ATHLETES IN FORM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 9

ATHLETES IN FORM

WANGANUI CLUB MEETING FAST, CLOSE RACING DISCUS RECORD BROKEN Judging fiom the form shown by members of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club at last evening’s meeting, Wellington will need every point in the inter-club contest on Cook’s Gardens to-mor-row night. With track and weatherconditions ideal, close finishes and fast times marked the racing, while the feature of the field events was the breaking of the West Coast (N. 1. junior discus record. In the 220 yards senior final, E. Brandon produced his best form and won convincingly from D. Evans, with P. Wallace a close third. His time oi 22 3-ssec., off the 15yd. mark was the same as in the heats. Showing a surprising turn of speed for one so stockily built, I McLean held his handicap of 16yds. well in the junior 220 to win from V. Cosgrove, in a second slower than the senior time. An exceptionally close finish marked the mile event. R. Harris, who is expected to be a strong contender for national junior distance titles this season, was off the back mark of 60yds., and a strong field competed. Two other juniors, E. Lett and 1. Guthrie, showed the way in lhe first three laps, although G. Bills and G. Hallam challenged strongly before cracking under the pace. Meanwhile, Harris was coming up steadily, and, undeterred by the loss of a shoe in the third lap, he caught the leaders in the straight. Guthrie and Lett put up great finishes, but Harris was not to be beaten and breasted the tape just ahead of Guthrie, with Lett a

close third. In the junior discus throw, T. Price and E. Lett both broke the West Coast record of 96ft., with throws of 98ft. Ilin., and 97ft. 3in. respectively. Price, in particular, has been throwing very well lately, and has passed the 100 mark in practice. Lett has been suffering from staleness, but he has the better action of the two and a more elastic build, which should see him a long way. F. Clinton showed his capabilities in the half-mile cycle race to beat W. Beswarick by a clear margin, the toprankers, Chalk and Pidwell, being nowhere. Chalk was just too strong for Clinton in the 500 metres, however, and young Seconi beat Harrison for B grade honurs. Details:— Running. 200 Yards, Senior (Pridham Cup).— First heat; E. Brandon (15yds.) 1, R. Green (20) 2, D. Evans (12) 3. Time, 22 3-ssec. Second heat: P. Wallace (10) 1, T. McCashin (14) 2, D. McKenzie (11) 3. Time, 22 3-ssec. Final: Brandon 1, Evans 2, Wallace 3. Time, 22 3-ssec. 220 Yards, Junior (Garrick Cup).— I. McLean (16) 1, V. Cosgrove (16) 2, G. Strachan (9) 3. Time, 23 3-ssec. One Mile (Zinox Cup).—R, Harris (60) 1, T. Guthrie (180) 2, E. Lett (160) 3. Time, 4min. 28 2-ssec. Field Events. Broad Jump, Senior. —M, Shewan, 19ft. lin., 1; W. Stewart, 18ft. 5 1; n., 2. Broad Jump, Junior.—E. 1 ummond, 18ft. 3in., 1; T. Price, 17ft. 9in., 2; R. Birchfield, 16ft. 9in., 3. Schoolboys: G. Drummond, 14ft. lOin., 1. Discus Throw, Senior (Hurworth Cup).—J. Morgan, 119 ft. 6in., 1; S. Nolan, 98ft. loin., 2; R. Prince, 88ft. sin., 3. Discu? Throw, Junior. T. Price, 98ft. Ilin., 1; E. Lett, 97ft. 3in., 2. Cycling. Half-mile.—F. Clinton (80) 1, W. Beswarick (70) 2, G. Seconi (100) 3. Time, 57 l-ssec. 500 Metres Match Race.—J. Chain beat W. Pidwell, time, 12 l-ssec.; F Clinton beat W. Beswarick, 12 4-ssec.; Seconi beat G. Pidwell. 13 l-ssec.; Harrison beat Elliott, 13 l-ssec. A grade final, Chalk beat Clinton, 12 l-ssec. B grade final, Seconi beat Harrison, 13sec.