LEVIN AMATEUR ATHLETES MAKE GREAT HEADWAY

Chronicle (Levin), 24 March 1949, Page 7

LEVIN AMATEUR ATHLETES MAKE GREAT HEADWAY

— ■ 1 .i I 1948-49 Season Was Best In Club's History The Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club will ring down the cunain on the 1948-49 season on Monday night when a Horowhenua athletic championship will be staged on the Levin Park Domain. It is fittmg that the club has decided to make its closing date as auspicious as its opening when a grand night's sport was provided, resulting in the presentation to the Health Stamp campaign of £40.

This season has been notable for the unprecedented public interest and the fact that interest has been maintained to the full is proof enough that the fare provided has. been of the best. Some really outstanding talent has come to light and this has properly been fostered. Another pleasing feature has been the co-operation between the four clubs in the district and as the result of a general raising of competition scandard through the Hunter Shield contest, won by Otaki, the meetings held in each town have been comparable with those held in the larger centres. The Hunter Shield contest undoubtedly made the public athletic minded and next season should see each club in a very sound position. The large number of competitors in the under 14 years cTass this seaSGn fns been most encouraging and points to a record membership next year. A feature of the season has been the many trips to open ' meetings held by other clubs and the Levin club has built up a large list of placings to its credit, especially the women competitors, there being 13 registered women members. Listed below are some of the most successful performers and their track histories: — The Women Athletes Miss Mavis Cameron: Has been a member of the club for quite a number of years and one of the keenest performers. Competed at the regular club nights consistent- - ly and reached good form in the New Year, with a second and third in the 75 and 100 yards handicaps at Bulls on January 29. Won the' 75 at Marton tne same night and ran second in the 100 yards. Ran second in the 100 yards at Levin.' Scooped the pool in the women's ( events at Wanganui on February, 19, winning the 50 and 100 yards, aird also won the 100 yards at Wanganui on February 23. A second at Foxton on February 26, was followed by two wins in the 75 and 100 yards at Oroua Downs on March 5, and a third in the 100 yards - ati Shannon. Won the last two month- j ly points series, and holds an unassailable position in the points ladder for the season. Miss Sylvici Rose: Another club stalwart and consistent performerj who showed best form in the New Year. Has never missed a club

night since the season began and possesses the following good record: — January 15 at Marton, ftrst and second in the 75 and 100 yards respectively; January 29 at Marton, second in 75 yards, third in 100

! yards; third in 75 yards at Bulls and Levin; second in the 100 yards iat Wanganui on February 19 and ! first in 220 yards on February 23; i third in 100 yards at Foxton. Only |a yourig member who has been placed in two monthly points series. Miss Audrey Rose: Younger sister to Sylvia, and will also develop into a good athlete. Has met with much success at the weekly club nights. In competition witn much more seasoned competitors has performed very creditably in open meetings, winning the 100 yards at Levin in February and gaining second place in the 75 yards at Oroua Downs on March 5. She put up a creditable performance to win the women's open*100 at Wanganui the same night. Miss Nola Tyree: A new club member who possesses possibilities of reaching a better class next season than her placings this season . point to. A consistent performer with placings to her credit at Marton and Wanganui, a win at Oroua Downs in the 50 and second in the 100 yards, seconds and thirds at. Wanganui and Shannon. A successful member oi the Levin club's relay team. Secured fourth place in the monthly points series ended on March 14. Miss Dawn Wiilliams: Her performances were reviewed last week. She has partieipated in the monthly points competition, each time being among the first three. | Miss Kyra King: Has performed quite we'l and eenerally finishes in a place when she starts. Next season it is to be hoped that this com'petitor will take it up seriously, as she should make a good runner. The same ean be said of Miss Joyce Bird, who was very enthusiastic at the start of the season. Kena Green has only recently started competing and she is another who will be an asset to the club next season. Two youthful performers in Pat Sciascia and Ngaire McMinn will also be heard from next season, and will benefit by the experience tney have gained, as will L. Honore, who has performed quite creditably. The Men Athletes The largest number of senio'r and junior men in the post-war period faced the starter during the season, and some good talent was brought to light from unexpected quarters. |They held their own successfully against outside competitors, both at the annual Levih meeting and at [other centres. Brief reviews of the most outstanding are: — Bruce Lind: This athlete has been a consistent competitor, especially at club nights, and was

