FOUR-MILE RELAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1940, Page 7

FOUR-MILE RELAY

ATTEMPT ON WORLD RECORD JUST FAILS DISPARITY IN RECORDED TIMES. BIG CROWD AT MASTERTON PARK. The Now Ztpiland representative team—\V. A. C. Pnllar (Maslerlmi). T. Allen (Dunedin). (11. Matthews (('liristelnirc.li) and V. I’. Hoot (Wellington) failed by a narrow margin to break the lour mile relay record (established by the Indiana (’Diversity, I’.S.A. in 1937), before flu l largest crowd seen at an athletic meeting in Masterton for many years, at the Park Oval on Saturday a I’ternoon.

The event commenced promptly at 3.45 o’clock, Pullfir being the first man away. Commencing at a steady pace he clocked in 64 secs for the first quarter mile. Maintaining his consistent stride he covered the next quarter in 65 secs, to complete the half mile in

2min 9 secs. In the third quarter the effort began to tell, but Pullar kept up his pace to register 66 secs. Although he appeared distressed, he completed the mile in 4mins 21 secs. Allen then took the baton, to cover the first quarter in 62 l-ssec. and the half mile in 2mins 7 2-ssecs. The third quarter he covered in 3mins 13 secs. Striding out steadily, he clocked the mile in at 4 mins 19 2-ssecs. Matthews, in a magnicent effort covered the distance in 4mins 18 secs. In his effortless style Matthews did the first quarter in 61 3-5 secs, the second in 2mins 7 secs; the j’-mile in 3mins 13 secs, and the full distance in 4mins 18 secs. He received prolonged applause from the crowd. Excitement was tense when Boot received, the baton for the final mile, as the breaking of the record appeared to be in sight. The huge gallery was keyed up when Boot clocked in 60 secs for the first quarter. The applause was almost deafening when he covered the half-mile in 2mins 5 secs. In the third quarter, however, Boot look 8 seconds more, to complete the if-mile. in the same time as Allen and Matthews. In the midst of a solid roar of excitement Boot finished the final lap to cover the mile in 4mins 18Jsecs, and the tension was over. The track was in splendid order and fully maintained its reputation as being the fastest track in New Zealand. By distributing the crowd around the oval there was perfect wind protection.

A dilemma then confronted officials as none of the four stop watches registered the same time. According to one

watch ,the record had been broken by a second. The other three showed that the attempt had failed. The watches had all been tested during the past week, and checked with a chronometer, yet all registered different times. An average was taken from all four readings and the time of 17 minutes 17 2-5 secs, was announced as the official time. As the world record time was 17 min 16 1-5 secs, the attempt failed by 1 l-ssecs. Messrs W. M. Sellar, R. C. Wyeth,

G. Gregory (Masterton) and O. Dare (Auckland) put up very creditable times as pace-makers. The other events were keenly contested and some exciting finishes were witnessed. Among the athletes from all parts of the Dominion were G. Quinn (a Wellington provincial championship title-holder); J. Sutherland (a former Wellington junior provincial champion last year); J. P. Eastwood (Masterton, ex provincial champion and

New Zealand University title holder); P. J. Kissell (Wellington 100 and 220 yards junior champion); W. H. Roberts (an old provincial champion); D. J. Butler (one of the best half-milers in Wellington today); W. H. Fulton (Wellington sprinter), and A. Cochrane (Wellington, and former provincial champion), in addition to many other notable local athletes. ’ The sports officials wish to thank the

following donors of souvenir trophies for the 4 x 1 relay: Messrs H. M. A. Major. D. Buchanan, G. W. Sellar, A. McDonald, J. M. James and W. Brady. The outstanding success of the sports meeting was due in no small measure to the work of the secretary. Mr W. M. Sellar, and his large band of sporting enthusiasts who rendered splendid voluntary assistance. Following are the results:

100 yards men's senior handicap— First heat: A. Cochrane (Wellington) 1; G. Quinn (Wellington), 2; D. Stratton (Masterton), 3. Time lOisecs. Second heat: R. Kidd (Wellington), 1; E. Todd (Wellington), 2; J. Sutherland (Wellington) 3. Time 10.1 secs. Third heat: E. J. Wardle (Dannevirke) 1; W. Fulton (Wellington). 2; H. B. Bowyer (Wellington), 3. Time 10 2-5 secs. Final: R. Kidd. 1; E. Todd. 2; J. Sutherland 3. Time 10 secs.

