IT WAS ENGLAND’S DAY ON THE GAMES ATHLETICS FIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 February 1950, Page 6

IT WAS ENGLAND’S DAY ON THE GAMES ATHLETICS FIELD

Three Titles Won: Australia, South Africa And Ceylon One Each

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA). —England won three titles, and South Africa, Ceylon and Australia one each in today’s athletic events at the British Empire Games.

England’s victories were in the 880 yards, won by H. Parlett, in the three miles, won brilliantly' by L. Eyre, and the women’s high jump, in which Dorothy' Tyler and B. Crowther took the first and second places. Eyres* win in the three miles shattered the hopes of many New Zealanders, who predicted, after Harold Nelson’s great success in the six miles on Saturday, that he would take the double. Nelson was well- beaten by Eyre, but the record set by another New Zealander. Cecil Matthews, for the distance at Sydney 12 years ago was not endangered. Eyres’ time was 24sec. slower than Matthew s record. Another record from the Sydney Games. V. P. Boots lmin. 51.2 secs. for the 880 survived today. Parlett’s time was nearly two seconds outside the record. The South African, N. Price, took the broad jump. D. Whit?, Ceylon, had a great victory over the New Zealander, Holland, in the 440yds. hurdles, and I. M. Reed won the discus with a recora throw. The Australian sprinter, Shirley Strickland’s, time of 24.6secs* in the womens’ 220 semi-finals was one-tenth of a second outside Decima Norman’s 1938 record. MARJORIE JACKSON TO THE FORE. F oilowing her brilliant performances in the 100 yards on Saturday, Australia’s Marjorie Jackson was the centre of attention in the first heat of the women’s 220yds., and she came to light again with a well judged run to win easing up in 24.95ec., a NewZealand record. New Zealand’s tall Leslie Rowe was prominent coming round the bend into the home stretch but Miss Jackson went away and led her team mate, Miss A. Shanley, to the tape, with Miss Rowe third. Shirley Strickland was the winner all the way in the second heat Running with great drive, she- leapt out at the start and led all the way to win by a big margin in 25.35ec. New Zealand's Joan Hart made a strong bid for second place and was only just headed by Sylvia Cheeseman, the English champion, by one-tenth of a second.

Daphne Robb, South Africa, running on the inside lane, flashed into the picture right from the start of the third heat, but the New- Zealand champion, Dorrie Parker, pegged her back in the middle stages and they raced stride for stride along the straight Miss Parker appeared from the stand to have won, but Miss Robb was placed first in 25sec., Miss Parker second in 25.45ec., and the Australian, V. Johnson, third in the same time.

It was Marjorie Jackson all the way again in the first semi-final of the women’s 220yds. She went away like a bullet once again and though her head was rolling more than usual when she rounded into the home straight, she was still’ much too fast for her rivals and again eased up on the tape with nobody near enough to worry her in the slightest. Her team mate. Vai Johnson, came in second, with Miss Rowe, of New Zealand, third. Miss Jackson’s team mate, Shirley Strickland, recorded the fastest time in the event to this stage when she tore away with the second semifinal in 24.65ec. New Zealand’s Dorrie Parker raced with her on the bend, but Miss Strickland’s speed up the straight was too much for her. South Africa’s Daphne Robb, again on the inside lane, edged ahead of Miss Parker coming into the straight, but Miss Parker came again and was just beaten for second place by Miss Robb. The final will be run on Thursday. MEN’S 220 YARDS. After breaking once, the Australian, De Gruchy, was first aw ay in the first heat of the men’s 220yds. with the Englishman, John Archer, close up. Round the second bend, however, the New Zealand junior star, Don Jowett, running with great confidence, overhauled him and w-ent away along the straight to win impressively in 22.45. Archer finished on after lying behind De Gruchy round the bend, and came up to shade De Gruchy for second place, four feet behind Jowett.

Dave Batten, the New Zealand title-holder, made it two in a row for New- Zealand when he literally cantered home in winning the second heat in 22.45ec. from Gordon, Australia, and Shenton, England. Batten showed out from the start and increased his lead coming along the straight, running in perfect form, and went further ahead in the home stretch and eased up over the last few yards to the tape. It was a polished performance. John Treloar, the Australian winner and record breaker in the 100yds. on Saturday, broke the New Zealand brief winning sequence with a typically powerful sustained hurst of speed in the third heat to win in the fastest heat time, 21.7 sec. New Zealand’s Clem Parker was rather slow away, but came up round the bend to take second place with ease, slowing up as he came up to the tape, in 22.65ec. England’s Stacey was third. Lewis. England, actually finished first in the fourth heat, but was disqualified for running on the line. Don Pettie, Canada, a sturdy little sprinter w-ho w-as the storm centre of Saturday’s controversy over the start of the 100yds. final, had showed out first at the start and appeared to have the race well in hand, when he slackened up over the last ten yards and was passed by Lewis. Pettie w-as awarded first place. Johnson. Australia, second, and Dawai, Fiji, third.