successful in winning two of the

monthly points pnzes, with a total of 28 and 29 points respectively, while he secured 23 points in the second series. With the. grand total of 80, he is the successful points prize winner for the season. Roger Desgrand: A real "find" and an outstanding competitor in the high jump. Represented the club at the West Coast (N.I.) championships in this event. Won this event at the Levin annual meeting with a height of 5 ft. 6 ins., tnird in the long jump and third in the onen 100 yards handicap. With 42 points, was successful in winning the second monthly points prize, and secured a second in the series- just concluded. Has compiled the grand total of 66 points during the season. D. Lambert: Winner of the W. Thomson trophy for the athlete gaining most -points at the annual meeting and not securing a win. Secured third points prize in the second monthly . series and has amassed a total of 50 points during the season. First in the maiden 100 yards and second in the open 100 at Foxton, second in the open. 100 and third in the. .open 220 at Oroua Downs. To attempt to individually comment on each competitor would exceed the space available, but mention must bp made of thp

Rygn BrotUsrs, two good all-round athletes who performed exceptionally well at the Levin open meeting, as did Ross Smith. Ross Whelan, anotner good all-rounder, who has competed successfully at home and away, John Harris, Colin Walker, who secured a win at Wanganui on the occasion of the Australian athletes' visit, R. Sanson, who has secured 40 points during the season, Jim Goodwin who has ' secured a useful 25 points, H. Say-\ ers and I. Jefferfcs have all per-! forme^ very well. Making up the fie.ds are the large number of -unnamed competitors who have been conlestants, although not as successful as tneir fellow club mates. The Cyclists With a total of thirteen registered riders, the club has secured more than its share of trophies at -other meetings, while the riders have more than held their own on their home track. Noel Parker: With a total of 122 points secured during the season in club events, this senior rider is the winner of the points prize and also two of the monthly series at Levin and one at Otaki. Hflds the flying lap record of 30 seconds at Foxton. With a second and third at Otaki, third at Marton, first at Levin, three firsts, a second and third at

Wanganui,0 first and two thirds at Foxton, a second and third at Shannon and Oroua Downs, respectively, this rider has performed well at open meetings. Malcolm Harper: Performed quite well during the season. A consistent rider who has competed at several outside meetings, his best performance being at Snannon in winning the open half mile cycle in 1 mi'n. 2 2/5 secs. Also secured second place at Marton in the same type of race. Won a monthly points prize at Otaki and has been runner-up at Levin on two occa,sions. Has amassed a total of 53 points at the weekly club nights. Harry Donovan: Recommenced

ndmg late in the season. His first ride was at the club night prior to the annual meeting on February 5. Has secured two wins in this period and amassed 23 points. Secured a | third at Shannon. ' ! The other two senior riders, Don Yeates and Roy Hornig, have not competed to the same extent, but • have filled the fields and lent encouragement and assistance to their fellow club members. I Ross Harper: Possesses the best .record of any rider in the club. iThis junior cyclist has been one of | the keenest competitors and has iwon at all distances. Started his run of successes 5 at tne Paraparaumu meeting on New Year's Day

with a win in the five mile open. Followed it up with a win over the same distance at Otaki. Secured second place at Marton in the one mile A grade, seconds in the half and one mile open at Palmerston North and second at Oroua Downs in the half-mile open. Won two monthly points prizes at Otaki and all the monthly points prizes at Levin, as well as the season's points prize with a total of 89 points. Peter Elliott: Another successful rider with a good record, who will perform very well next season. Has been a consistent performer -to amass* 50 points during the season and secured second place in the monthly points prize just conclud-

ed. With a third at Otaki, a third and first at Marton, two thirds aua a second at Levin, a third at Palmerston North and a first at Snannon, his performance's at open meetings have been very good. Stewart Bonner: Commenced the season showing good promise, bu: has not performed quite as well as his club mates at open meetings. Next season, with experience bexiind • him, he should show to better j advantage. A good membei; who [has amassed 54 points during the : season, including a second ih tne ; monthly points prizes. Secured a second at Otaki in the half-mile, won the half-mile at Levin and secured a second in the mile. John Taylor: Another competitor wnose experience this season will stand him in good stead for next. Also a consistent performer with a total of 51 points during the season, and has been placed third on two occasions in the monthly points | series. Placed second in the mile at Otaki and second in the halfmile at the Levin meeting. Keith Brcadbelt: This young rider will benefit by the season's riding and can look forward to more successes next year then he has so far enjoyed. With 24 points for the season, he has done quite well, and has generaily always been placed in his heats at open meetings. Owen Connolly: This rider, who has only recently come from Auckland, has taken his place as tne club's junior scratch man. His performances up there were very good, and he has secured a win in the mi.e at the Levin open meeting and also two wins during the past month at the Levin club nights.