AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 99, 11 December 1939, Page 8

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

HONOURS TO WHAKATANE

LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST

Staged 'as the' first" meeting-to Mle held under the auspices of the Hfl} of Plenty Amateur Athletics Association, the championship- contests held at the Domain on Saturday afternoon attracted only a moderate attendance. It is to he regretted that the holding of such a fixture in this town was not appreciated more by the public. Amateur athletics warrant some support and encouragement as there are no entry fees and the controlling bodies rely on admission charges to cover expenses. The athletes compete Cor the sake of clean sport and are not lured on by a purse of sovereigns dangling on the finishing tape. They are keen and Saturday provided thrills and entertainment of a first-class order and it is surprising that the public should display such apathy towards a championship meeting. Though overcast during the afternoon, the conditions were good, and despite what was considered to be a heavy track, the times registered were up to provincial standard. Schoolgirl's Performance. A feature of the afternoon was the effort of Miss Fay Bennie in the Ladies' Shot Putt. Fay Bennie, who is aged 14 years and 7 months, and who is a pupil of the Whakatane District High School, was making her first attempt at this branch of athletics, and her-putt was only four inches behind the New Zealand record holder, Miss Summers, of Tauranga. Miss Summers recorded 27 feet and Miss Bennie, earning full applause from the contestants and spectators, cleared 2(> feet 8 inches with the shot. Miss Bennie also dead-heated for first in the 100 yards Ladies' Cahmpionship. Officials. Championship points were: Whakatane 4G, Taurnnga and Te Puke 31 each. Officials for the day. Starter: V. Kelly; assistant starter; J. Conolly; judges: Messrs Long, Ormond, Woolliams; record steward: B. Norman; assistant record steward: J. King; timekeeper: ,T. White; track steAvards: Messrs Richards. Policy, Conolly, Woolliams; protest committee: Messrs Long, Policy, and Te Puke official; rake stewards: J. White and A. Morpeth.

Results. Abbrcvations are W lor \\ hakatane, T for Tauranga, and TP for Te Puke. Senior 100 yds Championship: Gooseman (TP) 1, Wilson (W) 2. Rousell (T) 3. Time lOsecs. Ladies' 75yds Championship: Summers (T) 1, G. Zinsli (YV) 2, 1. Zinsli (W) 3. Time 9 2-5. Junior % mile Cycle Championship: Higgins (TP) 1, Goker (T) 2, Burns (TP) 3. Time 1.21 1-5. Seniof 220 yds Handicap: Tanner (T) 1, Johnson (W) 2, Stewart (W) 3. Time 23secs. Junior 100 yds Handicap: Goodwin (TP) 1, Jones (T) 2, Stephens (T) 3. Senior 1 Mile Cycle Championship: Wooller (T) 1, Freeman (TP) 2, Colter (T) 3. Time 2.41 2-5. Junior 440 yds Championship: Brown (W) 1, Brownlee (TP) 2, Step hens (T) 3. Time 52 3-5. Senior 1 Mile Championship: Sylvester (T) 1, Lodge (T) 2, Preston (T) 3. Time 4.47 1-5. Ladies' Broad Jump Championship: Frances (<V) 1, Wilson (W) 2, Patterson (TP) 3. Distance 13v"t Bin. Junior Broad Jump Championship: Britten (W) 1, Brown (W) 2, Roberts (TP) 3. Distance 19ft 3in. Senior Broad Jump Championship: Wilson (W) 1, Gooseman (TP) '2, Chambers (YV) 3. Distance 20ft tin. Ladies' 100 yds Handicap: Bennie (AV) Wilson (W) (dciul-heat) 1, 13. Brant 3. Time 12secs. Open 880 yds Handicap: Coutts (W) 1, Arnell (W) 2, Rendell (W) 3 Junior Shot Championship: Hicks (TP) 1, Britten (W) 2, Riddel (TP) 3. Distance 32ft s%in. Two mile Open Cycle Handicap: Coker (T) 1, Wooller (T) 2, Freeman (TP) 3. Ladies' Shot Championship: Summers (T) 1, Bennie (W) 2, Francis (W) 3. Distance 27ft. One mile Medley Relay Championship: Whakatane 1, Te Puke 2, Taurangn 3. Time <-.55. All announcements were made through a sound system, Mr R. Oxen ■ ham being at the microphone.