AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 6 February 1941, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

WAIKATO CHAMPIONSHIPS HAMILTON TAKES GOULD SHIELD GRAND PARADE TO MORRINSVILLE (By “Nurmi") The 1 940-4 1 Waikato championships, held at Paeroa on Anniversary Day were u wonderful advertisement for the Hamilton Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club. From the juvenile races right through to the final event, Hamiltonians were well placed every time out. Pueria spectators, learned that any black and Void representative was entitled to great respect. Parade and Marching Contest As a spectacle the grand parade was magnificent and the spontaneous applause Horn spectators was well merited. The competitive side of the parade embraced three aspects, attendance, uniformity, and marching, for which luu points each were allocated. Out of the 3UU possible, Morriusvifie scored 235 (attendance luu, uniformity, 05, inarching ;uj, Hamilton 236 (96, 55, 85), Te Puke, ( 166, 65, 65), Tauranga 223 (96, 05, 68), Matamata 226 (106, 66, 60), Paeroa (79, 64, 72;. Congratulations to .Morrlnsvilie—the blues deserved to win, topping the score in attendance and uniformity. The marching contest produced a great display by Hamilton, trie male section being really line and the women brilliant. Capably led by Miss Mona Bradley, the women were almost flawless, the military judges being particularly complimentary on their work. Need of Club Uniforms The Hamilton Club has an improvement to attend to in the near future in the mutter of club uniforms. For a club with such simple colours as Hamilton to rank lowest for uniformity indicates that this important delail is not receiving the attention it deserves. A portion or the blame must be laid at the writer’s door, as, in response to enquiry, “Nurmi” wrongly advised at least three women competitors that gold stripes were not worn on the shorts. The Hamilton club’s uniform is as follow's—Black singlet (men) or blouse (women), with “X” overall, "H” in gold ribbon on chest, stripes of same gold ribbon on shorts. The uniform is probably the most attractive in the Auckland province. Women's Section Hamilton’s great day of success started early when the club’s latest recruit, Miss Sowerby, won the under 16 girls’ looyds championship in 12Js, just a fifth outside Miss Joan Hart’s record. Judiciously placed, as she certainly will be, Miss Sowerby has rosy prospects on the athletic horizon. The women’s sprints worked out very much as expected, Morrinsville’s great pair, Miss llart and Miss Keating, taking the honours. Of the Hamiltonians, Miss Buckingham and Miss Henderson made the 7 syds final, the former running a good third, while in the 2 2uyds Miss Kirk, having her first run in open company, and alter only three weeks in the club, finished in great style to take third place. in tiie relay the Hamilton quartette (Misses Buckingham, Sowerby, Bradley and Henderson) beat me opposition and regained the title held by that great foursome (Ida Campbell, M. Reekie, B. Tooman and D. Buckingham) for the three seasons previous to 1939. Brilliant Hurdling Hurdling in inspired fashion, Miss Fay Cowley -made a one-sided race of the women’s hurdles, although the opposition was a great improvement on past seasons. Miss Cowley had not run over the sticks since the High School sports last year, when she over-taxed her strength with too much competition. That the rest had not impaired her hurdling ability was soon demonstrated, as the time, 13 3-ss, Is the fastest since 1936, when that good hurdler Miss B. Cotterell (Rotorua), clocked 13s. Hamilton’s second hurdles string, Miss Sowerby, also hurdled well and gave Miss V. Taylor (Paeroa), a great contest for second in the final.

