AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19765, 21 December 1935, Page 21 (Supplement)

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

THE HAMILTON CLUB. AUCKLAND TECHNICAL DEFEATED MANY FINE CONTESTS. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By •/Nurmi,")

The final section of the Challenge Cup competition Avith the Technical Club Avas a pronounced success in more ways than one. To begin Avith, this Avas the llr-st sports meeting to be conducted in /[he Dominion under the relay system. The relay system, as its title suggests, is a matter for the team more than for the individual, and it is very obvious that under these conditions a team of four moderately good performers avUI defeat a team containing tAVO champions and tAvo 'low graders. The meeting Avas well conducted throughout, spectators having something to interest them all the time.

In the running relay events Hamilton completely sAvept the -board! Technical’s only win being In i the three miles flat race. The 440 yards relay over four 110 yards Avas won fairly easily, Denz giving the local boys a lead Avhlch Avas held throughout. The same runner put his side in front in the 880 yards relay, and subsequent runnel’s carried on with the good work. In the mile relay of four quarter-miles Technical were in front ’at the first change over, hut a nice run by Mills put our team ahead, and they stayed there. The best race of the day Avas the tAvo miles relay. In this race the lead see-sawed throughout, barely five yards separating the teams at any stage. With 200 yards to go Fagan (Hamilton) led McCullough (Technical ( by a yard, the latter doing it Avell. Entering the straight, McCullough made his run, and Fagan took him on, stride for stride, and a really exciting finish saw -Fagan just prevail by inches. The four miles relay went to Hamilton by a big margin. Henshall ran the first mile for Hamilton, and handed over to Skeet with a 20 yards lead. This was later increased, and the last man had a fairly easy mile. In the jumps Hamilton were also 100 good. Hamilton’s total of 59ft llri in the long jump averages 19ft Bin each, so the standard in this event Avas certainly high. In the hop, step and jump the average for the Avinners (Hamilton) Avas 40ft and again in the high jump the average was nearly 5ft —good jumping all round. Technical came into their own in the javelin and discus tbroAving. In the javelin Technical’s average Avas 137 ft '2Jn to the local club’s 111 ft Gin. The discus Avas a repetition of this state of affairs, the visitors averaging 88ft lOin to 79ft 9in. Technical had two particularly brilliant exponents in these events in Steer and Gillespie. The former is a beautifully proportioned athlete and had no difficulty in throwing the javelin 161 ft and the discus 108 ft add. Gillespie gave good support with 1491't 9in and 80ft Sin, and with Hie third man holding his own the locals were out-pointed., Hamilton collected the points in the shot putt Avitli an average of 31ft lOin, Graham, the local club champion, pulling a good ono over 3Gft. Technical’s Only Win. In the three miles flat race Henshall (Hamilton) made most of the running and carried the field along at a very solid pace. Neil (Technical) Avas content to tuck in behind the leader most of the way, and had too many guns at the finish. Henshall deserves great praise for this effort, as also does Bricrly (Technical), who hung on avcll, despite a foot Injury, and gained third place. In an unofficial race for ladies there Avas a fine finish, the judges being unable to separate Miss Burns and Miss Reekie. Avitli Miss Campbell, right up, third. Club members will regret to note the transfer to Auckland of one of the stalAvarls of tlie club in “Tommy” Mills. Since bis High School days lie lias given ids best in the interests of athletics, both actively and on the administrative side, and we are indeed sorry to lose him. However, wo note with some pleasure that our loss will be Technical's gain, and ayc hope lo see him shining later in a green singlet inslcad of black. The weekly sports meeting was held on Wednesday evening, in good conditions, although drizzling rain lnd fallen all afternoon. The track Avas

not much affected and good times were recorded. Nine runners faced tho starter in the opening' event, the 75 yards senior handicap, and an excellent ‘Start Avas effected. With 30 yards to go it \yas anybody’s race, but Thompson (1J yards) finished well, lo beat Heeps (14 yards) by inches, with Pardington (34 yards) in third place. Considering the little training lie can get, the winner went very Avell. In the 75 yards ladies’ race another great performance Avent to the credit of Miss Campbell. Running off the back mark, Miss ■Campbell- began smartly and had the field in trouble at half-way, going on to win ratlyn’ easily in the very -solid time of 8 4-5 sec. Miss Reekie again filled second place, and if time is any guide she improved quite a bit on last week's race. Should these tAvo ladles elect to compete in open races during the. holidays club members may rest assured that the j judges avIII get . a splendid eyeful of the club’s colours. A neAvcomer, Miss Trenberth, started in this race and went Avell enough to suggest that with some training and starting practice she will make good later. - The Buckingham family held a mortgage over the junior boys’ events. Reg., off 64 yards, AA'on the 75 yards by half a yard from his yo-ung brother, Ron (104 yards), with Thompson 4 yards) third. Reg completed the double with a splendid Avin in tho junior 330 yards, off 25 yards, winning very comfortably from Erkell (15 yards), Avith Goosman (scr) third. Reg can improve his starting considerably by waiting for the command to “Get set.” This will check his tendency to overbalance AA’hile Avaiting for the gun. A Fine Contest. Tho 1000 yards open race dreAV a small'field of six, but a fine contest resulted. Kirby and Henshall took turns In the lead until 300 yards to go, when Armstrong (scr) ran to the front, with Erkell (15 yards) and Pardington close up, both the latter obviously playing a waiting game. Armstrong sprinted suddenly with 150 yards to go, and caught the other tw-6 napping, although Erkell came with a rattle at the end. Armstrong, Erkell, -Pardington was the judge’s placing. Miss Reekie ran true to form in the ladies’ 150 yards handicap, beginning smartly and running solidly and evenly to win nicely from Miss Campbell, with Miss Trenberth again third. This this season and raises hopes that she this season an draises hopes that she may yet again regain her form of last season.

Club Captain Joyes again demonstrated that 300 yards is his pet theory. A good field of 12 contested this event. The field rose to a perfect start and Henshall, ißloore and Armstrong were quickly prominent. Across the top and into the straight the field bunched, and everyone of the 12 held a chance. Armstrong Avas the first to make his run, Avith Thompson, Pardington and Joyes next. Joyes (5 yards) finished strongly to Avin by a yard front Mountain (14. yards), who came from the clouds in the straight, with Armstrong (18 yards) third. The time (33 l-ssec), equal to about 34sec for the Ayhofe distance, affords evidence of a good race.

The discus standard avus lower than usual, Heeps (25ft) Avinning with 100 ft Sin. Oldfield and Kirby filled the places. Heeps has a smooth slyle and should be capable of much hotter than this 'later. After a long run of placings Graham (scr.), took first place in the shot putt, although, strangely enough, Ids effort of 34ft is well beIOAV his best. “Hefty" deserved this Avin and Avas freely congratulated. McCormack (7ft 3in) filled second place and Heeps (Bft) third. Heeps will pick up some points for his team among the field events. A noticeable feature of the meetings of late has been the vast improvement in the starting. Now that the competitors realise that an early beginning Aviil bring its inevitable penalty there has been a much more pleasant state of affairs. - The Whatawhala Club has secured the services of this club’s official for their big open meeting on New Year’s Day, Avlien athletes from all over ihe island Aviil clash in quest of the honours and some very valuable trophies.