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ATHLETICS

[By Pistol.]

TRACK AND FIELD ACTIVITIES

FIXTURES. February 25.—Appearance of Australian champion cyclists. March 10.—Taieri Club’s afternoon meet at Mosgiel. March 23.—Ladies’ Club’s annual meeting. . .. April 9.—New Zealand University championships. TAIERI EVENING MEET. Though it was on the rough side, the track on the Mosgiel recreation ground proved conducive to fast times, and as a result the evening meet staged by the Taieri Amateur Athletic Club last Thursday night was a most successful affair, several outstanding performances being registered during the evening. The Taieri Club has a live body of officials at the present time, and not content with holding an annual afternoon meet in March, the Mosgiel enthusiasts decided to stage an evening fixture, the results probably being beyond their expectations. The various city clubs supported the gathering liberally, and a pleasing feature was that a number of local boys made their appearance on the track, and an impromptu relay handicap over a mile went to the Taieri representatives. This was not a good race, for the Mosgiel boys were placed on a mark of 130yds, which made the task of the others too difficult; though if some of the visiting runners had exerted themselves a little more it is quite possible there would have been a much smaller margin between tiie winners and the scratch team, Civil Service, which finished second. The time was not beyond the capabilities o± the backmarkers, the winners being clocked at 3min ■>! l-ssec.

The Taieri Club possesses one or two very promising jministers, and one of the best is J. Gilchrist, who with attention may develop into a first-class middle-distance runner before ho is much older, though care should bo taken to see that he does not overdo tilings in tho meantime, as he is but sixteen years of age. Tins lad, it may be remembered, came into prominence at the secondary school championship meeting last season, earning 15 points on his own for the Mosgiel High School in the junior division. He has a nice stride, and though there are at present crudities in his style, those would soon be eradicated by a competent coach. Pluck and determination are bound to have their reward sooner or later, and after running a splendid race from the virtual scratch mark of syds che Civil Service distance crack, J. G. Barnes, scored an impressive victory in the mile handicap in the rattling good time of 4min 31sec. The Edmond Cup holder did not to be exerting himself unduly over the first half of the distance, but in the second last lap he commenced to move up, forging ahead rapidly in the last lap when going along the back stretch. Ho lengthened out, and though it looked as if M'Kernan might hold out, Barnes entered a spirited challenge along the straight, and won in convincing fashion by 3yds. The writer once again affirms that Barnes would be an absolute topnotcher if he were taken charge of by whose instructions in regard to training he would carry cut to the letter.

Many younger runners could take lessons from B. R. M'Kernan v ben it comes to using judgment in the running of a race. M'Kernan may be past his best, but he is still capable of running a good mile, and this he allowed at Mosgiel, where he filled second place from a 140yds mark. M'Kernan hopped out in front fairly early in the race, and stayed there until tho straight was reached. With Barnes coming at him along the far stretch M'Kernan endeavored to stall off the virtual scratch man by increasing his pace with a furlong to go. As it happened, however, Barnes had more in hand, and passed M'Kernan in the struggle up tho straight, winning by 3yds. M'Kernan runs bis races full out, and has met with a fair amount of success during the present seasonOf late tennis and swimming appear to have occupied H. J. Pollock’s attention to the neglect of his running, but he ran a fair race in the milo, finishing third from 50yds. Pollock has an unusually long stride, and though he is just a bit inclined to get up in the air there is no doubt that his style has improved considerably during the season. Were he able to devote all his spare time to running, the writer believes that Pollock would be capable of great things, as he has' tho natural ability and has yet to reach his best form. Pollock is able to run well over both middle and longer distances, and when he eventually decides to concentrate on one particular branch some better idea of his capabilities may bo gleaned. As stated last week, E. A. Bastings is running up to form just now, and he added another win to his list last Thursday, accounting for the 100yds handicap in characteristic fashion. Bastings was on a mark of 31yds, and won his heat in 10 2-ssec, 10 4-ssec benig the time returned for the final. Bastings was quickly into his stride, and was

