ROSE ARRIVES FIT AND WELL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17780, 25 February 1926, Page 7

ROSE ARRIVES FIT AND WELL.

COULD HAVE DONE BETTER TIME AT MASTERTON.

THE CHAMPION CONFIDENT OF VICTORY ON SATURDAY. Well over six feet in height and looking a picture of physical fitness, the Australasian champion runner. R A. Rose, arrived in Christchurch from Master ton this morning. He is accompanied by his regular trainer, Mr O'Donnell, under whose supervision he has been training steadily for the test mile race with the American champion, Lloyd Hahn, at the English Park Stadium next Saturday night. He is extremely modest, this great champion, as all real champions are, and when interviewed by a “ Star ” representative on arrival he was very diffident about talking at length on his own achievements. He smiled when questioned r egarding his nnlo record at Masterton last Saturday night. “ It was the easiest run of my life,” he said “T had no idea during the race that 1 was breaking the record, although. of course, the pace was on and 1 knew the time would be good. Had I really gone out to do utmost I could have cut a couple of seconds off the recorcL” Rose's trainer, Mr O'Donnell, said that his charge is in the absolute pink of condition, and his action has improved out of all knowledge. He went three laps on Monday night with ITeffer, a prominent Wairarapa distance runner, when the latter pulled out and a 440yds sprinter essayed to finish the last lap with Rose, but the champion's stamina is inexhaustible and he was an easy first to the tape. Rose is looking forward to next Saturday’s race and is quietly confident of victory, although he expects it to be the hardest contest of his career. Rose and his trainer went out. to English Park this morning, where Rose indulged in stead}* work. He is accustomed to the Stadium track, as he ran there last year, easily defeating the Australian distance runners, Whyte and Hyde.

After his training work this morning, Rose said he did not like the track, which had a lot of holes in it. At the northern end it sloped downwards towards the asphalt cycle track, while the bend into the straight was a most awkward one, especially if one man wanted to pass another. “ And that is where the pressure will be on,’’ added the New Zealand champion. Speaking of his two previous races with Hahn, KoSe said they were very similarly run, though of course the heavy wind made a big difference at Wellington. However, he was much more confident at Wellington as he was a much fitter man. He anticipates that the third race will be run on similar lines to the other two contests, and is fully prepared for what promises to be the greatest mile race ever run in New’ Zealand.