IN RETROSPECT

NZ Truth, Issue 1153, 5 January 1928, Page 12

IN RETROSPECT

Past Takes A Peep

At Present

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Athletic Corres-

pondent.)

The Australasian Amateur Athletic championships just concluded in Wellington have not been held in New Zealand since 1912 when New Zealand won the shield by a substantial margin.

f\N this occasion the black and silver fern was again at the top of the pole though N.S.W., represented by a very powerful combination of athletes put up a fight that made N.Z. get the whip out with a vengeance.

Not the least important feature of the meeting was its magnetic attraction for devotees of the game and exchampions who have helped N.Z. retain her premier position in South Sea athletics.

It was good to have temporarily centralized men hailing from all parts of N.Z. and Australia whose efforts have been devoted for years both in the field and round the administrative table, towards advancing the interests of the sport to which they are attached.

A run through the list of officials brings to mind many great achievements of the old brigade and others not so old.

Dick Coombes was referee but Dick's happy personality is dealt with in another column. Marshall R. W. McVilly is a man who has ever been a rock of reliability when amateur sport has been looking for assistance.

Rowing, boxing and athletics have all experienced his aid.

"Dolf" Kitto, everyone knows, and everyone likes him. His hurdling and runnings days are passed but his skill and tact in administration have made him the admired of all the athletes and Rugby players of N.Z.

"Joe" Heenan, another man known far and wide as a living fountain of athletic information and just at present energetically engaged in organizing the Olympic fund. Success to his efforts!

A. W. O. Travel's whom everybody knows not for his pugnacity, but for his level-headedness and pleasant personality.

"Bob".Beattie and "Jack" Maloney. There's a pair for you! Both members of the "costs" brigade and famous as men of action in the Cathedral City. Just as the teams, with the battle won and lost, were trooping- into an hotel banquet, Jack and Bob went trooping out swags up and compass set for a walking tour over the hills and far away. Their destination was not quite clear but they will get there. Billy Low, Charlie Thomas and Charlie Taylor, chatting together. There's a trio of ex-champion halfmilers of different generations who must have felt the greensward tickling their feet in an urge to speed around the track again.

"Dorrie" Leslie, the man behind (or is it underneath) the gun. In his day, "Dorrie" was as smart a walker as ever donned a shoe.' There was also another ex-champion pedestrian present in the person of Auckland's Dave Wilson. "Tommy" Gates keeping 1 an eye on the cyclists and mentally comparing them with the time when he Used to whizz around Lancaster Park. Two old Dunedln devotees in Andy Melville and Harry Franklin officiating at the sport that they love best of all. Harry Wilson and "Tim" Tracy, chatting- to Eddie Marks, now a dignified but approachable N.S.W; M.L.A., on the subject, "Australasian champions I have seen," but pausing to jot a note in their books as the inimitable Charlie Parsonage boomed out the latest result. Many other ex-brilliant performers there were, too. For instance Cyril Bridge, Geo. Lusk, Bill Pollock, and S. T. Seddon, quietly enjoying the sport from vantage points on the ground. How many ex-athletes and good friends were scattered about the big crowd on the bank and stand it is impossible to calculate. Indeed, it is a good thing that they did not all want to come oh the ground or there would | have been no room for the events. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "W.D." (Lower Hutt) : 54 l/6secs. J. K. Norton (U.S.A.), 1330,