striding well throughout, finishing with great dash in the final to beat his-club-mate, Valk, by a foot. H. G. Valk is one of the most improved sprinters in Dunedin, and, though he has not had a win for some time, ho is shaping well just now. He could bo smarter at the start. He was on Siyds in the 100yds handicap, and strove hard to withstand Bastings in the final after registering 10 3-sscc m his heat. Next season Valk should furnish into one of the most useful sprinters m Dunedin. From CJyds forty-seven-year-old “ Billy ” Duff won his heat in 10 3-ssec, but could do no better than third in a 10 4-ssec. final. He began well and looked a winner at 50yds, but the last 20yds found him out and he failed to stay on. It’s in these desperate finishes that youth must have its way. The Otago University sprint champion, R. F. Barr, is gradually working into form, but he is still short of work, which proved his undoing at Mosgiel. Ho was fairly well treated on 3yds in the 100yds, but just failed to beat W. J. Duff in his heat, being unplaced in the final. Barr’s strong finish was a feature of his running last season, but his Jack of training has been responsible for the fact that in recent races he has failed to stay on. Barr is improving out of the holes, and when the University championships are staged next month he should be capable of good time over the 100yds, though he will have to give of his bset to beat C. H. Duff, who is another gradually working into form. Though the writer is inclined to cast some doubt either upon the accuracy of the watches or on the length of the track, there is no gainsaying that L. C. M'Lachian ran a splendid race over the quarter at Mosgiel. The track was undoubtedly fast, but likewise it was fairly rough, and even from the virtual scratch mark of five yards it is hard to credit that M'Lachaln covered the distance in 52sec, for over the last bit lie was not extended at all. It was a good run, nevertheless, and M'Lachlan moved fast over the first furlong, easing up a little once he got within striking distance of the leaders. M'Lachlan showed a splendid style, and was striding like a _ champion. Young “ Lachie ” looks like developing into a real champion over 440yds, in which he seems to run quite as w-ell as he does over the half-mile.

The well-known walker, R. H; Cabot, does not intend confining his activities to this branch of the sporty and in the 440yds handicap he filled second place off 30yds. His style is rather crude as yet, for he has a rather stifflegged action, but with training and experience he should be able to run a fair race over a quarter. J. J. Morris had but five yards off M'Lachlan, and could not stay the pace set by the virtual scratch man, finishing third a fair distance back. Apart from the mile, Morris runs a fine half, hut he has not had much racing over the quarter, in which he does not yet seem able to measure his capabilities as to pace. The performances in the Imp, step, and jump handicap were good, and the scratch man, R. 0. Johnson, cove a splendid exhibition in clearing 44ft, which was good enough to gam him a place, though he was giving away as much as Bft. His brother, J. W. Johnson (6ft), was the winner, with an actual jump of 39ft 4in. Tho latter is a useful all-round performer. CYCLING AT MOSGIEL. On a, banked grass track, rough though it was. the cycling events at the Taieri Club’s meeting were splendidly contested, the two-mile handicap especially resulting in a, very exciting finish, though the race itself was marred by the accident to S. Bremford when he was moving up in the last lap. Bremford came down heavily, the popular Otago champion receiving a nasty shaking and injuring his back. It was not expected that Bremford would turn out on the following Saturday at the Cycling Club’s meet, but he did so rather than disappoint the supporters of the club.

The winner of the two-mile cycling handiecap was E. Palmer (10yds), and had Bremford stayed on he would have had to ride fast to beat the ex-profes-sional crack, who gave one of his best displays since his entry into amateur ranks. Palmer rode a well-judged race and at the beginning of the last lap was in a handy position. He timed his final sprint admirably, and commenced it along the back stretch. Then getting well down he flashed up the straight to beat Cooper by a wheel, the time being smin 39scc, which was good going for so rough a track. Palmer is one of the best of tho local riders, but he is just a little inclined to ride rather a bad course. He should watch this habit of crossing, for it may cost him a race sooner or later

H. Cooper rode well for second place in the two-mile cycle handicap, in which ho was on the 85j-ds mark. Cooper is improving with every ride, both in staying power and sprinting ability, and next season he should be one of the best of the local riders.

