THE KING IS DEAD

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 14

THE KING IS DEAD

"Long Live The King" Is The Cry \v; ; _ (By "Starter.") - ; With the championships of the 1926-27 season now decided, it behoves us to take a glimpse at the heads on which the crowns are resting, for there is to be found the material from which our Australasian games and Olympic games candidates must be drawn.

THE most dazzling of the new meteors th&t have flashed into the athletic sky is young Jack Fleming, the Wellington and N.Z. champion, quarter-miler, who cut out the distance m 60 sees, at the championships. . • . . Fleming has the makings of a ' great runner and he Is m capable hands. More championships must come his way, and the beating of the best that Australia can produce is not beyond him. What of Kyle?, ! In penning this the writer is not going to join m the chorus of condemnation that is being levelled against Billy Kyle, the brilliant little ex-champion. I must hand it to Kyle as one of the' prettiest and gamest runners who ever donned a shoe. He haa given of his best to the sport ln the true amateur spirit, and if he chooses to place the sport m a position of .secondary importance now that is v his own affair. If he- again takes up the game seriously Kyle will beat many more than will beat him. Unfortunately Randolph Rose could not make the trip to Auckland, and his mile and three-mile titles go to Savidan, who bore out the nromise that he displayed m Brisbane. Sprinti and Half-Jflile C. H. Taylor has at last given the game best arid Chris. Olsen gathered m his half-mile title m brilliant style. Malcolm Leadbetter won both sprints m briliant and convincing

fashion and he must be crowned as our king of sprinters. At the same time, despite his poor showing, Jenkins is the next I best man to Leadbetter. He will demonstrate this fact when he returns tb the form that he has so unaccountably lost. • The Ladies Miss Mantan provided the big surprise m. the -ladies' events Miss Eastwood, of Gisborne, filled a minor position for the first time m her career of scratch races. , However,- since then Miss Wilson has sent the Gisborne stock soaring again by a victory over Miss Mantan. For inconsistent running our ladies -would put a set of racehorses to shame. I Taken all m all the writer is still convinced^ that Miss Eastwood is the best of a really good lot. Stanley Lay, of course, collected the javelin championship and Bill Harvey the hammer throw.. Peter Munro was not present so his titles went to Hunt and Sutherland. Grose to be our best cyclist and Roger Lander is Improving every time he enters a hurdle race. . J. W. Shirley retained his hop, step, and high jump title but he must already be uneasy with Brady clearing six feet with ease m Wellington. Taken all m all the performances' of the champions were most pleasing. The result is that we can now turn' our faces with the ianticipation of success stamped upon them to the championships of • Australia and NJZ. which will take place m Wellington at the end of the year.