DISTINGUISHED SPORTSMEN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 14

DISTINGUISHED SPORTSMEN

—-* WELCOME TO VISITING ATHLETES FINNISH FLAG OVER PIONEER CLUB Amateur sportsmen had the privilege yesterday of meeting and welcoming to Christchurch the British and Finnish athletic visitors, some of the world's leading athletes, at a "sportsmen's welcome" given at the rooms of the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club. This was probably the most important of the several such functions held at the club during the last 12 months. The guests were among the most distinguished sportsmen Christchurch has welcomed for some years. . In compliment to the Finnish athletes the Finnish flag was Uown above the club during the day, and the Finnish national anthem was played at the beginning of the function. The guests were G. L. Ramplmg. British Empire quarter-mile champion, J. V. Powell, one of England's leading half-milers, R. M. Craske, crosscountry and long distance track champion, and R. Murdoch, sprinter (all of Great Britain); Veikko Perasalo and Matti Sippala, two of the world's leading field athletes (both of Finland); and Captain Evan A. Hunter, manager of the team, and one of the most distinguished of amateur sportsmen in Great Britain. Mr C. H. Taylor, jun., of the Pioneer Amateur Sports Club, presided and welcomed the visitors. "Great Moment for Athletics" Mr J. K. Moloney, president of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre, said that this was a very great moment in the life of amateur athletics in Canterbury. The province had received a visit from the famous Shrubb and Duffy 30 years ago, but it now had the pleasure of receiving a full-fledged British team, counting among its number some cf the world's leading athletes.

In such days as this, when the British Empire was stated to be "creaking at its ioints," it was felt that the visit of British athletes to the Dominions added that necessary lubrication to carry the Empire forward for further years, Mr Moloney said. This visit was doing untold good in strengthening associations and friendships between Great Britain and this part of the Empire. It was to be regretted that the visitors had not yet had really good conditions for running. If everything was right at. Lancaster Park to-day, and he was sure it would be, it was quite likely that the visitors would return to Great Britain with at least two New Zealand records. After referring to the high position held by Captain Hunter among amateur sportsmen in Great Britain, Mr Moloney congratulated the two Finnish athletes, and spoke of the prominence of their country in international sport. He wished the team a happy stay in Christchurch. Mr A. T. Donnelly spoke on behalf of kindred sports. There was nothing, he said, which would bring the nations together more effectively than such a visit. Amateur sportsmen were particularly pleaded 1o welcome visitors from Great Britain. Team's Difliculties Captain Hunter, in his reply, said that the team was particularly pleased to compete in Christchurch, as the runners had heard that here they were to find the best ground. They had been unfortunate in meeting unfavourable conditions throughout the earlier part of the tour, and had not been able to do quite as well as they should have done under good conditions. The tour had been very rushed They had covered 2000 miles since their arrival in New Zealand in 23 navs. and had run eight times. This meant that they had travelled 100 miles a day on an average, with a race every "three days. This required of the runners almost the powers of a steam engine, and it was not surprising that they were tired. But they were full of the traditional British pluck and courage, and were looking forward to better conditions here, and to the possibility of breaking records to-day. They had been given a wonderful reception. IJadgcs Presented Capluin Hunter brought with him two badges, which he said he had been asked to present on behalf of the Amateur Athletic Association of England to officials here. One he presented to Mr Moloney, as president of the centre, and the other to Mr R. Peattie, a member of the executive of the athletic centre, who had done much towards the arrangement of the entertainment of the visitors. On behalf of the British runners and the two Finns he thanked Canterbury for ils hosoiti'lity.

Mr Bcnttic said ho was delighted to receive this memento of the tour. It was a great privilege, he said, to have such a team here. Captain Hunter then introduced each member of the team. Perasalo was then asked to speak to the gathering. He said, through an interpreter (neither of the Finns can speak English freely), that he would sneak in his own language to allow the gathering to hear how the Finnish language sounded. Perasalo's speech concluded a pleasant gal hei-in a. Mr H. G. Goodland was at the niano. and an item was given by Mr O. McGill. SCHOOLBOYS SEE FAMOUS VISITORS IN ACTION ISKITISII AND FINNS (JIVE DEMONSTRATIONS Grasping quickly the value of the assistance they could give to schoolboy athletes, the famous British and Finnish athletic visitors devoted most of their training period at SJ. Andrew's College ground yesterday to coaching a number of boys. About 200 secondary school pupils assembled at the ground, and they very quickly gathered ■ into groups around each of the famous athletes to listen to valuable advice and watch demons rat ions. Each Mthlete spoke to a group ol boys on tine technical study of his particular event, and also gave very impressive demonstrations. The value of this coaching would be difficult to assess —even before the visitors left the ground some of the boys had imitated their methods with considerable success. Headmaster's Welcome The headmaster of St. Andrew's, Mr J. B. Mawson. welcomed the visitors and their honorary manager, Captain Evan Hunter, thanking them for their kindness in visiting the school, and expressing the hope that the boys would benefit from their teaching. Mr J. K. Moloney, president of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre, said he was pleased to welcome the British team and also Captain Hunter, the secretary of the British Empire Games Federation, who, in the speaker's opinion, was doing a great work for sport. He added that Captain Hunter was manager of the British team in the United Slates when J. E. Lovelock, the New Zealand miler, established a new world record. Captain Hunter then introduced the members of the team, and they separated into groups, conversing freely with their pupils during the hour. Perasalo amazed the spectators by removing his coat, star ding barefooted in shirt and trousers, with bra ;cs restricting his shoulders, taking a short

run, and clearing sft sin without effort. He repeated this several times; then he showed how one of the boys, who was new to this system, had jumped. The boy had taken a dive straight at the bar and had not rolled. Perasalo was assisted by an interpreter. J. V. Powell, the half-miler, and R. M. Craske, the long-distance champion, were busy giving their pupils advice. Powell advised (he boys not to attempt any really serious running until they were 19 years old. Craske condemned racing without proper preparation. When an athlete was getting ready for a cross-country race (cross-country running was a wonderful sport) he should have a run over about three miles beginning about eight weeks before ihe event, he said. Then, as it approached, two runs a week should be taken, with increasing pace. Importance of Specialising "Don't dissipate your energies over too many distances," said Powell. "When I was at school I used to run as many as eight races a day and be done up for a fortnight afterwards. Find the distance which suits you and keep to it." G. L. Rampling emphasised the importance of style. This, he said, could be developed only by training at halfspeed. He emphasised the importance placed on this in the United States, where, when one arrived at a university, the coach took charge, and by schooling improved the student's times by seconds. Rampling also explained that the technique of quarter and half-mile running had changed lately. The old system of a burst at the beginning. coasting half the distance, and another burst at the end was definitely thrown overboard. The new idea was to run as evenly as possible.

Later the three British runners went round the track demonstrating the styles and varying with an occasional burst of speed. Sippala was demonstrating javelin and discus throwing.