SHOWING GOOD FORM

NZ Truth, Issue 1143, 27 October 1927, Page 12

SHOWING GOOD FORM

Athletes Battle For Honors In Wintry Weather (By "Staj.-ter.") . . ' The athletic season was to have been ushered m last Saturday m Wellington with a big electric light meeting, but the old man of the elements threw his weight round to such purpose that a postponement was necessary.

THE Labor Day sports were scarcely more fortunate, but the programme was grot through, despite the cold conditions. A feature of the Labor Day meeting at Newtown Park was the splendid running of C. H. Jenkins. Jenkins is showing every indication of having returned to his best form, and his supporters are hopeful he will b.e able once again to recover the N.Z. sprint titles. At this meeting he won both the 100 yds and 220 yds m convincing style. The times, 23 4/5 sees, for the furlong and 10 4/5 sees, for the hundred cannot be taken as a guide to the merit of the performance, as the races were run into the teeth of a biting wind. J. T. Fleming, who gained some victories over Jenkins m the furlong last year, had to be content with third place.

A very promising young runner m A. H. Campbell filled second place m both sprints. Campbell is still going to college and his form m open company indicates that he will make a splendid runner if coached along the right lines. Randolph Rose had a run m the open mile, but it is quite evident he is not far forward m his training.

The event was run m slow time — 4 mins. 40 sees.

and went to a very promising performer m G. Bayne. Priestly, off 35 yds., was second and Rose third. Bayne has had two starts this season and two wins. He will be a force to be reckoned with when the provincial championship comes along. Two good boys, m Welply (St. Patrick's College) and Diedrich (Scots College), were m action m the secondary schools championships. Honors went to Welply, with Diedrich not far away. In? open company Welply receives about five yards from C. H. Jenkins, and it is possible he will be getting much less than this before the season is out. He is a distinct acquisition to the ranks, of Wellington's sprinters. The best performance amongst the

cyclists was J. Carswell's win from scratch m the three miles race. Carswell had to make most of his own pace and picked up the field m good style. It is a mystery where this lad gets his stamina from. It is just another case of appearances being deceptive, as he is by no means robust to look at, and is well under 20. Despite this, it is over the more arduous distances that he shines, and amongst other things he has the Wellington 50-mile road championship to his credit. With another year or two on to him Carswell will be a force to be reckoned with over any distance. Blakeway, James and Gane were other wheelmen who showed good form. The ranks of the lady runners have received a big increase m strength this

year, and competition and performances are likely to be much improved. On Monday's running, Miss Sharp and Mrs. Campbell showed form above the average, taking the honors m both the 100 yds. and 75yds. sprints. Of the better-known brigade, Miss Swinburne and Miss Collins have been m training and are showing

excellent form for so early m the season.

Both of these ladies have capabilities above -the average, and "Starter" would not be surprised to see either one of them annex the N.Z. championship. The postponed electric light meeting last Saturday will now take place this Saturday, and the competitors should be all the better for the extra week's training. Rose should be the better for his hard racing on Monday, for the big fellow rapidly hits his best form once he warms up to training. It will be interesting to watch the performances of the new handicap runners who made it so willing for the scratch men at the Labor Day mseting\ The handicaps will not be so good for them and keener competition will be the result.