J. Ewing is a consistent performer, and from the 100yds mark finished third in the twn-mile event. Ewing has a fair sprint, but still shows lack of coaching. With a better position on his seat he might achieve better results. The mile handicap was fought out by riders among tho mid-handicap men, neither Bremford nor Palmer being able to qualify for the final. The winner turned up in J. Campbell, who was on tho 100yds mark. Campbell rode one of his best races for a long time, and showed that ho likes the grass track. With the field well bunched in the last lap Campbell* challenged strongly along the hack stretch, and pedalling powerfully was not to ho denied, winning by two lengths. The time was 2min 43 l-ssec.

A. Harris, who was on 120yds, is an improving rider, and in filling second place in tho mile ho rode a fair race. He has yet to develop a really powerful finishing sprint, and when ho does learn to stay over the last furlong ho should be much harder to beat than lie is at the present time. For a cyclist who has been competing but a few weeks, G. Smith has made remarkable progress, and already he is back among the middle-markers. Ho still has some of tho points of finesse to pick up, but for a new rider his style is good and he maintains a nice position on his machine. From 25yds he finished third fn the mile handicau, after winning his heat in 2min 40 4-ssec. One of these days T. Dillon, a limit rider in the mile at Mosgiel, is due for a win, and it should he a popular one, for he is an enthusiast if ever there was one. He won his heat in 2min 38sec, but was unable to stick it in the final. TEAMS’ CYCLING. It was a good suggestion that was made by Mr P. W. Kaltenbach, who is Jack Stnnden’s trainer, during the week, to the effect that more might be done by amateur cycling bodies in New Zealand towards encouraging teams’ races. Ho told the writer that these teams’ road races created much interest in

Australia, and that were the various cycling clubs to consider staging such events in the dominion it would not only act as an incentive to the riders not really up to championship standard, but would also benefit the clubs themselves in increasing the ranks of their supporters and bringing new members into the fold.

The Otago Amateur Club would be well advised to consider this matter, and during the winter it might be possible to stage a series of team road races along similar lines to the team events contested by the harriers under the jurisdiction of the Otago Centro.

CANTERBURY AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Comment on the Canterbury amateur championship: last Saturday is culled from the Christchurch ‘ Sun,’ which credits Malcolm Leadbetter, New Zealand 110yds and 220yds champion, with running a better race in the final of the 22<'yds championship than he did in the Now Zealand championships. He won easily bv 2yds in 23 l-ssec, and the 100yds saw him make a great finishing burst to beat Murphy by a yard in. lOsec dead. To win the quarter-mile championship in 52 2-ssec, and the halfmile m 2min 1 3-ssec, G. L. Nicoll (Ashburton) had to beat the two most promising young runners at the meeting . the ‘Sun’). In the quarter M. Blackmore (C.A.A.C.) came to light with u surprisingly good run, and NicolJ did not overhaul him until halfway along the straight. In the half, A. L. Tidemru (C.A.A.C.) stayed jst behind Nicoll until well into the' straight the last time. Again Nicoll had the stronger finish. The Ashburton champion is running wonderfully well at present, and he fully deserves his double win, for the great part of his training this summer has been done alone, on the hills up in the back of North Canterbury. A runner with a beautiful stylo, and very strong, there is no telling how far he would go if he were able to train and race regularly in the city. It was rather strange that three men should account for the six track titles, but E. B. E. Taylor won both the mile and the three-mile in a very convincing style. His best effort was m the mile, and here he used splendid judgment, for G. L. Austin (Harriers) adopted the only tactics likely to bring him success. Austin went out to the front and made the pace very fast over the first halfmile. Taylor let him go, timing his move forward excellently, and picking up the plucky Harrier representative just at the right place. Austin was second, and he was third in the halfmile. By putting the shot 38ft Sin, G. T. Alley (’Varsity), of All Black fame, won the Canterbury title with an effort that would have been good enough to laud him in second place in the New Zealand championship this season. T. E. O’Brien and A. W. Day shared the honors in the cycling championships, the former winning the half-mile, and Day the three-mile. LAMB’S RISE TO FAME. " Fatty ” Lamb, the man of the hour, who has entered professional cycling ranks in Australia after being passed over for the Australian Olympic team, recently attained his majority, being born at Newmarket (Vic.) on December 26, 1906. His career as an amateur cyclist reads like a page from a fairy tale. lie first attracted the attention of Tom Carey, one of the soundest judges of cycling in Australia, and a road rider of great experience. At the very outset Carey proclaimed that one day Lamb would startle the world. And Lamb has done so!

