AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20783, 18 April 1939, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

SECONDARY SCHOOLS HINEMOA PARK TO-MORROW SUCCESS OF TE KUITI CLUB SENSATIONAL MILE EVENT (By “Nurmi”) One of the best sporting fixtures of the year is the combined Secondary Schools Sports, which this year are being held at Hinemoa Park tomorrow, Wednesday. Teams from Thames, Waihi, Matamata, Te Aroha, Huntly, Cambridge, Marist Brothers, Hamilton Technical and Hamilton High Schools will be competing and judging by the entries at least half a dozen records should be broken. Each school has only one competitor in each event. In this way each race has rather a select field of school champions for that particular distance and as each school has its own particular colours, uniform, and number, competitors are very easy to follow.

Competitors are graded according to age. Juniors are under 14*, intermediates are under 16, and seniors arc under 19 years of age. The following list of records shows that the standard of competition is fairly high. You will notice that only one record remains of the first meeting in 1932—that of the junior 880 yards. Senior 100 yards, 10 4-ssecs, G. Overington (H.H.S.), 1936. 220 yards, 23 2-ssecs, G. Overington (H.H.S.), 1934. 440 yards, 55 secs, J. M. Hoskins (T.H.S.), 1935. J. Bartlett, (H.H.S.), 1937. 880 yards, fcmin 8 2-5 secs, R. N. Findlay (H.H.S.), 1939. Mile, 4min 56 3-5 secs, G. Knox (H.T.H.S.), 1933. 120 hurdles, 17 secs, J. Row (H.T.H.S.), 1937. R. N. Findlay (H.H.S.), 1938. High jump, sft 3*in., W. J. McKenzie (H.H.S.), 1938 Long jump, 20ft 3in., G. Overington (H.H.S.), 1936. Mile Relay, 4min 0 3-5 secs, (Ham. High), 1938. Intermediate 100 yards, 11 2-5 secs, C. Martvn (H.H.S.), 1936. 220 yards, 25 secs, B. Paterson (H.H.S.), 1935. 440 yards, 57 2-5 secs, (R. Sayers (H.H.S.), 1933. L. McNamara (H.T.H.S.), 1938. 880 yards, 2inin 12 secs, A. C. Goombes (H.H.S.), 1936. High jump, sft l*in., J. V. Devcich (T.H.S.), 1936. Long jump, 18ft 3Jin., J. Woodland (W„ H. S.), 1936. 90 yards hurdles, 14 secs, A. Crozier (H.H.S.), 1936. K. Farquhar (H.H.S.), 1938. 880 yards relay, imin 51 secs, (H.T.H.S.), 1934. (H.H.S.), 1935 and 1937. Junior 75 yards, 9 secs, E. Sklenars (M.8.H.5.), 1933. 100 yards, 11 4-5 secs, E. Sklenars (M.8.H.5.), 1933. A. Ridgley (H.D.H.S.), 1937. 220 yards, 26 2-5 secs, C. Martyn (H.H.S.), 1935. 440 yards, 59 2-5 secs, J. McKenzie (H.H.S.), 1934. 880 yards, 2min 20 2-5 secs, K. McLeish (T.H.S.), 1932. High Jump, 4lt 10in., J. McLean (T.H.S.), 1938. 440 yards relay, 53 1-5 secs (n am> High), 1934. Aggregate Points The winners each year of aggregate points in each grade is given below.

This Year’s Talent Of the seniors the most outstanding is J. V. Devcich, of Thames High School, who, at Auckland last month, won the New Zealand Junior Championship the 120 yards hurdles in 15 4-5 secs. He should break the hurdles record on Wednesday next and also add to it the record for the high jump. With anything like good conditions the bar should he raised to sft 6in. is also competing in the long jump, but he will have to produce one out of the bag to win as W\ Phillips of the Hamilton High School is likely lo add a few inches to G. Overington's record of 20ft 3in. The jumping will be worth watching. The senior distance races will be a great tussle between some good runners. A. O'Neil, from Waihi, and R. Buckingham, of the Technical School, will be hard to heat. The sprint races are more open. The quarter-mile will probably be won by K. Galloway from Thames High School, who has had several successes as a junior and intermediate.

The intermediate sprinters are almost as good as the seniors, with G. Rose from the Technical school, who was credited with 10 4-5 secs at the school sports a fortnight ago, Grinter from High School, Burrett from Thames High School, and Jones from Marist. The 100 and 220 yards will have close finishes. The jumpers, too, are good, with J. McLean, of Thames, a likely winner. However, J. Rodger and H. L'dy are two good jumpers from Matamata and J. . Paterson, of Technical, an excellent long jumper. J. McCoskrie, of Hamilton High, ought to be first in the 440 yards. The juniors are usually dark horses, but they will all have to run as they never ran bpfore to beat W. M. Burns, of the Hamilton High School. The Relay Races Relay races are always interesting and next Wednesday with over a thousand loud and yelling enthusiasts, they will be more interesting than ever. A primary school relay is also to start at 4.0 p.m. The meeting is run by a committee of delegates from each of the associated schools and the work of this body lias in no small measure been responsible for the enthusiasm for athletics and the high standard of competition at secondary school sports in the Waikato. So far there has been a meeting every year since 1932. Similar combined secondary school sports are held in Otago. Canterbury. Wellington and Auckland and there is likely to he one in Taranaki in the near future. The standard of performance at the Waikato meeting is quite as high as at any of the other centres.

