ATHLETIC SPORTS HELD AT METHVEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS HELD AT METHVEN.

ASSOCIATION REVERTS TO AMATEUR EVENTS.

At the annual gathering: of the Met liven Caledonian Society, amateur athletics were revived in the Methven district on Saturday under particularly favourable circumstances. In recent years the society, which has a large membership and occupies a prominent position among country sporting centres, has been a sponsor of professional athletics; but this season it has turned its atte.ntion wholly to the amateur side, making an outstanding success of its re-entry into the ranks of amateurism. Although a nor’-west gale, typical of Methyen’s summer climate, was blowing, the weather for the greater part of the day was fine and warm, making conditions enjoyable for spectators and competitors. Good fields and keen racing made the events most interesting; and efficient handling of tho programme and arrangements generally made the meeting run smoothly from start to To complete the combination of favourable conditions which made for the success of the meeting a crowd of nearly 1500 spectators attended, a fair number being from Christchurch and Ashburton. Results:— jamming 100YDS MAIDEN HANDICAP. J. S. Wilson T K. C. M’Vinnie . 2 R. M. Tolputt ‘ . 3 Wilson made no race of it once he got fairly into his stride, winning easily. Time—ll sec. 75YDS OPEN HANDICAP. First heat—J. S. Wilson (6Jyds) 1, A. Rowe (6yds) 2, T. G. Kennedy (syds) 3. Time—7 3-ssec. Second heat—G. Harrison (6yds) 3, K. C. M’Vinnie (Ofcyds) 2, J- F- Eamford (2yds) 3. Time— Bsec. Final. Wilson (Methven) 1 Rowe (Ashburton) jj Harrison (Technical) 3 Amongst faster company in this event Wilson was still capable of scoring a decisive victory. Finishing strongly, he won by two feet. A foot separated second and third. Bamtord was fourth. Time— Bsec. • 100YDS OPEN HANDICAP. First heat—R. Shearman (Bvds). 3, A. Rowe (Byds) 2. Time—lo l-ssec. Second heat—J. S. Wilson (8 yds) 1, G. Harrison (Byds) 2. Time—lo l-ssec. Third heat—R. A. Jorgensen (3yds) 1. H. C. Williams (Byds) 2. Time—lo 3-5 Final. Shearman (Ashburton) .... 1 Harrison (Technical) 2 Jorgensen (New Brighton) 3 A splendid race* in which a fast time was recorded. Shearman hud a clear victory by a yard, inches separating Harrison and Jorgensen. The latter made a great effort to run into third place, finishing with plenty of dash. Wilson was left at the mark. Time—lOsec. 220YDS OPEN HANDICAP. First heat—H. C. Cox (syds) 1, L. Radburnd (18yds) 2. Time—24sec. Second heat—R. Shearman (16yds) 1, H. H. Gibbons (31yds) 2. Time—23 2-ssec. Third heat—R. Poff (13yds) 1, L. 11. Watson (9yds) 2. Time —2 3sec. Final. Shearman (Ashburton) 1 Poff (Marist) 2 Cox (Technical) 3 A gruelling finish into the teeth of the nor’-west gale saw Shearman and Poff breast the tape almost together. It was a thrilling race. Time—23sec. 440YDS OPEN HANDICAP. A. Bullivant (Canterbury), 3yds .... 1 L. W. Clark (Sydenham), 40yds .... 2 J. L. Scott (New Brighton), 30yds .. 3 Sullivant, who was on virtual scratch, ran brilliantly, making a great burst over the first 220 yards when tho wind favoured him, and sustaining his effort with little loss when the turn into the straight brought him into the wind. Overhauling the leaders in the straight, he carried on to win by two yards. Inches separated Clark and Scott. Time —sl 2-ssec. BSOYDS OPEN HANDICAP. J.. Hay (New Brighton), 25yds ....... 1 C: Davenport (Canterbury), 90yds .. 2 L. W. Clark (Sydenham), 90yds .... 