WELLINGTON ATHLETES TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 11

WELLINGTON ATHLETES TRIUMPH

National Meeting In Napier CHAMPION CENTRE Three Events Won By P. F. Sharpley HURDLES RECORD BROKEN Dominion Special Service. NAPIER, March 11. Though the rain during the morning was not sufficiently heavy to leave water lying on the track at McLean Park, Napier, the venue of the national athletic track and field championships, the track was slow and its condition militated against fast times. A crowd of approximately 7000 filled both stands. Overcast and threatening weather later developed into steady, drizzling rain.

The meeting began with a parade for the Speight Cup. The athletes formed up in teams at the eastern end of the field, and, accompanied by the band, Auckland led off the parade, with West Coast (North Island), Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Hawke's Bay-Pov-erty Bay following in that order. The parade drew up facing the main stand, when, following a fanfare of trumpets, the oath of amateurism was taken by S. Lay (W.C.N.1.) on behalf of all assembled athletes, with these words: “We swear that we will take part in these the.4Gth national track and field championships in loyal competition, respecting the regulations which govern them, and. desirous o£ participating in them in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of our provinces and for the glory of sport.” A further fanfare of trumpets signalled the release of hundreds of pigeons, which circled the ground once in a cloud and then scattered, flying to all parts of the Dominion with goodwill messages and the news that the championships had begun. The teams then retired from the arena and the marathon runners assembled for the start of their long run of 26 miles 385 yards. Progress reports were broadcast over the speaker system from time to time, and without doubt this race captured the public’s imagination. The first runner home received a greater ovation than any other champion, and every marathon runner to finish the course was given a wonderful welcome by the crowd. Record Equalled. A thrilling finish was seen in the final of the 120 yards hurdles. A snappy start by Sharpley set hint in the lead, which he held to the 75 yards mark. Bradwell (C.) camo up well and be and Sharpley cleared the last two hurdles together. A final burst put Sharpley ahead and he breasted the tape three feet ahead of Bradwell, with Irving (Wellington) third. Sharpley’s time, 15sec., equalled his own New Zealand record.

The 880 yards championship was run in excellent time considering the heaviness of the track, which, as the afternoon progressed, was not improved by heavy showers. On the last lap, Boot, Blewitt (Canterbury) and Hannan (W.C.N.1.) fought out the finish, with Boot holding the race by the time the back straight was reached. Tiie time, 1.54, was only one-fifth of a second slower than the New’ Zealand record established by -Boot in 1937.

The final of the 220 hurdles provided the crowd with a thrilling exhibition. At one stage it appeared that Bradwell (C.), would win by a slight margin. Sharpley early established a small lead, but could not hold off Bradwell, who was going magnificently. With 70 yards to go, Bradwell, who had forged ahead, touched a hurdle and fell, leaving Sharpley to win comfortably from Ramsay (0.), and R. B. Joyes (A.). A call for surveyors was made, and it was announced that Sharpley’s own New Zealand record of 25 2-5 had been broken by 1-5. As be ascended the victor’s dais, the fernleaf pennant was down above the H. 8.P.B. centre pennant. The three miles championship was won by W. A. C. Pullar, Wellington, who gave a perfect exhibition of tactical running. After a few laps it became evident that the race would go to E. Johnston (C), Pullar (W.), Or A. 0. Rare (A.). The mile was run in 4.50. Pullaf at this stage was running second with plenty in hand, occasionally challenging Johnston for the lead,| and purposefully extending him. Johnston put in a burst and took the lead, which he held to the 2J mile mark. Pullar, running effortlessly, passed Johnston at the bell and established a lead of 15 yards, which he maintained to the tape. Wellington Man Wins Walk. A steady drizzle had set in by the time the mile walk began, and conditions did not improve as the afternoon progressed. The poles used in 'the pole vault needed constant attention with towels, and officials and competitors engaged in field events sheltered as best they could with large beach umbrellas.

