POINTS OF INTEREST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 427, 19 November 1930, Page 5

POINTS OF INTEREST

COMMENT ON U.S.A. TAIHAPE ENTHUSIASM. By “Two-Twenty.” I When talking with “Sam” Gudsell, [who has been visiting Wanganui, “Two Twenty” was struck with the intensive methods of training adopted in America. Over there it is more a sport for the “cracks.” The ordinary man does not see as much of the trainers as he might. That is, from our point of view. But it is» quite easy to see why the Americans turn out some of the finest, runners in the world. Many of the most prominent athletes come from the universities, this being aided by the fact that numbers of the students carry on to an age that is in excess of the age at which most students In New Zealand leave ’Varsity. Effective Diet. For a start the coach is an expert himself, and is paid anything to about £5OO a year. He would pick out quite a number to train, say for the half and quarter. These would be narrowed down to about six. Each week the candidates for a big event would be medically examined, and each month they would be thoroughly overhauled by a doctor. They had to fill in a diet chart every day, putting down everything that they had eaten. One week they might be advised to “eat more green stuff,” or “cut down on that.” By that procedure care was taken that the athlete did no “burn himself out.” No absolute rule is laid down, as the view is taken that a man would be thinking about it too much. If a man is a heavy smoker, no definite law would be »et down not to smoke, but he would be advised not to smoke unless he must. He would not fret then. The effect on the mind would not be injurious, as that would do as much harm as the actual smoking.

Chocolate Produces Energy. One thing that “Sam” Gudsell found ou the other side was that most of the fellows ate chocolate as an energy producer. He said he would advise any who were taking the practice on, and they would find it a good one, to eat only plain chocolate. The coaches, too, used to make their men take a couple of spoon fulls of honey before a race. Honey was nearly all sugar, and sugar was a great energy maker. If too much were taken it would produce thirst. The practice was not needed so much in New Zealand as there was far more sunlight here. In Canada there was only a little sun during the indoor sea son, and it was a practice for the athletes to have ultro-violet ray baths. These baths wore taken aboyt three times a week and did more good towards fast times than anything else. Wanganui Draw. In the programme for December 6 there is a special walk in which Hill, of Wellington, and S. Gudsell will meet. Hill, by the way, is ’the New Zealand champion. It is rumoured that L. Wakely is going to take up walking again. He would be welcomed, as he is a walker of no mean order. The Taihape and District Amateur

Athletic Club is now affiliated, and stands with everything in order. The club is going hard for the electric light meetings, and k in the happy position of having been promised quite a lot of support from the Borough Council. It is indeed pleasing to see that the local body is assisting the amateur code.

The first twilight meeting will be run on Friday, December b, at 6.30 p.m. The events will be a 75 Yards, a 440, and a Half-mile Cycle. If the date is available, an electric light meeting will be held on We. nesday, January 14. The Taihape Club is to be favoured with a benefit concert on December 5, arranged by Mrs Hayes, L.T.C.L. Two of the club conveners are S. L. Lowndes, late of the Pctoue Club, ana W J. Burke, late of the Invercargill Club. Both have made their appearance on the track. Don Evans has settled down to serious training.

The track has been recently topdressed, and cyclists have been given permission to use it, so will be seen in action this week.

Public support is stated to be splendid. is half the battle, and if the support keeps constant, the clafe can look forward to a successful season. Old-Time Champion Passes. A Dunedin telegram announces the death of William Victor Kingston, aged 55, who was a well-known amateur runner and winner of the 250yds. New Zealand championship in 1895, and the 250yds and 440yds championships in 1899.