ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 6

ATHLETICS

New Zealand Team for Melbourne CHRISTCHURCH TRIALS (Notes by ‘‘Hurdler.’’)

January s—Combined Old Boys’ Club, College Ground. January 12—Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. January 14—First evening meeting, Basin Reserve. January 19- —First Dewar Shield meeting, at Petone. January 2£ —Mastertou Amateur Club, at Masterton. January 22—Otaki A.A.C., at Otaki. , January 22—01 d Boys’ A.A.C., College ground. January 26—-Electric ' light meeting, Basin Reserve.

The trials to select a team, to represent the Dominion at the centenary games in Melbourne at the end of January were held on Lancaster Park, Christchurch, and served a useful purpose. The track was in perfect order, and, generally, conditions were in favour of the competitors. The attendance was well up to expectations.

A notable feature of the meeting was the great enthusiasm shown by the spectators, winners and ' losers all receiving a share of applause. J. B. McFarlane (Canterbury) easily proved himself the star sprinter, winning both the 100yds. and 220yds. in good times. W. J. Fitzsimmons (Wellington) ran up to form, but is not, at present, a match for the Canterbury man. ,

G. Quinn (Gisborne) is a good little sprinter, and was a good third in the 100yds. He did not turn out for the furlong, but started in the quarter-mile, and won this event in 52 2-5; really very slow time. Geof. Broadway did not start in this event. Tlie one mile was a great race, and worth going a long way to see. Disappointment was felt by the officials at the non-appearance of A. R. Wilson, the crack miler from the Auckland district. The race developed into a duel between L. McLachlan (Otago), A. C. Pullar (Otago), and C. H. Matthews (Canterbury;). The latter made the pace for the major part of the journey, with the other pair on his heels. Witli 220yds. to go, McLachlan sprinted, and reached the tape eight yards ahead of Pullar, with Matthews handy. The time given was 4.25 1-5. but it was discovered later that the track was eight yards over the mile, so this makes McLachlan’s time about 4.23—time good enough to win at Melbourne. » , In the three-miles event class was represented by C. 11. Matthews (Canterbury) and A. C. Pullar (Otago), and for two miles and a half they ran together, taking a lap alternately. From then on Matthews forded thy pace to_ ultimately run away from his rival, winning by fully 150yds. in 14.59. There is no doubt that Matthews is a great three-miler, and could hold his own in any company. The Half-mile.

The 880yds. trial, as anticipated, was a fight between tlie . two Canterbury cracks, G. Broadway and D. C. Anderson. They ran practically neck ami neck right up to 200yds. from, the tape, when Auilerson started to sprint and temporarily passed his rival. Broadway was not nearly done, however, and he elung to Anderson for fully 20yds., aud eventually wore him down and came in on his own with 10yds. to spare in tne excellent time of 1.57. McLachlan (Otago) also started, but this race, coming so soon after the gruelling mile, left him without a finish. Tlie 440yds.- hurdles was a most, disappointing: race, only two competitors facing the starter, A. T. Anderson and W. Maunder. The latter was: no match for Anderson, who went-to the -front from pistol shot and at the 220yds. mark had a big lead. Here his condition gave out, and be practically scrambled over the last lot of hurdles and was a very tired man when he reached the tape. The time, 59 3-5, was unworthy of Anderson, and this fact robbed him of a .place in the New Zealand team.

The selected team, McFarlane, McLachlan, Broadway, Brainsby, Sharple.v and Crowe, should be able to improve considerably by the date or the meeting, ami should put up a creditable showing. "Word has been received from A. R. Wilson, of Wbangarei, who was request-' eel to run a three-miles’ trial with C. H. Mathews, of Canterbury, that he is a miler only, and, therefore, cannot accent conditions. Mathews has now been included in the team. Coining Meetings.

On account of a letter received from tlie City Council stating that only alternate Mondays are available for evening meetings, it is now certain tiiat the first gathering will not take place until January 14. Tlie Combined Old Boys’ club are conducting an afternoon meeting on the college ground on Saturday afternoon, and, as the entry date fell during the holidays, I fee] sure that post entries will be accepted.

The -Wellington, Kiwi and Wanganui clubs will meet in combat at an electric light meeting to be held on the Basin Reserve on Saturday, January 12. The open handicap events are: 100yds., 880 yds., 220yds. junior, 100yds. and SOyils. (hurdles), women’s events, 440yds., and 1-niile cycle events. Frank Grose, tlie crack Canterbury cyclist, lias accepted an invitation to ride, and will compete in three scratch races (880yds.. one mile, an<l three miles) against R. Ulmer, T. Roe, L. Roberts ami O. Disley. Entries close on. January 7.

Next comes the Dewnrd Shield meeting, to be held nt Pc-tone on January 19. The events for the shield are: 100yds., 440yds., one mile, 220yds. hurdles, one mile walk, 100yds. and 440yds. junior, broad jump, discus, javelin; pole vault and relay race. A number of handicap events have been included.

Tlie "Wellington Cycling Centre has decided to co-operate witli the Athletic Centre, and will run its provincial championship events at this meeting. .The events are: 1000 metres (not more than three riders in a heat or. final), 1000 metres time trial. 10 miles (hunian-naced)-race, and an 880yds.. under 18. Two handicap events, an 880yds. and. one mile, are also included. Entries close on January 11. Masterful! Meeting,

The programme is also out for the Masterton club’s meeting, which takes place on January 22. Entries close on January 10. . The OUiki club is staging a meeting on January 22, but so far I have not received a copy of the proposed programme. Thei Combined Old Boys’ club will run their third nftwnoon , meeting on January 22 at the College ground. January 26 will see the Olympic, retone and. Masterfon clubs stage a triangular contest -under electric' light conditions on the Basin Reserve. , On the same date the "Wellington and Kiwi clubs will pay a visit to "Wanganui. February 2 is the date set down for the Canterbury v.. Wellington interprovineial contest in "Wellington, but it appears that as McFarlane. Broadway, Matthews and Cowie will bp in Melbourne, it woiiH be wise to take a day late- in the season.

The provincial championships are set down for February 16 on the Basin Re. serve, and the national championships at Wanganui oil March 8 and 9.