Linking up with the Malvern Amateur Cycling Club about six years ago, Lamb soon manifested his ability. Gradually he forged his way to the front, and finally achieved championship honors. His rise to fame has been meteoric. Three years ago he entered the employ of Mr Bruce Small, tho “Malvern Star” cycle builder, and soon had the benefit of the additional experience of being associated with Hubert Opperman and. Don Kirkham. Track and road honors went his way, and ho was attracted to motor pace following. He proved an adept, and broke Australian and world’s records behind the rollers.

Into his young life he has crammed a good deal of incident. Despite tempting offers from promoters of professional cycling events, Lamb resolutely refused to enter the pro. ranks. Had he entered fr the Dunlop Cycling Grand Prix (690 - miles), experts consider that he would have finished into a place, and thus secured a place in the Australasian team which will go to the Tour do France next month. _ It is an open secret that Lamb’s claims were unofficially considered by more than one of the selectors for the Tour de France. But Lamb was waiting his chance for the Games, which were nearer and dearer to him than even tho greatest road race in the world. Lamb has a list of victories which would fill a hook, but a few of his principal performances will indicate tho calibre of the man:— 1925: First and fastest, GoulburnSydney. 1926: First and fastest, Goul-burn-Sydney; fastest time and fifty-mile championship, Tasmania (record for course); first and fastest thirty-three-mile Victorian cycle traders’ road race; first and fastest Nissen fifty-mile Queensland; fastest time in IpswichBrisbane; ten-mile motor paced world’s record (lOmin 2 3-ssec). 1927; Fastest time Goulurn to Sydney and record for course; the Victorian and Australian Olympic road tests. EUROPEAN ATHLETICS. In a review of British athletics in 1927 that well-known authority, Mr Charles Otway (London ‘ Sporting Life’) writes;— “At the end of a not very perfect year for English athletics I may indulge in the usual little stock-taking. The feature of 1927, I should say without hesitation, is the remarkable advance in European standards. That is not to say that there has been no improvement hero, but merely that on the Continent there has been an ear of progress which must cause even the United States to wonder, as it has not been wrought by one or two specialists. The advance is more general, which makes it more impressive. “In sprint running Germany has been supreme. Her athletes have proved that the providing of five out of six finalists in the 1926 A.A.A. championship was no fluke. Kornig, Houben, Schuller, Mnlitz, Cortz, Saltz, and Bonier have all beaten ‘evens’ for 100 metres, which weans equalling it for 100yds. “ London has been our must reliable sprinter. He might even do better if he stuck to sprinting, instead of mixing it with high jumping (or might be a champion high jumper if he left ■ the sprints alone). But that amounts to asking for a specialist. “1 am not comparing British and Continental performances. Douglas Lowe, one may say, beat the best in the A.A.A. championships with his two races at the quarter and half. True; even Peltzer has not shown anything to equal this. But 1 have found a host of great middle distance runners over the Channel. Franco has Sera Martin,

Wiriath, Baraton, Vaucon; Germany Englehardt, Buchner, Neumann, Storz, Bocher; Sweden Byhlen, Svensson, and Sjogren; Finland Borg, Aestrom, Lagerstrom; Italy Garguillo, Carlini —and so it goes. It times are any criterion, we have no distance runners to touch the Finns and Swedes over the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.” COMING WINTER ACTIVITIES.

