WAVE OF RECORDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 13

WAVE OF RECORDS

"Spike")

Empire Game Trialists Reviewed • H.B. MEN'S CHANCES

(By

The feature of the athletic season so far advanced has heen the wave of record-breaking that has swept the Doroinion from Auckland to Dunedin and at a period when the tracks are not q.uite at their fasteat. The trials, the culminating point of present endeavours, are set down for Wellington next Saturday and in view of the remarkable times so far recorded everywhere it is in the way a pity that the Basin Beserve does not provide a track that does full justice to the speedsters. Running through the trialists and the various events it ia apparent that each will provide keen competition. The 100 yards will be the first event at 2.5 p^n., and it is difficult to see the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay pair in W.^ Pitzsimmons and G. Quinn being with-" drawn. " Spike 's" preference over this distance is Pitzsimmons, who is sprinting quite as well as when at his best last season. Gordon, of Canterbury, is even faster than the Napier man out of the holes, bufc the former cannot hold btm past 75 yards. Last Saturday C. Robinson, the Wellington sprint 1 champion ran the 100 yards -in 10 1-10 secs, and if he can repeat this effort he will he close up. Pitzsimmons, Quinn and Robinson should be the placings in that order. Furlong Event. The furlong promises to be" more difficult to select. Pitzsimmons has been disappointing at this distance so far, and it would not be at all surprising to see Quinn heading him off and C. Robinson and J. Carmiehael, of Canterbury, also. Quinn went down to Wellington on Tuesday and this precaution ensures him being at his best on Saturday. Quinn is a very poor traveller and requires two or three days propexly to xecover from a long journey. The quarter-mile promises to be one of the highlights of the day. Last Saturday Sayers, of Hamilton, ran a 50sec. quarter and Broadway has recorded similar time recently. Tyrie, oi Otago, is another in the class, and as .all three have held the national quarter title the winner is difficult to forecast. Sayers has youth on his side and may just get there. It is understood that iTim Watt, the All Black threequarter, will also be a starter, but he is not the eprinter of a year or two back. Longer Dlstances. The 880 yards will be between Theo Allen, Otago, ..and present champion, and V. Boot of Canterbury. Boot should win, and he is one who might go on to British Empire honours. The mile will see Boot and Matthews, both of Canterbury, as the chief contestants. Pullar, Otago, is not coming to the meeting. Matthews' one chance of win ning is to set a hot pace early, otherwise Boot has too much brilliance over the last quarter. Matthews will have his great chance in the three miles in which his only strong opposition may come from A. J. Mackay, of Welling ton, who is capable of getting under 15 minutes for the distance. Por the six-miles run, an uncommon event in this country, A. R. Geddis, of Otago, appeals as a likely winner. He has an effortless style and is a true stayer. E. Crompton, of Auckland, is at home over the distance, but .as yet does not appear quite up to the Geddea standard. Hurdles Events. In the 120 yards hurdles P. Bowle, present champion, and P. P. Sharpley, stand out, and "Spike" will be considerably surprised if the Hastings man does not run in a comfortable winner. There is no 220 yards hurdle event oji the British Empire Games programme. In all probability Arnold Anderson, present 440 yards hurdles champion, will not be present, and in his absence it is difficult to nominate the winner, but Begley, of Hastings, should be-in the firing line. It is doubtful if a 440 yards hurdler will be selected for the trip to Sydney. In the women 's section local interest will centre in Miss R. Tong's ability to hold off the Aucklauder, Miss R. Munro, in the 90 yards hurdles. Both have recorded similar times over the distance, but Miss Tong has been more consistent and she should win. There appears every prospect of Miss M, Mitehell, the Aucklander, gaining a trip for the javelin event and Miss B. Porbes, Otago, for the high jump. Field Events. One time field event exponehts were pleptiful in this Dominion, but just now the best are the reinstated men, A. Cameron and M. Spillane, of Otago, and ex-professional men are not allowed to compete at the Games. Both woqld have strong claims in the discuss and hammer events respectively. Beyond "H. Brainsby in the hop, step and jump, it is probable that New Zealand will not be represented in the field events section. National Titles of 1939. Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay have been allotted the national track and field champion ships for 1939 and the venue will in all probability be McLean Park, Napier. The last time the championships were staged in Hawke's Bay was away baek in 1901, To ensure a thoi--OUgh suceess rponths of preparation is neeessary and the local centre intenrl that success will attend their efforts, There is nothing more speetacular than U national track championship gatheriilg, Napier Meeting. ^ The outstailding performances at last week's Napier meeting were an even-time 120 yards by "W. Pitzsirnmous and a Siyiin. 2Qsec. 1000 yards by R, Morley, of Hastings, Thift young

and promieing runner left R. Longley in the concluding stages to win from a big field. • In Hastings on Tuesday evening the weekly training xuns were continued and good performances were recorded by Miss Tong and Fitzsimmons. These training xuns are drawing increased attendances of runners and there is apparent any amount of ethusiasm on the part of the athletes. The Napier Athletic Club quite recently had a movie film taken. of leading athletes in action. The film was exhibited to athletes last Monday evening and created the greatest interest. Pitzsimmons and E, Phillips lectqred on the faults disclosed and there is no doubt concerning its effectiveness for coaching purposes, Next week it is expected that a film of the last Olympic Games will be available for exhibition.