MANY NATIONAL TITLES CHANGED HANDS

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 16

MANY NATIONAL TITLES CHANGED HANDS

THEY NEVER SAWTHE WAY HE WENT

Alan Elliott Was The Shining Star Among The Athletes

CLASH OF CRACK CYCLISTS SPOILT BY CRASH . (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Athletic Representative.) ■ The national championships of athletics and cycling saw the ecljpso oil many stars who have sparkled m the athletic firmament but others have been sighted who will shine with equal, if not greater, lustre and the milky way of success for the New Zealand A.A.A. is likely' to be well illuminated m the future. ...

__ . _— — ( THE comet of the meeting was Alan Elliott, the young Aucklander, who streaked home m both sprint races and completely outshone the rest of the contestants including Charlie Jenkins, the Wellington boy, who has run so well this year and who looked a certainty. ' Big, but not too big, lithe and well-built, with a sunny and philosophical disposition, Elliott is just the right cut for a champion. Ten and one-fifth seconds for the hundred yards m the teeth of a brisk northerly wind and 22secs. for the furlong are performances that would do credit to any. runner m the world. In Elliott, who is.^yet'.- 'right al, the beginning of his running career, New Zealand has a sprinter who will -hold his own with any runner the other countries may send us. Jenkins died gamely, but seemed unable to get fire into his work. Cor-

Shrewd Runner

,'dery, the Canterbury champion, ran a fine race m the furlong and almost touched Jenkins off for second place. The best that Geddes, of Otago, coujd produce was a third m the 100 yds., but he has no call to be disheartened on this account. Jack Fleming went under m the quarter-mile and A. W. Findlay, of Otago, assumes the crown. L. C. Veitch, of Welling'ion, just tipped Fleming for second place. The new champion is a strong runner and a shrewd ! one to boot. He timed his run to a nicety. ' Fleming was out of luck m the draw and grot an outside position m a race that was run m lanes. In races that are run m lanes our New Zealand runners will have to become accustomed to running to the watch or they will find themselves at a serious disadvantage when competing against men from overseas.

V : ■ — — ■ The halfrmile race was the' only bad spot on the programme. The field closed m thirty yards from the start and there was a general bump. It appeared as though a Wellington man was responsible and one other Wellington competitor gave way to a display of temper and jostled with his elbows. • After that Suckling (Canterbury) went to the front and kept out of trouble and the field settled down nicely. Suckling staved off a very strong challenge m the straight from MvLachlan and just got home m a fighting finish. :- .There was general consternation when the edict went forth that Suckling had been completely disqualified and the race- given to McLachlan with Leech (Wellington) second and Ogrg (Wellington) third. It was hard luck for the Canterbury man to be robbed of the victory. His general bearing, and conduct off the field was that of a sportsman, but he must be feeling the incident keenly. .. Billy Savidan (Auckland) made hacks of the rest of the field m the mile and three miles events. Once he hit the front nothing could head him. Running with a long, easy stride he clocked 14min. 59 3/ssecs, for the three miles and 4min. 29 l/ssecs. for the mile. E. B. E. Taylor (Canterbury) was ■right off form. McDonald (Wellington) and Gibbons (Wanganui) gave it a go m the mile, but found the pace too hot. Savidan is a real champion and is a worthy successor to Rose for consistency if lacking his brilliancy. The results of the cycling heats on the first day gave promise of some rollicking finals. These seemed due up to half-way through tho first lap of the half-mile championship when A. Mackie (Canterbury) crashed to earth from a skid and Frank Grose (Canterbury) hurtled over the top of him, machine and all. This race was won by Wade (Auckland), who put a smart one

a ■—. _ , over by jumping at the bell and clearing for his life. duklby (Wellington).. atul : . O'Brier (Canterbury)', soon sot out on his trail but the surprise .had .-worked an'c i Wydt. narl -i eontfort'vhlf 'fad when the ■ short straight was reached. m ,uu iw.o (ju.«vii_-y: i.uuic a leaf froir s Wade's book and put on a burst earlj m the last lap. Gane was caught napping and tried -frantically to ride rouric tho Held, but was too late. ': Fiett (Wellington) was well placec ; and iitime hard at Oakley,- but couldn'i ■ get within, striking distance. O'Biier : (Canterbury) cimio with..'a wet sail tine dejid-heated-. with Flett for •: scconc i place. •;■ .■■■••■■ .-, '-' ■In the three miles Qakley. had anI other clear-cut victory >and got home i by three lengths 'from Wiido. Garit ; was only a. tyre behind the' latter, witr, the rest of the field bunched, close up. Gane would have done better if

Grose Unlucky

[ he hadn't wasted • much of his r breath disputing with Carswell (Wellington) over taking a lap. ' .' While, these two 1 Wver;e trying to gel m front of each other '.'tile "rest sat^bacl 1 s and enjoyed the respite. " The results of the cycling" events : only go to prove the truth of ,the ok s racing saying, ','Horses for. courses.'. In the Canterbury trials O'Brien . Mackie, and Campbell all gained victories over Grose, who was the holdei of the three,, titles.. ■■>-.' ' •'•',■ 1 The results' of the heats lent force to j this contention and it, seems certain that, but for the . spill, Grose and Oakley would have i had some royal tussles. ' ' ' ' '■■'■'■ I As it was, Oakley, who is also. nc [ moss gatherer on a grass track," had things very much his own way excepi m the race where Wade put the surprise across him. The latter deserves credit for his enterprise and courage.