John Treloar raced to the front and streaked away down the home stretch with his rivals in vain pursuit to win the first semi-final in 21.7 sec. New Zealand’s Jowett again performed with credit to fill second place, just holding off Canada’s Pettie. Only the photo-finish camera could separate the place getters in the second semi-final, all of whom were timed at 22sec. The New Zealander Parker was prominent over the first 120yds. but the Australians, Johnson and Gordon, both came up well on the outside to take first and second places, with Parker third. The final will be decided on Thursday. THREE MILES EVENT.

L. Eyre, the tall, smooth striding Englishman, ran a beautifully-judged race to win the three miles event from New Zealand’s Harold Nelson, winner of the six miles on Saturday. Eyre’s time was 14min. 23.65ec. Nelson received a big cheer from the crowd when he went into the lead in the fifth lap and he made the pace from

tnen until me eno or the iith lap. Eyre made his break and went into the front and opened a big gap, which •he increased with every stride. It. appeared that Nelson might, fade right cut of the picture and be overhauled by the second Englishman, L. Chivers, 1 but he produced another gallant effort and held off his rival to fill second I place .George Hoskins, of Auckland, was the first New Zealand to show ■out. After the first leaders had fought fit out for front place in the first 100 yards, Hoskins raced through to take the lead from Forbes, Ferguson, and Chivers. Nelson moved up in the second lap, but Hoskins went up again in the third. Two hundred yards from the end of the lap Canada’s 17-year-old Ferguson sprinted in front, but Hoskins pegged him back by the start of the fourth. There was some tight work on bends towards the end of the fourth lap, when Nelson went to the front, followed by Lousich, of NewZealand, Eyre (England), Forbes (Scotland), and Ferguson (Canada). Hoskins was dropping back out of the running and Lousich took a turn in front at the start of the seventh lap. followed by Nelson Eyre Chivers, and Forbes, with Nelson going nicely. Nelson again hit the front at the start of the eighth lap and tried unsuccessfully to break away from his rivals in the ninth. Eyre ran into a handy position right at Nelson’s shoulder in the tenth. In the eleventh Nelson fought off another determined challenge by Eyre, but Eyre was full of running and followed Chivers through to the front before streaking away on his own. Nelson’s time w-as 14min. 27.8 sec. Chivers filled third place in 14min. 28.1 sec. A. D. Merrett, of Australia, came up into fourth position in 14min. 34sec. 880 YARDS FINAL H. J. Parlett, England, took up the running at the outset and Wilson, New Zealand, was with him as they came out of the turn the first time. Parnell (Canada) was lying in a handy position at this stage, and began a forward move. As soon as they had settled down in the straight Wilson forged ahead of Parlett, but then Parnell, striding out smoothly, looked like taking the lead as they completed the first half of the circuit. Parlett again asserted himself on the turn, with Wilson a couple of yards behind and Parnell was next. In the run past the main stands Parlett held bis lead from Wilson, with S. D. Booysen (South Africa) in fourth place, and making a strong bid to join the leading trie They completed the first run of the course in that order, with D. White. Australia, in fifth position. Running past the judge’s stand mto the second lap, the field was led / Wilson, who fought hard to hold off a challenge from Parlett. With excellent strategy Wilson kept Parlett at his shoulder on the bend. A new- threat to Wilson came midway down the back straight. whe n Parnell made a fast forward move. Parlett flagged slightly at this '■tage. and fell back into third place. On the home bend the pressure was on and Wilson, tiring, fell back, while Parlett again began to move up. Parnell entered the home straight leading the field, but was challenged strongly hv Parlett, who had run up alongside him. Hutchins made a last minute bid from well back to pass Parnell in the last ten yards. Parlett found an extra spurt over the last 25 yards and finished one and a-half yards ahead of Hutchins. 440 YARDS HURDLES.

