of course, if his style passes the judges;, many have grave doubts on this score. S. A. Lay is still the best javelin thrower in the Dominion. There is nobody even to extend him, but it is said to be doubtful whether he can go. G. Sullivan’s performances were not quite up to the standard of other years, and he does not appear to be improving. On his showings he might fill a place, but his chances of capturing a title appear remote. . This brings us to the cyclists. In Wade, Hansen, Guilliard and Charteris the centre possesses four really good riders, all of whom would justify their selection. Despite his defeats .at New Plymouth Wade as the present Dominion champion must necessarily be selected. Of the other three Charteris is the best stayer; he clearly proved that in the three miles, and is probably better than either of the other pair over a mile. He is a young athlete and the experience would be more valuable to him than to either of the others. Among those who were not seen out on Saturday were McGregor, present holder of the 120yds hurdles title, and D. Evans, Taihape, the half-miler. Both are fine athletes who have proved their worth in big events. It will not be possible to send a big team, and in the circumstances Black, McGregor, Wade, Charteris, Coleman and Miss Clark would appear on performances to have the strongest claims. Success of A. D. Adlam.

The success of A. D. Adlam, Stratford, in retaining his three West Coast Centre field event titles and' securing second place in another field event was very gratifying to his club ■ mates. Stratford athletes won five of the seven field events on the programme and secured one second and two third places. Adlam, although his shot put was some 13 feet short of Harlow Rothert’s record of 51ft 6fin, broke the existing centre record by 2ft 6in, the mark now being close to the New Zealand standard. On the same day P. Munro put the shot 42ft at Wellington, and Alastair Cameron put it 37ft 2in at Dunedin. Although in the hammer and discus events Adlam is not as good as L. Hunt was, he is much better than anyone ’ who competed against him on Saturday, and was pot far behind the New Zealand javelin standard. Adlam, a very well-built athlete, might well be given the chance of a New Zealand championship meeting and thereby go on improving next year. The other two titles that went to Stratford were’ won by W. Ireland, who took the long jump, the standard being rather poor, and the javelin which will be Stan Lay’s preserve as, long as he cares to compete in it. Great keenness at Hawera.

The Hawera club seems to be moving again. It is not that it has a large number of high-class athletes but that there is a greater spirit of keenness among young members, which with the experience of former stars available to guide should produce something good. All the evening meetings since the new year have drawn good attendances and have been really successful from a sporting view, which is all that should count. Interest in Field Events.

Particularly pleasing from the club s point of view has been the interest taken in field events. Here Mr. C. Dahl is giving young atheltes the benefit of his wisdom and though most of the exponents are raw yet there is plenty of promise. As long as the club can get eight or nine competitors for every event who are keen to learn and excel each other the efforts of officials will be worth while. There can be as much in club contests as in events with athletes from other clubs. An athlete gets just as much out of the sport as he puts into it.