In the course of hut a few weeks the track men will be laying aside their shoos, and preparations will commence for the opening of winter activities by the various clubs. This year’s New Zealand cross-country championship is scheduled for Wanganui, but it is to be hoped that steps will be taken to ensure that it is not held as early as was the case last season, most of the local fixtures having to be held earlioi than usual on this account.

Looking ahead, Otago should have a good winter season, especially now that so many of the clubs have increased their membership lists. Opportunities for harrier competition in Otago are probably greater than is the case anywhere else in tho dominion, and, beginning with the Edmond Cup three-mile steeplechase, open events that are staged during the season are the Otago fivemile cross-country championship, the Port Rond Race, and the Macandrcw Bay Road Race.

j(cxt harrier season a cup, which was presented by Mr N. Nickels, will be competed for in road racing, tho club gaining most points in tho two road events to bo awarded the challenge trophy. To those who do not engage in any winter sport harrier running can be recommended as one of the best, apart from tho competitive side of the sport, for all the clubs cater for those members who arc out on _ a Saturday afternoon merely for exercise. The formation of the Otago Amateur Cycling Club should fill a much-needed want, and the writer understands that, apart from the staging of road races, the club intends holding_ weekly meets on Saturday afternoons similar to those held bv the harrier clubs. LADIES’ ATHLETICS. When ladies’ running was first placed on athletic programmes in Dunedin it proved a very successful feature of meetings, but of late the support has not been accorded this side of the sport by tho ladies that is necessary if they are to continue to he catered for. The advent of tho Dunedin Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club last season, it was thought, would further popularise the sport; but, though one successful afternoon meeting was held, the club did not function very actively, and this year interest has waned until only a few enthusiasts have been taking part in the ladies’ races. However, the application of the Ladies’ Club for affiliation to the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is a step in the right direction, and next season it is quite likely ladies’ athletics will regain the popularity so healthy a sport deserves. The fact that a New Zealand lady runner has been nominated as second choice in the New Zealand athletic team for the Olympic Games should act as an incentive to fleet-footed Dunedin girls, and perhaps it will he but n short time before Otago produces a New Zealand ladies’ champion. Skilled coaches have been placed at the disposal of the Ladies’ Club, and, with a little more enthusiasm and more competition provided by the chib itself, ladies’ athletics can be placed in as sound a position in Otago as is the case anywhere in New Zealand.

AMATEUR CYCLING CLUB’S GATHERING.

