WEST COAST ATHLETE INCLUDED IN ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1950, Page 4

WEST COAST ATHLETE INCLUDED IN ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

After two years’ wqrk, a special committee of sporting experts has completed a list of Australian and New Zealand ath!etes-of-the-year back to 1896. Of the six New Zealanders whose names appear, one is 8. A. Eay, West Coast (N’.u Centre, former Empire javelin champion, and another R. A. Rose, distance runnel-, and now a fanner at Inglewood. The list was drawn up at the invitation ot an American sports organisation which aims to help amateur sport throughout the world and honour every nations amateur champions. Thp organisation is the Helms Athletic Foundations .which was formed in 1936 by a wealthy Southern Cqliforian sportsman, Paul H. Helms. While the committee’s work has almost entirely ended with the compilation of this list and the selection of the Australian cyclist Syd Patterson as the outstanding star of 1949, it will continue to select the athlete-of-the-year. The star selected will receive a Helms World Trophy Plate and have his name inscribed with the rest on thp huge gold and silver World Trophy which is in the Olympic Flag Room of Helms Hall. The Australian committee which drew up the list consisted of Sir Frank Beaurepaire (chairman) and Messrs. H. G. Alderson, H. H. Weir, J. P. Metcalfe, F. Pizzey, H. de Lacey, E. Colwer and R. McPherson. However, the chairman did not sit on the committee until the rest of the members had chosen him as athlete-of-the-year, 1910, when he was a world champion swimmer. The six New Zealand names that appear on the list are: 190,9, Anthony Wilding, tennis; 1926, Randolph Bose, track and field; 1927, Stanley Lay. track and field; 1935,.C.H. Matthews, long distance running; 1936, J.O. Lovelock, track and field; 1945, D. M. Harris, track and field. No athletes-of-the-year were chosen for the war years, 1940-44.)

Lay was a competitor at the 1928 Olympic Games, a winner at the 1930 British Empire Games with a record throw of 207 feet 14 inches that still stands, second again at the 1938 Empire Games and a competitor at the 1950 Empire Games, where he took the oath of loyalty on behalf of all the athletes. Lay’s record is unique in New Zealand. Now in retirement after winning his 12th national title last season, he is a signwriter in New Plymouth.

Randolph Rose won his fame f° r long distance running when he was in the Wairarapa and Wellington districts. He was a particularly good miler and is still joint New Zealand record-holder with the time 4min. 13 3-ssec. He also competed successfully overseas in the British National CrossCountry championships and the French 1500 metres championship.