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New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 17

ATHLETICS Xiio Wellington A.A.C. deserves congratulation on Uio success n inaue ui its uiaj Jin ten meeting, iu spite ox tno au verso weatner eonauious that pi'ovancn oil biUluuaj, uio 42-inno l’oau race irom Wellington to s 1/ost ana oacii, conuuciou iu torrential ram Una Uuuiponea tno prospects ot an excellent race aim made mailers uneomiortabte lor the To competitors, provided a nuisn that could not be bettered, Wrosc, the Canterbury champion, being beaien on the post by Gune (scr), or Wellington, although he managed to register lastesL lime by a guud inurgin. iho track events, held on Monthly evening, in the presence of about LOW) spectators, were characterised by tli 3 keenness and quality of the competition; and the manner in which the various races were despatched and arranged was a tribute to the organising ability of the officials. A DIMINUTIVE FLIER Principal interest centred in the attempt of the Gisborne iadies* relay team—-Misses M. McDonald, N. Eastwood, ii. Hansen and N. Wilson—to wrest the Etaveneaux Cup from the holders —Misses S. Swinburne. E. Porter. It. Mantan and F. Stevenson. The home team won by two yards after a stirring struggle, but the honours of the race rested on the shoulders of tlie diminutive visiting flier —Nancy Eastwood. Miss Porter, who ran first for Wellington, gained an advantage of three yards from Miss McDonald, and this lead was further increased as the result of a faulty change of the baton by the visitors. The race looked a foregone conclusion when the final pair. Misses Mantan and Eastwood, were readied, but the Gisborne girl put in a fine run and reduced the cap by two yards. It was a great effort and was deserving of the plaudits of the enthusiastic crowd. The time for the 440 whs announced as being 53 sec, four seconds short of the record time of the local ladies, which equals the world’s ladies’ record. A RECORD BAGGED In the subsequent events tho Poverty Bay ladies again proved their ability. Miss Eastwood captured the 100yds scratch event in fine style, breasting the tape 3£ yards ahead of Miss N. Wilson (Gisborne) and Miss Mantan, who dead-heated for second place. Miss Eastwood’s performance was the more meritorious by reason of the fact that Miss E. Porter, New Zealand champion, and Miss Swinburne, provincial champion, were also competitors, and were unplaced. The time recorded was 11 3-osec, 1-5 of a second better than the best New Zealand time registered by Miss Maxwell, but tbe record will not be recognised, as the Basin track has a decided fall. Miss King (Wellington) scored a win in the 7oyds handicap. Miss Hanson (Gisborne) and Miss Eastwood filling first and second places respectively, the latter off the scratch mark and the former off Iyd behind scratch. • * * JENKINS IN FORM C. H. Jenkins, in the men’s division, proved that he is running at the top of his form. Although conceding handicaps upwards of 10 yards in the 100, he won his heat steadying up in 10 1-osec, but was jostled in the final when within a yard of the tape. Despite this unfortunate mishap he deaa-heated for second place. In the 100yds dub handicap he excelled himself, and ran out the winner in the wonderfully good time of ten seconds. Jffie time is somewhat astounding considering the state of the track after heavy overnight and morning rain, but there was a slight breeze blowing from the south, and, as mentioned previously, the slope of the ground assists the runner a good deal. It will be recalled that Wilson’s hurdling record, established some years was fcot recognised by the authorities as a result of this unfortunate defect in ;fcbe ground. • 9 • * The veterans’ walk, another feature pf the meeting, attracted a fine collection of old athletes who figured on the track thirty and in some cases

forty years 0540. That they were enthusiastic was demonstrated by the tact that when one competitor ran round the field and was disqualified, he defied the judges and finished his halt-mile. Others again, despite their sixty years, proved that they have not lost"tho an of walking, although their style was not that which carried them to victory in the early days. The winner was P. Fitzgerald, who covered the distance in 4min 13 li-osee. J. Costall, the oldest competitor, finished in third position. AMONGST THE CYCLISTS

The road race proved conclusively that Wellington the hnh of athletic nativities —has plenty of promising talent to work on in regard to the cycling branch of the sport, although tile scratch men—Carswell and Flett --were somewhat disappointing on the day. Close triumphed 01 er them, un-

