ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 19781, 3 February 1928, Page 12

ATHLETICS

LBy Pistol.]

TRACK AND FIELD ACTIVITIES

FIXTURES. February 4.—Civil Service Club’s evening meet. February 9.—Pacific Club’s evening meet. February 11.—Amateur events at Carisbrook open-air entertainment, February 11.—Wellington championships. February (date to bo fixed). — Secondary school championships at Invercargill. February 16.—Taieri Club’s evening meet at Mosgiel. February 18.—Canterbury championships. February 22 and 25.—Appearance of Australian champion cyclists, March 10.—Taieri Club’s afternoon meet at Mosgiel. April 9.—New Zealand University championships.

ANGLICAN’S SUCCESSFUL MEET. Pronounced success attended the second evening athletic meet staged by the Anglican Club at the Caledonian Ground on Thursday of last week.. The weather was fine, with an almost entire absence of wind, the conditions being conducive to good times. By winning the 100yds A grade handicap the consistent ’Varsity sprinter,' C. E. M'Veigh, scored a welldeserved win. M'Veigh takes his training seriously, and from tho 6yd mark he ran a good race, though he is still rather slow to got into his stride. He straightens too quickly after leaving the holes, and is thus thrown out of his stride, but he finished determinedly, and won in a splendid finish by inches i 10 2-ssec. M'Veigh is a useful handicap performer, who will pick up races from shorter marks if he improves his starting. C. M. Olsen ran a splendid iace in tho 100yds A grade handicap, winning his heat in 10 3-ssoc, and finishing inches behind M'Veigh in the final from scratch, Olsen’s time being just a shade over 10 2-sscc. He also ran a fine furlong in the relay handicap, but Civil Service’s undoing in this event . was their faulty change-over. Olsen is in splendid from just now, and when lie appears at the two big meetings to he held on the Caledonian Ground towards the end of the present month some exceedingly fast times may bo looked for on bis part over the middle distances particularly. Ho is the most stylish runner in Otago, and it is pleasing to note that a northern scribe well known in athletic circles characterises him as the best half-miler in New Zealand at the present time. Otago has produced some great middle distance runners, but ith's doubtful if any of them were better than Olsen at his best.

Although ho has had but little experience in open company, A. Clarke, last' year’s crack High School sprinter, made a successful appearance in the Anglican colors, and when he perfects his .starting methods he should show to considerable advantage, for be has a very determined finish. Though rather slow into his stride, Clarke was moving very fast with 100yds covered in tbe last furlong of the relay for tho Anglican Club, and a great burst over the last 50yds gave his team victory by a yard. From the 6yd mark Clarke ran third in his heat of the 100yds A grade handicap, but failed to get up in the final. The writer is inclined to think that Clarke will run his best races over 220yds, and if he is properly handled he should be a big acquisition to the Anglican Club in the future. C. H. Duff is now beginning to strike form, and by the time the University championships are staged he should be capable of good performances in the sprint events. From the 3yd mark last week lie ran Olsen a good second in his heat of the 100yds handicap, but was found wanting in finish in the final.. Caversham possesses a very fair sprinter in S. F. Duncan, who ran third from 4yds in the final. of the 100yds handicap. He strides quite well, and with a better body balance will further reduce his time, and incidentally his handicap mark. The 100yds B grade handicap provided a comfortable win for A. G. Holt 1 (10yds) in 10 l-ssec, second place going to the Civil Service representative, B. Waller (9yds), Holt got out of the holes smartly, and was not headed.

On 6|yds W. J. Duff was the hack marker in the B grade event, in which he got np strongly at the finish, just failing to pip Waller for second place. The Dunedin veteran had his triumph, however, by accounting for the 300yds handicap, m which he finished full of running. From the 14yds mark Duff ran a great race, and in a close finish just headed the consistent Pacific man, E. Fish (12yds). For a man now approaching fifty years of age “ Billy ” Duff is a veritable marvel, and the finish he showed in this race, won in 33. l-ssec, makes one inclined to the opinion that after all there is still a lot of running in Otago’s popular '■’cl athlete.

In receipt of 10yds from the Civil Sex-vice combination the Anglican team scored a good. win in the 880yds relay handicap in the fast time of Imin., 37 2-ssec. The Anglican team was a more even one than Civil Service, comprising E. H. Thompson, J. Green, H. J. Pollock, and A. Clark. The back-markers had two strong sprinters in C. M. Olsen and L. C. M'Lachlan, but lost, ground at the change-over of the baton. E. Eisk left his run a little late in the 300yds handicap, but ended up in second place. He has been placed consistently during the season, and is about due for a win.

