G. L. NICOLL BEATS DR PELTZER IN 1000 YARDS HANDICAP RACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 4

G. L. NICOLL BEATS DR PELTZER IN 1000 YARDS HANDICAP RACE.

Great Enthusiasm Is Shown At International Amateur Meeting.

Remarkable public enthusiasm was evident at the international amateur athletic meeting staged by the Canterbury Centre at Lancaster Park last evening. It was the occasion of the visit of the famous German runner. Dr Otto Peltzer, holder of the world's halfmile record, and his seventeen-year-old compatriot, Gerhard Emton. Considering that the meeting took place at 5.30 p.m., the attendance of a crowd of over two thousand was a striking indication of the interest that Peltzer Is able to stimulate in athletics wherever he goes. An outburst of hand-clapping greeted the visitors when they appeared on the Oval, and rousing cheers and renewed hand-clapping followed their formal introduction to the crowd. There was a generous tribute from sympathetic followers of amateur sport. No other visiting athletes have been more popularly received. The quest for thrilling athletics led the spectators to the meeting, and they did not go home disappointed. Excitement was the crowning feature of the meeting, and clamorous cheering more than once broke out from the crowd. A surprise was sprung in the prin- , clpal event, which was a handicap of ! 1000 yards, in which Dr Peltzer set out to break the world’s record. He was beaten by G. L. Nicoll, whose outstanding effort places him in a most favourable light. The starters were:—-O. Peltzer scr, G. L. Nicoll 25yds, N. J. Suckling 25 yds, O. C. Harley 26yds, D. W. Bain 25yds, I*. E. Smith 35yds, and L. G. Willis 35yds. The field got away from a good start, and frequent changes of leaders took them along at a smart pace. It was evident that Peltzer was not going to have an easy task. The men in front, consciously or unconsciously, had formed themselves Into i a team, and at the conclusion of the first lap had gained on the champion. Going past the judges for the second time, the order was Nicoll, Harley, Smith, Bain, Willis, Suckling and Peltzer. There were two more changes, but with three hundred yards to go Nicoll again had the lead from Harley. Peltzer meantime had been running smoothly, and had gradually gained on the remaining members of the field, some of whom were tiring. A furlong from home, Peltzer showed magnificent action. long easy strides taking him rapidly over the ground. A hundred and fifty yards from home all except Nicoll, Harley and Peltzer were done with. Nicoll came into the straight just ahead of Harley, and commenced to ! move away from him with a burst of speed that was inspiring. Gradually Peltzer gained ground in an amazingly easy manner. Harley was tiring, but stuck it out with dogged determination. The last twenty yards saw Nicoll slowing down. It was clear that Peltzer did not have enough speed to overtake him, though the German made a gallant effort, his stride being unfaltering and determined. Nicoll breasted the tape, amidst loud cheering, eight yards ahead of Peltzer, who had got up to beat Harley by a yard. It was a magnificent finish. Nicoll’s time was 2min 16sec, and that of Peltzer 2min 18 l-ssec. The attempt on the record was not successful. The official- time is 2min 12 2-ssec, which was first recorded by M. W. Shepphard at New York in 1910, and equalled by L/. Brown at Philadelphia in 1921. The unofficial record is 2min 11 l-ssec, which was established last year by C. Ellis, at Stamford Bridge. Peltzer*s time, however, is the fastest registered in New Zealand. Obviously disappointed at not winning, Peltzer complained that he had been asked to concede too great a handicap. He had not been able to get into contact with the field, and had had to run a hard race against the wind. He then asked that the next event (the 440 yards scratch race) be delayed, so that he could start. The programme was promptly altered, a quarter-mile short limit race being substituted for the scratch event. Peltzer, starting from scratch, conceded ten yards to the limit men. It was a magnificent race, in which the visitor showed his full powers, finishing with characteristic determination. From the start, A. Bullivant and D. TV. Bishop set a fast pace, Bullivant leading. Peltzer moved up from the rear to overtake Suckling, but lost ground owing to Suckling not being able to maintain the pace set by the leader. Suckling dropped out, and Peltzer then commenced another brilliant effort. Bullivant and Bishop had moved smartly, and there was great excitement when this pair, with a yard separating them, entered the straight with a lead of five yards from the swiftly moving Peltzer. There was a great struggle in the straight, Peltzer winning out to breast the tape less than a yard ahead of Bullivant, who was a yard and a half in front of Bishop. There was another outburst of cheering. The time was 51 2-ssec. Considering that a strong easterly wind was encountered for part of the course in the distance races, the times were more than creditable. Emton made two appearances, winB 3 SB SB SB SB 111 SB EE SB 111 111 SB SB S 3 SB S IS m SB g