Derek Steward, New- Zealand, raced hurdle for hurdle with the South African, G. Lubbe, a shade ahead of the rest of the field over the middle stager, of the 440 yards hurdles first semifinal, and held his hurdling form better over the last obstacles, but faded badly on the run home and was passed by the Australian, Geoff Goodacre, w-ho had been always handy to Lubbe and the Seylon champion, Duncan White, winner and record breaker in his heat o n Saturday. Goodacre was placed first in 53.25ec., Lubbe second in 53.45ec. and White third in 53.45ec. John Holland raced away at the start of the second semi-finals, took the first hurdle ahead of his rivals, but faltered badlv at the second. He regained his balance by the fourth hurdle, however, and went on to win as he liked in 53.45ec. He was fairly well clear of Gedge (Australia) and Whittle (England) at the last hurdle, but, after a glance over his shoulder, made a brief spurt to open up a big gap. Gedge was placed second and Whittle third. THE BROAD JUMP. Jumping with more polish and exhibiting more speed than his rivals. N. N. Price, of South Africa, annexed the broad jump event with a good effort of 24 feet. Although Price’s winning leap was of good standard, the majority of the jumpers gave disappointing performances. The holder of the New Zealand broad jump record, of 24 feet, 4 inches, W. B. Hough, in particular, jumped well below his best form, with a maximum on the day of 23 feet 7 3-8 inches. The first round resulted in D. Dephoff (N.Z.) leading with a jump of 23ft. 1 5-Bin. After a second jump Hough led with 23ft. 31 in., followed by K. Forsythe, with 23ft. 3in., and Dephoff 23ft. Uin. At this stage Price lay fourth, with 23ft. lin. to his credit. With his third leap Price covered the winning distance of 24ft. Form fell off* sharply over the last three jumps, the average being only in the vicinity of 22ft. The general standard of the jumping was patchy, almost every competitor leaping below the standard to be expected on previous performances. Oppressive heat appeared to have taken the edge off the athletes’ speed as it had done to the sprinters earlier in the afternoon. 440 YARDS FINAL.

As had been expected the final of the 440 yards hurdles provided one of the most thrilling finishes of the Games. The finalists were all outstanding hurdlers, but over the final stages the race resolved into a terrific struggle between Ceylon’s Olympic representative. D. White, and the New Zealand champion, J. M. Holland, both of whom broke the Empire Games record time of 52.95ec. White’s time, 52.55ec., was only three-tenths of a second off R. Cochrane’s world record. Holland covered the distance in 52.75ec. Over the early hurdles Lubbe, South Africa, drove ahead to . gain a slight lead going into the straight. There Holland shot to the front and was leading over the final hurdle. In the final burst to the fin'ishing line White passed Holland, who

made a desperate effort but was beaten narrowly into second place. Goodacre was third. Gedge, Australia, fell at the last hurdle. WOMEN’S IHGH JUMP. Mrs. Dorothy Tyler, In winning the women's high jump equalled the Empire record which she holds jointly with M. Clark. The height was sft. 3in. B. Crowther .England, jumped the same height but failed at her third attempt. The title therefore, went to Mrs. Tyler. Miss N. Swinton, New Zealand, was third with sft. lin. Mrs. Tyler retains the title she won in 1938 as Dorothy Adam. Results:

WOMEN’S 220 YARDS (The first three in each heat qualified for semi-finals) First heat: M. Jackson (Australia), 24.85ec., which is a New Zealand record, 1; A. Shanley (Australia). 25.3, 2; L. Rowe (New Zealand), 25.5. 3. Also: E. McKenzie (Canada), M. Walker (England), E. Silbur (Canada).

