Athletics

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 71, 16 December 1937, Page 12

Athletics

r "Spike.")

TRIALS FOR THE GAMES How Hawke's Bay Performers Fared FITCH'S C0ACHING

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The athletic trial meeting held in Wellington last Saturday afternoon, by reason of the calibre of many of the competitors, was always interesting, but it is very doubtful if many of the events provided the real trial intended. The track, after recent rain, was dead and a poutlierly breeze was an assistance to tlie rumiers in the 100 yards and sprint hurdles, but just the opposite to those in tlie furlong. The black and white livery of the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay Centre was prominent all the afternoon. From tlxe point of view of outstand^ng performance - Cecil Mattliews' three-niile run was a real liighlight of the day, and he should be the hrst man selected in the New Zealand team for the Empiad. Last season Mattliews tried a change in style with indift'erent results, but this season he has gone back to the original one that carried him to great deeds as a boy. He arrived in Wellington off • the stegmer express on Saturday morning, and in the afternoon ran the iastest tliree miles ever accomplislied in Australia or New Zealand, He r.vn with rare judgment. His first threo laps were reeled off at 67 seconds to tlie lap, his ne/.t was 69 and the next four in 71, 71, 72 and 73. Had he been thoroughly extended over the last niile it is quite possible that he would have finished inside 14 minutes. However, he lias only a produce a similar effort next February to bring a title back to New Zealand. fjoot's Showing. The lialf and one-miie runs, previousiy regarued gs the most speccacular on tlie prograinnie, proved to be very disappointmg. In the half, the lirst lap of which took 63 2-5secs., Allen, ot Otago, had control at 500 yards and remained there to tlie top of the short straight, when Boot headed him to go on and win all out by six feet. Boot Uid not run a very heady race and for most of the second lap was running tliree feet ajvay from the chalk line. The time, Imiii. 59 l-5secs., was not very startling when one recalls that m recent weeks Boot has been credited with much faster time over the distance, "Spike" has never been unduly impressed with Canterbury times and Boot, in his present condition, has been flattered by them. ltalph Longley, the Porangahau iad, with very little training, was a close fourth, his actual time being 2min. lsec. There is 110 doubting IIls ability and closer atteution to training will carry liim into tlie best class. The Haif-Mile The inile flat saw a reversal of the 380 yards open, Boot i'ailing to run Allen down in the straight. It is doubtful on the result of these two trials if the sclectors would be justified xn sending a 880 yards or mile runner to Sydney. Quinn's Sprint Win. llie iuu ^arus -was expected to produce a ciose unisii, but at 75 yards Graham ^umn, witn a terrific bmsh, iort tlie ueid and won by a o0Ud tnree leet from i'ltzsimmous, -wiio did not quite run up to iiis Napier iorni. Gordon, the 29-year-oiu. canterbury sprmter, was tnird iand butherlanu lourth. Apart Irom yuiau, it was a close hnish. in the luriong both Qumn and Fitzsimmons wqh tneir respective neats and: in the hnal tne iatter dreiv the outside iane with Qumn next. At the turn mto the straight Quinn hau tlie race in his keeping and, travelling in his ettortless styie, won by three yards, thus compieting g hue doubie. r'itzsimmons, second at 200 yards, faded into a weak fourth at the tape. Ford, the Taranaki liugby representa tive wjnger, finished strougly to hofd off Kobertson, who impresses "Spike" as oue to lise to national honourp in the near future. The Quarter-Mile. The 440 yards, lun in two divisions, conjuairied the best1 iu the first section, with Tyree, of Otago, home lirst in u close finish. Watt won the second division after Queeree, of Canterbury, had looked a good winner at 440 yards. The time was 2-5sec. longer than the first section, but Watt ran a remarkablo ra'*! considering he had vdone little training. lan Bickerstaff was third, to run 51 2-5secs., quite the best effort yet from this keen Napier runner, The Hurdles. In pace between tlie hurdles Bowie, of Auckland, has improved and he ran Sharpley to a i'oot at the finish of the 120 yards hurdles. Tlie time was 1-5 sec. under the New Zealand record, but 0n account of the breeze no record will be ailowedt. This is the second occasion that Sharpley has bettered the existing record witliout gaining recognition. But for striking tlio first hurdle very heavily the Hastings champioa would liave broken ISsecs. Women's Events. Miss R. Tong survived the 90 yards hurdle duel aiter a chapter of accideuts. In the first heat she fell lieavii.y at the first l'ence, but Miss Munro sportingly agreed to her bemg allowed another trial in the second heat. This time Miss Tong struck the last hurdle and stumbled when leading and los* her advantage to the Auckland girl. In the final the placing was reversed , bv inches i'n the fast time of 13secs. There is no doubting the speed o# ] tlie ln-j^ar-o!d Aucklandor, N1 iss Lumlev. who won the 100 yards women's i trial with a great finishing burst and s sbo looks the one to create fresh ! figui'os for the distance in a year or ' two. i Auckland won both sections of th« c

quarter hurdles with men of magnific.ent physique in Ball and Finlayson. The former was 2-5sec. faster, but Fin/ayson looks suscepiible to the mosf improvement. P. Begley, of Hastings, in this event was befow forni and finally crashed at the last hurdle. H. Phillips, of Napier, was second in the discus and is improving with the imi)!iement. He was second in the shot also, but quite three feet below his best. Many Officials. Tlie gate takiugs ■ were £236, most of the paying section frequently taking exception to the horde of officials who paraded tlie centre of the arena, many witliout any dutles to perform. As usual the starting of Mr. D. Leslie was excellent and on only one occasion did a competitor "break" and with this particular runner it lias long since become a habit. r Likely Trippers. If present intentious are carried out on*,' oue spriuter will be selected for the New Zealand team and this will be G. Quinn. F. Sharpley has made good his claim as the liurdlcr or tiie party; and Miss 11. Tong has fair prospects too. Fitch is very keou on inI'luding addition men for the relays, ind if his adVice is heeded \V. Fitzsimmons has bright chances of inclunon also. In this connection much will depend on the enterpise of the Siew Zealand Amateur AthJeLic Assohation.