ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 8

ATHLETICS

(By

“Spike.”),'

COMING EVENTS. Feb. 22 —Cycling teams race, Basin Reserve, 8 p.m. February 27 —Evening meeting, Lower Hutt. Feb. 29 —Second meeting Standen and Gray, Basin Reserve, 8 p.m. March 3 —Masterton (Standen and. Gray), 2.30 p.m. March 7 —Evening meeting (Standen and Gray), I J etone, 6 p.m. Easter—Waikanae A.A.C., Waikanae. Easter—University tournament, Athletic Park. Easter—Motueka A.A.C., Motueka. The outstanding feature of the nrovincial championships, which were decided at Athletic Park and on the Basin Reserve last Saturday was the visit of the two Australian cyclists, J. Standen and D. Gray. Gray, who has had several bad spills since his arrival in New Zealand, and who has a badly-skinned arm and shoulder, was not at all keen on taking the turns of the grass track at high speed, and failed to qualify in his- heat in the half-mile cycle. In the final of the mile cycle, also, he showed a regard for safety which cost him a place, finishing fourth, but riding in very gingerly fashion. Confidence came beck to him later in the day, and his win in the three miles cycle was the result of good judgment and fearless riding. The way in which the New South Welshmen could rocket along in the straight was what took the fancy of the onlookers. The final burst of speed is what takes these riders first past the judge, and J. Standen, whose performances were of high standard, and who was not headed in all the events in which he finished, closed his races with an abandon and pace which was almost reckless on the tricky track.

One Man Only. Quite a number of the events on the programme showed one man in a class of his own. W. Lankey, the Manawatu walker, won both mile and three miles walks as he chose, C. Jenkins flew in ahead of the field in tho 100 yards and 220, Priestley, in the mile, and Bayne in the three miles were winners all the way, and R. Leech, the young Wellington Club runner, gained the provincial title in the 880 yards by a good distance.

’Varsity’s Good Showing. A striking feature of the meeting was file success of the ’Varsity team. The Collegians have not nearly the strength of the Wellington Club, and the smallish team which they entered, yet carried of 61 firsts to Wellington’s 7 firsts, and two halves, in senior championship events other than the cycle races. A bright side of the championships for University was the fact that three of their provincial titles were won in field events. L. Dimond beating the redoubtable Peter Munro in the hammer throw, G. J. Seeats winning the high jump, and D. Barker, a nice jumper, defeating E. G. Sutherland in the long jump, by half an inch. This'will help V.U.C. when the inter-’varsity Easter tournament begins. A Bad Race. There are few things' more annoying than to see a race thrown away, and C. B. Allan, the ’Varsity crack and provincial quarter-mile champion, absolutely Hung away the half-mile by poor judgment. Allan, who is the finest middledistance runner in New Zealand, and has the stuff of an Olympic man in him, ran wretchedly in the BSU, and when the final stretch was reached, he was much too far back to stand a chance. Over the last 200 yards he was moving much faster than either R. Leech or C. Campbell, who gained first and second places, and far more left in him at the finish. But he dawdled at the end of the field for the first quarter, and left himself an impossible amount of ground to make up. Allan appears to have convinced himself that he cannot run this first quarter, and until he loses this idea his running wlli be erratic. A Great Finish.

Koger Lander’s run at tho close of the 440 fiurdles, when he closed on F. S. Kamson, the New Zealand champion, ana dead-heated with him for first place, was a repetioion of the dead-heat in this event at the Australian and New Zealand championships at Athletic Park two months ago. It was a fine burst of speed which took Lander there, for Ramson had a useful lead and seemed likely to keep it. The best thing about the race was the solid pace which was set and the game way m which tho two men finished. [1 was a great performance by Ramson, who had been ill for a week just before the championships, and who cost himself a lot of effort by tho way in which he changed his stride in jumping the first four or five hurdles. In the 120 hurdles Lander beat Ramson veiy decisively. Coming On.

The Hutt Valley boy. S. Andrews, ran a pretty race against Bayne in the three miles championship, and right to the straight it looked as if he would be very close when the tape was reached. When the final sprint was due, however, Bayne showed that he had more in hand than anyone suspected, and came in a comfortable winner. Andrews showed the style of a real long-distance man, though, and will need watching in the future. Two other boys who showed good form were \V. Killeen, who took the 100 yards junior championship, and J. Arthurs, who was inches away second. Killeen’s time of 11 l-ssec. was good in the circumstances, the best that C. H. Jenkins could do against the wind being 10 3-5 sec.

