VISITORS IN SOUTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 15

VISITORS IN SOUTH ISLAND

BRITISH AND FINNS IN FORM APPEARANCE IX CHRISTCHURCH ON SATURDAY The English, Scotlish, and Finnish international athletes who arc to appear at Lancaster Park at a big meeting on Saturday .passed through Christchurch early yesterday morning on their way to Dunedin. With the exception of Dr. Robin Murdoch, the sprinter, they are all in good form, and are looking forward to concluding their tcur in Christchurch on Satday with some outstanding performances. J. V. Powell, the half-miler, has struck excellent form, and has hopes of breaking the New Zealand hall-mile record in Christchurch.

The visitors—G. L. Rampling, J. V. Powell, R. M. Craske, and R. Murdoch ( <preat Britain), and Veikko Perasalo and Matti Sippala (Finland) —with Captain Evan Hunter as manager, were met at the railway station by Messrs J. K. Moloney (president), R. Beattie. M. Leadbetter, W. C. Flewcllyn. E. i\:. Todd, C. N. Hamilton, and K. N. McGillivray. of the Canterbury Centre of tlie New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and by a number o£ athletic enthusiasts, the Finnish vice-consul (Mr W. Sarelius), and others. The visitors spoke highly of the reception they had received in New Zealand. but regretted that the hurried tour prevented them from seeing the country properly. They will compete in Dunedin to-day, and return to Christchurch to compete here on Saturday. They will be given a reception at the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club's rooms on their arrival. Captain Hunter's Comment Captain Evan Hunter, who is one cf ilu' most travelled cf British athletic celebrities, said that His team was just striking form in Australia, but on arriving in New Zealand baa weather was met, and this prevented the runners trom giving their best. He realised that it was difficult to acclimatise a team in a new country, but considered that the weather here was suitable for distance running. In Melbourne the weather had been most changeable, making it very hard tor tlie team to settle down. The grass tracks the team had seen :r> tar in New Zealand had been wet or damp. Captain Hunter said, and it was difficult to give a considered opinion on the relative merits of New Zealand tracks and the cinder tracks at Home. K was found that the grass track* were very strange to men who had been used to cinders, mainly because on cinders spikes ran through the track, whereas on grass, unless the feet were lifted the runners were liable to drag their spikes. Powell Strikes Form The athletes are enjoying their tour. Rampling, who was reported to have sLtliered an injury in Wellington, said he expected to be in good form again for tlie meeting in Christchurch on Saturday. Powell has struck excellent lonri. He and all of the team were imprcsr-ed with the performance cf E Forne (Napiei"), who ran ihc half-mile in less than lmin 57sec. Powell ran lmin 55 3-ssec off scratch at Napier, and has every chance ol lowering the New Zealand record of imin 54" 4-ssec. Craske said that he was rapidly yporoaching his best form, and given a ilrv track expected to be at his besi on' Saturday. Murdoch pulled a tendon in Napier, and may not run on Saturday. He has relatives who have claimed" him at various points on the route, causing some amusement to oilier members of the team. The two Finns know little English, but manage fairly well, with the assistance of interpreters. Mr Sarelius was able to speak with them in their rwn toivuo. Thcv nrc in excel lent form, and are getting plenty of enjoy-

nit iit' out (if the tour. Thcv travelled across Europe to Naples to join the U '-G : vl- us a (hie day next Saturday," said Captain Hunter, just before leav]!iu. "and we will not d'.sapopint jou. RANGIOUA <l.l 15 Y li;i ;i(iir:i AmiiU'iir AtUrtM. Cycling Club's evrnins Jnf'ftnijr, to |j,, held UII 111.! recreation ground tins f veil ill are ;is follows: Women's rJO yards—l.. Fiusiinmons s«-r, J!. Ualinsc* tiy.ls. K. O.pill 11 yds. I>. M<liouald l:.'vd.-. K. Clarke 14yds, K. Moiun l-l\'d.-, -I. Hall 1 r>yd--. Wninrn' - varils —L. l-'it?simnions scr, M MalinL-s :i,'d's. K. Capill 4yds, D. Mc--syds, I!. Moran liyds, K. Clarke feyds, J. 11.. 1! !oyii>. One Mil,™K. l.uxn mt. 'M. ISusby ser, X. iint-ll I'ivil- 'l'li/.i d-. C. lahey oOyds, now!..' n Mniih l>oo.ly 7'i.vds. \V. .J. i•■ I; -1 u i 7"i lis. 1.. Mead T'i>(l-, li. S:.-ad 4'ill' \:ii-d<-\V AJ.'lln: 1'■ i' ..-r. K. I.ovell s.-r, i; I.uiiii syds. W. I'. Si mi Ili isyds, A. Halt ir.wi- It. 1 'oliister Jsyds. ]'. Brown i syds, N." .Morrison I.'iyds. M. Busby '2 syds. Tozer ::svtl* ('• Kiilioy :ir»y<ls, Todd 4C)yds, 11. stead lDvds. M\ Jai'kson 40ydr, Doody 45yds, l; "('lark'e 50vds. I>. I.yons 50yds. 120 Yard* —A. Hall sir. \V\ .Maunder Iyd, I' Hammer :ivdf. F. Kirkpalriek ,'iyds, I'.. I uiin I; Vnllistcr 4yds, K. Hands 4yds, X Mor'ri-on smls. J!. Clark 7yd-. B. Smith Smls. .M. Uu.iiy Byd>. Todd !>yds, l'cary ilyils, lioodv jnyds, C. I'ahey 10yds, A. Tozer luviK \V. Jackson ,11yds. I'. Lyons tl.vds. "(In Yards Low Hurdles —V. Maunder sey, I-:. I.unu syds, K. Hammer Pyils, 15. Smith lOVfls. }!ri 1f• in ilc <'\r!e Jl;i mi i<-;» p—V. .lojios s<r, \ Uruwn 10\ (IH, .1. Sinclair .1 oyii«, N. itiyds .1. Capill 20yds, H. Jlalui 20yds, K. Todd 2(>vds. K. Wyatt 20yds, J. Chismar tOvds, K. O'Neill 'iOyds. V. Henderson 00yds, V ' \nil. rion :iovds, .T. I'mvor 40yds, L. I'ower 10yd-, It. Kilmers 40yds, 1). Wilson -lOyds, K. I.'apatini 40yds. K. Hole- 4oyds, li. Into-h 15.m1i-, N. I'einpscy 50yds, L. Little 50vds, 11. Qui ll ' l 50yds. 1 V'i\c Miles —Competitors: I'. .Tones. A. Ilrov.n N' J. Sinclair, J. Capill, 11. Flam. 'k. Todd, *K. Wyatt, .1, (Jliihinar, K. O'Neill. V. Henderson. V. Andevton, .T. I'nnor, 1.. I'oner, K. Kilmers, T). Wilson, I\. Uap.i fi; 11. K. Mole, Tt. Mcintosh. N. r>empsey, 1,. Little, and N. Quinn. lviders will begin from a rollins- start and the winner of each lap for I lie last 10 laps will sain a point.