E. Taylor and W. Murphy fought out a good finish in the 1,000 yards handicap. Taylor was 15yds behind the Caversham man along the back straight, but the pair raced down the final straight neck and neck, Taylor winning by half a yard in a fast finish, with L. C. M'Lachlan close up third. At the previous meeting Taylor won the mile from the 150yds mark and the 440yds off 30yds, being on 30yds in the I,oooyds handicap. The Anglican representative has improved considerably of late by strict attention to training, and in his latest effort he ran another splendidly-judged race, his time being 2min 24 3-ssec. W. Murphy was on 60yds, and had rather bad luck in being caught in the straight with too little in reserve to withstand Taylor’s challenge. He is more at home in the mile, and if he will only try to lengthen his stride he will pick up a race ere long. L. C. M'Lachlan ran from 10yds behind scratch and registered a good performance in filling third place. Over all distances from 50yds to one mile “ Lachie ” has been most consistent during the present season, and, excepting Olsen, there are few better allround runners in Otago than the son of the original “ Lachie.”

The hop, step, and jump handicap was decided in the old pit, which was a most unsatisfactory arrangement from every point of view. The run is up hill, and the run-up is very rough. Unless it is possible to stage this event on the regular jumping pit, it is impossible to expect the standard to improve. Twenty jumpers contested this event, which went to the Anglican allrounder, B. Provo (4ft), whose actual effort was 39ft Sin. The places were filled by long handicap men, the Otago champion, R. 0. Johnson, clearing 41ft 9in, which was quite a good effort on such a pit. TO-MORROW’S’ ATTRACTION. When the Otago Centre decided to cancel its big evening meet owing to the inability of several of the northern cracks to bo present, the Civil Service Club very sportingly stepped into the breach, and decided to hold its second meet of the season, which will be conducted at the Caledonian Ground tomorrow night. Without a doubt one of the races of the evening will be the 880yds relay handicap, and in view of the great race provided when Anglican just beat Civil Sevvico lust woek Itoih u. 10yds maik the provincial champions can bo depended upon to make every effort to field its strongest team, with a view to turning the tables on last week s winTho one-mile handicap and 120yds handicap should both result in good racing, while the one-mile novice eye e handicap is creating a considerable amount of interest in view of the fact that there have been a number of additions recently to local cycling racks. One and three-mile cycling handicaps are also included on the programme, and the ladv runners catered for by a life should W witnessed in the cycling events, in which the exOtago champion, C. k. Nicholson, will be among the competitors. Nicholsoi, who is now stationed at Greymouth, has not ridden in competition since lie left Dunedin nearly a year ago, but he is reported to be m Q'lite good form. In addition to Bremiord, Hodge, Traill, and the other local cracks, it. Palmer, who was recently reinstated as an amateur, will bo making ns first appearance in amateur ranks. if Palmer reproduces his professional form ho‘should he capable of registering good times in both cycling events. GROSE IMPRESSES.

