BRIGHTENING

NZ Truth, Issue 1147, 24 November 1927, Page 14

BRIGHTENING

Northern Interest In Athletics

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) In view of the approach of the New Zealand athletic championships, interest m anything athletic is fast growing and the first evening meeting under the Sidey arrangement whjch took place at Auckland last week, drew a surprisingly large attendance and produced very keen competition. THE principal event was the Sidey Cup, 220 yds. handicap, which drew a field of 13 competitors. All the events were got off on the handicap principle and on the evening it cannot be said that the back-markers were too liberally treated. In the 220 yds., J. S. Watt, the 880 yds. champion, carried off the trophy from the 12yds. mark, winning the final only by a foot from W. Beresford, Byds., with J. L. McCoy, 3yds., third. A pleasing and promising feature of Watt's running was his starting. He has evidently been paying some attention to getting out of the holes and that had a deal to do with his winning of the Sidey Cup, though A. J. Elliott and L. C. Williams, the scratch men were set an impossible task to catch up the field. Watt also made a great effort m the 880 yds. handicap, running strongly into second place after giving- handicaps up to 80yds., but his judgment was not too sound and he was beaten m the run home by a very narrow margin by Li. C. Baker, 38yds., m 2.4 l-ssecs. A. J. Elliott, the sprint champion from the north, only managed to get a second m the 100 yds., but he is, nevertheless, at the height of his form and if he* competes at the national meeting as it is his intention at present to do, he will not be far out at the tape m the big events. He is, however, just a little slow to get moving though he has had little chance to get suitable practice with the starting up Auckland way this season. A runner from whom much has been expected, but, so far, has not been forthcoming, is Ia C. Williams. He, however, may take a hand m the big meeting and if he has had a chance to get back to the top of his form he is quite capable of making the best travel all out to win.