100 yards men’s junior handicap.— First heat: B. Kennedy (Wellington), 1: S. Beals (Petone). 2. Time 101 secs Second heat: A. Ingram (Wellington) 1; J. Harrington (Masterton), 2; W. F. Russell (Eketahuna), 3. Time 10 2-5 secs. .

Final. —-A. Ingram. 1: J. Harrington. 2; S. Beals. 3. Time 101 secs. 75 yards ladies’ handicap.—Firs' heat: M. Olliver (Danncvirke), 1; J Grantham (Masterton). 2; J. Crampton (Wellington) 3. Time 9 secs. Second heat: B. McGrath (Palmerston North) 1; M. Brett (Masterton). 2: M. Donaldson (Dannevirke). 3. Time 9 secs. Final: M. Donaldson. 1: M. Olliver. 2; B. McGrath. 3. Time 8 8-10 secs. Putting the shot, handicap: W. Burns (Masterton). 34ft 7in. 1; D. Faulknor (Masterton). 33ft Ilins. 2: .1. Watt (Masterton). 33ft 9ins. 3. 880 yards men's handicap: D. J. Butler (Wellington). 1: C. Carter (Wellington), 2; J. Wickens (Masterton), 3. Time 1.55 4-ssecs. 100 yards men's short limit handicap: —J. Sutherland. 1: G. Quinn. 2. Time lOsecs. 220 yards men's junior handicap: First heat: S. Beales (Eketahuna). 1: D. Adams (Carterton). 2: W. F. Russell 3. Time. 23 4-ssecs Second heat: A. Ingram, 1: P. J. Kissell (Wellington). 2; I. Bold (Petone), 3. Final: I. Bold. 1: P. J. Kissell. 2; A. [ngram. 3. Time 25 2-5 secs. 440 yards men's senior flat handicap: J. P. Eastwood (Masterton), I; E. Meurk (Pahiatua). 2; J. Wickens. 3. Timo 50sees. Long jump handicap:— J. D. Sharp

(Petone). 21ft Bins, 1; W. Fulton. 21fl sins, 2; D. Faulknor, 21ft 3in.

220 yards men’s senior handicap:—E. Todd. 1; D. Stratton (Masterton). 2; E. Meurk. 3. Time 22 4-5 secs. Second heat: R. Kidd, 1; A. Schaare (Dannevirke). 2; G. Quinn. 3. Time 22 1-5. Final: R. Kidd. 1; E. Todd, 2; A. Schaare 3. Time 22 1-5 secs. 100 yards ladies' handicap. First heat: J. Newman (Wellington). 1; J. Crampton. 2; J. Grantham (Masterton). 3. Time 11 4-ssecs. Second heat: B. McGrath, 1; M. Donaldson, 2; A. Russell (Eketahuna), 3. Time 12secs. Final: B. McGrath, 1; J. Crampton. 2; J. Newman. 3. Time 11 3-ssecs. Hop. step and jump handicap:—J. D. Sharpe. 44ft Bins. 1; E. Jaspers (Masterton). 44ft. lin. 2; A. Cochrane. 43ft Ilins, 3. 440 yards men’s junior flat handicap: I. Bold. 1; A. Coombs (Wellington). 2; H. Hayes (Masterton). 3. Time 52secs. TIME AMENDED It was discovered that one of the stop watches had not been started with the flash of the pistol, and for official timing purposes this watch was discarded. It is necessary under international rules to take the longest time in the event of the watches registering different times. In light of this development the official time will now be 17 minutes 18 4-ssecs.