ATHLETICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1931, Page 6

ATHLETICS

A MAGNIFICENT RACE. The phenomenal efforts of G. H. Rampling the British quarter-mile champion, will never be forgotten by the 20,000 excited German people who lined the terraces and stands of the Cologne Stadium to see Germany defeat England by 7,( to in teams’ relay racing. 'I hey saw for the first time a man run 400 metres (43/-J----yards) inside 47 seconds. In the last lap of the race Mcituner the German champion, was away with a lead of about eight yards, but Rampiing went down the back straight with terrific strides. At the bend into the straight he was still five yards behind, and it looked impossible for him to catch the German. However, he was running magnificently, and with 50 yards to go he put in a challenge that was 1 drawing alongside Metzner 10 yards from the tape, lie went on to win brilliantly. He needed no assistance after he stopped, and as he walked off received a wonderful reception from the huge crowd. His time from the flying start was 46 3-5 sec. In the 1500 metres R. H. Thomas, the English champion, also ran his fastest rase, and simply outclassed lifs opponents in 3mm 53sec. Had he continued to the mfle mark, his time would have worked out at 4min 11 1-5 sec. England had a find in the 18-year-old “Boy,” Land, who cleared 6ft 3in in the high jump. In the 4.400 metres relay, England’s four returned splendid times, as follow:—, Brandgwin, 50 1-lOsec; Hanlon, 49 7-10 se c; Lord Burghley, 48 1-5 sec: and Rampling, 46 3--ssec,