Athletics

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 36, 26 February 1937, Page 10

Athletics

" Spike,")

TARADALE SPORTS

Record Crowd Greeted With Fine Programme JAPANESE MAY GOME

(By

The Taradale R.S.A. added still another success to .their long list last Saturday, and for sheer enjoyaneut their latest a^nnual sports day was q,uite the beet ever, due in a great measure to the caxe and forethought deroted in tha preparation of the programme. The hnishes iu the cycling eveiits were the most exciting eeen on any local track this season and a tribute to the discriminating handicapping of Mr. T. Robinson. . There are some enthueistic officials in Taradale, and aU belong to the R.S.A., it would "appear. One must add a :,,ord of praise to the joint secretaries, Messrs. Reg Baddeley and Ernie Grant (gluttons for detail and thoroughness. So complete were their arrangements that all that was roqnired of President Jim Miller was a copstant emile, and this was easily mamifaetured by simply noting the Tecord crowd present. I understand that the net profits for the day will approach the £40 mark. Entries for the track events were not very numerous and in some fields R. Tucker, an assiduous attendant at the training track, beat of£ scratch man Fitzsimmons in the 100, and tken lafer on ran a good quarter to beat Dick. Bird. Bill Fitzsimmons turned on "a great exhibition in the furlong, and expertly threading his way througli the leading bunch, won in eensational stylo. 1 1 doubt if a faster sprinter than "Fitz" has ever Before appeared on the Taradale Park. Miss J. Prince, running in improved style, won the 100 and 120 yard-s in very close linishes— her first suecesses of the season, The back markers, Misees R. Tong and D. Swayne, found the handicaps just beyond them, although both ran well. The 880 went to the young Hastings harrier, R. Cooper, who opened up a lead in the first la,p and then held on to win by two yards. One of the rapid improvers . of late in H. Kane made a good field of milers look very ordinary. So well is he running now that the mile championship

to-morxow looks good for this young fellow. The judges appeared to err when they declared a dead heat between W. Williams and J. Hutehinson in the half mile cycle. There was only a foot between four of the riders, but Williams just got over the line ahead of V, Man ning, with Hutehinson third. The traek was very har'd and times were in consequence fast. Napier Club's Wise Move. The Napier Club had a brain wave. when they decided to invite "Dorie" Leslie up from Wellington to judge fche walking at last week's meeting and do a spot of starting with the gun. A speetacular figure in New Zoaland am.» teur sport, Mx*. Leslie's presence, ± should say, had as much to do with the season 's record attendance as tlie attempt by Ian Driscoll to lower the long-standing two-mile walking record. Runners witlxout exception were exemplary on their marka and, though Mr. Leslie held them the full three seconds from "set" to the gunfire, never once was there a break. lt was, too, a silent tribute to the teachings b£ the club's starter, Mr A. D, Lynch. The programme presentee consxsted of 35 events, incladmg a ten-miie cyele race, a three-milc run, and a two-miie walk, yet the whole lo't was dispoaed .oi in - one iiour fifty-iive minutes. Ian Drxscoii, after a perhaps too fast first mile, fell away in tne twomile walk, and he missed the record bj seven seconds. Before the season expires he intends having another crack at the record. The large crowd were greatly amused when the limit bunch in the ten-mile cyele caught up to the scrateh man, W. Williams, R. Attwood and V. Manning. V. Engert won the race in good styJe, V. Manning being the only back xnarker to finish. Altogether it was a poor advertisement for our Scratch riders. A sensational finishing run. won the 300 metres women 's sprint for Miss D. Swayne, of Hastings, wno is now xight Back to her best. Cycli/st Joe Hutehinson placed a feather in his cap when he lowered the track record for oue lap solo. He beat Oiympic eyelist's George Gil&s's tirae by one-tenth of a second. Eric Phillips registered his season 's best with the discus when he got it oat tc 112 feet. Altogether the standard of perf ormanees all through was ■ excellent, and it was one of the best meetings staged on the Park this summer. Japanese Visitors. From all necounts tlie Papaiiese athletes fulfilled expectations at Auckland last week, and it should not be lo'ng before K. Murakoso is hanging up fresh figuree for two and three miles for the Dominion. The surprising feature of Murakoso, apart from his speed and perfeet style, was the faet that l'or 90 minutes before his race he warmed up, and iu this period must have

covered at least five miles, They must bring them up tough in Japanl K. Togami was just as thorough in preparation, and( jumping records ar.e going to be dented by him, too. Both are very keen on appearing at the New Zealand .championehips on March .12 and 13, and prior to that date will appear only once weekly in competition. After that they will appear as often as asked. The N.Z.A.A.A. has now offered -the local centre the Japanese for the week foliowing the New Zealand champltm ships, but a definite decision has not yet been arxived at. Both are in the world 's best class, and every eifort should be made to secure an appearanee in Hastings and Napier Canterbury Titles. Canterbury disposed oi' thexr title* last Saturday, and the outstanding per lorxnances were Geoft". Broadway '& quarter in 49 3-5secs., and "V. Boot's half in Irnin. 56 l-5sec. Both will lxnp.l,ove on these txmes on the fast tracn on the Auckland Domain next month. and it appear s useless looking for anyone to beat them up there. E. P. Newburgh got to within l-5sec. of Frank Sharpley's furlong low hurdle record, and Frai-k will need to go a bit fastev ako next month to keep this improving Canterbury man behind him. Normau Mulvey got up to 11ft. 3 inches to wxn the pole vault, but, he appears alwayw to keep h:s poor effoits for the national title. Miss Katie' Callinan could only manage third place in the wo men's 100, won in 11 3-5secs., and MacFarlane oceupied a similar position iu the men's 100. All other five centres will hold their championships to-mor-row, Auckland staging their« at Hamilton.