ATHLETIC MEETING

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23318, 29 September 1945, Page 6

ATHLETIC MEETING

Secondary Schools’ Championship A secondary schools athletic championship meeting was held last year as an experiment. This year a new programme is being discussed in a hope of holding a meeting in October, and the formation of a secondary schools athletic association. Among the proposals offered, is that the normal grouping for such meetings should be junior, intermediate and senior grades. The normal grouping for such grades is, under 15, 161- and 19. It is suggested that an under 141, under 16, and under 19 would make a more even distribution of the boys in each grade. What is more it would cater for juniors. For events the following programme is suggested: Junior: lOOydg, 220yds, 440yds. Intermediate: 100yds, 220yds, 440yds. Sneior: 100yds, 220yds. 440yds. 880yds. In each grade a high jump, long jump, hurdles, relay race to be run, with a shot putt for the seniors. There will be no cups or awards and no points to be counted. Golf Championships The semi-finals of the Timaru Club’s senior championship last week-end produced no surprises, although J. B. Forrest made a grim fight of it against E. G. Kerr in the after round when he reduced a 5 down deficit to 2 down. He went out in par figures and won three holes on the journey. Kerr's victory was the result of his- consistency. Forrest deserves praise for the tenacious manner in which he fought G. A. Ussher played really good golf to beat D. J Mcßeath 9 up and 7 to play. The latter did not play up to his usual standard or otherwise the margin would not have been sj great. Ussher completed the morning round in 72 whicn matches the par of the course. Under the conditions it was an outstanding round. The final should be productive of good golf. Both are playing well at the moment and if conditions are fair there should be interesting play. With a 76 off the “stick" Ivan Wilby spreadeagled the field in the stableford bogey which was conducted over two week-ends for a new golf ball. His score 32-5-37 represented solid golf. He drove exceedingly well from the tees and played his approaches better than usual. H. G. Naylor with 35 points was second Naylor has performed well this season and has topped the junior division in more than one competition. The veterans’ match which was to | have been played last Thursday was postponed because of the wet condition of the course. It will now be held on Thursday, October 4. For all but championship matches, placing will be enforced at the Highfield course at the week-end. Cleaning of the ball will be allowed. Cycling Notes The Timaru Cycling Club has been presented with a challenge shield by Speights Breweries and this valuable trophy will be given to the wintier of this afternoon's 20 mile race, from Stenhouse's store to the Arowhenua hotel and back. Riding from the 13 minute mark, the Timaruvians, Merve Luke and Jack Gillespie, with one other- co-maker, settled down to solid riding against a strong wind on the outward journey of 25 miles, to bunch up with-the leaders as they turned for home in the South Island 50 miles road championship at Christchurch last week. With a limit of 26 minutes, and three Timaru riders, including -Les Stoddard (19 minutes), at the front of the field, things looked very promising indeed. However, it was obvious, that without gears, or the ability to pedal very fast in the following wind, our boys would not see it out and were forced to drop out one by one. Luke’s performance on the outward journey was commented on by a leading Christchurch official, who stated that he would have won had he been riding three speed gears. Loses Speed We agree with the professor very definitely so far as sprint running is concerned. There is not the slightest question that a sprinter running clockwise on a circular track loses speed on the turns. A large proportion of his effort i? converted into conscious endeavour to take the bends without swinging right away from the inside of the track. Any sprinter who has run the reverse way will support this to the hilt. The professor says that most athletes are right-footed. That is so, and anticlockwise running must develop the outside leg. With practice a sprinter naturally could increase his effeciency on a right-hand track, but never sufficiently, we believe, to equal his performance running the natural way. The effect on distance runners would not be so noticeable —the slower the speed the easier the turn—but cumulatively the loss in performance probably would be just as great comparatively as in the case of a sprinter, even though it might not be apparent to the runner himself. The Fight in Retrospect Although there may have been a difference of opinion about Hanhams win on points over Roy Stevens of Auckland at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening when the former's middle-weight title was at stake, there could be no disputing the fact that Hanham was the superior boxer. It is true that points should be given for attack but as boxing is the art of selfdefence points must also be given for effective defence. Stevens proved himself an attractive performer and gave the impression that he had only to land cleanly with either hand to have the title in his grasp. Hanham did th° better of the two with scoring punch as Stevens' defence is not his forte He is essentially an attacking boxer and against any other middle- ' weight in New Zealand than Hanham I he would probably have won by the short route. Although the bout was not colourful, in that there were no knockdowns, it suffered nothing as a clean scientific exhibition of the sport Hanham knew he was opposed to a I dangerous opponent and was more I “oysterish” than usual. His strategy and tactics could not be faulted an i it is to his credit that he successfully defeated the ends of his hard-hitting opponent The Timaru Boxing Association is to be congratulated on the bill of fare which it served, and the packed house which witnessed Thursday's bout ou<rh' to encourage the Association to bid for the best matches procurable. If Stevens were matched with Bos Murnhy—the latter appears to be in a class bv himself as a welter-weiehi it w’ould draw another capacity I house.