Second heat: S. Strickland (Australia) 25.3, 1; S. Cheeseman (England), 25.8, 2; I. J. Hart (New Zealand), 25.9, 3. Also: P. Moore (Canada), D. Batter (England). Third heat: D. Robb (South Africa) 25sec., 1: D. Parker (New Zealand), 25.4 2; V. Johnston (Australia), 25.4, 3 'Also: D. Manley (England), V. Myers (Canada), C. Malone (New Zealand). Semi-finals (First three in each semi-final qualify for the final on Thursday) First Semi-final: Jackson, 24.9, 1; Johnston, 25.6, 2; Rowe, 25.8, 3. Also: Cheeseman and Hart. Second Semi-final: Strickland, 24.6, 1: Robb, 24.9, 2; Parker, 25.1, 3. Also: Shanley. MEN’S 220 YARDS (First three in each heat qualified for the semi-finals) First heat: D. Jowett (New Zealand), 22.4. 1: J. Archer (England), 22.9 2; W. de Gruchy (Australia), 3. Also: J. de Saram (Ceylon). Second heat: D. Batten (New Zealand), 22.4, 1: A. Gordon (Australia), 23sec„ 2; B. Shenton (England), 23.1, 3. Also: O. Wijeyasinghe (Ceylon). Third heat: J. Treloar (Australia), 21.7, 1; c. Parker (New Zealand), 22.6: 2; N. Stacey (England), 22.8, 3. Also: M. Nukuvou (Faji). Fourth heat: C. Lewis (England) won but was disqualified for running on the line. The platings then were: D. Pettie (Canada), 22.1, 1, after a photo; B. Johnson (Australia), 22.1, 2; D. Dawai (Fiji), 3. Also: D. Pugh (England). Semi-finals (First three in each semi-final qualify for the final on Thursday) First semi-final: Treloar, 21.7, 1; Jowett, 22.1, 2; Pettie, 22.1, 3. De Gruchy was fourth. Also: Dawai and Shenton. . Second semi-final: Johnson, 22sec, 1- Gordon, 22sec. 2; Parker, 22sec. 3. Photo finishes. Batten was fourth. Also: Archer and Stacey. 410 YARDS HURDLES. First Semi-final: G. Goodacre (Australia). 53.2 secs, 1; G. Lubbe (South Africa), 53.45ec5., 2; D. White (Ceylon), 53.45ec5., 3. D. Steward (N.Z.) was fourth. Also: K. Doubleday (Australia). Second Semi-final: J. Holland (N.Z.), 53.45ec5., 1; G. Gedge (Australia) 53.95ec5., 2: H. Whittle (England), 53.95ec5., 3. R. Woodward (Australia) was fourth. The first three in both heats qualified for the final. Final. D. White (Ceylon), 52.5 secs 1 (Breaks the Empire Games Record). Holland, 52.7 secs. 2 (This also breaks the Empire record.) Goodacre, 53.1 secs 3 Lubbe, was fourth. Also: Gedge and Whittle. THREE MILES.. L. Eyre (England), 14mins. 23.6 secs 1 H. Nelson (N.Z.), 14mins. 27.8 secs 2 A. Chivers (England) 14mins. 28.1 sec 3 A. Merrett (Australia), 14mins 34.4 secs.; K. Macdonald (Australia), 14mins. 35.9 secs; C. Lousic (N.Z.), 14mins. 41secs.; N. Taylor (New Zealand! and W. Emmerton (Australia), L. Perry (Australia), G. Hoskins (N.Z.), A. Forbes (Scotland) and R Fergusoh (Canada). BROAD JUMP. N. Price (South Africa) 24ft 1 W. Hough (N.Z.) 23ft. 7 3-Bins 2 D. Dephoff (N.Z.) 23ft 3ins 3 K. Forsythe (N.Z.) 23ft. 3ins 4 H. Whittle (England) and K. Olowu (Nigeria) 22ft. 8 l-Bins., M. Sheriff (Ceylon) 21.6 ft. 880 YARDS. Final. H Parlett (England) Imm 53.1 secs 1 J. Hutchins (Canada) lmin 53.4 secs 2 C. Parnell (Canada* lmin. 53.4 secs 3 N. Wilson (New Zealand) lmin. 53.7 4 C. T. White (England) lmin. 53.95ec5., C. Simpson (New Zealand) lmin. 56secs.; also S. Booysen (South Africa), D. White (Australia). DISCUS THROW. J. Reed (Australia) 156 ft. 7ins 1 (Breaks the Empire Games record.! M. Tuicakau (Fiji) 144 ft. 44ins . 2 S. Sigfusson (Canada) 142 ft. Sins ... 3 K. Pardon (Austraia) 134 ft loins . 3 A. Redmond (New Zealand) 132 ft. BSins.; R. Trangmar (Rhodesia) 128 ft 9ms: also: M. Carr (New Zealand), H.

Moody (England), E. Coy (Canada). WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP. D. Tyler (England) sft. 3ins, equals her own Empire games record, 1. B. Crowther (England) sft. 3ins, also equals the record but was second on the countback. N. Swinton (New Zealand) sft. lin., 3.

D. Manley (England), sft.; also: R. Thorne (Canada), S. Gordon (Canada), B. Brewis (New Zealand), F. Silburn (Canada), J. Baumann (Australia) and J. Morrison (Australia).