ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19180, 10 December 1927, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WELLINGTON IN THE LEAD. The Xew Zealand Amateur Athletic Championships opened at Lancaster Park yesterday afternoon in glorious weather on a track which was fast. There was a good attendance for an offdav.

The provincial teams were up to full strength, except for the defection of Williams, the young Auckland sprinter. Most of the field events were got ofl, as well as tho heats of the sprints. Handicap events were also run. One Tecord was broken, that of the 440 yds Hurdles, F. E. Ramson (Wellin<»tonl lowering the existing record of Msec by 1 l-ssec. The standard in all the events was good, and competition verv keen. Tho finals of the sprint cents will afford some close racing. At, present the points for the ehamj/ nship shield are:—Wellington, 20 points; Canterbury, u; Auckland, 4: Otago, 4; WanganuiTaranaki, 2. A°moderate but keen easterly blew in the faces of the competitors in the sprint races. Following are the results:— Championship Events. 100 YDS CHAMPIONSHIP. World's record, 9 3-ssec; N.Z. record, 9 •l-ssec. Present champion, 11. Leadbctter (Canterbury), 9 4-ssec. First heat—M. Leadbetter (0.) 1, A. J. Elliott (A.) 2, J. A. Murphy (0.) 8. Time,. 10 l-ssoc. Leadbetter got off the mark like (in arrow and went to the front. The strong Auckland runner, Elliott, challenged over the last half and gained three or four yards, but Leadbetter went on to win by two yards. Newton (W.T.), and Fleming (W.), also ran. Second heat—C. Jenkins (W.) 1, S. H. Black (W.T.) 2, A. B. Clarke (C.) 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Jenkins had the race well in hand all the way and won comfortably by three yards. Morgan (O.) and Wellington (W.T.) were the other competitors. 120 YDS HURDLES. World's record, 14 2-ssec; N.Z. record, 15 l-ssec. Preseut champion, R. W. Lander (O.), 15 l-ssee. First heat—J. W. Shirley (A.) 1, 0. L. Tapley (O.) 2. Tho two men ran nock and neck to tho last hurdle, when Shirley shot out to win by a yard. Ramson, Wellington's hope, fell at tho third hurdle. Second heat—K. W. Lander (W.) 1, H. D. Morgan (0.) 2, G. Broad (W.T.) 3. Time, 16sec. Lander won easily by five yards. 220 YDS CHAMPIONSHIP.

World's record. 20 4-ssac; N.Z. record, 21 2-ssec. Present champion, 11. Leadbetter (C), 23 3-ssec. First heat —C. Jenkins (W.) 1, A. J. Elliott (A.) 2, A. B. Clarke (C), 3. Time, 23scc. . . Jenkins and Elliott showed out early, and Elliott was running strongly, but Jenkins staved off a challenge to win by a yard and a half. Wellington (W.T.) was the other competitor. • • Second heat—M. Leadbetter (0.) 1, J. T. Fleming (W.) 2, J. L. McCoy (A.) 3. Time, Lca'duetter took the lead and had little difficulty in maintaining it. He won by two vards from Floming out of a Cold of five.

440 YDS HURDLES. World's record, 54 l-ssec; N.Z. record, 58 sec. Present champion, A, E. Garlicb. (A.), 58sec. P. K. Ramson (W.) • • 1 P. Nesdale (A.) .. •• 2 11. D. Morgan (0.) . . • • 3 Time, 56 4-ssec—-a record. This was a great race. Kamson took the lead over the first two hurdles, followed by Nesdale, with Lander close behind. Half-way round Lander baulked and retired. Nesdale and Ramson were running together, as were Morgan and Broad twenty yards back. Ramson maintained his lead and won in record time, clipping a second and a fifth off tno New Zealand record. THROWING THE DISCUS. World's record, 157 ft l|in; N.Z. record, 137 ft. Present champion, L. Hunt (W.T.), 119 ft lin. P. Munro (W.). 128 ft 5Jm .. 1 L. Hunt (W.T.), 125 ft 10m .. 2 E. G. Sutherland (W.), 114 ft 3 McHolmo <C), Harvey (W.), and Lay (W.T.) also competed. THREE MILE WALK.

World's record, 20min 25 4-ssec; N.Z, record, 21min 36 3-5 sec. W. Lankey (W.) .. -.1 R. H. Cabot (0.) .. • ■ * J. A. Wilson (0.) >. -.3

Time, 22min 58sec. Lankey, showing a good style, led from the start. The first milo was done in 7mm lGsec, Lankey leading by ton yards from Cabot, wtih Wilson, who got perilously near a run, further back. Tho Becond mile was covered in 7min 3Csec, ond Lankey had increased his lead to 200 yards. He went on to win by nearly half a lap from. Cabot, his time being two seconds within tho standard. Wilson was some distance away th rd. McKenzie (C), Wills (W.T.), and Delury (0.) wer.o the other starters.

