EMPIRE GAMES

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 65, 18 February 1938, Page 3

EMPIRE GAMES

OUR SHOWING RISE IN STANDARD. The third series of Empire Games is completed, and the net result to New Zealand is one of emphatic satisfaction. In the first series, at Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, our representatives carried off but one title—the six-mile event won by J. W. Savidan; and in the next Games, at London in .1934, J. W. Lovelock, in winning’ the mile race, was the only title winner. Our oarsmen performed well in Canada, as also did A. J. Elliott in the middle-distance sprints; in 1934, at London, S. N. Crump in the hundred yards swim and J. Grose in the cycle races also got places. But these qualified successes did not prepare New Zealanders for the triumphs of C. B. Matthews in. the three and six mile events, of V. P. Boot in the half-mile, and of our bowlers. The latter, indeed, were inconspicuous in their first effort in the 1934 series. UNEXPECTED SUCCESSES. So far as our bowlers are concerned, it was,, realised that the rinks in 1934 were not representative of the Dominion’s real strength, and that those sent to Sydney would give us a real line on our standing with the rest of the Empire. The measure of success they enjoyed, however, was not anticipated. Similarly, the high quality of our distance runners was not realised, until they demonstrated it against the best of the Empire in Sydney. It was felt that our swimming champions and women athletes were more likely to prove title-win-ners. They had proved up to former Empire Games standards, but former Empire Games standards were not good enough. Miss Mitchell, of Durgaville, beat the former record in the women’s javelin throw—yet she was only fourth. Matthews and Boot had to go up to Olympic Games winning standards to get their places. All the indications are that the Empire Games standard has rapidly gone up to the Olympic standard. Commenting on the events of last Saturday, the Sydney “Sun” states: “In the seven events contested, six Empire Games records were established, and four Australian records were broken, although the condition of the ground was not conducive to fast times.” MATTHEWS’ CLASSIC. One of the “finds” of the Games was C. H. Matthews, the New Zealand distance man. Respecting his three-mile title win, the “Sun” says:— Reputations meant nothing to C. PL Matthews. The keenest followers of athletics said this three-mile race would be a classic. It was. Matthews, Ward and Rankine, an earnest Canadian, broke far away from the field, and it was soon evident that Hie finish would be decided between these three. Lap after lap, Ward kept only a yard off the heels of Matthews, and those who had followed form were convinced that he was merely allowing Matthews to make the pace until the right opportunity to pass him. Plodding along steadfastly, Rankine fell far behind these two great rivals, and as Matthews and Ward strode into the final lap, experts were saving, “Now is the time that Ward will get to the front.” RECORD HALF-MILE. One of the most remarkable race transformations of the afternoon occurred in the first heat of the halfmile, reports one Sydney critic. Allen, of New Zealand, was running last throughout tin* first lap, and did not appear to have a hope of becoming prominent, but, going into the last lap, he raced around the field and took the lead, which he held to the finish. A further surprise was that he broke the Australian record. Not only this record, but the Empire Games figures as well, were eclipsed in the second heat, for V. P. Boot, a determined New Zealander, swept to the front nearing the finish, and won going a wav from his most capable rival, B. F. McCabe, of England.