3 Hay ran a well-judged race, making full use of the wind when it was in bis favour, to open up a comfortable lead on the rest of the field, and winning in good time. Davenport, who made a plucky fin.sh, got up just in time to beat Clark for second place. Time—lmin 58 l-ssec. ONE MILE OPEN HANDICAP. C. Davenport (Canterbury), 175yds 1 R. Coker. 150yds 2 L. C. Richards, 170yds 3 Davenport, a sixteen-year-old youth, scored a fine win over more experienced runners. In a rousing final effort over the last 30 yards he challenged Coker to ** sprint, and proved the better runner by a decisive lead of three yards. Time —4min 28see. ONE MILE HARRIER TEAMS’ RACE. Sydenham (W. L. Sargison, L. C. Fulford, C. S. Barrell and L. W. Clark) 1 New Brighton (J. Hay, L. C. Richards, 11. C. Williams and J. L. Scott) 2 The only starters. The Sydenham runners were placed first., third, fifth and seventh, giving them 16 pionts. The New Brighton team filled the even number places. 150YDS CONSOLATION HANDICAP. HANDICAP. U. Radburnd (Canterbury), 12yds . . 1 H. C. Williams (New Brighton), 7 §yds 2 J. Bamford (Sumner), 3yds 3 yield Events. THROWING THE HAMMER. G. M. Robinson (scr) 1 C. Neil (sft) 2 Distance—9sft 10*in, a good effort. HIGH JUMP HANDICAP. G. M. Robinson (Ashburton) (4in), sft 6in 1 C. Sanderson (Technical) (sin), sft PUTTING THE SHOT HANDICAP. C. Neil (sft) 3 G. M. Robinson (scr) 2 Distance—36ft 7£in. HOP, STEP AND JUMP HANDICAP. J. G. Nelson (Canterbury), scr .... 1 A. D’Auvergne (Ashburton), 30in .. 2 J. Bamford (Sumner), scr 3 Distance—4oft 2£in. LONG JUMP HANDICAP. J. G. Nelson (Canterbury) (6in), J. S. Wilson (Methven) (12in), 20ft 4Jin 2 C. S. Barrell (Sydenham) (15in), 20ft Uin 3 Nelson’s actual jump of 21ft 6in was a particularly good effort. Wilson and Barrell jumped off for second place, having tied at 20ft liin. Wilson improved his jump and got the decision. P. Ensor, who was fourth, jumped 19ft llin. District Events. 75YDS RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RACE. W. Lowry 1 N. Reynolds 2 E. Grigg 3 Won by two yards. Time—Osec. 100YDS, BOYS UNDER 16. R. M. Tolputt 1 N. Ford 2 S. Thompson 3 Won easily. Time—l2see. 100 YDS MARRIED MEN’S RACE. W. Lowery 1 A. Scott 2 R. C. Cameron 3 A close finish, Lowery getting up to beat Scott over the last lew yards. Time—l2sec. BOY SCOUTS’ RELAY. Burrows’s team 1 Owers’s team 2 Berry’s team 3 100 YDS SINGLE WOMEN’S RACE. Miss T. Williams 3 Miss If. Williams 2 Miss G. Owen 3 Won by three yards. Time— r l3sec. HALF-MILE SCHOOLS’ RELAY. Lyndhui-st 1 Convent 2 Won very easily. Time—2min 10 2-5 Dancing. Highland fling—Under ten: Hazel Neil 1, Masie Wilson 2. Iris Johns 3. Under twelve—Lena Lit.hgow 1, Hazel Neil 2, Masie Wilson 3. Sixteen and under: Nancy Spavin 1, Joan Sutherland 2, Joyce Neil 3. previous n°n-prize-winners: Flora Fitt 3, Jean Skilling 2. Kuna Scott 3. County, under eight—lris .Johns 1, Ngarie Day 2, Elaine Wellman 3. County, under thirteen: Selina Grimily 1, Mona Millar 2, Lena Lifhgow 3. Methven, thirteen and under: Josie M’lntosh 1, Iluna Scott 2, Seann Triubhais—Under ten: Hazel Neil 1, Masie Wilson 2, Flora Fitt 3. Under twelve: Hazel Neil 1, Orma Ford 2, Billie Addis 3. Sixteen and under: Nancy Spavin 1, Valmai Skilling 2, Joan Sutherland 3. County, under ten: Iris Johns 1, Ngarie Day 2. Sword Dance—Under 12: Billie Addis 1, Eva Duncan 2, Jean Smith 3. Irish Jig—Sixteen and under: Uminu

Weston 1, Billie Addis 2, Hazel Neil 3. Hornpipe—Sixteen and under: NanoSpavin 1, Emina Weston 2, Mona Miliar 3.