Hingston, (H.8.-P.8.), R. J. Watson (Otago), and N. McCarthy (W.), were early in the lead in the walking event. Hingston appeared rather sore from Friday’s three mile walk, but McCarthy appeared untroubled. At the half-mile McCarthy lengthened his stride, and at the bell had a lead of 40 yards. Watson had passed Hingston for second place. The placings were McCarthy, Watson, Hingston, but Watson, Stanton and Bretton were disqualified and this altered the placings to N. McCarthy, D. Hingston, R. S. Cameron (A.). Shield Presented. When the mile medley was about to start it was announced that the result would decide the holder of the N.Z.A.A.A. championship shield, as Wellington and Canterbury wore level with 33 points each. The relay was closely contested, Otago winning from Wellington by 2$ yards, with Canterbury third. The two points gained for second place gave Wellington the shield, with Canterbury runners-up. The president of the association, Mr. R. W. McVilly, spoke briefly, congratulating Mr. N. A. McKenzie, chairman of the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay centre executive, on the excellent manner in which the meeting was run. 'The championship shield and the Speight Cup for marching were presented, and

were received by the Wellington manager, Mr. T. W. Leslie. The Last Post and the National Anthem brought the meeting to a close. DETAILED RESULTS Detailed results are as follows: — MARATHON CHAMPIONSIUP. 26 miles 385 yards. C. G. Gibbons (O.). 2M4.5G 1-5 .... 1 G. L. Austen (O.)_. 2.45.33 2-5 2 C. Francis (A.), 2.54.26 3-5 6 120 YARDS HURDLES. Final. Sharpley (H.8.-P.8.) 1 Bradwell (0.) - Irving (W.) ° Time, 15 —equalling Sharpley’s New Zealand record. 880 YARDS. Final. V. P. Boot (C.) 1 T. D? Blewitt (C.) ’ 2 L. Hannan (W.C. N. 1.) 3 Time, 1.54. 100 YARDS. Final. P. F. Sharpley (H.8.-PJJ.) 1 G. Quinn (W.) A. R. Duff (O.) 3 Time, 10 1-5. PUTTING THE SHOT. . D. Herman (C.), 43ft. sJin 1 K. Guy (W.I, 41ft. 41in 2 Dalgleish (O.), 39ft. 9iin 3 HIGH JUMP. E. Phillips (W.), sft. Ilin 1 L. Grey (H.8.-P.8.). sft. Win 2 D, Chadwick (A.), sft. Pin. . • 3 220 YARDS HURDLES. Final. Sharpley (H.8.-P.8.) 1 Ramsay (O.) Joyes (A. I 3 Tinier 25 1-5 —a New Zealand record. 220 YARDS. C. Robinson (W.) 1 R. V. Phillips (H.8.-P.8.) 2 J. Eastwood (W.) 3 Time, 22 2-5. THREE .MILES. W. A. C. Pullar (W.) 1 E. Johnston (C.) 2 A. O. Dnrc (A.) 3 Time, 14.42. THROWING THE JAVELIN. Final. S. A. Lay (W.C.N.I), 197 ft. Win. .. 1 K. D. Gillespie (A.). 179 ft 2 D. Herman (C.). 154 ft. lOliu 3 .MILE WALK. N. McCarthy (IV.) 1 D. Kingston (H.8.-P.8.) 2 IL S. Cameron (A.) .... 3 Time, 6.43 4-5.

