Amateur Athletics at Henderson

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 May 1927, Page 10

Amateur Athletics at Henderson

ELLIOTT’S GREAT SPRINT WHITE WINS STEEPLECHASE The Auckland Amateur Athletic Association held the fourth meeting of its winter series at the Henderson Domain on Saturday afternoon under fine weather conditions. As a result of heavy rain on the previous day the ground was very treacherous, and competitors in the field events found the track anything but ideal for good performances. The four-mile steeplechase, the star event of the day, was won by B. F. White after a great run. It was unfortunate that the winner of this event at two of the earlier meetings, Gordon Kells, was unable to start owing to an accident at work earlier in the day. The course was said by many to be one of the stiffest ever set for a cross-country event in Auckland. Starting from the Domain the runners had to negotiate a creek about four feet deep, and then climb up a very slippery bank on the other side. From there they ran across some rough country, and along a road, passed through two fences and several gateways, and then over a bridge back to the creek again. This circle was traversed three times, and then the competitors crossed the creek again, circled the domain and finished up at the starting point. The limit man, S. Fountain, led for three-quarters of a mile, but then B. F. White (200 sec.) assumed control and was never seriously challenged after that. At the end of the second round, White was followed by Fountain and Sooper, with Savidan well behind in tenth place. In the end White won by 300 to 400 yards from Cooper, while Wilson failed by inches to overtake Fountain for third place. It transpired afterwards that the scratch man, Savidan, got “bushed” in the first round. He made a supreme effort in the last round, but the front men were too far ahead, and he finished in sixth place. A. J. Elliot again proved his superiority in the 75 yards’ handicap, and flashed in to win by a foot in the last few yards. The public had expected to see him try conclusions with Auckland’s other “sprint” star, but L. C.

Williams did not start. Roper Murray to the tape for secon by inches, and Savidan ran in , fourth. The track was not ideal’ sodden and under water in P la r h ' —art ing Elliot's time, Ssec., all tne meritorious. , The following are the resultFour. Mile Steeplechase.—B. r. jjF. <2oosec.), 30min. 21 •r„ 5s 2; .fCooper (45sec0, 31min. rp. Jt Fountain (250 sec.), 32mm. c. Wilson (80sec. *, 32min. /fT.’j,?' Scown (lOOsec.). 32min. 36sec., *>• Savidan (scr.), 32min. 43 2-asec., teen started, eleven fimsnea. (set* 75yds. Handicap .—A. J • Jluf 1; H. S. Roper (31yds.), 2, nray (SJyds.), 3. Time, Ba ® c ‘ Murr ay '*■" Putting the Shot.—B. XJfcJ 1 6in.), 33ft. 41in., 1: J. J»32ft. sin„ 2; P. Johnson (3ft. 3in., 3. , Tiffi*! F Throwing the Discus— J- (jSftl (34ft.), 105 ft. sin., 1; G- B. 101 ft. 3Jin., 2; W. Stewart, sen. 100 ft. lin., 3. ~