BIG REPRESENTATION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 11

BIG REPRESENTATION

TO-MORROW'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Notf only Wellington but many country districts will have a keen interest in the results of the Wellington provincial athletic and cycling championships which are set down for decision at the Petone Oval, commencing at 1.15 p.m. to-morrow, for tho .earns to compete for the New Zealand titles at Wanganui will be selected on the. form displayed. Since the war each succeeding year has seen the provincial championships take in a wider field, and now, with teams containing the cream of athletic talent from as far north as Gisborne to as far south as Motueka taking part, the meeting ranks second in importance to the national championships.

It is unusual for such an important fixture to be held at Petone, but the reasons for this are twofold. In the first place, there was some doubt about the Basin Reserve being available, and, secondly, the Petone Oval, in addition to being a very fair ground, also lias a' first-class raised cycling track—the only one of its kind in the Wellington district. As the New Zealand cycling championships will be decided oil the raised track in Cook's Gardens, Wanganui, the- decision to hold the eliminating contests on a similar track here was a sound one. '

The1 ■ points scored by the individual athletes will determine possession of the M'Villy Shield, which goes to the club gaining most points. The shield is atpresent held by the old-established ,-Wellington. Amateur Athletic Club,; and [ this club will be fielding a very strong team, headed by such able competitors 'as Jenkins, Fleming, Munro, Brady,' M'Holm, Gane, Pearce, Flett, Carswell, Miss Willson, and Miss Miller, to mention only a few. These competitors will be faced with some very strong opposition, however, from the country districts and from the University and Olympic Clubs in the city. The shield has been won' by the Wairarapa Sub-centre pu several occasions, and. this district will make a big effort to annex the trophy once more. The youngest sub- ! centre of all, Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay, will be one of the most considerable conitestants, and is sending down a very complete team of cyclists arid athletes. Chief among, these will be Miss Norma Wilson, the Olympic Games representative, P. M'Donald, the present half-mile champion, Fulford, a sprinter of class, aiid a field games exponent. who has been putting up excellent figures with the shot recently. The Manawatu Sub-centre - will also be well represented, and a good team is coming from Motueka.

So : large is the programme that it has been found necessary to run cycle races at the same time as the longer running events antl walks. Even then, the officials have set themselves a very ' strenuous_ time-table, but the centre will adhere rigidly to this and will not countenance any'delay or unnecessary waiting.

The track has been specially surveyed and treated for the. meeting, and the showers of rain last night will have a beneficial effect by taking the sting put of the ground and restoring the natural spring of the turf, which was showing signs of an iron hardness earlier in the week.

The Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay teams will be arriving in Wellington this even-

ing, tho Motueka team will arrive by the Nelson boat to-morrow morning, and. the Manawatu and Wairarapa teams will arrivo direct by motor-bus to-morrow.