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New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12615, 27 November 1926, Page 17

ATHLETICS All arrangements are in hand for the big athletic gathering on the Basin Reserve to-day, and it tho record entries received are any criterion, the racing will be of a particularly high standard. An indication of how athletes have been attracted for the meeting from far and near is the fact that torn- heats will be necessary in the hundred, and in each elimination contest tho competitors number upwards of nine. The entries for the mile. BSO and 440 demonstrate conclusively that middle-distance running has not suffered by the influx of newcomers to the game. In addition to seeing the Gisborne and Wellington ladies in action in the relay race, other attractions will be the 40-mile road race, from Wellington and Akatarawa and back, the veterans’ walk, and the primary and secondary schools' competitions for the coveted Blundell Cup. In tho latter competition, R.' Leech (St. Patrick’s), who annexed the 440, BSO. and mile titles at tho recent secondary school championships, will he pitted against F. S. Ramson, the Wellington College all-rounder, who has not . previously met the St. Patrick’s boy in the 440. Amongst the veteran walkers figure the names of such well-known athletes as “Dorrie” Leslie, the popular Wellington starter, H. Alpe. who has undertaken walks from point to point for charitable purposes on frequent occasions, Paddy Fitzgerald. G .Turner, A. Kent, Mick Tracey, and C.^Davies. The big cycle event promises to produce an exciting finish, as the local riders will find keen rivals in Grose and Dav (Christchurch). Oakley, Hill and McEwan (Masterton), Scobie and Capper (Levin), all of whom have nominated. • • . • Owen Paltridge. who is bringing the Gisborne ladies through, and is the champion sprinter of his province, will also be seen out on the track, and should extend Jenkins, Paris—if be starts—and Fleming. The Wellington Centre hopes to be able to conduct two electric-light meetings prior to Christmas, the first of which is being tentatively arranged for December Bth. TOUR OF LAMB Steady progress is being made with the arrangement of the itinerary of “Fatty” Lamb, the champion Australian cyclist, in his tour through New Zealand, and it is expected to have him out in Wellington on January Bth. He is due to leave Australia on December 30th or 31st, and arrive in the Dominion on January 4th. The terms in regard to the tour should prove satisfactory to all the minor centres, as they will secure Lamb’s appearance for approximately £lO, plus expenses is their guest. WAIRARAPA NOTES Reports from the Wairarapa show that Randolph Rose, New Zealand and Australasian one and three miles champion, is only indulging in light practice. His appearances on the track have been averaging one a week. He is working extremely hard on his farm, which, of course, is assisting him materially to regain his lost form. He looks in the pink of condition, and his action, obviously, has improved by knowledge gained on his European trip. • • • • Ralph Gully, Wellington provincial champion 880 man, after a strenuous season with the harriers, hao gained considerably in stamina. Gully is also runrtiug a good quarter, and his appearance on the Basin Reserve to-day will be watched with interest. • • • • T. Oakley, the crack Wairarapa cyclist, is, riding at the top of his form, although it is so early in the season. He has polled off a number of races from scratch already at the Masterton A.A.C.’a evening meetings. He also will figure amongst the competitors at to-day’s big. rally. • • • • THE HUTT MEETING That the suburban clubs are flourishing, and are not lacking support from the public was evidenced by the good attendance on the Hutt Domain on Monday evening, when the Lower Hutt Club conducted its first meeting. The meeting commenced a quarter of an hour behind schedule, to allow town men to make an appearance, but the spectators were rewarded for their wait by the splendid racing provided in all the events. There was something wrong with the times, however, and in the sprints even time whs broken. Whether the track was at fault, or the timekeepers’ watches were affected by the go-slow policy, is a matter for question. • • • • The sprints were somewhat marred bv the fact that the competitors found difficulty in getting round the bend. In the first heat, Jenkins (scr) and Kyle (2yds) were hopelessly blocked out, but in the seoond Fleming (2yds), who has been running consistently ever since he first made his appearance on Newtown Park, managed to (ome on the outside, and win with a fair margin to spare. In the final it was a different tale, and he got tho worst run of the lot on the turn entering tho straight. With a great burst of speed, however, he got within inches of securing second place, filled by Cunninghatn (12yds). Winnie (Hutt Valley) won both his heat and the final, off 10 vards. He will find his task more difficult in the future, however. now that the handicapper has his measure. The time for the final was announced ns being 21 2-ssec. A 220 straight might ho possible on the Hutt ground 1 • • *■ • PROMISING HALF-MILER A nice easy action aud a steady pace throughout carried J. Wcngall (Hutt Valley) to victory iu tho 880 yards event. He lead throughout and never faltered in his stride as ho raced home pulling up six yards ahead of H. Gordon (oOyds), of the Athletic Club, who is also going well and has figured on the prize list previous to this. Although liberally treated with a concession of 6oyds, Wengnll merited his victory. Ho gives every promise of going far in the game. The Indies showed good form, and their performances make the Gisborne ladies’ task more formidable looking than ever. Miss Eastwood and company will have to be at their best to gain the decision over Wellington’s champion four—Misses Swinbourne, Mantan. Stephenson and Porter. Miss Josephs carried off the 100 yards event in fine style, and a great finish was provided between the scratch pair, Mantan and Stephenson, for second place, the former gaining the verdict hv heaving herself at the tape. Fhe would undoubtedly have won. had •he not been forced to come on the oOtside after being cut out by the •toss running of the newcomers. A batch of nine cyclists faced Mr “Dorrie” Leslie in the one and a-half miles event. Carswell (scr) in the secand lap wont up to third position and maintained it until the bell when he shot to the front to win hr a good four lonr/th* from G Prendorgnct (80 vd’A who brvit C. (2ovd«'» *'V h*lf n wWI P.rurhf ro ,U but not judi'-iouslv. for he did not hang

