N.Z. ATHLETES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 January 1932, Page 6

N.Z. ATHLETES

HIGH HONOURS CLASSED WITH WORLD'S BEST IN PAST OLYMPIC GAMES. OUTSTANDlNG ACHIEVEMENTS. It is doubtful whether New Zealanders realise the full merit of performances of representatives from the Dominion at past Olympic Games. True, only one Olympic title has been won by New Zealand, and that by Ted Morgan, the well known boxer, but there have been several outstanding achievements by New Zealand competitors that .placed them in the first flight of world athletes. When, after hurried preparations, New Zealand's team of two- athletes, one swimmer, and an oarsman, left for the seventh Olympiad at Antweip in 1920, there were few who expected the team to perform as brilliantly as it did. The trip Home was greatly prolonged, and the team's chances of success were further reduced by its arrival in Antwerp nine days before the opening of the Games. And yet each member of the team made an excellent showing, particularly the hurdler, H. E. Wilson, and the sprinter, G. Davidson, both of whom reached the finals. Wilson's Hurdllng. In the 110 metres hurdles, Wilson was content right through to the final merely to qualify for the nexc stage. He finished second in his heat of the first round to an Italian, Colbacchini, in 15 3-5sec, and in the first semifinal he was third to the Americans, j Barron and Smith, in 15sec, which equalled the then Olympic record. In , the final Wilson was up against Earl Thomson, regarded as the greatest hurdler of all time, but at the finish, although Thomson established a new Olympic record of 14 4-5s, Wilson was fourth, only two yards away. Davidson also made a most impres- ; sive showing. In his heat of the first round of the hundred metres, Davidson was second to the South African, J. K. Ayres-Oosterlaak, buc in the second round was defeated by the great American sprinter Charles Pad- , dock and an Algerian, Ali Khan, and thus dropped out of the contest. It was noteworthy, however, that Davidson was only a yard away from Pad- . dock at the finish. Brilliant Sprinting. In the 200 metres, having benefited from his runs in the hundred metres, Davidson showed clearly with brilliant performances that- had he been in proper condition he possibly would have won the final. Davidson easily won his heat in the first round in 22 3-5sec, and in the second round nosed Paddock out of first place in the 22 4-5sec. He finished third to Murchison (U.S.A.) and Edward (England) in the first semi-final, defeating Morris Kirksey (U.S.A. ), who three

years later toured New Zealand with two other Americans, Krogness and Merchant. Over the first part of the final Davidson clapped on remarkable pace and looked all over a winner, but over the last fifty yards lack of condition told its tale. He was unable to maintain his advantage and finished fifth, but no more than three yards behind the winner, A. Woodring (U.S.A.). Davidson's calibre was recognised by the Americans, who stated that with proper preparation on the cinder tracks in America the New Zealander would be a prospective world's champion.

Porritt's Achievement. Davidson and Wilson are but two New Zealand athletes who have competed with distinction at the Olympic Games. A. E. Porritt, who left New Zealand as a Rhodes scholar, is another New Zealander who gained fame. Before he left for England, Porritt was regarded as no more than an average sprinter, but at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 he finished third in the final of the 100 metres to H. M. Abrahams (Great Britain) and Jackson Scholz (U.S.A.), beating in the process three crack American sprinters, Bowman, Paddock, and Murchison, all of whom were more experienced than Porritt. The New Zealander's performance was a remarkable achievement. In the space of a few months a good average sprinter had developed into one of the world's best. Team for Next Games. The performances of Davidson, Wilson, and Porritt go to show that, given the opportunity, New Zealand athletes, whose times on grass tracks perhaps appear poor in comparison with those of athletes overseas, are capable of big things. There are in New Zealand to-day not only athletes but competitors in other branches of sport well worthy of selection for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in July and August, and who knows but that some of them. may not gain higher honours than even Davidson, Wilson and Porritt. A unique opportunity is presented by the Games being held in Los Angeles for this Dominion not only to be represented by a strong team, but for her representatives to feel more at home in the sunny Californian climate and to perform with distinction