ATHLETICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16323, 12 January 1921, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

NOTES ON EVENTS.

(By “ SPRINTER.’’) There will tie a meeting of the Can terbury Centre at Mr Moss Ballin a rooms at 0.10 o'clock to-morrow evening In view of the approaching championships the meeting should be a very interesting one. It is reported that the Oxford and Cambridge University Athletic Clubs have decided to delete the throwing the hammer event from their 1922 programme. The Olympic representative. H Wilson, appeared at the Paraparanmu amateur athletic sports on New Year's Day. winning the 120yds hurdles handicap and high jump handicap. M ilson gave a fine display of hurdling, doing 3.“ see from 2yds "behind. He won the high jump from scratch with a leap of sft Sin, hut did not accept any privet, these going to the competitors who finished second to him. The University of Pennsylvania has sent a formal invitation to the athletic director at the University of Paris inviting a. French track team to compete in the big rrlav meet at Franklin Field in April next. It is also hoped that a. combined Oxford and Cambridge team will again take the field. When the combined English team visited the States-for the meeting last season the team in the two mile relay race created 3 sensation bv putting up n- new world" 1 s record for the event, all the members of the team putting up splendid performance*.

O l‘h‘ Moss Ballin. secrvtary of the Ca n—ter'bu'ry (Tenn-9‘ spent 11w. Christmas holidays in Auckland. and during hss shay saw quite. a lot of Auckland‘s 3th» letos. The Auckland Amateur Athletic Association put on an afternoon meei—ing on Christmas Days at. Remixera, the: chief feature of which was; The first appearance since his return from the Ulympin Games of George- David:4o“. llr Ballin, who acted as referee at the meming: ccnsidcrs that Davidson has filled out in several ways sincp his last. appearance in New Zealand‘ and if he can. only retain his present weighthe should smash several New Zealand l’C-‘f‘o‘l‘ds. Although far from well on Christmas Day he competed in three events, winning; two of them. The Limos “ore, nothing wonderful—22 1-5 5:013 for 2‘2"}‘ds and In 'l—Ssea for 1003'ds ~~~the ground being. if anything, against, fast times. but the manner in which he finished his races augurs well for the future. _ _

‘ O A. “: Barman holdei‘wwith H. G. Hurk‘of Ihr: New Zealalm record for ESdes (Imin 38 1-5590. was on the ground. but. did not compete. owing to indispoaitlon. Sir Banin expressed the (:piniun that it was doubtful if Dormer wn'uld ever regain his form of 1912 and 1918, when he ran some great races and won a number of championships. Prior to the war he joinod the professional Tanks and was. competing with {neat success amongst cash runners when the “‘ar brnkp ouf. At the C 93sa‘tiun of hostilities Dormer, with :1 number of othen, \\ as re—instated In the amateur ranks. Last year he Won the New Zenland Chan!pionships for the harfimile and mile. at \Vellington. and was second in the Australasian championships (war the same distances, Even then he wasnbout 6501‘: CBS his best time for the halfmiile and lOsec ofi his best time for the mile. In conversation with ’Mr Balliu, he oxpreased the hope that a good middle—distance man would come out this year to give him a_run for the championships. As one who has seen bofh rllll— perform and has known Dormer for many vpars. Mr Baliin rousiders that he will have to he right nt the ton of' his form to beat C. H. Taylor this year.

'A good distance runner came to light at Auckland on Christmas Day in R. \V. Webber, a, ’\'arsity student. He is built on small lines, and there seems to be no doubt about his staying powers. “ The manner in which he won the halfv mfle and mile," said Mr Ballin. “ labe‘s him. as the probable Winner of the threemile championship of New Zealand.“

The visitor was not. at all impressed with the standard of the field events, film performances in all of them being poor. especially the hanlmervthrowing. In: a, mile walk, tool the performance was h." no means good. The judges for this event were )lessrn \Vilson and Dickie, former champions of Auckland. MT Ballin said that he would “at be surprised to see Dave TVilson turn out by contest fhia year‘s New Zealand vhampwuship.

Q It is about twsut-y years since “‘ilson hrat aypeaj‘ed and he still looks as young as he did then. He won the Australian championship some years ago. It is a peculiar fact, ”mt, though Wilson's walking was always ques—tioned, a photograph taken at the tame of the race shows him to be in full contact. with the ground. Whilst Barrett. the. great Victorian walkar whom “‘ilson defeated. is seen To have hath feet off the ground. This rare took place round about. 1902—3. and the photograph may sh]! he Set-‘ll at the Auckland Sports Club.

The Aur‘klanders are making every effort to make ibis year‘s New Zealand ohampmnshipg menfdng a huge sum-eras, and in Conversation with hip“ .\lnrtpn, secretary nf the Auvkland (‘s-ntre. Mr Ballin was infrmmcd Hmf. with ”In good support that was homing from ihe Auckland t‘ifiznns. the success of fhe meeting was assured.

A‘ ”W athletic meeting held at Auckland on C'hriafmas Da). Mr J. Bryce, the welLkn-W’n Eacal fretting trainer. acted as n timekeem’r.

If is FP‘m in Christchurch that Canterbury should be reprvseuted at the New Zmzlzmd (‘llab‘lrflonshlflfi by only a few atlilotes. l‘nzt ihi: is not at all satisfactory ta Mr Ballil‘v. wlm' is of the opinion that if a full team could be finang‘od ior Canterbury if is very likely ”ssl the team would bring the rhampionsliip llDl’Hll’i‘ back (,0 this prorince‘ Discussing tlm various event:. Mr .Ballin said that he realised that Davidson could not br- beahnn i'- the splints. but seconds would count, and he IIODPd that ("anterbm‘y's best sprinter will he sent. TVitli regard to ‘he dismur-Fs. Taylor‘s chance: were second to none and 'he picks Canterbury to win the quarter. half and mile championships. The Walks would be probabli~ won by a \Vcllingtoman, buthere again places- would count. and strong efioris should he, made to discover a walker in this province. "The 120‘yds hurdles would certainly go‘ to Wellington, the 440de hurdles are problematical,~and if J. BL P. Garrick would only specialise over this distance he would be almost certain to carry the event, off. in the jumping events ~long jump, high jump and hop, step and jump—Canterbury would iiaré quite as good a chance as any other province though men would have to be found for the hammer throwing and weight putting. . . '

Auckland athletctrare taking a big

iutm‘est in tho: dm‘ngs of (‘3 FT. TaylnL and are Oagefly looking: fnrwnrd to his meefingg with Dormm‘. Although evening mefirings are no! often puf on in the northern city. +1163 are Very kwn. and am holding, another afternoon meeting on lanuary 25?. The publitr. Loo. seem to be supporting the sport as the attendance at their Christmas meeting was the but for quitu a long time. The next meeiing, by the way. is to sort out repretentfliva.‘ for vhe New Zealand championships r c D The Canterburv champiouS'hips meet—ing Wm take place at, Lancaster Park nekt month. the date VP‘I'V m‘nbablr heing either February 5 01‘ Februaly 19‘

The svening meeting which was. to take place to—night under the manage:— mem of the Canterbury CUHege Club has been postgoned until next Tuesday. when a 220}’ s handicap and 880yds handicap WIT: be put mL The com—bined clubs’ afternoon meeting has had to be dropped altogether.