Amateur Athletics at the Domain

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 11

Amateur Athletics at the Domain

TRIAL STEEPLECHASE STIRRING -75 YARDS The Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club held the sixth meeting of its winter series of competitions at the Domain on Saturday afternoon. More of the entrants than at any previous meeting this winter started in the event*, and keen competition resulted. Chief interest centred round the four-mile steeplechase- This was a trial event, run to aid the selectors in making the final choice of a team to represent Auckland at the New Zealand cross-country championships at Christchurch on July 2. G. Kells, the present Dominion champion, and J. W. Savidan, were regarded as certainties. while X. F. Cooper was known to have strong chances. Of the others, White, Gilchrist. C. Scown. Thomas. Henscholl. and Watt were the strongest claimants.

The field was started off together, with Cooper conceding 70scc, and Savidan and Kells conceding 100 sec. The runners were bunched for the first three rounds, but after that the pace began to tell, and about 10 dropped out before the end. Kells and Savidan were content to trot along together in the rear for some time, but in the sixth round the latter forged ahead. C. Scown, Thomas, Cooper, and Henschall, were prominent throughout the race. Thomas led for the first three rounds, but after that Scown headed him. and hung on, to win in the end 30 yards from Cooper. In the last lap Savidan put on speed, but again he had waited too long, and finished up fourth, with Kells sixth. Scown’s performance was a very meritorious one. and it earned him a place in the Auckland cross-country team. Henschall, also ran well, and only just missed being second. G. Kells did not run with his usual ease. He appeared to find it hard going, but hung on gamely to the end. Evidently he has not regained form after the accident to his foot three weeks ago. Savidan finished up little worse than he started. He has remarkable stamina, but refuses to exert himself before the last lap. If he had cracked on the speed two laps from th« end he would more than probably have finished first. . . .. Elliott flashed in again in the <5 vards handicap, to win by inches from Roper in the time of 7 9-10 sec. The rate at which he covered the last 30 yards amazed everyone. Roper was leading at halfway, but the champion’s final spurt was too much for him. Results: STEEPLECHASE (About four miles.) C. Scown (scr.), 24m 37s •-•••• *• N F. Cooper (owing 70s), 24m 4os .. 2 E. P. Henschall (scr.), 24m 465.. .. 3 J. W. Savidan (owing 100 s), 2om 51 Twenty-five started, 15 finished. 75 VARDS HANDICAP A. J. ELLIOT (scr.) . . J H. S. ROPER (3J yards) ~ J. 1,. McCOY (2 yards) 3 Time, 7 9-10 sec. Fifteen started. PUTTING THE SHOT H. S. ROPER, 32ft 9in 1 A. J. ELLIOT, 32ft 2 G. GILCHRIST, 31ft 3 CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM TO REPRESENT AUCKLAND AT THE NEW ZEALAND MEETING The following runners have been chosen to represent Auckland at the New Zealand Cross-country championships at Christchurch on July 2: G. KELLS J. W. SAVIDAN N. F. COOPER C. SCOWN E. P. Henschall is emergency in case one of the team is unable to make the trip. The selection committee, consisting of Messrs. W. Morton (chairman), J. W. Shirley and G. Metcalfe, announced the team after the trial steeplechase held on Saturday afternoon. G. Kells, J. W. Savidan and X. F. Cooper were regarded as certainties, but a wealth of talent made claims for the final position. By winning Saturday’s event, C. Scown justified his claims and was accordingly selected. One notable absentee from the team this year is T. M. Wilson, last year’s skipper. Tom underwent an operation for acute appendicitis at Christmas and is not fit to take part in a strenuous six-mile race yet. N. S. Beauchamp, another of last year’s members, is at present in England undergoing a course of naval training. The team, on paper, does not appear to be as strong as last year’s one. Nevertheless, it should make a good showing, and both Savidan and Kells should make a big bid for the Dominion championship honour. If present arrangements hold, the Auckland team will leave for Christchurch next Sunday, June 26. The race is to be held over a six and aquarter mile course on the Cashmere Hills the following Saturday, when teams from most of the provinces are expected to compete.