ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 266, 13 November 1935, Page 6

ATHLETICS

Bi

“MERCURY."

Evidence of t he promise of an exceptionally good season w , as forthcominging at the first two evening sports meetings conducted by the Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Clycling Club at Cook’s Gardens. There was a good attendance of competitors and a fair muster of spectators at both gatherings. During the past few seasons amateur Athletics has not received the support from the public of Wanganui to which it was entitled. Wanganui has one of the finest tracks in the Dominion, is situated right in the heart of the city and provided with excellent facilities for competitors and spectators alike. Yet the meetings fail to secure good public patronage. Wanganui, too, has runners and cyclists who, if given the opportunity, might develop into Dominion champions. This year it is hoped that club officials and competitors will pull together to secure better support. As the result of heavy rain the track at Cook’s Gardens was in a sodden condition for both evening meetings, zk noteworthy feature was the number of new members competing. Among these were L. T. McCormick (sprinters) and 1. Bassett, G. Brown, D. Wadey, C. Anderson, G. Johnstou, R. Orr, G. Harrison and R. March (distance runners). Many of the distance men have just completed the harrier season and should be in good form for the atheltic season. The 120 yards “hack” sprint for the distance runners attracted a good field of 15 runners. H. R. Dix, with handicaps of eight yards and seven yards respectively, won the event at both meetings, and will bo brought back to five yards. T. Collings was second in the first “hack” off four yards and G. Johnston (4yds.) was second on Thursday night. In the 100 yards sprint on Tuesday evening the competition was 1 keen although the field was not large. McCormick (Byds.), ran a good race to win from T. MeCashin (7yds.) by a yard. Thursday’s race over 120 yards resulted iu a close finish. McCormick (7yds) finished ahead of N. Murray (6syds). by a foot, with E. Wilson (7iyds.), third, a similar distance behind. Burgess, off scratch, found the handicapping too severe for the beginning of the season. Burgess is admirably suited for the position of club captain and with the assistance of L. (Stephenson (vicecaptain), should make the affairs of the club run smoothly for members and officials alike. The excellent entries in the distance events at the past two meetings are indicative of v strong competition in future events. There were 15 starters in the mile on Tuesday evening, when G. Bills (scr.), conceded handicaps up to 120 yards. T. Collings, off 25 yards, ran a particularly fine race to win by his handicap. Collings undoubtedly had an “off” season last year and it is pleasing to see that he is regaining his form. In the 1000 yards race on Thursday the finish was exciting, G. Bills (30yds.) winning from T. Collings (10yds.) by a foot. Tomorrow night’s half-mile race should result in keen competition between these two runners and MeCashin, who will be running from scratch.

H. R. Dix was second in the mile with a handicap of 120 yards. In the , 1000 yards he was second off 60 yards. With a little more bard training this runner would greatly improve his performances. Through an injury to his foot, received when playing football, E. Carveil, the club and West Coast 100 yards champion, has been unable to commence training. The injury is reported to be progressing slowly and it is Carveil’s intention to get down to training within the next months or so. E. Brandon is well settled down to conscientious training. So far he has uot participated in any racing but he should run well in sprint events this season. Bigger fields and keener racing should be witnessed in the cycling this season. Rocord entries were received for Tuesday’s and Thursday’s meetings. It is pleasing to note that Mr. Arthur Coe, who was once a wellknown cyclist, is still taking a keen interest in the sport. His knowledge of racing should prove invaluable to competitors. A. McCormick, with a handicap of 90 yards, rode well in the mile handicap and clapped on a fine burst of speed in the last lap. J. Wade (scr.) made a spectacular effort to head off McCormick but was a foot behind at the tape. The race provided a thrilling finish. A. Bourgeois and C. Weller arc taking a short rest after a strenuous harrier season. Many faults in tactics have been noticed during the distance races this season, new members running outside a fellow competitor instead of following the white line and competitors looking behind them during a race. The worst offenders have been Dix, Bills and Orr. It is time these runners, who aie not new' to the track, carried out the elementary essentials of track racing. The runner who is showing the greatest improvement since last season is Dix. Serious concentration on his training will make this boy a competitor to be reckoned with over the middle distances. • * * * Although Bills won the 1090 yards race his poor stride aud retarding arm action was the subject of comment, and it is pleasing that his trainer is taking steps to rectify these faults which keep this boy from being a first-class performer. « 4 • • A. Garfath has not shown the form he displayed during the harrier season. It is evident that lack of fast work in training is telling in competition work. Of the new sprnters,, Murray and McCormick show signs of developing into good runners. As neither has been seen in action over a longer distance than 120 yards it remains to be proved 1 that they have staying ability over 220 and 440 yards. C. Anderson is making a mistake in competing in long distances. His style suggests that he would run a good race over. 440 jards. A little more UaiaiM

