ATHLETICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 16

ATHLETICS

AMONG THE AMATEURS Some Fine Performances (By Relay) Season's Fixtures Saturday, November 27: Inter-club scratch meeting, Caledonian grounds, Timaru, programme A. Saturday, December 4: Inter-club scratch meeting, Geraldine Domain, programme B. Saturday, December 11: Inter-club scratch meeting, Victoria Park, Waimate, programme A. Saturday, December 18: Inter-club scratch meeting, Pleasant Point Domain, programme B. Evening Meetings The programme for the meeting on Tuesday, November 30, at the Caledonian Grounds at 6.15 p.m. is:— Men’s events—looyds, 440yds, threequarter mile, hop, step antd jump, javelin, harrier inter-club relay. Ladies’ events: 100yds, long jump, high jump, relay. Tuesday, December 7 Men's events: 120yds, 440yds, two miles, long jump, discus, harrier interclub relay. Ladies’ events: 100yds, hop, step and jump, relay. Tuesday, December 14 Men's events: 220yds, 880yds, one mile, high jump, javelin, hammer, inter-club relay. Ladies’ events: 75yds, 100yds, long jump, high jump. Open Meetings Waimate Caledonian Society: Monday, December 27, Boxing Day. Temuka Caledonian Society: Monday. December 27, Boxing Day. South Canterbury Caledonian Society: Timaru, January 1, New Year's Day. Inter-club Competition

The second series of these fixtures took place at Temuka last Saturday when an interesting afternoon’s sport was witnessed by a good gathering of spectators. The outstanding performance of the day was the very fine race run by Miss Oliphant in the ladies’ 100 yards handicap. Giving away a handicap of 12 yards she ran into second place and was beaten by inches only in a race run in 11 3-ssecs. Miss Oliphant was also successful in winning the ladies' high jump and long jump.

The three mile B grade race was another event that proved interesting from start to finish. The winner F. Walker ran a well-judged race to beat Eric Wilson in the sprint to the tape. Eric Wilson had his first try out on the track, and he performed well considering his lack of training. This runner is capable of better things, as he has proved in cross-country racing, and should he take his racing seriously he would put up some good performances. He has an easy effortless style of running, not wasting energy with too much arm action and he appears to be a tireless natural distance runner. Three-Mile Event The A grade three mile event was only about 4 seconds faster than the B grade event. This race did not do justice to the four competitors taking part as they were all capable of better things, and all seemed to be waiting on one another to make the pace instead of going out and making a race of it. However, at the last lap. Lloyd Williams threw out a challenge to the field and after a battle up the straight with Rex Taylor he ran home the winner by a few yards with Rex a good second and Parrant and Shivas in third and fourth places. Fine Performances Miss D. Strachan, South Canterbury’s lady champion in the 75 yards, 100 yards and long jump was responsible for three very fine performances in Dunedin last Saturday, when she competed in the Otago Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Championships. She was successful in winning the 75 yards, 100 yards and long jump championships, but she is not eligible to hold the titles. In the 100 yards championship she completed the sprint in the fine time of 11 l-ssecs., equalling the New Zealand record, but owing to the race being run with a following wind she cannot claim the record. Miss Strachan Is also showing better form in her long jump, than she has done so far this season. Her performance in Dunedin in this event was 16ft. 9Jin. Evening Meetings The evening meetings being held by the different amateur clubs are creating a big interest in the sport. On Monday, the Temuka club conducted a most successful meeting before an excellent attendance of spectators and competitors. Rex Taylor was responsible for a very fine performance in the three mile handicap. Running from scratch and giving away a handicap of 260 yards, he won by half a lap in the excellent time of 16min. 20sec. The Temuka club is paying a lot of attention to the school boys and junior events, and is fostering the sport in the right direction. The other evening Ralph Mehrtens and Les Wilson, had a group of about 20 youngsters coaching them in field and track events. The South Canterbury clubs’ evening meeting of Tuesday, at the Caledonian Grounds was the most successful this season and attracted good fields in all events and a good gallery of spectators. Easily the most promising runner seen out on Tuesday night was J. S. Ivey who won the 600 yards. He also won the 880 yards B grade at Temuka on Saturday. His brother N. Ivey, the big Star forward, was a keen competitor in the shot putt. R. McLeod was again to the fore in the high jump. He cleared the bar at sft. 3in„ and with careful coaching

would improve on this height considerably. Club secretaries are reminded that it is necessary to have all competitors competing in open and inter-club fixtures registered at once. ENTHUSIASTIC OFFICIAL Mr E. C. J. Foot Mr E. C. J. Foot, has been a prominent supporter of amateur athletics ever since he came to Timaru some eight or nine years ago. He made his debut as secretary of the S.C.A.A. Club and was one of the organisers of the Harrier Management Committee. He has on three occasions been president

of the Amateur Athletic Club and has had two terms as chairman of the South Canterbury Harriers Committee. Mr Foot gave invaluable assistance in the negotiations which led up to the formation of the cinder track on Ashbury Park. This season he holds office as president of the South Canterbury Sub-Centre, and amateur sport will undoubtedly progress under his experienced guidance. On the sports ground and in council Mr Foot is a tower of strength to amateur athletics.

Points for Shea Cup— Tu. Tka. November 13 46 37 November 20 454 26 91i 63 Aitken Relay Banner— Tu. Tka. November 13 5 3 November 20 .. • • .. .. 3 5 8 8