THROWING THE HAMMER. World's record, 189 ft 6Jin; N.Z. record, 169 ft 93in. Present champion, W. Harvey (W.), 142 ft. J W. McHolm (0.), 138 ft 2m .. 1 J. G. Leckie (0.), 138 ft .. 2 W. Harvey (W.), 137 ft 9jin .. S Hunt (W.T.) also competed. BROAD JUMP.

World's record, 25ft lOJin; N.Z. record, 23ft SJiii, Present champion, E. G. Sutherland (W.), 21ft Bin. K. G. Sutherland (W.), 21ft BJm 1 J. W. Shirley (A.), 20ft 6Jin .. 2 li. B. Cordery (0.), 10ft lOJin 3 Other competitors were: Bradford (C), Hanan (0.). Thompson (0.), Joseph (C.), and Johnston (0.) HANDICAP EVENTS. 100 yds Boys' Handicap—First heat: J. Gallocher (scr) 1, F. H. Bennetts (scr) 2, J. Nelligan (GJyds) 3. Time, 11 2-ssec. Second heat: R. Neate (2yds) 1, E. Paisley (3yds) 2, L. Oliff (syds) 3. Time, 11 l-ssec. Final. Neate •- •• " i Gallacher .. •• ** « Nelligan - • • • .. 3 Time, Usee. 100 yds Ladies' Handicap—First heat: Miss M. Nelligan (7yds) 1, Miss 0. Webb (9yds) 2 Miss K. Sharp (3yds) 3. Second heat: Miss D. Unwin (4Jyds) 1, Miss N. Wilson (lyd) 2, Miss G. Clark (Byds 1 ) 3. Time, 11 3-sscc. _. , Final. Miss Nelligan .. " • * Miss Unwin • • • •. 2 Miss-Wilson ••. •• 3 Time, 11 3-ssec. The heats in the cycling will be decided at English Park this morning, the athletic events at Lancaster Park this afternoon, and tho cycling finals at English Park to-night.

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. This afternoon the finals of-the 100 yards and 220 yards will bo docided, and a great struggle for supremacy is assured in both races. The quarter has attracted a classic field. Fleming, of Wellington, who won the title last yoar in 50sec, is sure to be hard to beat, as is Newton, of Wanganui, who is a strong finisher. Auckland will be represented by McOoy, a big fellow, who has some good performances to his credit, Olsen, of Otago, should also he prominent in this event. A great field faces the starter in the half, and the time returned should be exceptional. It is the best batch of middledistance men that have ever graced the race. The issue is very open. Olsen may be expcted to do great things, as also should Allan (Wellington), and Nicoll (Canterbury). The critics think that the three miles should be one of the best races at the meeting, as Rose, Savidan, Taylor, and Johnston make a strong field. Savidan is the present champion, while Rose holds the Australian and New Zealand record at 14min 29 l-ssec. The mile walk should be most interesting, with Lankey (Wellington), Cabot (Otago), Wills (Hawera), and McKenzie (Canterbury) battling for the laurels. Every athlete of ability in the field events side of the sport will be seen in action. The high jump will provide keen competition. Sceats and Sutherland (Wellington), Shirley (Auckland), and Neville (Canterbury) should all do over sft lOin. Munro in the shot and discus, Lay in the javelin, and Harvey, McHolm, and Leckie in the hammer, will be watched with great interest.

English Park in the evening will be the venue of the cycling championships, and a most attractive programme will be presented. All the best amateur wheelmen from all parts of the Dominion will be seen. It is expected that Oakley (Wellington), Grose (Canterbury), Wakely (Wanganui), and Byrnes (Auckland) will be prominent. The mile championship is also being staged at the Stadium in the evening, and should provide a? thrilling a struggle as the famous RoseHnhn contest. Rof<- will make his appearance and will h.ivr strong opposition in Savidan, Gibbons, Bayne, and Taylor. An-

other attractive event will be the ladies' h„~ dred, in which the best lady sprinters shonld be between Miaf Swinburne and \n.! ColUds, of Wellington, Miss "Wilson of fti. borne, and Misses Boyd, Millichamn .ii Maxwell, of Canterbury. The interprovh, rial relay will see an entry from each v,l vinfe. and tho rare should be thrilline The first race at Lancaster Park atari. . 3 r nl ' '