MATERIAL FOR OLYMPIC GAMES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18063, 25 January 1927, Page 5

MATERIAL FOR OLYMPIC GAMES.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS ARE BOOMING IN N.Z

"A wave of enthusiasm in amateur athletics is spreading over the country,” said Mr E. Guy, a member of the council of the New Zealand Athletic Association, to an interviewer today. Mr Guy arrived from the north and is on his way to Invercargill. "It is largely the result of the visit of the Americans, Scholz and Hahn,’ he said. "Up in Hawke’s Bay, where three years ago there were no athletic clubs whatsoever, there are now strong clubs in Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke and Waipawa. Gisborne has a club which is probably the strongest country club in the Dominion. They are trying to form a centre there. In Nelson, where the sport has been practiextinct for years, there is now a very strong club. They are in a position to invite twelve or fifteen of the best, amateurs from Wellington to attend their big meeting on Anniversary Day. Those going over will include Rose. Kyle, Sutherland, Flett, Newton (Wanganui), and the best of the lady athletes. "We have some very promising material for the Olympic Games. It is safe to say that Miss Eastwood, who is by far the most outstanding lady athlete in Australasia, would do very well indeed in the big events. Stanley Lay, the Hawera javelin thrower, would bring a world’s championship back to New Zealand after the Games. In the North Island we hold a very high opinion of Grose, the Canterbury cyclist, and his performance in the Wellington road race, under deplorable conditions, was excellent indeed. He is a likeable boy and can always be assured of a good reception from a North Island crowd. "It is undoubtable that Lamb, once he has settled down, will give exhibitions of cycling that it has not been our pleasure to see in this country for some years. His trouble here so far has been riding on the grass _ tracks. His present method will not bring him success on the grass tracks, as he claps on too much speed on the corners for a flat track, and his machine won’t stand up to it. He is looking forward to riding on the banked tracks at Wanganui and Christchurch, where he hopes to duplicate the performances that made him the champion over all distances in Australia. “ The way he has been performing on grass has been very creditable and far above the attempts of Harry Burness, the last Australian visitor, who failed dismally in his first appearance in Wellington, but later when he was used to the conditions, defeated all the local cracks.” ■With regard to the council's attitude towards professionalism, Mr Guy said that it was their opinion that amateurism was for the good of the community as well as for the good of the individual athlete. It was very bad for an athlete to forsake his proper walk in life because he may be a little more proficient than his companions at some branch of sport. His proficiency would last a few years at best, and then he would have nothing to fall back upon. “ Rose,” Mr Guy continued, " has given ample demonstration since he has been back that his style has greatly benefited from his experience abroad. His Wellington running showed that it had improved 100 per cent. He used to be somewhat ungainly, but now he is absolutely machinelike, and his arm action is perfect. When he was running in Wellington in the two-mile race he actually lapped a man, but he thought he was merely overtaking one of the limit handicap men. He concentrated on passing him, did so, and then eased up to win without being extended. His time for that race was only four seconds under the Australasian record, and had he gone all out, he could easily have broken it. Rose says that George Hyde will have to look to his laurels, as he (Rose) will a serious attempt to beat him for the three-mile Australasian championship in the Australasian meeting which will be held in Wellington at the end of the year. I have seen Hyde run, and he is a pretty little runner, but I. think that when Rose is properly fit again he will put up the same great times as he did before he went away, and will beat Hyde.”