Young and energetically inclined, the Otago Amateur Cycling Club can show many of the older clubs the way to conduct an athletic fixture, and the new club’s initial fixture on Saturday night was one of the best conducted meetings that have been held in Dunedin this season. This, the writer believes, was largely due to the efforts of the president '(Mr J. A. Johnston) and the secretary (Mr S. Bremford), both of whom have given of their services ungrudgingly in their desire to raise the standard of amateur cycling locally. Large fields were the rule during the evening, especially in the cycling events and the mile handicap,, which, divided into two grades, was contested by twenty-seven riders. The grading scheme is a good one, and not only does it give the hack-markers a better chance, and thus provide better racing, but it is also an incentive to the longer handicap men to give of their best. The track has hardened up a lot, but it is still far from what it was expected to be. However, it was faster than has been the case for some time. After riding along into second place on a number of occasions locally, the exChristchurch rider, W. Hodge, came into his own, and the form he showed was such as to convince the writer that were he to take his training seriously he ■would extend any of the backmarkers locally. Hodge is a far-from-nnattractive rider, and sits his machine firmly. His win in the half-mile scratch race was as the result of headwork, foi he lay in a snug position at the end of a length, and began to put the pace on along the back straight. Then at the turn he challenged Palmer like an express, the later being unable to withstand the spnited burst which gave Hodge victory by a wheel in Irani 10 •3-ssec —fair time under the circumstances Any doubts that .may have been held concerning his staying power were set at rest by Ids win • m the three-mile handicap in Bmm J l-ssec. Hodge was on the 20yds mark, and quickly moved into a good position, being well up by the time the last lap was entered upon. Once again he timed his sprint very nicely, and after a close race witth Bremford won by halt a length. Hodge added further to his laurels by filling third place in the mile A grade handicap. The mile A grade handicap was an exciting race, and resulted in an overdue win lor P. Traill, who, after a brief run of success, has just been failing to get up lately. Traill was on the .'loyds mark, the limit being 50yds. Traill was soon in front, and was there when the bell clanged. Despite the fact that lie had been carrying the field along for a couple of laps he spurted along the back, and just had enqugh in reserve to stall off Charlie Nicholson’s challenge by half a wheel, the time being 2min 25sec. Traill finished third in the three-mile handicap, and once ho begins to profit by his recent experiences and shows a littlo more judgment in the riding of his races he will ho found up among the winners even from marks further back than those lie was on on Saturday night. C. M. Nicholson is still a speedy rider, hut, lack of competition since ho has been on the West Coast has had its effect upon him, and he is not riding as well as when he won the Otago championships last season. He was well placed along the far stretch in the halfmile scratch race, but_ was unable to sustain his finishing sprint, finishing up in third place. In the mile handicap, however, Nicholson showed a glimpse of his best form,,and made his final effort just a shade too late, finishing only half a wheel behind Traill from the

virtual scratch mark of syds. Nicholson can give most of the local riders points about the game, and with a few weeks longer in Dunedin would soon strike his best form. Sid. Bremford showed rare pluck m contesting the three-mile cycle handicap, in view of the fact that he was still feeling the effects of his fall at Mosgiel. He won his heat from C. M. Nicholson in brilliant fashion, showing great dash up the straight. The time was 7min 52 3-ssec, which was several seconds faster than the final. Bremford did not ride quite so strongly m the deciding heat, failing to come to light with his usual spurt along the straight and ending up in second berth. Bremford is one of the unluckiest riders in Dunedin, for to compete on Saturday night he had to borrow a machine, having smashed two already as the result of recent falls. . Eddie Palmer has been having a great run of success since he switched over to amateur ranks, and though he did not do quite so well on Saturday mgnt he filled second place in the half mile scratch race, in which he rode a good race, though in the mile he faded out towards the finish. Palmer loses ground, instead of gaming, as the result of his habit of crossing. The mile B grade cycle handicap gave H. Cooper an opportunity of showing his best form, and in both heat and final he rode like a winner. His time in the final was 2mm 2o 4-ssec. winch was but 4-ssec slower than the A grade time, Cooper being on the scratch mark. He is riding well just now, and should pick up further # races before long. He is using more judgment, and has developed a useful sprint. A. L. Rosenbrock, who was on the 25yds mark, rode a fair ; ace in the i grade mile handicap for second place, and his consistency merits a win eel ore long. With more attention to ms tno sprint Rosenbrock should be capable or registering faster times. Following up his successes at the Pacific and Carisbrook meetings, h. Wood ran another good race m the l.OOOvds handicap from the virtual scratch mark of syds, and his win in the useful time of 2mm 22 2-osec was the result of a well-judged run. Wood began smartly, and was with the leaders with a quarter to go. Then he shot to the front, and running well within himself, he was not headed, and, though Rolfe came with a late run, he could not head the Caversham crack, who won by half a yard. Wood was capable of better time, for it was not till the closing stages that he was really extended. He is a strong lad, and next season I look to see him registenng some sterling times in both halt and one-mile events. . “ Freddy ” Rolfe came up with a late run in the I,oooyds handicap to fill second place from the 25yds mark. His would have been a popular win, tor there are few more consistent runners than the Anglican enthusiast. Rolfe has been running for a long time, and over any distance from 440yds to one mile ho is always capable of running a good race. , , W. Murphy, the Caversham distance runner, carac to light in the 100yds handicap, and off seven yards he was not sighted, winning by-a yard with something in hand. Murphy began smartly, and did not overstride at the start, also showing a good finish. The time against the breeze was 10 4-ssec, but in the heat it was 10 l-6sec. He followed this win up with third place in the I,oooyds handicap, and capped it off with second in the throwing the cricket ball. A. G. Holt was second from ojyds, but he will have to get out of the holes more smartly if he is to hold his own in good company. He is improving in other respects, and is now beginning to stride nroperly. He finished nicely in the 100yds final, but made his final sustained effort just a little too late.

