Athletics

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 14

Athletics

'Spike").

GOOD FORM SHOWN Sharpley and Miss Tong Do Well Over Hurdles MORLEY OUT AGAIN

(By"

Rarely iudeed bas an opening meeting of a new season been characterised by such a series of excellent performances as was supplied at McLean Park, Napier, last Tbursday evening. The tracks were, due to the dry spell, not in their usual good order, and it could be said that the times reeorded in the various events were, in the circumstances, remarkable. Present indications now point to at least four representatives from Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay being selected for the Empire Games.

All eyes were on Fitzsimmons in.the first heat of the 100 yards, "and leaving the holes in his usual brilliant fashion he was quickly with his field, aud went through .the tape just inehes behind Bickerstaff in 10 l-5secs. "Fitz" gave the impression that he could have done a little better over the last 10 yards. In the final he made no impression on the leaders Over the last 20 yards and finished a very close third in 10 l-5secs again. The winner, Ian Bickerstaff, has been a regular attendant at the track for some weeks, and he appears to be in for his best season since his school days. He is'a powerful runner, and is cqually at home over any sprint distance up to 440 yards. H. Husheer was one of the disappointments of the sprint considering the amount of preparation he has gone through. Fitzsimmons and Bickerstaff appeared again later in the evening in special matches, tjie former facing W. Williams, who was mounted on his bicycle. Both started from seratch and Williams won in the last foot. Fitzsimmons 's time was 10 l-5secs.,»and it was a very exciting novelty. Bickerstaff oonceded DriscOll 35 yards in 100, the latter relying on waRdng. This provided another exciting finish, with Bickerstaff winning on the tape, in 10 2-5secs. Morley's Reappearance. The 880 yards marked the reappearance of Morley, the Mangateretere lad, and off 20 yards he finished a close second to the junior 880 yards champion, F. Pyeraft. Longley, running from the baclc mark, peted out after travelling 600 yards. The time,' lmin. 58 l-5sees, was good, and there is no doubting that the spell of a year away from the track has not impaired the speed and staying powers of Morley. The Hurdlers. The women 's 75 yards hurdles attracted two heats, iu the second of which Miss R. Tong, off one yard, won iu 9secs. This as easily the fastest . heat, bnt the winner of the first heat, Miss G. Smith, knoeked a secCnd off her time in thc final and won in 8 3-5secs from M. Martin, a beginner at the game. Miss Tong later. rau over the new hurdle distance of 90 yards in

the splendid time of 13 2-5secs. The one fault wtih Miss Tong 's hurdling is an inclination to dwell in the air over eaeh obstaele. Hurdlers aim to get down on to the ground again as quickly as possible, for it is there that the pace is made. Quite in keeping with the standard of performance was Sharpley 's 120 yards hurdles in 15 3-5secs, time that no other hurdler in the Dominion at this .period of the year could approach by 2-5secs>. Climbing 3ft., 6in. hurdles under electric light is no assistance, and the Hastings ehampion will knoek the odd iifths off in daylight. The football clubs' r-elay is always one of the main events on the Napier programme, and in past seasons it has provided some very exciting racing, but none morf so than the one last week. The Plfcite team had a long lead at the commencement of the last 440 yards, but Dowrick got a fit of the staggers in the straight and, finally collapsed with hie head lying across the finishing* line, and before be had the energy to move at all, despite the shrieks of Pirate supporters, the Technical and H.S.O.B. representatives had crossed the line loeked together. It was a most dramatic finish, Cyclists' Performances. The cyclists wero presenx, m good numbers and W. Williams outrode the field in the half-mile dash, with J. Hutchinson def eating Y. Manning just as easily. Tho mile, however, provided some peculiar performances. W. Williams won his heat in 2min. 30 3-5 secs., but he could finish only a poor third in the final to his younger brother. The final, by the way, took 3 l-5secs longer to Tide than the first heat. Our cycle riders, and in this 1 refer to the back-makers, must be poor judge of pace to allow themselves to be gulled as they were in the mile. The practice of slowing up the baek-mark-ers in a race has been perpetratod fn; quently in previous years aud clubs should hdve a word -with those rfisjionsible.

Hastings Club's Bun. 'J'he Hastings C#ub provided only a training run for their members last Tuesday night, but tho response was sufiiciently encouragiug to make possible the official opening next Tuesday week when the Napier Club has promiscd a bus-load of competitors. Of ckief interest last Tuesday was some good hurdling by Miss Tong and F. Sharpley, a good 100 yards by W. Fitzsimmons. and an excellent 880 yards by R. Morley. Form for the Trials. Reports from Christchurch indieate that Broadway is going very well, and the ex-New Zealand champion who competed at the last Empire Games should worry Sayers in tho 440 yards, and Allen in the 880 yards at the trials.

Form at the trials is to be the deciding faetor for selection in the New Zealand team for the Games. This decision has been a completc surprise to Pullar, of Otago, who claims he will not be fit before January. The latest to como into tho lituo.light as a possible for the mile is Boot, of Christchurch. Ho is the best "Spike" has scen over the distance .despite that 4min lisecs of Pullar at Auckland last March, and a meeting between Forne and Boot in Wellington on December 11 should provide a great race. The Auckland Centre are holding its trials next Saturday on Carlaw Park. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association says that all nominations for the trials ^rrrast be in its hands by November 30, but the Wellington Centre is not holding its trial meeting until December 4. However, there appears scant prospect of the inelusion of any Wellingtonians in the New Zealand team, so perhaps the lateness will unf Tiio+foi»