AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

RUNNING AND CYCLE TRACKS

By “JOG-TROT” All eyes in the athletic world will centre on Auckland during the next week-end, where the New Zealand amateur athletic championships are to be held. Events are likely to be closely contested and there appears every possibility that old records will go by the board.

Running. Good running was witnessed last Wednesday night when the Wanganui Club’s diamond' jubilee meeting was held. No doubt the threatening slate of the weather was responsible for the comparatively poor public patronage, and it was disheartening to the local officials, after so much ground work had been done to make this meeting a success, that their efforts did not reap a better reward. • • • • Inclement weather has had its effect on other sports besides athletics. The local club has been particularly unforunate in the staging of its electric light meetings in that it has either rained just before, or during the meeting, seriously affecting the gate receipts on all occasions. It needs good heart on the part of controlling officials to carry on against such adverse conditions and speaks highly of the tenacity of the local men to carry on when their efforts are met with adversity.

The handicapper again under-esti-mated L. Burgess’ capabilities when “Puss” won both the 100yds. and 440yds. at last Wednesday’s meeting. It was a very close finish in the 100yds. There was certainly no doubt at all about the way he won the 440yds. He made his characteristic run down the back straight and had practically caught the field as they turned into the straight. The time, considering the heavy nature of the track, was exceptionally good. • • • • Local competitors are of the opinion that the track was the heaviest that it has been this season. To “sit in behind” any runner was to qualify for a shower of mud and turf.

Competitors speak highly of the splendid condition of the track and it is cretainly a credit to the caretaker. After running on some other tracks in the district runners generally come back to the local ground thankful that there are no “hills” to be negotiated or hummocks to be avoided.

A. B. Campbell, of Waverley. again went well to finish second in the 100yds. He finishes with a great, dash.

P. Wallace made a great run in the 1000yds. handicap to get through the field and win by a couple of yards. At one stage it did not appear that he would be able to get up, but the field “died” badly over the last 220yds. and he. came up very fast. Evans, who finished fourth, found his handicap a little bit too much to make up, although he too, was coming through fast at the finish.

Griffin, of Marton, looked a winner, but he could not raise sufficient dash In the straight to stave off Wallace’s challenge. Griffin has a long, loping stride which enables him to cover the ground at a good pace, but he seems to lack the finish. Christopher, who finished third in the 1000yds.. appears to be a likely type of runner. The mile walk was won by L. Cross, with A. Simpson a few yards behind him. Little of this branch of the sport has been seen locally and it is to be hoped that next season more comoetitors will take it on. Track walking is an art in itself and. although hard to believe, actually much more gruelling than running or cycling. The principle of the walking action depends on the swing from the hips, together with an arm action. Many an argument has ensued as to what is the correct knee action for the walker, to distinguish it from running. It seems generally agreed that the heel of the foot must, strike the ground first, and that the knee must not be bent. A great finish ensued in the 220yds. handicap, when Carvell and Brandon dead-heated, with Peters, close up. in third position. The time was good for the nature of the track.

The two-mile handicap was won hy Griffin, of Marton, with W. Hill second, and G. Bills third. The limit men set a solid pace for the first mile which they could not maintain. Orr,

iat one stage, appeared to be in ths | hunt, but after a mile had been covI ered dropped back and the lead was taken by Wallace (jnr). The Marton men came up in the sixth lap, Griffin going away over the last bit to win I by some 15yds. | G. Bills left no doubt about his superiority over W. Edge when he con'ceded him a start and defeated >him fairly easily. Probably the wet state of the ground favoured the local runner. Edge seems to go better on his own ground. Wallace junior seems to be going well and appears to have some of his older brother's (Pat’s) capabilities. He is only a lad yet. however, and would be well advised not to do anything too strenuous just yet. A. Penberthy is not going as well aS he did. He was fit about Christmas time and ran some good races during the time he was at his best form M. Shewan is running well and put up a good performance to get third in the 440yds. handicap on Wednesday night. He should do well next season. R. Orr has not been going as well as he did early in the season. This is probably due to lack of training He has been rowing throughout the season and probably does not get mucli time to train for track work too. * * • • M The West Coast team to go to Auckland to compete at the New Zealand championships next Friday and •Saturday is composed mainlv of men from the local centre. Probably the man with the best chances of annexing a title is L. Burgess, whose times are comparable with present New Zealand championshin figures. Evans is not running as well as he did a few years ago but should be a tough nut to crack, all the same. Campbell will go well in field events while Steve Nolan should go well in both the shot nutt and hammer throw. J. Morgan is well in line for a title in the discus throw, if he can overcome his trouble with nerves. A. Simnson, who is representing the Coast in both the onemile three-mile walks, should gain valuable experience in this branch ot the sport, if nothing else. It is to he regretted that G. Bills finds it impossible to get away to represent the West Coast for the threeB is thought that he would have finished much closer up than he did, down south last year. The West Coast relay team appears to have a good chance of being well to-the fore in the championshlpOf particular interest nt the national championships will be the appearance of the Japanese distance runner. Kohei Murakoso, who has been on tour throughout New Zealand. It is to be regretted that the jumper. Toe-ami, will not be comneting owing to an attack of tonsilitls. Wherever these men have appeared they have experienced no difficultv in defeating local men. It was exoected that Murakoso would find stern opnosition in W. Pullar. of Dunedin, when they met on the Caledonian Ground last Saturday, but the Japanese annarently had no trouble in heading off the New Zealander. . Auckland the Janarjese will be ineligible to lift any titles although he will be comneting in both the three mile and mile events. No doubt the mile title rests between W. A. C. Pullar. of Dunedin, and Wilson, of Wellington. Wilson is the nresent holder, but it k exneetc* in the south Pullar will take the title home. Wilson’s best timo for the mile this season was 4min. 25sec. at Wellington recently, while Pullar put up 4min. ISsec. on the notoriously slow Caledonian ground in Dunedin a few weeks ago. Murakoso will probablymake the pace nrettv hot and dreg the field out and a fast ground, together with other favourable conditions, should see the mile run in time comparable to that of Rose.