OLYMPIC GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 7

OLYMPIC GAMES

ATHLETIC NO All NEE.3. MATTHEWS A CERTAIN lYi The Canterbury athletic, and cycling centres are to make three Olympic > nominations, C. H. Alatthews (loug distances), \ . ]?. Bout (middle distances), and G. R. Giles (cycling). Matthews has been designated as the 'centre's first choice, and his prm-pects of selection mu.-t be regarded as being better than those of any other canuidate. Indeed, it can be said that if anyone is sent to Berlin from this ce-untry it will be Matthews. He has shown splendid form throughout tne season, ami any athlete who can clip, as did Alaltliewr, neariy nine seconds from a record made by J. W. Bavidan, who did so well fur New Zealand international competition abroad, must be a runner of tne first water. Better Credential?. Of Boot and Giles, (he latter would j at. tiie present time appear to have the i better credentials. J'hi.i staiemtiit | may not pass without criticism, for the

Canterbury cyclist has been ignored in preliminary Olympic discu&ic-ns, but he has been riding consistently well iii lhe south, and capped a season’s splendid performance by winning decisively all three national championships at Wanganui on February 29. lhe time, .12 2-ji-ec., for tire final furlong in the .1000 metres race compares ! very favourably with the best figures returned overseas. Giles’ time was ae tually better than this, for he did not held the lead at the stage when the watches were put on th-e riders. He must, in fact, have recorded time very little outside 12sec. Figures, of coun-o, are not a reliable basis for comparison, but they do indicate that Giles at least has the speed. He took J min. ISspc. in the 1000 metres time, trial, not especially fast

judged by world standards, but excellent in view of the rather gurly wind which prevailed. He has returned Liiin. Itis-ec. several times in Christchurch this year. The fastest perform ance? abroad it should rot be forgotten, have all been made on board tracks, which are more conducive 10 the production of speed than those > ' this country. Close observers of cycl- ' ing believe that Giles is a better sprint rider than F. J. Grose was iu his best It would be idle to say that Boot is not potentially a very great athlete, but at the same time enthusiasm for hi* efforts at the New Zealand chain { pionships should nui be permitted to ! outrun discretion. At the moment his I times of lniin'ss 2 s<e<-. for the ha f- | mile, and 4min. 22 4-ssec. for the mile. |

would not give him even a reasonablt chance, always supposing be produced . his be>t form, di finding a place in either Olympic final. T. G. Broadway was showing jm t as good form prior to leaving-for the Empire Games iu 1934, but he was outclassed in Eng i land. And competition at Berlin will ! b-e considerably more strenuous. Theo ; again the fact that we have already in J. E. Lovelock a representative in the 15(H) metres makes his position rather difficult No one supposes that Boot, would in Europe be as good as lx>velock, and under these circumstances his selection would appear very pi’obJ lematical. unless, of course, he runs a. I special trial, either nver 800 or 1500 metres, and returns time which it ob\ ions that it would be rii iujusI lice lo omit him,