ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 103, 25 January 1935, Page 18

ATHLETICS

Masterton Events New Nelson Club (Notes by “Hurdler.”) Coming Events. January 26: Electric light meeting, Basin Reserve. . ' January 28: Evening meeting, Basin Reserve. February 2: Dewar Shield meeting, Petone. February 2: Cycling Championships, Petone. February 9: Wairarapa meeting, Masterton. February 11: Evening meeting, Basin Reserve. February 16: Provincial Championships, Basin Reserve. February 23: English visit, Basin Reserve. Masterton Meeting. That amateur athletics are gradually improving in the Wairarapa was demonstrated by the successful meeting held last Tuesday on the Mastertou Oval. The attendance of the public was gratifying to the promoters, and the racing was exciting. Wellington competitors in the past have complained about excessive handicapping, and again at this meeting a number of protests were heard. There always seems a tendency in Mas. terton to under-estimate the capabilities of their own competitors, and to over-rate the visitors. It is hoped that at the meeting ou February 9 the handicapper will curtail his limits. Mrs. T. Newman was the most successful women competitor, though the honours of the day must go to the scratch girl, Miss A. Gibbs, who was set very hard tasks. , „ R. Ball (Kiwi) was best treated of the local sprinters, and showed his appreciation of his 4iyds. in the 120yds. handicap by bresting the tape first in 12 secs. ' .1 , v The winner of the one mile handicap; C. Weller (120yds.), has many line performances to his credit, and it is hard to realise how he received such a liberal start. Naturally the time, 4min. 23 1-5 sec., was fast. To prove the contention that the backmarkers had very little chance of success, a few of the exceptional times recorded are relevant: 100 yds., 9 4-ssees.; 880yds., lmin. 57 3-o secs.; 220yds., 22 l-ssecs. The Cycling races, on the fast grass track, were of the thrilling type. The most successful riders were K. U ilson (Athletic), two wins; and W. Whiteman (Masterton), also with two wins. T. McCord, the crack Wairarapa rider, was unable to overcome the hard tasks set him by the handicapper. Nelson Club Formed. The revival of amateur athletics in Nelson was definitely decided on last 'Tuesday evening, when a meeting of over M interested persons formed a Nelson amateur athletic and cycling club. The president of the Motueka club, Mr. TT, Stanton, attended. The officers elected are:—Patron, Mr. H. R. Duncan; president, Mr. J. W. Russell; vice-presi-dents, Father Cullen and Mr. W. Lock; secretary, Mr. J. K. McKay; treasurer, Mr. G. S. Duncan; committee, Mies Howard, Messrs. Roy Evans, E. Bensemann, P. Harman, C. Simpson, J. Hoy, and C. Carpenter. An endeavour is to be made to stage a sports gathering on Easter Saturday. Wellington athletes who compete .at Motueka on Easter Monday will be asked to lend a helping hand. Athletic Revival. The programme has come to hand for the revival meeting of amateur athletics in the Wairarapa, which is to be held on Masterton Park on February 9. The IWellington Centre hopes to send up fit least 30 competitors, and invites clubs to send in the names of all available athletes. The programme contains every class-of event—cycling,- running, hurdling, and women’s races; also 120yds., 300yds., 1000yds., and 1J miles cycle scratch events. Entries close on January 26 with Mr. A. C. Kitto, 132 Willie Street. Dashes. A. Wilson the crack Auckland miler, is transferring to Wellington, and will be here at the end of the present month. Two more footballers, C. E. Evans (Athletic) and V. J. Dellabarca (Eastbourne) have linked up with the Wellington Club. M. Moon, the popular president of the Technical Old ■ Boys Amateur Athletic Club, Auckland, has joined the ranks of the benedicts, and was ip Wellington last week on his. honeymoon. The Wellington and Kiwi clubs make their annual trip to Wanganui this weekend. Over 50 athletes and supporters are making the trip. For the next evening meeting on Monday, entries will close to-day. Handicap events comprise the programme. The Combined Old Boys’ third sports gathering was held last Tuesday, and from the entries, received the meeting looked like turning out a failure. However, a large number of competitors turned up, and the fields were quite respectable. A. K. Hill won the two sprint events, and must now be a certainty for one of the trophies. J. M. Watt is now right up to his best form, and won the quarter-mile from scratch. L. E. Vernon (Wellington), though only new to the game, made a good impression by capturing the high jump event with a leap of sft. 4in. E. McClune (Old Boys) signalled his reappearance by hurling the discus 117 ft. Bin. to win the event. One more meeting is to be held, but at present the date has not been fixed. Arthur Welply (Wellington) is at present on the easy list; he injured his leg last week. The Wellington Centre decided at its last meeting that points gained in women’s events in championship races will not in future count for the McVilly shield. There are over 270 athletes registered in Wellington City. Something will have to be done to force athletes to enter for events up to advertised time. The position is getting worse, and the don’t-care attitude of competitors is hard to understand, and shouid not be tolerated by club officials. Tn future all late entries should be refused. Provincial Championships. Confirmation has been given both by the City Council and the Wellington Cricket Association for the centre’s request for the use of the Basin Reserve on February 16 for the provincial championships, and February 23 for the English team’s visit. K. Jackson, of the Scottish Harrier Club, is training solidly under the guidance, of Charlie Jenkins. It is odd that Jenkins, who is a very old member of the Wellington club, does not devote some time to his own club. ’ Saturday's Electric Light Meeting. Every endeavour is being made by the Olympic and Petone clubs to stage an electric light meeting on the Basin Reserve on Saturday that will prove interesting and attractive. Special attention has been given to the lighting arrangements, and the Basin should look at its best. W. Ogg, the provincial SSOyds. champion, is in good form for his match race with J. Watt (Oxford Blue), who has recently returned to the Dominion. Both should be capable of breaking 2 minutes. The Masterton club is sending down a strong team, including Watson, Pye, McCord, Whiteman, and Roberts. The triangular contest between Olympic, Masterton, and Petone should result in a fine contest with the first-named as the potential winners. Cycling and novelty events are included in the programme, which commences at 7.30 p.m.