ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1303, 15 April 1915, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

THE McVILLY SHIELD. WON BY WANGANUI. (From Our Wanganui Correspondent.) The Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club won the McViily Shield, bn Saturday, April 3. from the Wairarapa Club. This shield was presented for competition amongst amateur clubs in the Wellington- Centre district, and was wort by Wa/rarapa in 1913 1 aiid again last. yeai;. This year Wairarapa put a strong team in the field, but thanks chiefly to the fine form shown by Martis, the New Zealand champion sprinter, and A. S. Reid, late of Southland, in the field events, the Wanganui Club secured ' the handsome trophy. Martis won the 100 and 220 yards without being extended in llsec. and 24sec. respectively. It was-, perhaps just as well he was not pushed, as he was running against his doctor’s orders, having ricked himself under the knee. He was advised not to run again until next season, but risked a serious breakdown in order to help his club to victory. In the 440yds. he ran alongside h.s club ? mate, N. Shale, in the lead, just ahead of W. J. Candy, of Wairarapa, most of the distance, though it was evident he could have raced clear of his field at any time. However, he was - anxious to help Shale along, and - kept by him. Fifteen yards from the tape Candy made a desperate effort, and, taking Martis by surprise, jumped into the lead, but the Wanganui champion straightened himself up and just caught Candy on the tape. Reid won the long jump, shot-putting and hammer-throwing championships with three fine performances, clearing 19ft. Ilin, in the long jump, putting the shot 38ft., and throwing the hammer 122 ft. 9in., the two latter being records for the country clubs’ championship- gatherings. Reid, who is a splendid stamp of an athlete, is a master at the Wanganui Collegiate School, and is doing valuable work in coaching the boys there in field games. J. Sockett, of Wanganui, won the half-mile in fine style, while F. Kilminster scored in the mile, finishing very strongly. P. Doyle, of Wellington, won the high jump and also the 120yds. hurdles, but he scored no points for the shield, the Wellington city clubs not being eligible to compete for the trophy. L. Clarke, a youth of 16, cleared sft. 2in. in the high jump, and placed that, event to the credit of the Wanganui Club, finishing second to Doyle. H. Stagpoole, of the Manawatu Club, ran second to the Wellington crack in the hurdles, and credited his club with six points, but he was its only representative. Altogether the Wanganui team scored 56^. points and Wairarapa 36% points. The victory of the local club should prove a good thing for amateur athletics in this district.