Pacific has a promising young runner in B. Drumm, who was third off the same mark as Holt. Drumm has not done a great deal of running, but should improve with experience. R. F. Barr was not able to cope with ‘* Lachie ” M’Lachlan in the last furlong of the 880yds relay handicap, and, though the ’Varsity man took oyer with 2yds lead, he could not withstand IVl‘Lachlan’s determined challenge, and the Civil Service man gave his club victory over the other scratch side by a yard in Imin 37sec. M'Lachlan ran a 'fine furlong, and seems capable of running well over every distance from 100yds to a mile at the present time, though admittedly he has done little mile running of late. JOTTINGS. The reinstatement of an amateur of Mr R. Spillane should be well received locally, and his appearance at the Otago championships next will be keenly awaited. Spillane is a big, powerful man, and, as he is under the tutelage of the great old professional, M. J. M‘Cabe, something out of the ordinary mav bo expected from him. His coach speaks highly concerning his ability. The one-mile relay race between the Wellington and Canterbury A.A. Club teams for the Eteveneaux Cup was decided at Christchurch last week. The Wellington team was R. Leech, J. T. Fleming. S. H. Bird, and C. H. Jenkins. In the first section of the race Leech took the lead from A. I. Tideman (Canterbury), and was two or three yards ahead when, at the end of half a mile, he handed the baton to Fleming, who got away better than did M. A. Blackmore, who finished his lap five yards behind. J. A. Gasson ' Canterbury) set off in fine style to catch Bird, but he gained little, and a lot of ground was lost in transferring the baton to R. Cordery, who finished over 30yds behind Jenkins (Wellington). Time, 3min 44 2-sscc. At the same meeting M. Leadbetter won the 100yds scratch race for the France Willys Cup. His time was 10 2-ssec. One of the features of the Taieri Club’s meet was the starting of Mr J. Gilchrist, who gave the runners entire satisfaction. Mr Gilchrist holds the runners much about the same time between the ready and the crack of the gun as does Mr Albert Burk, and with the runners in quiescent mood ho got some fine starts. As a substitute for Mr Burk he should be a very useful man locally. Southland will bo well represented in the secondary school championships this year, and several good runners and jumpers who are still at the high school have already started training (says “Sprint,” in the ‘ Southland Times ’). J. Gardner, who won the junior championship at Dunedin in 1926, should do well in the sprint events; and R. Murray, „B. Barclav, and O. Yule, promising young athletes, will undoubtedly bring credit on their school in their various events. Technical College is also fortunate in possessing good runners, and they can be relied upon to supply a splendid team. H. G. Watson, who is leaving New Zealand shortly for France, where he will compete in the Tour de France, the world’s greatest road race, was tendered a benefit meeting by the North Canterbury Centre of the New -Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union at Christchurch recently (says the ‘ Sun ’). The meeting, was a highly, successful

