MEMORIES OF GREAT ATHLETES

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 13

MEMORIES OF GREAT ATHLETES

RECALLED BY ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS Brilliant athletes have been developed iu all countries, generation after generation. Some of a recent generation seen in action in England aro touched on most interestingly in the following (says the Sydney ‘ Referee ’). . Old-timo and present-tune held game enthusiast, Mr J. 'Jhomasson, hands out the following interesting budget;— . “Re the 81h hammer throwing. To give our expert throwers a chance to go ‘all out’ to see what they .can do, 1 propose a scratch lino (the same as in javelin throwing), allowing the throwers a Oft run and no follow. __ I have worked tho margin out from 25ft to 30ft, as the difference between the 16!b hammer, 121 b, and 81b, thus; P. Rvan’s world’s record of 189.6) (16lh) to 213.91- (121 b). W. Harvey (the Australasian champion) is classed ns the lightest hammer thrower in the British Empire—l2sfc and under. It would he a great boon to future hammer throwers if the New Zealander would give his own experience. “ Now for some reminiscences. My first sight of athletes was in 1899, when the English A. A.A. championships were held in ’Wolverhampton—what a red-letter day that was lor the Black Country town. To have tho big meet there, ami to soo some of tho world’s champions in act ion! There was the great Arthur Duffey. Then Dr Orton came over to win the two miles steeplechase, lint was beaten out of a place. H. AVolsh, mile, champion of Scotland, just heat C. Bennett, of the Finchley Harriers, on the post, in the mile in J. 26. My] wasn’t that a race! Bennett came out later to win tho four miles. W. J. Stnrgess won the four miles walk (28.245ec), with , Butler second; whilst A. Tyson won Hie SSOvds in 1.57. “ I*. Leahy won the running high jump at 5.10 C What a pretty jumper he was! Just to show the people of the grandstand how high the bar was, he walked under it, then walked backwards about 15ft, and then canio in like C. D. Spicer docs. The other place-getters were ‘scissors’ jumpers. “ W. ,J Newhurn non the running broad jump at 22.2. Another Irish champion, T. E. Keily, won the Kilh hammer throwing at 145tt (911 circle). [ remember the hammer—-iron head, spring steel rod (quarter inch thick), with a piece of straight wood for Hie grip. To give an idea how wot the ground was in Keily’s first throw the hammer stopped in tho ground flush with the surface, and tho handle stood straight up. “ 1 had a ‘close tip’ view of Hie shot- putting. What a champion shot putter Denis Morgan was—he was holder of the world’s record at the time. His lirst putt was right on to The last lino marked out, viz., 45ft. His second putt was -1611 o)in—a record, and the best ever done in the A.A.A. championships.’ “What a team the Irish champions were! 'J'. F. Keily was in the 120 hurdles, hut fell over the third hurdle. Looking hack to that time, I believe Keily could very nearly have swept the programme at a Dunn Shield meeting. Tie won the all-round championships in ITS.A. twice. “What a picture Hie ground looked. The hurdles and jumping standards, cross-bars, elc., were painted white. The 9-foot circle for Hie hammer (oval sections! and 7-foot square (straight sections) for Hie shot, were perfect in detail. Tho tracks were four laps to tho mile, (red cinders), the steeplechase- six hips (grass), BJOyds (cinders), and 120yds hurdles ((grass).

“ Paget Tomlinson (Cambridge) won tho hurdles in 16 1 -"see A. E. Dnf--I’ey won the 109, yds iu lOsec. Dnfley was very popular in Wolverhampton —he competed several times at (he charity sports. Ho ran four times at one meeting, winning the 100yds •invitation and 100 yds handicap, did lOsec three times and 9 4-ssec _ once, bolting Jndson (9,lyds) by three inches in the final, time 9 -t-oscc. That was the only lime 1 ever saw (ho A.A.A. championships, and the only time I eior saw any hammer throwing and shot putting' until I came out here and saw the American team (191-1) at the Sports Ground.”