ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 4

ATHLETICS

By

"MERCURY.”

With two club meetings to complete the series, Wanganui Club members are getting very lit, and everything points to their being in great form by the limo the district championships gathering takes place. The fifth of the club series will take place to-morrow evening, when the following events will be decided: 220 yards splint; 880 yards flat; and a ladies’ event. Forthcoming meetings ior members to keep in view are as follow: Wednesday evening, December 20, carnival meeting at Marton. December 26, Boxing nay sports at Patea in the afternoon and at New Plymouth in the evening (7.45 p.m.). Saturday, January .13, Wanganui and Wellington (the latter including Kiwi Club, Wellington, and the Napier Club), in the annual inter-club contest. This will be held at Wellington. The return visit of Wellington, Napier and Kiwi Clubs will be held at Wanganui on Saturday, January 20. The sub-centre championships are to be decided early in February in order that they may fit in with the New Zealand championships at Wellington. The tour of the Australian athletes, Barwick and Metcalfe, must be borne in mind by local athletes, the date arranged in the itinerary being March 17. This could well be made a “ted letter” day in the history of athletics in Wanganui. A few notes on the form of club members in last week’s club run may not be amiss. In the 120 yards event Murray, off scratch, was the first to breast the tape but as he is not yet a club member he was not included in the official placings. He is still running with the strong stride which gained him a place in the centre championships two years ago.

Carveil, in filling second position to Murray, made a determined effort over the last 20 yards, and was going well at the finish. The 220 yards to-mor-row evening should be more to his liking. McElwain, who was running off the scratch mark, gave Carveil half a yard, but found that it was a little too much. Although only inches separated him and Carvcll, he could not make up the leeway. A dead-heat would have been the probable result had the two started oft the same mark. Farley ran a very even race and finished well up. He is running well for his first season in the club’s ranks. Hayes, a new member, indicated that with a few competitive races he will be a harder man to defeat. Berryman seems to be finding the track very trying on his legs, with the result that he did not show up in Thursday’s meeting. In the mile Bourgeois produced one of his best efforts to lead the field home, and appears to be right up to his best form. It was a well-deserved and well-received win. Stephenson, starting off 35 yards, ran a well-judged race, his best so far this season. He is performing 100 per cent, better than was the case ast season. Burgess (10 yards 1, /curd V»at r mile was a little too far and will undoubtedly run better in the 880 yard? event in to-morrow’s twilight mooting. He is at present leading in the points for the distance races. Bills, who was competing in a club race on the second occasion, was off 100 yards, and was just defeated for third place by Burgess, after running l a fairly fast mile. Collings and Smith both ran disappointing races, and will probably race better over a shorter distance, probably the 880 yards. In the ladies’ 100 yards Miss E. Wrigley, who secured the first win for this season, ran well, but would have gone better had she not hesitated over the first few yards. Miss M. Attwell and Miss O. Ward both showed that they are getting fit, and ought to be running well when the club meets the Wellington Club in January. The cyclists’ displays were followed with interest. In the 440 yards sprint Orlowski showed to the fore. Although having a fair start, he put up a good sprint to win from Pidwcll by a yard or so. Pidwell put up a good performance but finds that the longer distances suit him better. Casey is showing better form each week, and will go better as the season

progresses. Constantine appears to be showing better form than at the corresponding time last season. Wade and Hansen, the two scratch markers, are both getting right on their “mettle” again. Hansen showed up well to win the two miles scratch race. Wade showed he is going to keep his eye on the national titles which he won last season. Club members are requested to note that the new club jerseys (marone, with gold “W”) are now available. The correct club uniform will now be: inarone singlet with gold “W,” and plain black shorts. All members are requested to have the correct uniforms before the annual meeting against the Wellington Club, The Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay athletic district is now to have the full status of a centre. Congratulations will be extended those responsible for the progress thus indicated on the East Coast. On a number of occasions Mr. H. I. Austad, chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council, has advocated the promotion of biennial meetings between Australia and New Zealand to replace the Australian and New Zealand track and field championships which were dropped with the big gathering at Wellington in 1927. Again at the annual meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. last week, Mr. Austad mentioned the matter, and indicated that he intended pursuing it until finality was reached. The difficulty in the past, writes “Sprinter” in the Evening Post, stated to be lack of finance on the part of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia. There is no doubt that the institution of regular contests between Australia and New Zealand would be a great incentive to New Zealand athletes, and would assist in raising the standard of the sport in the Dominion.

Mr. Austad suggested that there should be some definite arrangement whereby it would be possible to have an interchange of visits. “Having advocated this for so many years,” said Mr. Austad. “I feel somewhat in the position of the late Sir Thomas Sidey

and his Daylight Saving Bill, but I want to pursue this until it is adopted. In 1935 there is a possibility of a New Zealand team being invited to Victoria, and our aim should be to get these biennial championships started. 1 feel we would be offering our boys some definite encouragement if we got that plan under way, and that it would fill up the gap whch I believe was caused when the Australasian championships were dropped.”

I Owing to thc late hour at which thc other business of the meeting was disposed of, no consideration could be 'given to Mr. Austad proposal, hut it can be taken for granted he will bring it forward again.