AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 10

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

BLACK SHOWING FORM STRATFOR!) AND ELTHAM RUNNERS news from the province. (By "Also Started.”) Good fields, fine finishes and excellent sport characterised the New Plymouth Athletic Club’s weekly meeting at the Pukekura Park sportsground on Tuesday night. These meetings commence at 6.45 and are finished with the aid of the electrict lighting system. It is hoped in this way to attract greater public interest in athletics by making the time more convenient for townspeople. Black Reappears. S. A. Black made his reappearance in the 100 yards and, though it was his first effort this season, he demonstrated that he has lost none of his pace. Starting from the Syd mark he gathered the field in about 30 yards from home and Won going away by three yards. His time, 10 seconds, was really good for this period of the year. He did not start in the final, which produced a splendid finish between Coombes, Hains and Pankhurst, the former winning by inches. J. Kinsella ran a splendid race in his heat and should not be long in coming back to his best. The High School boy Ekdahl also performed well while Hains continues to be consistency, itself.

Good Half Milers. The New Plymouth distance runners are evidently getting down to training in earnest as the half mile produced a splendid race. With a lap to go the Chances of the two back markers Hodgson and Grant did not look rosy, as White and Richards were still well in front and going strongly. Grant was the first to make a move but Hodgson never let him get far away. Grant headed the leader 50 yards from home and then was challenged by Hodgson. In a great finish the latter won by inches with Richards and White right up. Hodgson is running better and with more judgment than he has ever done previously and might with advantage contest a 440 yards later on. Grant, however, was responsible for a Splendid effort for a school boy. L. Richards scored a comfortable win in the mile and a half event. His training with the harriers during the winter stood him in good stead. Gruszning and Wilson, who both ran solid races, will do better later on. Improved Woman Runner.

■ Miss D. Hodgson has improved out of all recognition this season and scored yet another win in the womens 100 yards. From the seven yards m'ark she ran the distance in 12 seconds, a really good effort. Miss N. Clark, finishing with all her old-time dash, won the 75 -yards in the g6od time of nine seconds She is not properly fit as yet but promises to be as good this season as she was last. Miss A. Richmond, who filled second place in both events, is a new runner who is already showing improvement. The Cyclists. N. C. Batten still continues on his victorious run. He is riding better and With more judgment than he has for the last two seasons. However, his task will be more • difficult’ when Chatteris and Ambufy strike form. ' It was pleasing to set this pair back pin action. As yet they Are. not as fit as' their opponents. D. Holmes .won, the half mile in his best ityle. He puts a lot of effort into hi? riding but gets the results. Owing to.the difficulty regarding the points, lan Murray has been put back into the B grade until the end of the first series.- This boy rode two splendid races 6A Tuesday but had to bo content with Second place on both occasions. He will be giving away big starts in this grade and will require to make his own pace* for the greater part of the journeys. R Rundle is improving steadily. Keen Interest at Stratford. Keen interest is being shown in amateur athletics in South Taranaki, .the opening, meeting of the Stratford club being well attended both by competitors and spectators; The Hawera and Eltham clubs were well represented, a pleasing feature being the co-operation that is being shown by the Hawera, Eltham and Stratford clubs in running these fixtures. Outstanding Sprinter. The- outstanding sprinter was A. Gorringe, who won both the 75 and 100 yards "handicap. This runners has a nice turn of speed and should do well over the 220' yards. Good Fields In Women’s Event. The women’s events attracted good fields, the’so yards being won by Miss A. Lilley from eight yards. This girl comes from a running family and more will be heard of her. The 75 yards was won by Miss M. J. Hall, probably the best woman runner in South Taranaki. The two Eltham girls Misses Hitchcock and H, Reakes are running well. First Appearance Of J. Knight , The distance event 880 yards was marked by the appearance of J. Knight, a brother of R. L. Knight, the sub-centre and centre distance champion. J. Knight, who is only 17 years of age, is a second edition of his brother in style, and with age and experience will be a worthy representative of the family. Ho was beaten by the experience of the Hawera veteran J. Matheson, who made his run at the right moment, after Knight had made the pace. Splendid Shot Putt.

' The field events were well contested, fine performances being registered in the shot putt by L. Fryday and Girling. Fryday’s best was 42ft sin, which would nearly win a New Zealand championship. The cycling honours were carried off by a new rider, E. Adams, who won a double from long marks. In the one mile scratch race, which appeared to be at the mercy of A. Adams (S.), three of the riders including Adams fell. W. Ludlam meanwhile obtained a long break on the field which enabled him to win comfortably. Eltham’s Second Meeting.

The second meeting held by the Eltham dub was very successful, a large attendance being present and some excellent performances witnessed. Keen interest was shown In the challenge relay in which teams from several business houses were competing. After a dingflong finish in the straight a brilliant finishing run by E. G. Smith, the Eltham wing three-quarter, enabled him to snatch a victory for senior footballers on iho tape.

Splendid Performances In Jumps. The 'jumps attracted good fields, the long jump being won by E. G. Smith ictual jump 18ft Gin. Smith has .excellent performances in the long jump and when properly fit will cover nearly 20ft. The outstanding jumper was W. Ireland second in the long jump and first m the hop, step and jump. His performance in the latter was really good for a first effort of the season, 41ft Sin. McCready and Burt jumped well in both events. J. Matlxwtra’s Versatility.

Hawera and Stratford clubs were well represented at the gathering and duly

collected their share of the honours. J. Matheson showed his versatility by winning the 220 yards off 16yds. He is at home over any distance and runs a heady race. R. L. Knight made his first appearance this season in the 880 yards, winning well from M. Sheehy and J. Knight. Sheehy put in a wonderful finishing run but the tape was too close. Good Fields of Footballers.

Large fields turned out in the footballers events the sprint event being won by M. Sheehy, 10yds. E. Townsend, the representative fire-eighth, who was second from syds, is the making of a good sprinter should he take up the game seriously. The footballers are turning out well in their events and the Eltham club is pleased with the response to the efforts to cater for the football teams.

W. Ludlam in Good Form. The best form among the cyclists was shown by W. Ludlam, who won a double, half mile , and two miles. The mile scratch was won. comfortably by A. Adams after a good sprint with W. Ludlam. W. Cullen, the promising. Eltham rider, made his first apearance this season at the meeting, but he is just recovering from a bout of influenza and is not yet in form. Miss Hall Outstanding.

Miss M. J. Hall was again the outstanding woman competitor winning both events. The relay was won easily by the Eltham team, the Stratford first runner stumbling at the start and losing ground.