one, and the fund to send Watson away will benefit very considerably. The feature of the evening’s racing was the riding of Watson, who scored a popular win in the two-mile scratch race, besides being placed in both the handicap events. Coming from South Africa, after a sojourn there of twenty years, first as a teacher, then as a fanner, Arthur H. New'ton is an Englishman of the wury type of athletes and the son of a clergyman at Paignton. His feat of running from near Bath to Hyde Park Corner. 100 J miles, in 14h 22min lOsec (says the 'Athletic News’) is one of the greatest accomplishments and feats of endurance attained in this country, and creates a record for the distance by over 20min. Previously we had no amateur record for 100 miles; but in Rhodesia last summer Newton ran 100 miles in 14h 43min. Competing at the all-Japanese sports carnival held recently near Tokio, Miss Fumiki Teras, a Japanese college student, was credited with winning the 100-metre sprint in 10 4-ssec. Such a time has seldom been bettered by male sprinters—in fact, the same time won the 1908, 1912, and 1920 Olympic Games race over that distance. Miss Teras has previously been credited with exceptional times, and is evidently a wonderful sprinter. The world’s record for men is 10 2-ssec, established by Charles Paddock on April 23, 1921. When it is understood that the accepted ladies’ world’s record is 11 l-ssec for 100yds, Miss Teras’s time of 10 4-ssec for more than 109yds seems too fast for a lady (states an exchange). A world champion runner and a scholar, Dr Otto H. Peltzer, of Germany, was twice defeated in the 220yds dash at Stamford University by Les. Hables, a Stanford freshman. The youthful King City star was clocked at 22 2-ssec and 23scc in beating his older rival. Peltzer, who is in America as a student of economics, indicated ho would go in training for a month or so on the Stanford track in preparation for the Olympic Games next summer (says an American writer). He holds the world’s record of 151 3-ssec in the 880yds dash, and has run the shorter dashes, which are not properly his events, in 21 4-ssec for the 220yde and 48sec flat for the 440yds. The granting of the North Otago Club’s application for affiliation to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association should give the sport a great fillip in Oamaru, and it is pleasing to note signs of _ activity. in regard to amateur athletics in other parts of the country as well. Dunhack, Palmerston, and Lawrence are centres where it is quite likely amateur meetings will bo held before long. Should meetings be staged at any of these centres town runners should support the fixtures in force, for with increasing numbers of country amateur clubs it is but a matter of time before there should be a circuit of country meetings for amateur runners in Otago. Not for many years has there been a season of such activity in town and country as has been the case this year. Secondary school athletes are reminded that entries for the secondary school championship meeting at Invercargill close next iveek. It is to be hoped the Otago schools will bo well represented. W. M. Whyte, the State half-mile champion, is rapidly regaining his best form, and easily defeated his clubmate, Geoi'ge R. Hyde, in the mile event in 4min 27 l-sseo (says a recent Australian exchange). Whyte ran leisurely in the first two laps, but spurted over the last 300yds. Frank Grose, the popular amateur champion cyclist, who met with a severe accident while training at English Park on Tuesday last, is not likely to ride again. Harry Watson, the professional cyclist, who left for Melbourne to-day, was a caller on the ‘ New Zealand Sportsman,’ and told its representative that Grose would not be able to ride in competition again. Thus ends the career* of one of the best amateur cyclists that New Zealand lias seen since the war. It is quite probable that a benefit meeting will be staged in Wellington to assist the Canterbury rider, who tvas very popular at these meetings. The University Club has decided to hold an evening meet at the Cale. on Saturday, March 3, and a good programme has been drawn up. The events are 100yds, 880yds, half-mile walk, medley relay, and one-mile A and B. grade cycle handicaps.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19280224.2.107.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 13

Word count
Tapeke kupu
6,481

ATHLETICS Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 13

ATHLETICS Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 13

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