A NOTED ATHLETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1938, Page 4

A NOTED ATHLETE

TO COMPETE IN MASTERTON. MEETING AT PARK TONIGHT.. The visit of Pat Boot, the Empire Games half mile title holder, is causing considerable interest in local circles. Ever since the Masterton Park Oval has been in existence the Park track has helped to produce New Zealand Champions’. In the pre-war era there were many notable professional runners, some of whom are still with us. Old timers will remember Norman McEwan, Ernie Tooby, Vin Richards, Billy White (the maiden chafnpion), Eugene Dixon, Barney Larsen, Alf Wilton, and Jack Johnson. Among the amateurs there were Jack Bradbury, the late Roy Messenger (who was killed in the war), the late Jock Berry (who died in Melbourne), Bob McKenzie, the late Oscar Gallie (who was killed in the Great War) and George Harvey, the New Zealand champion pole vaulter. In the post-war era the doings of Randolph Rose rather overshadowed the other runners, but W. Candy, was 440 New Zealand champion, Ralph Gully was provincial champion, T. Vangioni hurdles champion. Claude Hausmann is at present long jump and hurdles representative. The Eastwoods although doing much of their running in Wellington, gained their experience on the Masterton Park Oval. On top of this for the last forty years Masterton has produced cyclists of note the best known, of whom is still Tom Oakley, the present holder of the world’s unpaced two miles grass track record. It is to be hoped that the visit of Boot tonight will see the revival of the former interest in these athletic events. The fact that W. Pullar is- living here has been reflected in the many excellent performances put up at the Wairarapa College. The meeting will commence at 6 o’clock, and Boot will make his appearance shortly after G. 30 o’clock.