ning the shot-putting event against men of greater build and strength. In the 100 yards secondary schoolboys’ race he ran second to J. B. MacFarlane, of the Boys' High School. Peltzer and Emton returned to Wellington at the conclusion of the meeting. 100 YARDS HANDICAP. First heat: G. F. Hart. (syds) 1, R. Cordery (scr) 2. Time—lo 3-ssec. Second heat: J. M'Farlane (65yds) 1, J. J. Devonport (75yds) 2. Time—lo l-ssec. Third heat: R. E. Dixon (syds) 1, J. A. Gasson (4Jyds) 2. Time—lo l-ssec. Fourth heat: L. G. Wooller (6yds) 1, J. J. Brownlee (3yds) 2. Time—lo l-ssec. Fifth heat: R. Carmichael (9yds) 1, K. Edmonds (45yds) 2. Time—lo 3-ssec. Final. MacFarJfrne l Hart 2 Edmonds 3 A splendid race, resulting in one of the closest finishes seen this season. Time—lo l-ssec. 100 YARDS SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ SCRATCH RACE. J. B. MacFarlane (8.H.5.) 1 ?. Emton (Germany) 2 G. M. Martin (8.H.5.) 3 Won by two yards, MacFarlane finishing strongly with too much speed for Emton. Time—-10 2-6 sec. ONE MILE HANDICAP. M. Cook (135yds) 1 W. L. Sargison (60yds) 2 C. C. Smith (90yds) 3 Cook won easily, making a great dash over the last hundred yards. Sargison also ran in convincing style. Time—4min 27 3-ssec. 1000 YARDS INVITATION HANDICAP. G. L. Nicoll (25yds) ... j O. Peltzer (scr) 2 O. C. Harley (25yds) 3 Won by eight yards, a yard between second and third. Time —2min 16sec. 220 YARDS OPEN HANDICAP. First heat: R. Flewellyn (35yds) 1 R. Cordery (scr) 2. Time—2s 3-5 sec! Second heat: K. Edmonds (9yds) 1 G Hart (12yds) 2. Time —23 l-ssec. Third “k- G £ 3S PP (11yds) 3. M. Candy (20yds) and G. M. Martin (9yds), equal 2. Time—23 3-ssec. Fourth heat: J. J. Devonport (13yds) 1, L. Radburnd (18yds) 2. Time—23 3-ssec. Fifth heat: H. C. Williams (14yds) 1, J. Murphy (4yds) 2. Time—23 3-ssec. Final. Flewellyn • i Gasson • .... 2 Edmonds *‘ * * g A good race, with a close finish. Time —23 sec. PUTTING THE SHOT (161 b). G. Emton, 84ft lin j A. E. Joseph, 33ft Sin 2 J. J. Brownlee, 29ft 2in 3 440 YARDS SHORT LIMIT HANDICAP Peltzer (scr) i Bullivant (10yds) 2 Bishop (Byds) 3 Won by less than a yard. Time—--51 2-ssec.

EVENING MEETING.

HANDICAPS DECLARED. The handicaps for the evening meeting at Lancaster Park to-night are as follow: 120yds Open Handicap.—First heat: M. Leadbetter scr, A. B. Clark 45yds, P. Ensor 7yds, G. Hart Byds, K. Mortlock 11yds, R. Carmichael 125yds, W. Cox —. Second heat: R. Cordery 25yds, T. S. Simpson 45yds, C. Atyeo 7yds, A. Bullivant 9yds, H. Gibbons 11yds, C. D. Burn 14yds, C. R. Boyd 15yds. Third heat: J. Murphy 25yds, J. Bamford syds, J. Gasson 75yds, H. C. Williams 105yds, R. L. Russell 12yds, E. K. Simpson 13yds, M. Candy 14yds. Fourth heat: H. Cox 3yds, J. J. Brownlee 55yds, K. Edmonds 75yds, C. W, Murray 104yds, R. Flewellyn 12yds, R. Ross 135yds, L. Watson 15yds. 120yds Ladies’ Race—E. Martyn scr, M. Boyd 3yds, M. M'Kenzie Byds, M. Nelligan 85yds, L, Alexander 9yds. 120yds Hurdles—M. Mullany scr, J. Henderson scr, P. Ensor Byds bhd, R. Neville 10yds bhd. 880yds Handicap—D. Bain 25yds, R. Poff 30yds, L. Smith 30yds, L. Willis 35yds, W- R. Robinson 35yds, C. C. Smith 40yds, D- Coleman 40yds, H. W. Thompson 45yds, H. Haworth 45yds, R. Hyde 55yds, W. Dromgoole 60yds, M. D. Cooke 60yds, L. C. Richards 70yds, J. J. Price 70yds, F. Weyman 70yds, C. S. Barren 75yds, R. Ratcliffe 80yds, E. Sayers 80yds, R. Wright 90yds, C. R. Boyd 100yds, L. Polaschek 110yds, J. Robinson —.