4-10 YARDS HURDLES. Final. A. T. Anderson (C.) 1 H. D. Rainsav (O.), 2 11. D. Ball (A.) 3 Time. 55 3-5. THROWING THE HAMMER. S. White (A.I. 126 ft. 4Jin 1 A. E. Sutton (A.). 125 ft. 7in 2 Nolan (W.C.N.I), 124 ft. din 3 -140 YARDS. Final. H. J. Tyrie (O.) 1 C. Robinson (IV.) - J. Evans (W.) *> Timo. 49 -1-5. HOP, STEP AND JUMP. 11. W. Wilkins (C.). 45ft. 101 in 1 B. T. Robertson (A,), 45ft. Ilin 2 It. O. Johnston (A.). 44ft. Siu 3 ONE MILE RELAY. Otago J Wellington - Canterbury . ° Time, 3.35 2-5. CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD. Wellington, 35 points 1 Canterbury, 33 points 2 Otago, 28 points 3 HANDICAP EVENTS. A number of handicap events were run during the afternoon and resulted as follows :— 80 Metres Women's Hurdles. —R. Tong (scr.), 1: E. Maye (15yds._ and two hurdles down), 2. Time, 13 1-5. Eight Laps Cycle Handicap.—D. Colello (150yds.). 1: D. Wilson (190yds.), 2; A. Rodda (230yds.), 3. One Mile Handicap.—Tully, 1; Taylor, 2; J. Edmondson, 3. Time, 4.17 1-5. Pole Vault.—F. S. Barraclough (scr.), lift., 1; L. Fagg (2in.), 10ft. Ilin., 2; Wooles (2in.), and Johnston (2in.), 10ft. Bin., equal, 3. Two Lap Cycle Handicap.—Colello, 1; R. Wilson, 2; Spivey, 3. Time, 1.11. 100yds. Women’s Handicap.—First heat: G. Symes (Iyd.), 1; C. Greaney (9Jyds.), 2; J. Johnson (12yds.), 3. Second heat: I. Corby (Byds.), 1; Miss Stevens, 2: J. Greaney (91yds.). 3. Third heat: L. Climo (Byds.), 1 ; R. Tong, 2; J. I,ark (W.), 6yds., 3. Final: I. Corby, 1: G. Symes, 2; Miss Stevens, 3. Time, 11. 1-5.

lOOyde. Handicap.—Finst. heat: C. Kronk (84yds.), 1; G. McEwan (9yds.), 2; G. Morgan (4yds.), 3. Second heat: D. Lister (lOAyds.). 1; Coles, 2; P. Burgess (Syds.), 3. Third beat: R. Fox (61yds.), 1: T. McCashin (6yds.). 2; Berryman, 3. Final: Fox, 1; Kronk, 2; Lister, .3. Time, 10. DUNEDIN EVENTS C. McGregor Outstanding By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 12. Many brilliant performances were witnessed’at the Otago junior and women’s athletic championships at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon. After two days’ rain the tracks were heavy and not conducive to good times; nevertheless fact times were recorded in many of the junior events. The outstanding runner in this section was C. McGregor, Otago senior 100 yards title-holder, who won the 100 yards in 10 1-5, the 220 yards in 22 4-5 and the quarter in 52 4-5. Miss B. Forbes bettered her best performance for New Zealand in the women’s high jump by clearing sft. OJin. into a slight breeze. Another outstanding girl wao Miss D. Adams, who won the SO metres hurdles in faultless style and recorded 12 4-5 in her heat. A comparatively low standard prevailed in the women’s track events.

Results of the outstanding events were:—

100 yards: C. McGregor, 1; .1. N. Sinclair (in vercargill), 2; T. IL Pedlar (Invercargill), 3. Time, 10 1-5. 220 yards: McGregor. 1; Pedlar, 2; Sinclair, 3. Time, 22 4-5. 440 yards: McGregor, I ; W. J. 0 Connor, 2: J. McLean (Invercargill), 3. Time, 52 4-5,

BSO yards: M. Collins, 1 : W. Harvey. 2; It. Morrison. 3. Time, 28 1-5. Mile: I/. K. White, 1 ; JI. F. Coombs. 2- J W. Berry I Invercargill), 3. Time, 4.40 2-5. High jump: M. Barnett, sft. Sin. Putting the shot: J. IL Muirson (Invercargill), 39ft. Ulin., 1; K. Morgan, 38ft. 2in., 2. _ Thowing the javelin: R. McKenzie, 147 ft. lin., 1; I. Whitson, 140 ft. 101 in„ 'Throwing the discus: K. Morgan, 120 ft. 4in., 1. Women.

SO metres hurdles: Miss D. Adams, .1 ; Miss N. Dodds, 2; Miss K. Hanlin. 3. Time, 13 1-5. High jump: Mifw B. Forbes. sft. 0.?i0.. 1; Mies A. Ninimo, 4ft. B}in„ 2; Mies M. Turnbull. 4ft. 6)im, 3. Broad jump: Miss Forbes. 16ft. JO*in., 1 ; Misfl D. Adams, 16ft. 4-}in., 2.