Holder of all three New Zealand ama- : teur cycling titles, Frank Grose, the. young Canterbury rider, created a line impression at the electric light sports meeting at the Basin Reserve (says the Wellington ‘Post’)- He pedalled too fast for the local champions, and was undoubtedly the star performer of the meeting. Grose is no stranger to Wellington Hacks, but, while his aoilitj lias always been recognised here, he has given no finer account of himself than on Saturday evening. It appeared that ho is a more finished rider, and his sprinting—it was a treat to watch. Grose is mentioned as a possible ylym* pic representative, and in view of this the coming visit to the dominion of Jack Standon, the Australian amateur track champion, makes for keener interest in the tour. In Grose, Stanuen will find a fooman worthy of his steel, and the meetings of these two champion wheelmen will be closely followed. The local riders were quite unequal to the sprint produced by Grose on Saturday. In both the one mile handicap and the three miles scratch race he literally flew away from them over the last furlong or so. He showed up particularly well in the three miles event, when he chased L. Bcero, who obtained a big break on the rest of the field. Sprinting beautifully, he picked up Beerc in a lap, and, then, after staying with, the local ridor and slackening his pace, he darted away from him again and won with plenty to spare. Grose undoubtedly proved his right to possession of the throe New Zealand cycle championships. CYCLING COMENTS. The times were fair in the one and a-half mile cycle handicap, and by registering his first win J. Ewing (140 yards) scored a popular success. Ewing has been training consistently of late and doing a good deal of road work, this standing him m good stead when it came to the finish hist week. Ewing was in a good position entering tho straight, and won after a fast sprint by a length in 4min 2 4-sscc, his time beinrr 3min 58 2-ssec lor the heat. Ewing ls not a pretty rider, and is inclined to ride all over the track. He does not sit his scat very well, but with tuition, would develop into a good rider, for he has heaps of deterraination. Second place went to J. C. 1 ogarty (60yds). Fogarty needs to develop a stronger sprint, and, though he has not improved to the extent that was hoped from the form he showed earlier in the season, ho is a rider who will do well if he pays attention to his coach. R. Ravenswood is beginning to reproduce his best form, though he uses insufficient judgment in his races. He finished third in the one and a-half mile handicap, and would have been oven closer up had ho unloosed his sprint a little sooner. The unluckiest man in the race was P. Traill (70yds), who made tho pace for the middle and back-markers most of the way, some of the others showing a poor spirit in not taking a lap. The result was that Traill was unable to sprint when it came to tho finishing sprint, and ho ended outside a place. He is improving all the time, however, and should be among tho winners before long. S. Breraford had to ride fast to qualify from tho back mark, and the effort took so much out of him that he did not appear at his best in the final. He managed to get up with the bunch, but his usual sprint was lacking and ho was unplaced. A rider who attracted favorable attention was G. Smith (170yds). Though he has made but two appearances on the track, he shows signs of developing into a useful track man. He'won his heat in 4min Isec, and in the final led the field unpaced most of the way, but was eventually displaced by Traill. Smith is worth keeping an eye on. Cyclists will be catered for liberally during tho next eight days. In addition to three cycling events on the Civil Service Chib’s programme to-morrow nighty the Pacific Club is staging a two-mile cycling handicap at an evdiiujr meeting next Thursday, find on Saturday, February 11,. a cycling handicap is included on thd programme of: an open-air entertainment being staged by tho Otago Cricket Assodiaiaon at Carisbrook. This will be contested on a grass track, on which it will bo interesting to see how some of the local men will shape. BIG CASH MEET. In connection with the diamond jubilee celebrations at Greymouth in February and March, the New Zealand cash cycle and athletic championships will be held on March 2 and' 3.

Prize money to the amount of £455 is being awarded, the cycling events including quarter-mile New Zealand championship certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, and £1; half-mile New Zealand championship, certificates, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; oue-mile New Zealand championship, certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; two-mile New Zealand championship, certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; three-mile New Zealand championship, certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; five-mile New Zealand championship, certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; ten-mile New Zealand championship, certificate, gold medals, £5, £2, £1; £IOO New Zealand wheel race, one and a-half miles, £6O, £2O, £lO, run in heats, £lO divided among placed men; half-mile handicap, £4, £2, £l. The running events include £SO Jubilee Sprint Handicap, 123yds (under Now Zealand Sheffield Rules), £35, £lO, £5; 220yds flat handicap, £B, £3, £1: 440yds flat handicap, £B, £3, £1; half-mile flat handicap, £B, £3, £1; 120yds hurdle handicap, £4, £2, £l. Bushcraft and field events are also included on what promises to bo a splendid programme, and one likely to attract cash runners from all parts of Now Zealand. ■ GRADED SPRINTS. Some time ago Mr P. W. Breen urged the Otago Centre to institute graded sprint races, the idea being one that commended itself to the writer, who was pleased to see that the Anglican Club took the initiative in running the 100yds handicap at its meeting last week in two divisions._ The sprinters were divided after the handicaps had been drawn up, being designated “first grade” and “improvers,” the _ former including men whose marks did not exceed 6yds. This method is fairer to the scratch men, who are usually called on to give away starts up to 10yds and over. It is to be hoped that graded sprint races will soon become the rule, for the writer is firmly convinced that they will bring about a higher standard among the sprinters. R. W. LAMB PASSED OVER. Every prominent amateur in any cycling country receives tempting offers from promoters to turn professional, and in future the Australian, when deliberating on tho question, is sure to ask himself: Is it worth while giving my best to a sport controlled by a body constituted as at present, which will make me the butt of its quarrels when, on the other hand, I could have been receiving good money for my efforts? Take, for example, the cases of Hubert Opperman and “ Fatty ” Lamb. When tliov started out on their careers they were called upon to decide the big question amateur or professional? They chose different paths. Opperman, being more practical, joined the professional ranks, while Lamb decided to race for honor and glory. Each became the all-round champion of Australia in his section of tho sport, and towered above the other road riders and pace followers. Those who are in a position to judge consider that Lamb is Opperman’s equal, yet how different are their financial positions to-day. When Opperman’s racing days arc over, he will have sufficient to liny a good business, which is liis objective. Lamb s objective, on the other hand, was to represent his country in the Olympic Games at Amsterdam. He trained ns no amateur beiore him ever trained, and registered such fine performances that his name was known throughout the length aud breadth of Australia. What was his reward? In defiance of the opinion of thousands of competent judges a few delegates say that Lamb is not good enough,” with the result that his name will not be submitted to tho Olympic Selection Committee (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). Although the news of Lamb s nonselection astounded supporters of cycling, Mr Bruce Small, who manages both Lamb and Opperman, was not surprised. “I was informed in Melbourne that Lamb would not go to the games,” said Mv Small. u An offer: was made to him to join the professional team for the tour de France, with a guarantee that he would be number two in the team. _ This, however, was rejected, and it was then that the statement was made that Lamb would probably reconsider after the Olympic team had been selected. ’ A curious coincidence bearing out Mr Small’s statement is that the fourth rider for the tour do France team was chosen soon after a statement was published in a Melbourne paper that Lamb would not go to Europe as a professional if he could not go as an amateur.

