AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 16

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

By

“Relay”

Season's Fixtures: Saturday, February 25—Monster Physical Fitness Display and Procession, 1 Ashbury Park. Saturday, March 4—Open Handicap Meeting, Ashburton A.A.C. Nicol Relay Cup. Saturday, March 11—Opening meeting, Albury A.A.C., Albury. Saturday, March 18—Inter-club meetJj ing. Fairlie. Saturday, March 25—Open Handicap meeting, Hinds AA.C. Saturday, April I—Open Handicap meeting, Waimate A.A.C. Easter Saturday Open Handicap meeting, Temuka A.A.C. Canterbury Championships South Canterbury sent the biggest number of competitors to the Canterbury championships this year since the Sub-Centre was formed. The team was particularly strong in the women’s and junior section. The team were successful in securing one title in the senior section. A. Redmond (Temuka) winning the discus throw with an excellent throw 124 ft Ulin. In some quarters this is stated to be a Canterbury record; the previous best throw is stated to be 124 ft 3in. However, there is some doubt about the position, and it would be advisable to have the matter inquired into by the Sub-Centre and make application to have Redmond’s throw recorded as a Canterbury record. Harry Cloake had to be content with a third in both the hammer and the shot. Ralph Rodgers held a similar position in the 100 yards which event was won by C. Gordon (Sydenham) with C. Knight in second place. This winner was successful in winning the 220 yards championship. He will be remembered by South Canterbury athletes when he competed in local fixtures for the Temuka Club. In the Junior section the South Canterbury athletes were more successful. G. Leonard was successful in winning the 220 yards junior title. He also was placed second in the 100 yards and the hop step and jump. The young winner is a possibility for the Canterbury Junior Team for the Junior Championship meeting to be held hi Auckland on March 25. This runner is very much Inclined to do too much, and unless he can be prevailed on to take a spell he will be in danger of

losing form, and will be a disappointment to himself and his friends. After a strenuous week-end hi championship competition in Christchurch he returns home and appears in five events in a Temuka Club evening meeting. Two other junior competitors who performed creditably were J. W. Parrish (Temuka) who ran excellent races in both the half and the mile junior, championship to run into second place in both events against the brilliant Ashburton junior D. Shaw. This experience will be invaluable to Parrish, and he will undoubtedly profit by it. F. J. O’Gorman ran an excellent race in the junior 440 yards to take second place in a race that was run 51 2-ssec Women’s Section In the women’s section the team repeated the success of last year. Miss Shona Oliphant by her performances on Saturday in beating Miss K. Callinan and Miss D. Strachan in the 100 yards has placed herself in the first flight of New Zealand women sprinters and the Auckland sprinters will need all the following winds and down hill tracks to head her off. She was also successful in winning the 80 metres hurdle event having practically no opposition. In the field events the South Canterbury girls had it practically their own way. Miss Ruth Dale was successful in winning two titles, putting the shot, and throwing the Javelin (both new events) and her sister Miss Joyce Dale won the discus title. The South Canterbury relay team were again successful, and were too speedy for the other competing teams. The South Canterbury women athletes should be well represented in the Canterbury team to compete in Auckland at the Women’s National Championships. Miss Shona Oliphant is a certainty in both the 100 yards and the 80 metres hurdles and the relay team. Miss Doris Strachan should be considered for the 75 yards championship and is certain of a place in the Canterbury Relay Team. The Canterbury Women's Relay would possibly be Miss Oliphant, Miss Callinan, Miss Strachan, and Miss Boanas and this is undoubtedly the strongest relay team amongst women athletes in the Dominion to-day. In the field events South Canterbury would again be to the front. Should Miss Strachan compete in the long jump and Miss Oliphant in the long or high jump they both have performances worthy of National titles. Amongst the new field events for women Miss Ruth Dale has shown her ability with the javelin and shot and with intensive training and coaching she should considerably improve in both these events. Her sister Miss Joyce Dale also has ability in the shot and discus and should be capable of considerable improvement. Miss Freda Hart who has undoubtedly shown the best performance with the javelin in local competition was unfortunately off colour in Christchurch, and did not do herself justice

and should she be given the opportunity she would measure up to the required standard. She has performances with the javelin up to 118 ft.

It is difficult to secure information with reference to standards in women’s field events. These recent performances will make interesting reading to our local women athletes, and give them a guide as to their standard of performance. Not since the days of the Waikato, Auckland and New Zealand champion and record holder, Miss Ida Campbell, of Morrinsville (now Mrs J. Heeps, of Hamilton), has there been a better prospect in the women’s section in the Waikato than the Tauranga allrounder, Miss Sommers. She competed in six events and won the lot with consummate ease, setting up a record that is likely to stand for many yeas, says an exchange. Miss Sommers won the 75 yards in 9 l-ssec, the 100 yards in 12sec, the 220 yards in 28sec, the shot putt with 28ft IJin. the javelin with 74ft lin, and the discus with 79ft 31in. Father of the champion is Mr H. Sommers, secretary of the Tauranga Club, and he intends to enter his daughter in the Auckland’s women’s championships on March 11. Her performances will be followed with great interest.

Benefits from Coaching School

The features of the Waikato amateur athletic championships at Tauranga were the performances of A. J. Denz, the 100 yards title-holder, and Miss E. Sommers, a 15-year-old Tauranga schoolgirl, who won six titles. Although somewhat unconvincing in preparatory races, Denz, since his return from Fitch’s training camp, has undoubtedly Improved and both in the heat and final he was away in the 100 yards like a shot, his winning margin leaving no doubt as to his superiority. The competitor who was expected to give Denz most opposition was K. Rowsell, Tauranga, but he ran far below the form he showed at Rotorua on Boxing Day. Only 20 years of age, Rowsell is a very promising athlete

and it will not be long before he wins championships. Another promising young athlete who has benefited from the coaching of A. L. Fitch. Natural Athlete Amongst the Wellington athletes who are in line for Provincial and National Championships is J. Evans. Wellington exchanges state that Evans is a natural athlete if ever there was one. 'Evans is going really well right now and with proper care is one of the Dominion's best bets among the younger athletes.

Evans attended the coaching school under A. L. Fitch during the holiday period when he was home on vacation. He is a Timaru lad; son of Mr Evans, Woodlands Road. The local supporters of amateur athletics wish Evans success in the Wellington Provincial Championships.