HIGH-CLASS FIELDS FOR VARSITY SPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 11

HIGH-CLASS FIELDS FOR VARSITY SPORTS.

MANY FINE RUNNERS COMPETE FOR TITLES.

The varsity athletic championships, to be held on Saturday afternoon, should produce a high standard of performance, and additional interest attaches to the meeting in view of the forthcoming New Zealand University tournament to be held at Auckland at Easter. The Canterbury College Club is one of the strongest athletic clubs in the country, and includes several provincial title-holders, and eight athletes who have competed at a New Zealand championship meeting. Five preliminary events will be decided at Lancaster Park to-night, the 220 yards (heats and final), 440 yards hurdles, one mile flat, long jump and hammer throw. The remaining events will be run off on Saturday afternoon at the Christ's College ground. Canterbury hope to succeed in winning the athletic contest at this year’stournament, and a strong all-round team will be sent to Auckland. Outstanding local men are: J. H. Murphv, E. B. E. Taylor, O. C. Harley, D. W. Bain and G. M’Gregor, all of whom are capable of performances of championship standard. Reviewing the prospects for the club championships, it is found that, while the distance races and field events have attracted two or three outstanding performers, the main all-round strength is in the sprints, where five or six fast men will provide keen and exciting racing. M. Leadbetter is now past his best days, but a -worthy successor has been found in J. H. Murphy, who has held the Canterbury 100yds title. He should win both sprint events in very fast time. He was credited with Tunning “evens” over 100yds last Saturday. Competition for the minor places will be keen, and P. A. M. Williams, R. N. Williams, V. B. Todd and R. O. F. King are all good sprinters. Last year’s representatives, King and Williams, will probably be replaced by Murphy and P. A. M. ’Williams.

Harley in Middle Distances. The 440yds and 880yds events should go to Harley, who is in great form this season. Besides gaining third place in the national 440yds championship, Harley has also broken 2min for the halfmile. He is improving all the time, and is regarded as a coming New Zealand champion. He will be extended in the half-mile by Bain, who may get down to even time. E. Lunn and P. A. M. Williams are good quarter-milers, and the latter may surprise Harley. A great race is promised in the mile

championship, where old rivals in Bain and E. B. E. Taylor meet again. Taylor, ex-Canterbury distance champion, is not yet quite fit, but will be ready by Easter, when he should cover the mile in about 4min 25sec. Bain is running very well just now, and may defeat Taylor at the trials, although the latter* will almost certainly retain: his New Zealand University title at Easter. In the three-miles event, Taylor should win easily, Bain and R. M. Barrer being his most likely rivals. Field Events Are Less Open. The field events appear less open, one or two men standing out. G. M’Gregcr, Canterbury champion, will win the 120 yards hurdles, with A. W. M. Watkins a likely second. Harley should win the quarter-mile hurdles from Lunn, but the time should not be as good as in the shorter race. * In Watkins, Canterbury possesses a brilliant but erratic long jumper. Capable of clearing 22ft, Watkins is just as likely to jump 18ft. M’Gregor is a consistent 20ft jumper, and P. A. M. Williams and Harley have both bettered 20ft. It will be noted that Harley is a fine all-round athlete, and he is capable of good performance in nearly every track and field event.

J. H. Hall, Canterbury champion, who will probably win the hammerthrow, is not eligible for the tournament team. M’Gregor, R. O. F. King and E. E. England will fight out the minor places in this event. England, who throws about 35ft, should annex the shot putt, unless All Black G. T. Alley competes. ' The high jump will probably go to F. R. Askin, who has cleared sft Bin He is a promising jumper, but has not the championship temperament. Watkins and M’Gregor, or J. B. Hair, may fill the places. Canterbury champion walker, E. B. M’Kenzie, will retain his title, but will have to be at his best to defeat C. Ell, a walker of great promise. Many New Runners.

The meeting should be one of the best held for years, and some records should be broken, provided the weather is fine. A feature of this season is the large number of new runners at the college, and it is evident that the future of the club is assured. H. G. Wooler, an ex-Sandhurst runner, who runs a quarter in under 52sec, R. H. Anderson, a good distance runner, and K. G. Manchester, a good sprinter, are among the more promising of the freshers. It is probable that D. F. Anderson, last year’s inter-secondary schools champion over 440yds and 880ycl5, will run for Varsity next season. The team for Auckland will be selec-t ed after the championships on Saturday.