JOTTINGS

Amateurs will be catered for on two nights next week. Ou Thursday the Pacific Club is staging its first evening meeting for a long time, and a good programme is promised, the events being 75yds, 220yds, and one mile handicaps; two mile cycle handicap, javelin thowing handicap, hop, step, and jump handicap, and 880yds iclay handicap. Thanks to the efforts of President Gibson, a good collection of trophies has been secured. The following Saturday the venue will be changed, and at an open-air entertainment ou Carisbrook amateur athletes will be catered for with 100yds, 300yds, one mile, and one mile relay handicaps, as well as a cycling handicap. Referring to a paragraph by “Pistol ” relating to U. M. Olsen, which appeared recently, the Christchurch athletic scribe “ Sprinter,” of the ‘ Sun,’ states that lie saw Olsen run under Imin 58sec in Wellington at Christmas time, with a heavy wind to contend with down the straight, and has no hesitation in saying that ho is the best half-miler in the dominion. It is possible that he will make an effort shortly to lower the New Zealand half-mile record, imin 50 l-ssec, which ivas established by the American Lloyd Hahn in 1926. Although the Caledonian track at Dunedin is reputed to be slow, Olsen has a good chance of changing the figures. - Dr O. Peltzer, the German champion and holder of the world’s record for the half-mile run. arrived in America some time ago. It was reported some time ago that ho would also come to Australia and New Zealand, but in view of the failure of the German; authorities to sanction such a tour it is doubtful whether the great mnner will be seen here. He is anxious to compete at the next Olympic Games, and is evidently of the opinion that a visit to America will serve to improve his prospects. When reminded that he bore no permit from the German amateur sports governing body for the tour to America, he ‘remarked: “I come to study sport conditions and to see your country. . . . After six weeks —I might run, who knows? They are afraid in Germany that I might not be so good in the Olympics if I. run in this country. I believe I would be better.” ' . The 10 l-osec recorded recently in Wellington by C. H. Jenkins from scratch in both heat and final of the 100yds handicap against the fair wind

was a good performance (says the J Post ’). There is no one his equal in Wellington this season over the hundred and furlong. Good performances are expected or him at the Wellington provincial championship meeting. T. Oakley, the Masterton crack amateur rider, put it all over P. Grose at Masterton tho other day (says tho Auckland ‘Sun’). The triple New Zealand champion could not pedal it with the local boy, being beaten by him iiy every start. In tho IJm invitation scratch race Oakley got a jump in at the bell and won by 30yds, while in the two-mile wheel race the Masterton boy boat Grose by four lengths in 4min 39 l-ssec. In the three-mile Walker and Hall Gup race Oakley put up a lino ride, winning from scratch in the exceptionally fast time of 7niiu 3 2-ssec. Grose did not start in this event.

At Gisborne last week the New Zealand ladies’ lOOjds champion, Miss Nonna Wilson, ran a marvellous race to win the 100yds in 11 l-ssec, equalling the world’s record. Her heat was won in 11 2-ssec, The track, which was subsequently surveyed by Mr J. Mount, a licensed surveyor, was found to be true to level, but unfortunately 7in short. There was no wind to assist Miss Wilson.