would make a big improve, running. The question of visits f t J teams of athletes was aif.? 1 annual meeting of th e L Centre of the New Zeal/ when it was decided to/ question of extending / a team from New South!? visit Wallngton this seaso/ The harrier sub-com a i ttw ' Wellington Centre of the 3/ has been granted permission 3 a harrier marathon race oa!. ! day as the Wellington eh/ It was stated that the event? run with object of having/ recognised as a New Zealand ship contest. The following uhatnpioj.e were agreed to at the re Z? meeting of the WelliogtoTa the New Zealand Amateur / soeiation in Wellington;/ championships, February / bury-Wellington meeting, L New Zealand championship/ odin, February 2S and ’j. ? land universities’ athletic’/ Wellington, Easter Monday

It is the intention of th c Amateur Athletic Club, Mt) a is under way and members h sorted out, to select a team a is hoped, with regular comp® be built up into a combi®/ enough to make a serious a/ the New Zealand one-milj J lay record. The record at present is sec. This time was registered] Wellington provim ial team J New Zealand track- and Mj pionships were held at W ana . March, 1930, and it. clipped m a second off the then recordt to the credit of a New Sot* team, comprising .1. Martin J A. Walker, and J. A. Car/ was in the Dominion f w « Australian and New Z»al a! j pionship meeting, held Ht . Dark in December, 1H37, andai sec. of the best performance t-,; time by a New Zealand w Wellington team at Warm™ sisted of W. Ogg (half-mile J ing (quarter-mile), M. Btri» yards), and C. H. Jenkins (22'h The race at Wanganui »«, ing affair and one of the hit'll the meeting, the Wellingtra" ning by less than a. raid f TO i bury. The field event section of 4 ganui Amateur Athletic Chb; tainly improving in leaps aidl The old hands— Steere, .Uorai and Sexton—are out again 5 number of keen and pruuiisiM including J. Wihim, Ji. Hayes, A. McCormick, 'rhe,content to work steady and > style for a start instead ofc will make rapid progress is li of athletics. Three years’ ham is the sentence oi the emhoa if he can spend this time > slowly for style he will beq warded. Competitions held in [kM this season so far are, the u discus throw, and hop, step ax 8. Nolan, iu the shot puly i the improvement of ianmvD by putting the shot 4U creditable performance. Mudn'i would certainly fall if A'ola .specialise on this event, for i»| can excel at three events am: ting all his time to the j.i Nolan is capable of beating I this year.

R. Steere also went well ial put and considering that he I touched tho shot since last distance of 37 feet 9 inchei N lent and augurs well for diftai ceedfeig 40 feet sucu as Dick I more guire into solid training was unlucky in the New I championships, his last pul tf by a foot Mumu’s beat effort,l disallowed uu account of tiw* top uf the stop-board withikl the finish, of the reverse. “Mercury” will be surpiidl West Coast record is ' again this season by Steered A. Sexton is out again fori and looks very lit due io F woork during the off season. ! ed 40 feet 3 a ches in and is also settling downed again. The pole vault wiiij bis attention this naslic woik Wi ! prove oif* ance to him. lie s-ould of comp'eting ;h*- bpriwj speed in the take off e J. Wilson is having ago events and should prove as L to this part of athletiw, be settling down to a . now. The writer opiniofl 11 jumps would be better lor tion as well as fur bis Wilson, as both of them promise in these events prove valuable training J for each other tor c ,:e< other’s faults and Their keenness for athkw couraging feature hut »■' branch oi spo t that success con. 's by l 1 -*' tention to styl'*. # • P. Hayes is another, rtj field event section ’fi well in the hop. s te P should improve consider* 01 , right training. Dr. Pat Olympic champion, j ing in trim for the at a recent l-.urop pan 1 laghan heaved tie hainm•B .1-8 inches. , J Age is no as is typically * nst3 °,d Porhola, Finland. pie shot put il J mer throwing 10 ’ 180 feet. The w(,r ’ d j event was made by**. ‘j on August 17, I!'! ’ l , 189 feet 64 inches. • season will be 200 Entries from 49 c 0 s:<cd for the Olymp ic fl held in Berlin next 1 ants will range froDl .'., I pinos, and the entrv