ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 4

ATHLETICS

I— fa. "two-twenty.”

Those who arc taking up athletics Lhij season, and even those who are entering on their second season, would be well advised not to try for records and a succession of wins right away. In no sport is that advocated. Good styxo and correct methods should be the first goal. It is the same with swimming, rowing, tennis, and practically every pastime that could be mentioned. The first work is slow work, the laying of a solid foundation for ultimate fitness, and the correcting of faults in style or an improvement thereon. Runners, cyclists and field events men should take things quietly at the beginning of the season. They should do plenty of slow work and pay attention to correct action rather than speed, height or length. To model one’s own style on that of a known stylist is good, but care must be taken not to follow too implicitly. Every performer has an individual style, and the natural development of that style to its greatest use is the line to follow. But that does not mean that radical faults should go uncorrected.

Last Thursday night’s meeting was pleasing in the largo number of entries that were received for the different events. The hundred yards was a thre-heat affair, while there were large fields for the others. {Some good performances w r ere put up, and outside the winners there were a number who are yet young, and who showed that they will make their mark later on the track.

Windleburn, just turned 18, showed that he is a powerful runner who could do well if he devotes serious attention to style for a time in order to use his energies and capabilities to the best advantage. At present he is not making full use of his stride, but is desirous of improving it. * • * » • Carvell put in a fine dash in the sprint. He same up well at the last after being well back. Pawson is running well and has improved. If he keeps at his training the results board should carry his name on more than one occasion.

Gardner, who has recently come from Hastings, has a turn of speed, but is not yet in trim. The last twenty yards of the sprint was a little too far for him. Steady, quiet training will do a lot, and when he reaches a point that will see him keep his speed over the first 50 yards for the whole 100, then he will certainly not be among the front markers.

Murray, who was running well in Wanganui last year, and who had a good burst available, was expected back early this week. His old club mates are hoping to see him running while he is in Wauganui.

G. Broad showed that he has to limber up a lot before he will acquire a good machine-smooth action over the hurdles. Burgess and Carvell are also both doing the correct three steps and over.

Wall is still the best walker in the city for style. Reid has a tendency to sail close to disqualification from a strict judge for leaning too far forward in his sprint. The passing of a year has improved Green considerably Collings was a surprise in the mile. It appears as if that is his distance He has staying power that is so valuable in the four lap run. Robinson ran a good race and filled second place.

Simpson was wisely not going all out to win, and was holding the pace down a trifle and paying attention to more important things at the beginning of the season than being first past the tape.

Eight of the cyclists made the 80 mile round trip of To Tuhi over the week-end. They started on Saturday and arrived, back on Sunday after being ferried across up the river. The trip was described as being very enjoyable, but mud was not lacking from their machines when they arrived back in the city. They were Stewart, Cresswell, Alp, Springer, Hewgill, Hodson and Madder brothers.

A view which has probably been taken by quite a number in regard to the investment by the Olympic and British Empire Games Associatiou of practically the whole of the £13,000 •collected by the art union, leaving only the interest on the capital avail able to send teams overseas, was touched upon by Mr. A. W. O. Travers at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association. The suggestion made by Mr. Travers was that at least £lOOO of the money should have been set aside to assist in the financing of New Zealand’s team to the Games at Los Angeles next year. Some of the national associations probably will find it difficult to raise funds, and in view of the close approach of the Games and the fact that the appeal by the Olympic Games Association was made so recently, a little later on the public might have something to say concerning the tieing up of the whole of the £13,000.

A scheme for the development of competition and an improvement in the general standard of performance in field events was put forward by Mr. H. I. Austad, one of the most energetic and practical members of the council, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand controlling body. One had only to attend an athletic meeting, he said, to notice the paucity of competitors in this branch of the sport. In thinking the matter over Mr. Austad came to the conclusion that the remedy lay in the schools, and the suggestion he made, which was adopted, was that £5 should be made available to each of the five centres to provide a shot and as far as possible a javelin to the secondary schools of standing in the districts governed by the centres. The N.Z.A.A.A. looks to the centres for cooperation in this campaign, in firstly seeing that the schools are provided with these accessories, and, secondly, in providing ample competition for the boys.

A worth-while suggestion with a view to our athletes picking up points in style, etc., was made by Mr. A. C. Scents (Auckland). He advocated that when the New Zealand team wont to the Games at Los Angeles a member of the team should be deputed to make inquiries regarding the possibility of securing motion picture films for distribution in this country of leading overseas athletes in action. An effort was made in this direction in the past by the N.Z.A.A.A., inquiries being made from Mr. C. G. Krogness in America, but nothing came of it. Still, it is worth while making further inquiries, says a writer in the Evening Post.