It is to bo hoped a largo number of JDunediu amateurs will make the trip to Mosgici on February 16 for tho Taieri A.A.C.’s initial evening meet. A good night’s sport is promised. 'At a meet at Lower Hutfc (Wellington) last Saturday afternoon, the New Zealand 100yds 'champion, Malcolm Leadbetter, finished third to C. Hoskins iJiyds) in the 100yds handicap in lOsec. The ex-Otago man, R. W. Lander, Australasian 120yds hurdles champion, won his heat of tho hurdles from scratch in the fast time of 15 2-ssec, but finished second in the final, which was won in 15 4-ssec. The mile went to A. D. Priestley (10yds) in 4min 30 2-ssec. With a handicap of 2in, E. G. Sutherland won the high jump handicap at sft lljin, Mastorton’s crack cyclist, Tom Oakley, has been claiming that his smin 7sec, in which he recently circled two miles on the grass, entitles him to tho honor of dominion record holder for the distance, but at Hastings last week Cliff Sutton swept over the distance in oinin 3 2-ssec (says the Napier ‘Telegraph’). According to information from America,' Lloyd Halm, who figured in a series of memorable contests with R. A. Rose in New Zealand, is regarded as a certainty for tho next Olympic Games, fie is still America’s leading middle-distance runner, but after the Olympic Games next year ho proposes to hang up his shoes for all time. At the present time Hahn is preparing for the indoor athletics campaign, and he is keen to have an opportunity of measuring strides with Hr Peltzer, the German champion now in America. Some time ago the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association endeavored to popularise relay racing at evening meetings (says “Sprinter,” in the Christchurch. ‘Sun’). That is to say, relay races were placed on the programmes, and nobody bothered .to- organise the sport. Relay races are among the most enjoyable of tho events on the athletic schedule, and when they are closely contested there is nothing that is more exciting. It should not be difficult for at least four of tho clubs in Christchurch to raise a team each, and the promotion of such racing should help considerably in the creation of club interest. Tho events, of course, would have to be handicaps, and it would be necessary for the teams to bo nominated when entries close for the ordinary events. [ln view of tho foregoing paragraph, Dunedin athletes will feel gratified that a meeting is never held locally without a relay event being included in the programme.] The writer understands that there is some likelihood of Phil O’Shea, the great professional cyclist, appearing at a cash meeting in Dunedin shortly. He would bo a great draw, especially now that the Caledonian track has been repaired, though the long spell of hot weather has not given it a very good chance of hardening. These remarks from a Melbourne paper are easily applicable to Dunedin: “We have witnessed some very good performances in the hop, step, and jump recently, but the conditions under which the competitors perform are far from satisfactory. The run up is very rough and uneven at present, and the board at the end of the pit sticks up above ground level. A competitor might easily roll on this board and injure himself. Conditions should be made as good as possible. As tilings are at present the confidence of atnletes is shaken by the rough ground ana other bad conditions. Under such oucumslances it is too much to expect competitors to give their best." Don fVFLeuuan. Cnristchurch, and New Zealand professional sprint champion, who was nominated for the world’s sprint championship, to take place in Melbourne next month, is not as lit as he would wish (says tho •Star’). M’Lennan, who was responsible for some remarkable perlonuances at the New Zealand championship meeting held in Dunedin two years ago, decided to rest all last year, with a view to being a competitor at Melbourne. This season he began seinous training, but could not go tbiough the searching preparation necessary to fit him for the class of field lie would have to meet. M‘Len-ii-an has now resolved to stay off the track until he can again worthily uphold the high standard set by him two years ago. His record performances at Dunedin put him in a class with the best sprint runners ever seen in the dominion in either amateur or professional and ho has perfoi mances which are a shade better than evens over the hundred and the 130yds Sheffield distance. Tim Banner, holder of the world’s title, is twentyfive years of age, and has a record of 10 5-Ssec for 110yds. He has run 100yds in 3yds better than evens. Two hundred and twenty yards in 22sec was another achievement last season. The news that that well-known Queensland sprint champion, and exAustralasian champion, L. O. Barker, had entered for next month’s big professional sprint handicap in Melbourne, came as a surprise, packet, for tho secret that he had been nominated had been well kept (says the Sydney ‘Referee’s’ athletic writer). As far as I know, entries for the big event in Melbourne closed on December 7 last, and I have seen much of Parker since then, including a four days’ sea trip on the same steamer, but he never once alluded to having put in an entry—and entry means the forfeiture of amateur status. It is incomprehensible to me that Parker should seek at Wellington to retain his 100yds title of champion of Australia and New Zealand, and at Manly attempt to win the 100 and 200 metres races (in the light of a “test” for inclusion in the Australian team for Amsterdam), and at the same time know that, by entering for the Melbourne “Thousand,” he was ineligible

for either title or trip. I can only surmise that someone entered him tor the “Thousand,” perhaps to see what sort of a handicap he would get, and that Parker himself failed to realise what clause E, section No. 1 of the amateur definition of the A.A.U. of Australia and New Zealand really means. In other words, he may have thought that a mere nomination entailed no penalty. The appearances of the Australian champion cyclists, J. Standen and i). Gray, are being eagerly awaited locally. They will compete at evening meetings in Dunedin on February 2L and 25.