HAIL PELTZER AND CORTS!

NZ Truth, Issue 1202, 13 December 1928, Page 16

HAIL PELTZER AND CORTS !

Athletic Season Will Be Brightened By Famous, Runners CLASS OPPONENTS^ FOR OUR MEN (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Athletic \ Correspondent)'. Through the -winter of our discontent, consequent on. the inability of the N.Z. A. A. A. to ar- ' range a tour of New Zealand this season by an American team of athletes, comes a bright ray of sunshine m the published announcement' that m all probability, we will have the pleasure of seeing m action the famous German runner, Dr. Peltzer and his almost equally famous country- ' man Corts. ' ■ ;.' . . '

TTHIS comes about as -of the' 1 energy and ..enter prise of the Victorian Association, Ayith' which New Zealand is^nowv cd- operating. .• '•;. ; ' Victoria has the. acceptance" of these two men, and it; Is 'now a; question of terms and .cdn.ditipns,-.in- order, to; enable the tour '"to .be extended to. New Zealand. The difficulties -\in ..this.; respect shouldnot.be insurmountable. It is quite certain that a majority' of th§ centres •■; ' will be willingr to come m on the tour, .and there is no reason to doubt ,the public interest that will be manifested m their appearance. Peltzer is one of the greatest. han% milers. ever, to wear a shoe.

His sudden rise . to prominence and h;s ' brilliant . run- v ning ! set the 1 - athletic world agog a comparatively short time ago, and since then his name has graced the . record book - k where the world's best times are jotted down, and he Has figured as a- .winner In many countries. At the last Olympic games he was "as stale as a bun," as one writer put it, and was unable to reproduce his best form. Since then, however, he has ■[ expressed his de t c rmination : to systematically prepare for the Australian tour, and it is probable that he will be m the pink of condition. Corts is probably the best European sprinter f or many years, and two seasons ago went across to London and won the British championship . 100 yds. m Slashing style. Like Peltzer, he is reported to have ; a pleasing person-

allty and is reputedly a good sportsman. ; It is not difficult to conjure up the Interest that will be evinced m Auckland when Peltzer, Savidan and Olsen meet over half-mile' and mile races; m Wellington with Rose and Leech; m Canterbury- with Nicol and Taylor; and Dunedin ' with the redoubtable McLachlan, who is reported to be

turning m some splendid times over the half-mile journey. There is a possibility, also, that some associations • may deem it expedient to bring to these shores W. M. Whyte, the Australian half-miler and miler, who performed so well at the Olympic Games. What a splendid meeting could be arranged at which Peltzer, Whyte and our New Zealand champions would take part. It may not be possible for the visitor to make such a comprehen-

slve tour as that v n d c r taken by Scholz .and Hahn, but it is likely that the Council will be able to arrange for them m the four centres at least, 'and 'probably m some ,of th© larger • towns. , In the meantime arrangements are m hand for the conducting of the New Zealand championship's m Wellington during February. Pains are being taken to make the programme as well timed as possible, and athletes should have little, to complain of m this respect. . ' -. . . . The meeting will take place on the 'Basin Reserve, and the turf of.- this splendid ground is m great condition and should provide a worthy arena for the big meet. , If the tour of the German visitors clashes with the championships, It will be necessary for the Council to try and make arran geme n t s for them^to be v.competitors. Inv 1 this event It will strain the 'ground's capacity to its utmost to hold the crowd.