SPRINT RUNNERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 358, 20 October 1932, Page 6

SPRINT RUNNERS

TIMING OF SUPPOSED TEN SECOND MEN CRITICISED. How many athletes are there in this dominion who can run lOsec. dead?

This writer thinlcs they are few and far between (writes "Physical Culturist" in the Hawera Star). Although a man may he a watchmaker it does not follow that he posesses the qualifications to time a 100yds. sprint. The writer has in mind the time when the championships took place for the Taranaki titles this year. The Star, in its" report, was very outspoken in its comments. Knowing the writer who reported the meeting, "Physical Culturist" asked why doubts

were cast on the timing when he learned the following: — Against a stiff breeze and on a bumpy track the winner of the 100yds. was credited with 10 l-5sec. to b'eat Cambie, who was second, by barely half a stride. The latter ,who was not at his best, cn the best tracks and in the peak of form, has never beaten lOsec. Still further, the Star representative asked one of the watch-holders how he took the time, whether by the flash of the gun or by the report, and was answered it was by the latter. If this was the case it is a moral certainty that Jtflaek never ran 10 l-5see. On a still day it is generally undestood that it takes the report of a gun l-5sec. co travel 100yds., after which the timekeeper would start his watch. Yet we read in newspaper reports of sports where this or that athlete has vvon a 100yds. race in lOsec. dead, while in another similar race with .everal yards start thi scratch man has beaten him in 10 l-5sec. To what may he credited the difference of .orm? Is it the watch-holders? The .iowspapers, of course, report the result as given to them by the judges and the time taken by the timekeepors. A Paper Reputation. Mick Mor.nock, one of the best pro-.e.-sional sprint runners New Zealand turned out, was once made by the •.mekcepers to win a 100yds. handicap , om scratch in Oisec. This was duly /ecorded by the local paper, of which Mick bought a number. Some time later he reached Sydney, and was ina'oduced to Deeble, who was the hacker of Bill Beac-h, the world's champion •culler, when the latter defeated Jake Gaudaur on the Thames. On his re.urn from London he brought to Australia Harry Hutchens, the famous ^ngliSi. runner and another sprinter .vliose name I think was Moody. Deeble was tempted to, and did, add Monnock to his stable. During the course of negotiations Deeble asked Monnock what he could run the 100 yards in. "9J," said Mick. "Oh, no, you can't," said Deeble. Mick took the huff and produced the newspaper with its report of the meeting with the 100 in 91 underlined to prove his veracity. "H'm, yes," said D'eeble, "I can see the paper says you did so,-and you no doubt think you did. However, I will give you a trial in the morning, with Harry here," indicating Hutchens, "and if you can make him run it will do m e," The trial duly came

off. Mick did not run 9£ or beat Hutchens. However, he satisfied Deeble, and joined his stable at £3 10s a week to run as he was told. When I hear of athletes breaking even time I always have my doubts. Dorrie Leslie states that only" one runner has broken even time under him since he has been starting, and when Dorrie stated that he spoke a mouthful.