ATHLETES

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 14

ATHLETES

GOOD JUMPING

THE RELAY

ON HORIZON

FOR THE TITLE

Promising Talent Steps In

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) The gentleman up on top who is responsible for the regulation of Wellington's weather supply has been culpably negligent m that, for the last few Saturdays he has sent down a sample of element more suited to a mountain sports gala than an athletic gathering. However, such action has m no way detracted from the keenness of the competition or the quality of the fare provided.

I AST Saturday night the sport was as good as ever and some very fine performances were registered. Particularly good was the run of Bayne, a country athlete who, m the absence of R. A. Rose, was virtual scratch man with a handicap of 100 yards m the three mile event.

This boy has turned m some particularly good performances m mile events, but this was the first occasion on which he has seriously contested a three mile race. \

Another notable performance was the leap of J. G. Sceats, Rhodes scholar nominee, m the high jump, when he cleared ;sft. 10%in. and won the event from scratch. E. G. Sutherland was second with 6ft. 9% in. This is good going indeed for electric light conditions and it is evident that both of these men will do much better m daylight. Out of a number of fine potential sprinters m Wellington, it seems probable that the best one will turn out to be R. Cunningham. He is now back to 5 yards m the furlong and shows better form every time he runs. Powerful of build and determined, he has all the attributes of a successful sprinter. For the first time m New Zealand, ladies competed m a hop, etep and jump event and the results were eminently satisfactory. Miss Sharp won with a leap of 29ft. Gin. and Miss Wilson was second with 28ft. lin. Our girls have proved that they are as good as those of any other nations at running and' now that they have adopted field events, some rapid improvements may be looked for. Interest was taken m the 120 hurdles event, m -which Lander, the N.Z. champion made an appearance. He ran a nice race m his heat and finished second, but m the final he mis-step-ped at the first hurdle and found it impossible to make up the leeway. Lander hurdles nicely, but it will be necessary for him to improve his timing at the first hurdle before he will be able to give of his best.

: The relay race served to show just what a runner will do when he has to run a race with a better man to pull him out from m front instead of, as is usual m handicaps, from behind. The University team, on paper a strong combination, was .on scratch and Olympic and Wellington on twenty yards. Ingram, the Wellington runner m a handicap event, would receive about 30 yards from. his co-marker, Colin Campbell, ex New Zealand champion, but m this event, with Campbell making: the running, he finished right up at the change-over and sent N.Z. champion J. T. Fleming off on a sweetly run quarter mile that put Wellington, m the lead and the issue beyond doubt. In fact the last Wellington man literally walked m and even then there was the length of the straight between him and the next man. "* Ruston and Levy ran the concluding furlongs for Wellington ' and both are exceptionally promising runners. ' Some cycle riders pedal and think, others merely pedal. Jack Carswell comes under the former category, hence his well-judged win m the three mile scratch event. Lap prizes were provided and when the men were free, Carswell shot out to collect the first two laps.

Then he rode a patient Avaiting race and pedalled quietly aAvay Avhen others Avere tearing their energy to shreds to collect laps, and finally came m from the back again to score an easy victory. Tom Oakley Avas amongst the starters m this and other events during the night, but the champion found a very heavy cold to be too great an addition to his handicap and Avas not seen at anything like his customary brilliance.

The quarter mile scratch race went to D. McFrederies, who is showing improved form. Other boys to show out above the ruck Avere A. Horsfall and Hugh Scarfe. Both are young riders and have a good riding career m front of them.

The next two meetings m Wellington Avill be full programmes of scratch events arid m view of the proximity of the N.Z. championships, they will be of great interest to runners and public\ alike.

Sprinting .form points to Jenkins, Fleming and Ramson filling the places with EastAvood and Cunningham dangerous contenders.

Fleming should be able to keep his colors up m the quarter mile, although Cunningham, Ramson and Cole are not to be forgotten. Lander for the 120 and Ramson for the 440 hurdles.

The half mile is the most open event on the programme, with Campbell, G-ilmour, Priestly, Cole and Allen all running well.

If Allen has regained any of his last year's form he should be able to collect. Campbell will be the hardest man to beat.

The mile to Rose and ditto the three mile, although the presence of Bayne and Priestly will make these two contests closer than has been the case for years. The ladies' events should find Misses Swinburne, Collins and Miller showing the light up the front path.

Tom Oakley, if he is well, will be prime favorite for the cycle races with Carswell, Scarfe, McFrederies, Horsfall and Gane most dangerous amongst the rest. .. •

TNVERCARGILL. has a title fight arranged for November 28, when Harry Casey will have to defend his crown against Jim Broadfoot. Hay accounted for Broaclfoot recently, but those who know Jim will say he did not show his best form that night. Essentially a fighter, he will be the right opponent for Casey, who revels m the heavy stuff. Everything points to the bout being a first-class one and southern patrons are very fortunate to get it. A good amateur programme has also been arranged.