Women’s Field Events Hamilton scored two firsts and four thirds out of five events in the women’s field section. Miss Judge gave a splendid exhibition of scissors jumping to clear 4ft 4iins and win the high jump (The record is ift 44in, and has stood since 1937). Miss Bradley went close to the record (ir»ft 11 in put up in 1936), when, after two no jumps, she cleared 1 5rt 9in to win her second broad jump title. Miss Rierrmei-. having her first championship meeting, perrormed well with third in the high jump and third in the javelin, while Miss Graham put up the good figure of l ift Oiiti for third in the broad jump. Miss Bradley recorded G'jrt 9 Jin for third in the discus. With tne, exception of two or three, all the Hamilton entrants in this section were recruits during the last four ' weeks and if all continue to practise and improve, “Nurmi” would foretell an almost full book for Hamilton next season. The material is now in the club ranks. It remains to be developed. Fowler’s Triple Success The shining light of the junior sprint section was Fowler, who showed a clean pair of heels to his fields in the 100, 220 and 440 yards. The latter was his most meritorious victory. In a field of eight, running without lanes, Fowler drew the outer and elected to run along behind the inside man for the first hundred. A little bunching at this stage caused Fowler to lose ground on the leaders and when he got free, a five yards gap had to be made up. At the straight entrance Fowler saw an opening on the Inside, and, having the necessary toe, shot through and won easily. The new champion looks, like going a long way In the sport, and should noxv commence to specialise in either the 160 and 220 or the 220 and 440. Judge and R. Buckingham filled minor places in the sprints, the Tormer with third in the 100 and the lutter with third In the 220 and second (finishing well) in the 440. Distance Records Shake Running a lone race rrom the gun, Ron Buckingham soon had his field in trouble in the junior 886, and it was just bad luck, not lack or ability on the xxdnner’s part, that the record (2m 8 3-ss, put up in 1936) is still intact. He clocked 2m 8 4-ss, a great effort. D. A. Dreyer was similarly placed In the mile, having to make his own pace throughout and Ills class was indicated when the clocks revealed 4m 58s (one-fifth better than the record of the great junior miler, M. M. Ormsby). Dreyer won very convincingly. lie was followed home by Hamilton’s second string. F. Buckingham, who, for his age, was equally impressive. A patient policy has been set by Buckingham senr for this lad and Its due reward will be apparent later. Hurdles to Hamilton Of the eighteen hurdling points available, the black and golds scored thirteen, a smart hurdler in Reeve, or Matamata, narrowly taking the 120 yards title. Hood and Leitch filled the minor places In the shorter distance. In the furlong hurdles, the finalists were Hood, Farquhar (Morrlnsvilie), Leitch and Muir. The last named deserves special mention for a courageous display In cutting the Morrinsville entrant out or third place. The places were Hood, I.eltch and Muir, this being Hamilton’s most successful event. The time 295, showed the pace was on. Junior Field Events Of the six Junior field titles. Hamilton won three, was second five times and third twice. Fowler found time between winning sprints to win the discus throw. He was also narrowly topped off in the Javelin event by his club-mate. Judge, and finished the day with second in the broad Jump. In six championship events, therefore. Fowler annexed four titles and was second in each of the others, a great innings for one day. Judge made no mistake about should now specialise In spear work. In the shot, Judge put a nice one out for third place. As expected, Muir duly collected the pole vault title. His 9ft Gin was no mean effort. In fact, the height would win many provincial senior championships. It was unfortunate that Ferguson wasn't there to see his protege in action. A second in the discus by Kennedy, second in the pole vault by I.awson and second and third b.v Hood and McCurdy respectively, were all praiseworthy efforts. Cycling Events Two riders shared the entire list of cycling titles. In the junior one and two miles, I*. Coker, <>r the Tauranga club, rode heady finishes to top off G. Mearns, of Paeroa. The latter made the first run each time, but Coker, with fine judgment and powerful finishing, won end: final in the last two yards, which is the right place to be In front. In the open championships keen competition throughout saw a new triple champion crowned, when N. K Freeman, of Te Fuke, won the half, one and three

miles titles. Opposed by strong- fields. Freeman rode with splendid confidence and judgment and should hold his titles l'or some considerable time. Wooller, of Tau-rang-a, Fates, or .Mornnsville and Smith, of Mataniata, filled the minor placlngs, but Freeman hail the races in hand long- before the judges were reached. Auckland Championship Meeting The Auckland junior and women’s championships will he held on Friday and Saturday, February ill and The first day will probably lie utilised for beats, although ‘•.Nurmi” has not yet received a programme. Entries for this meeting- will probably close about February 10 and should be addressed without delay, to The Secretary. Auckland Centre .N.Z.A.A.A, box 3x, Auckland. Competitors must enter individually for tills meeting-. Morrinsville Open Meeting The Morrinsville Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club have decided to conduct an open meeting on tln-ir wonderful arena, on Saturday, March -j-j. More about this meeting later, but remember the date should be kept free.