ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 4

ATHLETICS

By

"MERCURY."

Some important athletic fixtures art due, to be held in the near future, anc Wanganui enthusiasts will have plenty to entertain them. Ihe Wanganui Sub-Centre championships are tu be held on 'J'hursday of :ie.\i. week, February 14. The venue is Taihape and the contests will take place noth afternoon and evening. The West Coast (North Island) Cvntre championships are lo be held at JJathani on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, February 23. ihe New Zealand track and field chanq»ionships are to be held on Cook's Gardens on the afternoons of Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9. The team io represent the Wanganui .►mateur Athletic and Cyi ling Club for the Sub-Centre championships has been selected, with the exception that where more than three names are given a trial will be held between the last two athletes in each instance, as only three nominations are allowed for each event. Following is the list of Wanganui representatives:— 100 Yards.—E. Carvel 1, E. Brandon, I. Kitt. 221) Yards.- -E. Carvcll, E. Brandon, L. Stephenson, J. Kitt Mho last three lo run for the two positions). 440 Yards.—L. Burgess, L. Stephenson. 880 Yaids.—T. McCashin, A. Coliings, A. Bourgeois. One Mile. —G. Bills, A- Bourgeois, W. Sherlock, A. Simpson. Three Miles. —G. Bills, C. Weller, W. Sherlock. J2O Yards Hurdles.—-A. J. Darby, I. Kitt. 220 Yards Hurdles.—E. Carveil, A. J- Darby, I. Kitt. 440 Yards Hurdles.—L. Burgess, A. J. Darby, A. Bourgeois. Half-mile and Alile Walking Events. L. Cross, C. Reid. Discus Throw.—J. Morgan, S. Nolan. ; Shot Put. —S. Nolan, E. Steere. Javelin Throw.—S. Nolan, J. Morgan, A. Sexton. High Jump, Pole Vault and Hop. Step and .Tump.—A. Sexton. Broad Jump. —A. Sexton, A. Chambers, A. J. Darby. From the nominations it. will be noted that the local club has an excellent range of young talent. This should win for Wanganui the SubCentre Championship Banner.

With reference to the Kiwi and Wellington Club's annual visit to Wanganui a fortnight ago, the thanks of the Wanganui Club and its members are due to those who helped make the week-end outing a success, to the lady helpers, and also to Mr. and Mrs. Low, who kindly allowed the club the use of their property at Sandy Hook. Mr. A. H. Hurley also kindly gave his services and made his motor-launch available for those wishing to go aquaplaning. Although weather and track conditions were admirably suited to tlthietics on Saturday, the Taranaki SubCentre championships at Hawera were not responsible for the lowering of any existing records, Taranaki or otherwise. In fact, the performances in some instances were poor, compared with previous years, although early in the afternoon it was popularly sup posed that several existing records would go by the board, slates the Taranaki Herald. Probably the main reason for the failure of some of the performers lay in the fact that they were competing in too many events in the one day, as it became evident as the day wore on that they became

under a tiring strain. The meeting, which was under the auspices of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club, was well conducted, both from the point of view of competitors and spectators. The programme was set to a time table, and this worked out almost to the minute, and the long list of events were put through without a hitch. General satisfaction will be felt at the manner in which the New Zealand athletes acquitted themselves at the Centenary Games at Melbourne. The team was the last of the visitors to arrive, but despite the lack of time in which to accustom themselves to the new conditions, and also the lack of form consequent on the ocean crossing, they performed with honour to themselves find credit to the Dominion. The mile race of the first day ’s programme appears to have been one of the outstanding contests of the meeting. Backhousv (Victoria) had some guod performances against his name this season, and was expected to be a formidable opponent to McLachlan, although Australian opinion inclined to the idea that McLachlan would win the event. .The occasion, however, resulted in a win for the Victorian by the bare margin of two feet in the splendid time of 4min. lb 1-lOsecs. This is the best performance yet registered by

these two runners, The Christchurch runner, Matthews, was also apparently in good form since he look thiid place 20 yards behind. Another exceptional performance was given in the high jump, won by J. P. Metcalfe with 611. sjin. Tiie Finnish jumper, Perasalo, who recently jumped 6ft. 7in. in his homeland, was second with 6ft. 4in. Metcalfe's performances in New Zealand last year will still be remembered. Metcalfe was also sue cessl’ul in the hop, step and jump, clearing 50ft- 4 7-Sin. His consistency in a wide range of events is surprising. He is undoubtedly one of the leading athletes of the. day, and T. J. Crowe, the New Zealand jumper, is rather outclassed by him. C. H. Afatthews had a good win in the 3000 metres event in the time of Bmin. 42 7-10 secs., thus supporting the opinion that he should concentrate on longer distances than the mile. In their events the Finns have given a good account of themsvlves and their appearances in New Zealand should at. tract considerable attention. The British team has not acquitted itself as well as was expected. Apparently it was suffering from Ihe disadvantage that the. New Zealanders were under at ihe Empire. (James. Jt this was so, they should be more at home by the time they reach the Dominion, and should give a better idea of their qual-