Sutherland’s Showing. Wellington collected quite a number

of shield points as a result of the efforts of the versatile E. G. Sutherland, who gained a place in no fewer than six field events. He was first in the javelin throw and pole vault (.dead-beat with R, Roberts), second in the discus throw and long jump (half an meh behind the winner), third in the high jump and hop, step and jump. It was a great performance.

The pole jump was a rather peculiar affair. Sutherland broke his pole at lOtt. 6m., and could not use the only other pole available, because it was too light for. him. Roberts thereupon attempted int. Gin., and failed to clear it, so a dead-heat resulted at 10ft., as satisfactory a way out as was possible from an unsatisfactory position. Kiwi Club Notes.

Last Saturday was the first time that the Kiwi Club has been represented at a Wellington provincial championship meeting, and the success gained, though small, augurs well for the future. Veitch’s performance in the 220 yards championship is undoubtedly his best to date. Fleming beat him in his heat, but the tables were turned in. the final, Veitch finishing second to Jenkins in the excellent time of 22 l-ssec. He experienced a slice of bad luck in drawing the outside position in the 440 yards championship run at the Basin Reserve at night. A bad start added to his difficulties, and in the circumstances a fourth must be regarded as good. J. Russell started in the half-mile and, considering the quality of the field, went quite well. The juniors who competed in the 100 yards j»mior championship found the opposition too good, and on the whole ran disappointingly. Murphy was probably closest up at the finish. The relay race in which the club entered a team was a fine one, and the team gained experience if nothing else.

The 300 yards handicap run in the afternoon resulted in a good win for Al L. Hutchison, who was two yards in front of the second man at the finish.

Olympic Club. The Olympic Club's athletes were more prominent at the provincial championship meeting than at any other sports gathering. Baris and \Valker ran in both the 100 yards and 220 yards championships, and had the former not been suffering from a severe cold all tho week be would have filled second place to Jenkins in both events. Walker ran well in good company and no doubt will be a hard proposition next year. Campbell secured second place in the half-mile championship, and was unfortunate in striking such a good runner in the youthful Leech. H. Gordon was suffering from a bruised toe and did not do himself justice in the three-mile event, and this injury kept him out of the one mile.

G. Alley and W. Seeats ran well in. both the 880 yards and 1600 yards handicaps, the former getting a second and a third, whilst Seeats secured a third and fourth. Both these fine runners deserve a win, as there are no more conscientious athletes in the city. E. E. Parker ran well in the onemile championship, and although not in the same class as the place-getters, he will do better next year after a season with tlie harriers. R. James was placed in his heats of both the half-mile and quarter-mile cycle events, but could not get up m the finals. He showed that he is a good sprinter, and only requires the coaching to finish him off. M. Gard, J. Wilkinson, T. Swinburne, R. Chalmers, and W. Hargreaves competed in the junior cycle events, but were not quite good' enough to get a. place. The junior runners looked a formidable lot coming up the straight in the 300 yards handicap. MeGreevy, Bernet and Warner finished second, third and fourth respectively, whilst Walker was close up. J. Pullan ran in the 100 yards championship, but without success. The 440 yards junior championship was a triumph for Ellis, but C. Tutty, j. Pullan, L. MeGreevy and F. Walker made the pace very warm for part of the journev, and only lack of training for this event told on them. R. Walker started in. both the .100 and 220 yards handicaps in the evening, and after qualifying for the finals of both, he was placed second in the 100 yards.

Teams’ Cycle Race. Now definitely set down for the evening of February 22, the annual teams' race, promoted by the Port Nicholson Koad Cycling Club, is arousing a good deal of interest, and with the appearance of several visiting riders, including Oakley and Grose, a good evening’s entertainment is assured. At last year’s event, the teams covered 46 miles. It is expected that this year the teams will do just on 50 miles. Sprints are held every ten minutes. The rules and conditions are the sanie as last year, with one or two exceptions. In the event of two teams withdrawing from the-race, and two of the riders teaming, they will be awarded 80 per cent, of the total points of the two teams. Entries close with Air. J. O’Sullivan on Saturday next.

Meeting at Lower Hutt. On Alonday, February 27, at 6.15 p.m., the Lower Hutt Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club will hold its third evening meeting of the season, the programme including the following events:—loo, 220, BSO, one mile, half-mile cycle, one mile cycle, 220 junior, 100yds. ladies, 120 ladies, 120yds. hurdles, javelin, high jump, boys’ race, relay race (440, 220, 110, 110 yards).