LAWN TENNIS Saturday's heavy downpour ended ail chance of the first round of the inter-club senior championships being piayed otf at Miramar, and the draw holds for to-day. Given lair weather conditions there should be interesting contests, especially between Brougham Hill and Miramar, which will see matches between Len. and Don. France and Noel Wilson and Edward Smyth. *•.•** * . i For intcr-provincial and Wilding t Shield matches it is not yet known j what players were available. It was I intended to send a Wellington team to play Wanganui and Taranaki over last week-end, and including St. Andrew’s Day, but the date did not suit Taranaki, and the trip fell through. The fact that Auckland has beaten Wellington to the post with a challenge for the Wilding Shield has disposed of any question of urgency, and so the sub-committee set up by the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association is in no hurry to reach a decision. More clubs come up for affiliation, this week the management committee passed the applications of the Trentham Defence Tennis Club, Talavera Club, Berhampore Club, and Kelburn Club. The Plimmerton Bowling. Croquet and Tennis Club also has applied to come in. « • • « The Wellington Lawn Tennis Association has decided that the junior events at tho Wellington provincial championships in January are to be singles and doubles. Competitors must be under 1$ at the date entries close, and no player may enter ior bom senior and junior events. « • « * Wellington is to challenge for tho Wilding Shield after all. This week the Lawn Tennis Association decided to put in a notice of its desire to meet the winner of the CanterburyAuckland match, which will be the first Wilding Shield match of the season. A challenge match for third position on the Canterbury ranking list resulted in a win for D. F. Glanville, who defeated T. \V. Patterson (challenger), 6—l, 61. Glanville relied upon accuracy and steadiness, whereas Patterson, who usually is very consistent, failed to find touch, and with the exception of occasional good shots, played disappointing tennis. * * • • “Smash,” writing in the “Otago Times, 1 ' states that a suggestion made at the annual meeting in regard to the coaching of junior players has been put into effect. Arrangements have been made for some of the more experienced players to visit the various clubs during the evenings to impart instruction, and a definite plan of visits has been mapped out. So far as possible two players will go to each of the clubs, and they will assist those who are willing to learn bv instruction and advice both on and off the courts. til he left them hopelessly behind. The Canterbury man, who is regarded as the best road and track cyclist in New Zealand to-day, has justified the faith that his southern supporters have in him, and has earned the distinction of being a probable Olympic Games representative. He rides in the old. and approved style. He made his own pace from start to finish, and at no stage rose from his saddle. This could scarcely be said of the majority of the other competitors, and here they might take a leaf out of his book. • • # • Going out of the city Grose averaged about 27 miles an hour, and coming home against the bleak southerly averaged about 20 miles an hour. Others who distinguished themselves were Gane, T. Hayes (6min), R. W. Robinson (llmin), and Morris, who crashed in the vicinity of Ngahauranga after having ridden a particularly good race. T. Oakley (Masterton), one of the scratch men, was the most unfortunate of the competitors, but proved himself by getting with Carswell and Flett after losing a good five minutes on the road through a series of nasty spills. I * * m * ROSE NOT IMPRESSIVE Randolph Rose, champion distance runner, who has only been indulging in light training since his return from abroad, had his first run in open company at Hawera last week, but met his match in Clarrie Gibbons (Marton), whom he conceded only 50 yards. Gibbons romped home by about 100 yards. It will be recalled that Gibbons two or three years ago scored a win from Rose in Wellington, when he started off 65yds. Both men were less seasoned then, and there was not «a great deal between them. Gibbons has performed consistently on the West Coast for secern 1 years past, but could , still improve his style under a good coach. Cross-country running during the winter months has apparently ini creased his stamina. • • • * In the half-mile Rose ran into fifth place, but the honours of the race were with Gilraour, of New Plymouth, who, off ten yards, ran into second place. It will be recalled that Giimour eaned distinction last season by registering a win over Lloyd Hahn in Auckland. • * * • Cvril Maitland, of the Wanganui Club, was a conspicuous figure in the sprint events, and i 9 a fine stamp of athlete tind a great finisher. He had few equals in his club over the sprints and middle distances, and one of his host races was that in the 440 against Lloyd Hahn at Hawera last year, when ho won comfortably off the 10 yards mark. V. Flett, tho Wellington crack cyclist, was also a competitor at the meeting, but in neither the one mile I nor the two mile did he get up with | the limit men, who had been liberally i treated by tho liandicappcr. | ELECTRIC LIGHT MEETING i it is probable that Randolph Rose ! will be secured to compete at the first | electric-light carnival on the Basin ; Reserve, ivhieh is being arranged for Wednesday evening next. The programme will consist of 17 events, and entries will close to-day. • m * • Mr N. A. McKenzie, writing to a friend in Wellington, reports favourably upon the development of tho sp’;rt in the Hawke’s Bay district. Ho states that a strong ladies 1 club has been formed, and at present it has 15 .active members. • • • * H. K. B. Newton, of the Wanganui A.A.C., is desirous of competing in Wellington between December 33th and Boxing Day. Newton has represented the West Coast Centre at the New Zealand championships, and first camo prominently under the eye of local enthusiasts when, competing independently at the Wellington provincial championships last season, ho defeated Kvle in tho 440 and also won the 880 Ho is a strong middle-distance man, and should extend the host in Wellington over his favourite distance. Their merits can he summed up without much trouble. They play clean and not over-vigorous football; they have hursts of brilliance in combination. and they have one or two brilliant individuals. They are fast, and ■ they are rather adept at covering up tho dancer spota.