A REAL CHAMPION.

Shannon News, 29 July 1924, Page 4

A REAL CHAMPION.

■ * PORRITT’S TRACK CAREER.

A. E. Porritt went to England in. August of'last year as a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, and, although he had to commence his training on the track at the end of the Winter season, he has, says the “Post,” made exceptionally good progress as, his latest fine - performances indicate. He is a son of Dr. Porritt, of yf&nganui, and was educatedr&t the? Wanganui Collegiate School and-the University of Otago. He first came into prominence as an athlete of class by defeating L. A. Tracy (Victoria College) in the lOOyards event, at the New Zealand ’Varsity Championships at Auckland in 1922. At the same meeting he was second to Tracy in the 220. yards event, and brought off a surprise by defeating W. H. 8.Buckhurst (Canterbury College) in. the 120 yards hurdles. . In the following season he appeared as an Otago representative in the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championships, at Athletic Park, Welington, and registered a very fine performance by running third to M. M. Kirksey (U.S.A.) and “Slip" Carr- (Australia) in the memorable 100 yards contest. He was also third to C. G. Kxogness (U.S.A.) and H. E. Wilson (Wellington) in the notable 120 yards hurdles event at th e same meeting. Porritt was a very successful competitor at the New Zealand ’Varsity Championships in Dunedin on Easter Monday of last year. He won the, 100 yards iniOsec. the 220 yards in 235e0., the 120 hurdles ih 16 l-ssec., and the .broad jump by clearing 22 feet.

In England his progress-has .been wonderful. He started off by winning at Balliol College, and then, at the Oxford University sports, he was second in tlie hundred. Competing as Oxford’s second string in the OxfordCambridge contest, he was also second in the short sprint, and a litltle later h e won the lOu yards event at the Achilles Club’s meeting. Porritt competed at the '-recent English Championships and was third in the furlong race. The merit of those performances is made greater by (he fact that Porritt had .been suffering from an injured shoulder sustained while playing football. From what Porritt has accomplished it is evident that New Zealand possesses athletes who, if provided with, fair opportunities for training in the Old Country, would meet with quite a measure of success in competing with the representatives of other - countries at the Olympic Games. L. A. Tracy jn particular might have proved himself to be among the world’s best furlong sprinters.

Mr. A. T. Davies, chairman of the New Zealand Olympic Council, briefly commenting upon Porritt’s performances, said that the result would be exceedingly' pleasing to all athletes, ' and th e Olympic Council ! intends to forward to Porritt cable of congratullfcion, not only on behalf of the Olympic authorities in New Zealand, but also on behalf of the Dominion. While recognising that Porritt would do his best, it was not anticipated thai> lie would again show such prominence in the final, considering that he was competing against the present world’s champions. . ' I

Mr. Davies added that it was very satisfying to see the 1<)0_ yards event won by a Britisher after the long run of successes by the Americans. The performances of both Abrahams and. Porritt were indeed pleasant surprises..