A Welcome Decision.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20504, 4 January 1935, Page 3

A Welcome Decision.

Canterbury sportsmen will welcome the news that C. 11. Matthews, the young Technical distance runner, has been chosen for the New Zealand athletic team to tour Australia this month. Following trials held here last Saturday, when Matthews finished third in the mile and first in the three miles, the selectors suspended judgment pending furthe’r trials between Matthews and A. R. Wilson. Auckland champion. The possessor of a beautiful action, Matthews is the ideal type of man for distance running and but for the fact that he was saving himself for the three miles event. M’Lachlan and Pullar. who finished in front of him in the mile, would probably have had to occupy the minor placings. Matthews made no race of the three miles and once again demonstrated his superiority over the Otago and Dominion distance title-holder, W. A. C. Pullar. Experience gained on the trip should prove to be invaluable to Matthews. Lack of racing experience when up against experienced men has shown itself in Matthews in the form of nervousness and indecision, but after his second defeat of Pullar this disability should disappear. Whether successful or not. the experience gained should make his inclusion well worth while alone and the selectors have j shown a commendable spirit in their decision. With many more years of ! racing ahead of him, Matthews should j develop into a runner approaching : world standard. Club fixtures give him little opportunity to develop, and his best time of 14min 55sec for the ; three miles should be clipped by many j seconds if he is at his best in Australia, i