ROSE AND McHOLM

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 229, 28 September 1926, Page 5

ROSE AND McHOLM

RETURN T0 THE D0MINI0N the champion intervtewed, UNFORTUNATE ATTACK OF INFLUENZA.

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Sqpt. 28. From their tour of England and Euro-pe Randolph A. Ro-se (New Zealand cha-mpion distance runner) and J. W. McH -oi m returned to Wellington yesterday hy the Ta-hiti. The return ing a.thletes were m-et at the Avharr by a representative gathering. Ro-se, interviewed later, said : — "We did not see Nurmi, but it Avas perhaps just as well, after the severe cold from which I -suffered. 1 must now get doAvn to hard v'ork on the farm, and that Avill keep me fit this season with-out doing a great deal of running, though I eannot let- George Hyde'-s record go." Referring to some of the events in Avhich he participated, Roae said that in on-e case he had 95 opponents, and to- clear this field meant an added handicap in a race framed on the 4.20 basis. In France, Avhere tlie heat was terrific, he struck something like true form and succecded in hreaking tlie Freneh reeord and beating the hokl-er and chanipion Guillemot. At the meeting at Rotterdani he (Rose) wa.s going we-ll in the 5000 metres race when he was forced to give up on account of an attack of influenza. This affected him in subsequent races at Oslo, though lie A\ron the 2000 metre steep-leehase. It Avas then that it was decided to return hotne without meeting Nurmi. Rose did not oompete anywhere on his return journey. He considered that New Zealand athletes v/ould compare favorably Avith those of Britain and Europe if they Avould only cultivate style. Speaking of his own work on these lines, he said • "Dr Pteltzer. the German champion, put me on the right track so far as running on cinders is concerned. As you kn-ow, I have a forward lean when running on the grass and spring from my toes. Peltzer jioint•ed out to me that 1 should be more upright on cinder tracks and spring off the fla-t of the f-oo-t-. I was just getting nicely going when the attack of the flu came on." With regard to- the -suggestion tha-t an English team of athletes be in-vit-ed to New Zealand, Rose did not think it would m-eet Avith mucli favor from the Home authorities, who Avere apparently disinclined to en coura ge touring. Athletics in England were confiiiied too much to the Universities. and that was why England would never ge-t to the top. Lord Burghley would not have Ijee-n available for a visit to- New Zealand had he been invited, as he was going toSoutli Africa for a couple of years. "We heard in Ameriea that Harokl Osborne is l>eing invited to New Zealand," Rose added. "You conld not get a better man. He'can do almost anything. Locke is a good man, too." It AATas also mentioned hy Rose that McHolm had heen able ro pick up some good hints o(n hanimer-throwing, mninly from McGrath, the noted American liam-mer-thrower, and hy his recent efforts he appe-ared likely to regain the championship titi© in the coming season. McHolni Avas i mpre.ysed by the enthusiasm displayed by the" English people at the Sta-mford Bridge championships. and added: "The remarkable thing to me was the reoeption _ given to the German athletes, particularly Peltzer and Gorts, wlio won the 880 yards and 100 vards chaiUipionships respectively. * It seemed to me tliat the crowd gave Peltzer a better hearing than they gavc some English athletes." McHolm Avas very much impressed with Corts and Peltzer. Questioned with regard to cinder tracks, McHolm said that they Avere undoubtedly fast-er than grass tracks. A runner who liad 110 experience of "cinders" r-equircd time to hecome -accusto-med Jo them. R-ose and McHolm wero officially AA'elcomed hack to Ne-w Zealand at a luncheon yesterday afternoon.