THEIR TITLE DEEDS

NZ Truth, Issue 1150, 15 December 1927, Page 14

THEIR TITLE DEEDS

Athletic Championships Find A Few of Them Out

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.)

THE Athletic Festal Board in Christchurch last week fairly groaned under the weight of good things provided for athletic palates. And many there were to dine.

THE occasion was the contests for the national titles and, though that

Rose's 4min. 13 3-ssecs., but had Savidan been really pressed, he probably could have run about 4mln. 20secs., which Is good enough to win an Australasian Championship. Stanley Ramson (Wellington) is an athlete who has suddenly sprung into prominence and he achieved the distinction of smashing the only record that went at the meeting. The event was the 440 yds. hurdles and he made no race of it to lead the veteran champion, Frank Nesdale, home by several yards in 56 4-ssecs., which is an appreciable improvement on the standing record of 58secs. Roger Lander hui'dled beautifully to retain his 120 yds. hurdles title in 15 3-ssecs. Unfortunately, Otago's hope, D. C. Morgan broke a tendon in his leg and fell heavily before the race could be considered fairly under way. Big fields lined out in the half and quarter. PETER'S PEP J. T. Fleming ran a well-judged race in the latter and although he was forced out wide at the last bend, he came away determinedly in the straight to win by a couple of yards from Newton (Wanganul) In 514-5 sees. Chris. Olsen (O.), the holder of the title, got into all the trouble that was going in the half and had to chase home several yards behind C. B. Allen (Wellington), who had a better passage. The time, lmin. 58 4-ssecs was distinctly good. G. Sceats (Wellington) won the high jump with the fine leap of 6ft and was second in the javelin throwing' to Stan Lay (Wanganui) who hurled the spear a mere 197 feet Bin. which is good enough to win an American championship with. Peter Munro was in good fettle and llilllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

were spur enough, extra incentive was provided by the fact that the choice of the New Zealand team to uphold the honor of this country versus Australia, largely depended upon the results of the meeting. The standard was extraordinarily high and though only one standing record was ushered over the great divide, it can safely be said that the general quality of the performance has never been excelled. • Pride of place must be given to Ihe sprints, and consternation was caused in the Canterbury camp when it was announced that Malcolm Leadbetter, who was the title-holder and who had won his heats in brilliant fashion, had sprained a tendon and would be unable to compete. ELEVENTH HOUR However, Leadbetter decided to "give it a go" and though he limped painfully going down to the the urge of the race banished all else when the gun went and he burst away to win comfortably from Charlie Jenkins in the good time of lOsecs. Leadbetter put in a repeat order in the furlong, but this time he had to battle hard to head, off Jenkins who came at- him with great determination in the straight, but just failed to make it. L. C. Elliott (A.) ran well and caught third positon in both events. Great interest was manifested in the distance events and the talent arrayed was considered to be the best—taken collectively—that has ever faced the starter in New Zealand. Alas! Some reputations went overboard in the three mile and some more followed in the mile. The Auckland boy, M. Savidan, fairly !lllllilllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllll