Some Otaki Athletes At Top Form

Chronicle (Levin), 24 March 1949, Page 7

Some Otaki Athletes At Top Form

A hot contender for the championship titles at the Levin Park Domain next Monday night will beIan Mudge, of Otaki, ^who possesses the bes-t record of any athlete in the Horowhenua this season. Trained by his father who is a great believer in early nights and plenty of hill work, plus constant training, and ably assisted by Mr. N. Gordon, the Otaki Club's senior runner, Ian commenced running in 1946 and was equal junior cliampion at the Horowhenua College ■and later cross-country senior jChampion of Horowhenua. A pleasing feature ' this season was • that the first trophy won by lan was at Otaki, when he was awarded the Hector Nicolson Memorial Cup. The late Mr. Nicolson was a good friend of the Mudge family. • Ian secured this trophy by winning the one mile open. He also took the honours in the 880 open, while earlier in the month he annexed the 880 open at Para-

paraumu and ran second in the mile open. In the Wellington v. Canterbury athletic championships lie secured thiid in the 880 junior and first in ■the mile junior. At Levin the mile open was added to his banner and at Shannon he secured the 880 junior. In the Wellington junior championships, Ian put up a sterling performance to win the 880, ■mile and two-mile events, while at the New Zealand junior championships at -New Plymouth, he won his Tieat of the mfle and finished third in the final and also third in the two mile final. Closely associated with Ian are, (

his club mates of the Otaki club, a pleasing feature being tne success j of the" Maori runners, Zane Grey, : Whatu Davis, B. Taratca, Bob Hakaraia and the Johnson girls among others. Between them, numerous Hunter Shield points were secured for Otaki.

Taking a leaf out of Ian Mudge's book are Ron Roach and Philip Meagner,, his buddies. Meagher is a most consistent runner and Roach an up and coming distance

performer. He made a good imipression in the mile open events at New Plymouth where he accompanied Ian. He ran in the 880, off 20 yards. Senior men passed him early but in the second round he let himself go and ran away from the field to win easing up by a wide margin. a N