Sensational Mile The much advertised "mile of the century, at Te Kuiti at Easter more than fulfilled expectations. To begin with, the arrival of Pullar by 'plane about an hour before the scheduled time for the great race focussed everyone’s attention on the select quintette as they jogged around in the process of warming up. At last the marksman called them to line up and a fine lot the contestants looked when stripped for action. Pullar and Wade shared the scratch mark, the former wearing the maroon of Masterton. while Wade carried Auckland representative colours. On 23 yards was Dare, with Mclnnes and the Te Kuiti hope, McCormack on 60 yards. Little time was required in checking up the marks and as they went down and “got set” a hush fell on the crowd. At the starter’s pistol McCormack was fast away and led Mclnnes and Dare, with Wade ahead of Pullar throughout the first lap. The quarter peg showed G 3 secs for the scratch men and soon after this Pullar moved up ahead of Wade. Approaching the half, covered by Pullar in 2 min 8 secs, Mclnnes went to the lead and Wade again supplanted his co-marker. Dare meanwhile was going a great race and was selected by many keen judges as the likely winner. The order at the three-quarter mile peg, done :n 3 min 14 secs, was Mclnnes and McCormack almost together, four yards back to Dare, five yards to Wade and another two to Pullar. At the bell McCormack went to the lead and there was no change in the others as they raced dow-n the back, except that the Geld had bunched. 'With & furlong to go a blanket would have covered ail five and as they crossed the top the red singlet of Pullar immediately showed out. Sensing victory for the backmarker, the crowd began to barrack. As they straightened up for home Pullar just led from Wade and McCormack, Wade then put in all he had and drew level with Pullar, and, fifty yards from the tape, looked like going to win, when the gold singlet of Te Kuiti suddenly appeared. It was McCormack, unwinding a phenomenal run that threw' spectators into an uproar, and he snatched the victory by a foot from Wade, with Pullar two yards back, and Dare and Mclnnes close up. Time 4 min 18 secs l Grand Performance Superlatives are required in commenting on the grand performance of the Te Kuiti youth. Just over 18 years of age. he displayed great pace, a smooth leg action and above all, courage of a high order. It would appear only a matter of time, if he is not over-raced in the interim, for the Kina Country hero to take the highest honours, the sport can bestow. Tli* 4 performances of the remaining four, while slightly dimmed by the brilliance of the winner, are nevertheless well w r orthy of note. Mclnnes, previously rated about the 4.40 mark must have bettered 4.30 for the full Journey. Wade was clocked at 4min 18 1-5 secs, which time is, to “Nurmi's” knowledge the best time ever recorded by an Auckland miler and stamps Wade as practically on a par with Pullar and Boot at their best. When Wade won his national title in 1938 during the abvsence'of Pullar and Boot there was a suggestion of a fluk* win in a weak field. Wade has since displayed sufficient evidence of his powers to re-move this “taint” and ’.n defeating Pullar in a fair and square race at Te Kuiti he has now' closed the discussion for all time. Although beaten, Pullar was far from disgraced. He did an equal share of pace-making with Wade and when topped off in the final bit had only congratulations with no excuses to offer his conqueror. It was a grand race from start to finish and, to quote the words of Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., when decorating the winner, “It was alone, well worth thf» price of admission. - ' Probably for the first time in a politician’s life, his entire audience of 4000 odd agreed with him.

Success Well Deserved The outstanding success which attended the Te Kuiti club's meeting was well and truly deserved. From the outset of their amateur activities thp leaders of this club have shown a flair for producing the very best that can be produced. What is more, their energies are not expended only in securing the "big fish" for their meeting. Witness their numbering system of both athletes and cyclists; the work required in transforming an open Domain into an up-to-date sporls arena, well fenced around with netting wire; the time and trouble expended in securing and erecting tents for the benefit of their visitors: the per feet lay-out of their official pro gramme, with a number opposite each competitor’s name so that spectators could tell at a glance just who was who. These are the tasks that require work, work and more work, and in reaping a gate that went, well into the third hundred, the club secured only what was really their due. “Nurmi" was informed while at the meeting that there- is every indication that the club will next season possess a modern banked track, so it. would appear that this energetic body dues not intend to rest on its laurels.

Harrier Activities Harrier clubs are now preparing ror the new season. In addition to the \w > Hamilton clubs it is expected that Tauranga and Te Kuiti will also field teams. To Kuiti, led by tlie marathon runner McCalman might make it.~ presence felt in cross-country rarins. The Waikato cross-country championship was held in Hamilton las', year, but there is every possibility that the race may take place outside headquarters this season.

Senior Intermediate Junior 1932 Ham. High High High 1933 Ham. High Technical High 1934 Ham. High Technical High 1935 Ham. High High High 1936 Ham. High High High 1937 Ham. High High Huntly 1938 Ham. High High Tech.