AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20965, 18 November 1939, Page 21 (Supplement)

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

EXCITING RELAY RACING SUB-CENTRE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT PAEROA, FEBRUARY 17 (By “ Nurmi.”) A larger gallery than usual, made up mostly of interested supporters of various teams, saw some exciting racing at Hinemoa Park last Saturday, when the second races in the men’s and women’s interhouse relays were conducted by the Hamilton Club. The men’s races were quite interesting, the baton work of certain teams being of a high order. The undoubted superiority of the Dairy quartette, however, was not conducive to close finishes. In the women’s races, however, two teams were almost on a par, and it was here that the spectators received their thrill for the afternoon.

The Women’s Final The final of race two in the women’s contest drew six teams. At the gun Hooker and Kingston were first to show out, their first string being particularly brilliant. With half the distance covered Hooker & Kingston led by three yards from Court’s A, with Dairy two yards back and Court’s B, McDuffs and Dairy B together. There was little alteration in the order as they raced to the last change over, and it appeared at j this stage that the leaders would reI peat their winning performance of I the first race. At the change over however, Court’s A connected per- ! fectly, while the leaders fumbled, and i the situation changed in a flash. The Court’s A final string, sensing posI sible victory, put in a glorious finish i and just stalled off Hooker and Kingi Eton at the tape, with Dairy A (holders of the cup) three yards back. ! It was a splendid effort on the part i of Court’s A, who showed marked ■ improvement since last race (a fact j which gave coach Roy Dent a good i deal of well-earned pleasure). The • result of race two makes the final : event, probably on November 25 or j December 2, most interesting, as j Court’s A and Hooker and Kingston are now equal with 8 points each I and Dairy Coy. have 2 point*

Smart Sprinting The coming sprint champion, T. M. Roper, continued on his winning way | in the 120 yards handicap, when, off ; 4 yards, and conceding starts up to jl2 yards, he scored in convincing | style in the good time of 11 4-5 sec. | Allowing the usual distance of 2 yards per fifth of a second this works out at 12 1-5 seconds for the full distance and thus equals the national standard time. Roper runs 120 yards well, but “ Nurmi ” still considers that 100 yards will be the distance at which this most promising sprinter will really excel. A Correction In my notes last week, in the introduction to the explanation on national standards it was inadvertently recorded that the standard for 100 yards was 10 2-5 sec. This should, of course, have been 10 2-10 sec., and may have puzzled any readers who failed to notice the full list of standards further down. New Handicapper The Waikato sub-centre, at last Monday’s meeting appointed as subcentre handicapper Mr C. G. Goosman, formerly of Hamilton, and now resident in Te Puke. A splendid sprinter and jumper himself, and having considerable knowledge of handicapping systems, not only through the work of his experience but also through the work of his late father, Mr C. E. Goosman, former well-known trotting handicapper. Colin should fill the bill well. The Waikato handicapping system of using the national standard as the scratch mark has been proved over and over again to have no equal. Last season the Waikato clubs were fortunate in securing the services of Mr C. J. Thompson, of Hamilton, *o do all their open meetings, and in Mr Goosman, it would appear that

the sub-centre has selected a handicapper fully qualified to carry on the work so efficiently performed by his predecessor. j More Transfers The Hamilton Club has suffered somewhat severely of late in the matter of transfers from the town of active members and officials. C. G. Goosman. H. Parsons, and Mr and Mrs Heeps have been transferred ' since the season opened. The latI cst loss is that of our running handi- ! capper, Mr D. Reid, Who, like the j Heeps family, has been transferred to Te Aroha. Hamilton’s loss may I considerably assist Te Aroha There | u> also an even chance that that en-

ergetic club worker and top-notch pole vaulter, J. Ferguson, wiH also be lost to the club early in the new year Te Aroha on Boxing Day Waikato athletic enthusiasts will be interested to note that the Te Aroha Kiwi Athletic Club has been allocated Boxing Day for its open meeting. A new club formed only last season, Te Aroha, has so far had a most unfortunate existence. To begin with weather conditions forced the postponement of its Intended open meeting last season. Inclement weather again prevailed on the second date selected and the meeting was reluctantly abandoned. Then, during the winter came the third and greatest blow of all, in the death of its esteemed club captain Mr R. Ewing. The Te Aroha Club has so j far received more brickbats than anything else and a few large size bou- ! quets, preferably in the shape of a fine Boxing Day with phenomenal entries in all events would therefore be quite in order. Hamilton’s Big Day Preparations are well advanced for the grand open carnival of the Hamilton Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, which is to be held at Hinemoa Park, Hamilton, on Saturday, December 16. In addition to open athletic, field events, and cycling, a portion of the programme will be devoted to interhouse contests. This latter idea is something new to Hamilton, but has i been carried on successfully in several places, notably Auckland and i Napier, for some years. If Auckland and Napier can do it, then Hamilton must put up a showing!