YACHTING All yachtsmen in Wellington will feel pleased that there are again three candidates for the Sanders Cup trials here, a last-minute skipper having been found for Peggy, in Mr A. Sterling, from Parematn. In the first trial, held this week, Peggy acquitted herself exceptionally well under her new management, and although she got a big lead at the Start, this was maintained till the finish, when sho retired a victor. The second trial was a hitter disappointment to those who had waited to see how Peggy was to go in the heavier weather which prevailed on Wednesday evening. The crew did not have the yacnt quite ready in time, and were just sailing up to the starting line when the last flag was lowered, denoting the start. The other two boats were ready on the line, and Skipper Sterling was in a quandary as to whether to carry on till he reached the line (he was about 20 yards away) before putting about. He chose to put about immediately and was recalled over the line. This lost him a good half-minute, as well as leaving him well to leeward of the other boats. Had he carried on to the line before putting about he might have had chance. Perhaps the starter, who admittedly. had waited some time, might have given-him the extra half-minute to get across the line before letting the flags down, as Peggy could bo seen coming up from the boat harbour. None would have minded this. However, that be as it may; Peggy lost any chance she might have had by trying to carry too much sail in the"beat up, and was so hopelessly behind when All Black finished, that she pulled out. Skipper White, in Wellesley, was very unfortunate to lose the gaff in the run home, because he was giving Skipper Crawford in All Black a good race for it, and a close finish would almost certainly have resulted. • # • • The other trials for the Cup candidate will be watched with interest, for, although Peggy likes anything from a fresh to a full-sail breeze, she has serious competitors in the other two when the weather thickens up. DQninnainoiimHnimnimionmiunTnnmTnnnanmiminammi

nuiiuiumiimiDiuuiiiiNinmiimminiiimiimoiiimiimniinimiiii Wellington can provide weather thick enough for anyone, too 1 Not much is being said in Christchurch of the Sanders Cup contest which is to take place at Lyttelton at the beginning of the year. They seem to be faced with a trouble which will never afflict Wellington yachtsmen; they cannot get enough wind to sail their boats. A southern "writer says: “After having had to call off so many races this season owing to lack of wind, it was vary pleasing for the Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club to have three races finished in such good times as were made on Saturday.” Let’s hope something pretty stiff blows up when the Cup races are on! • • • • It was good to see such a fine turn out at Evans Bay on Saturday last. The attendance of both the supporters on shore and those who came from other clubs demonstrated that, although Evans Bay is nestled in the hills, it is not forgotten by others in the sport. The president was very sportsmanlike, but hardly loyal, when he said, in presenting the. Commodore Cup to the club, that he hoped a U.P.N.Y.C. boat would be the first to merit an inscription on the trophy. Some of the yacht owners at Evans .Bay will no doubt hope otherwise — with all deference to their brother yachtsmen at the city boat harbour. • » # Tho Paremata Boating Club will open its season on Decemoer sth—next week-end —at 3 p.m., and invitations have been sent to the town clubs, as well as those along tho coast, to attend and bring their boats to Paremata for the day. There will doubtless be a big gathering at this function. An invitation race for yachts up to fourteen footers will be sailed in the morning, and in the afternoon a motor-boat race will be held for the Moki trophy, presented to the club by Mr F. McKeever. Dinghy races for boys will also take place during the day. Paremata has come on wonderfully well this season, and all is in readiless for a good racing season. It is therefore up to those on this side to do their little bit towards helping the countrv club along—even though the little club is doing very well in helping itself along this year. • « * • The racing programme of the U.P.N.Y.C. is given below:— November 27th.—First and second class club handicaps: 18-foot and under class club handicap, and sevenfoot one design class. December 4th.—l B-foot and under class club handicap; 11th, first and second class club handicaps, 18-foot and under class club handicap, and seven footer one design. January 22nd.—Anniversary regtata; 29th. first and second class club handicaps, and Grey Cun (18ft and under class). February sth.—lnter-club cun (14footboats) : 12th. first and second class club handicaps: 19th, ocean race (first and second cla r # yachts), rose bowl for launches. March sth.—Ladies* race (for first and second class yachts); 12th, Mills Cup (first class). Te Rum Cup (second class), 18-foot and under class club handicap: 26th. Turnbull Cup (first class). Bothandey Cun (second class). April 9th.—Maywcll Rating Cun (first class)