On Track and Field

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 185, 26 October 1927, Page 11

On Track and Field

Amateur Athletic Notes

By •SPARTAN'

SEASON’S FIXTURES The following are major Auckland and New Zealand amateur athletic fixtures: November s.—Athletic carnival at the Domain. Some championship events. November 12. —Auckland provincial amateur athletic championships at the Domain. December 9 and 10. —New Zealand amateur athletic championships at Christchurch. December 26, 27, 28 and 29.— New Zealand and Australian amateur athletic championships at Wellington. Well Up To Time The officials controlling the Labour Day sports are to be congratulated upon the way they started off the largo number of events well up to time. The ever present aggravating runners and cyclists who rushed on to the track at the last minute tying a shoe lace were much in evidence, and they, above all, owe a great deal to the good humour of the officials. It would be in the interest of the sport and those who give up their time controlling these meetings if the centre’s rule regarding the punctuality were enforced a little more strictly than is the case at present. One Up, Elliot! There were three heats in the amateur 100 yards handicap on Labour Day, and the first two in each heat qualified for the final. WlienA. G. Elliot missed the bus and ran • into third place in the first heat, onlookers thought that they had been deprived of an opportunity of seeing him fight it out with the New Zealand Varsity champion, Lance Williams. Some difference of opinion existed as to whether Elliot had been Second or third in his heat, so close was the finish, that he was allowed to start in the final. Although neither man was placed, Elliot got home first two

yards ahead of his rival. One up, Elliot! Six Crack Sprinters In A. J. Elliot, L. C. Williams, J. L. McCoy, L. R. Hook, L. H. Meredith and Dr. J. J. Brownlee, Auckland has a team of sprinters without equal anywhere else in New Zealand. The prowess of Elliot and Williams is too well known to need any elaboration, but the other four are less known. L. R. Hook is a fine stamp of sprinter with great possibilities over the 220 yards. Both he and L. H. Meredith are on the light side to make champion 100 3'ards men, although they are capable of extending Elliot and Williams over both courses. It was at the Labour Day sports last year that Hook first came into the limelight. McCoy Shows Promise A fine athlete is J. L. McCoy, standing over six feet high. It is said that he does not take too kindly to training, however, although at his best he is little inferior to Elliot. There are many who think that McCoy would make a champion quarter - miler, and certainly he has the speed, and should not find it difficult to cultivate the stamina. The sixth sprinter, Dr. J. J. Brownlee, is something of a dark horse. He came to Auckland from the South with a big reputation, but did not seem to strike top form on Monday. He is credited with some fine performances over the hundred, while representing Otago University several seasons ago, so he should be a great deal more dangerous on Saturday week.

Auckland Championships The 1927 Auckland provincial amateur athletic championships are to be commenced at a sports carnival at the Domain on Saturday week, November 5, and completed the following week. At the first meeting the following championships will be decided: 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, 100 yards ladies, 120 yards hurdles, one mile run and one mile cycle. Handicap events will include pole vaulting, throwing the discus, throwing the hammer, putting the shot and throwing the javelin. Two cycle races will also be run. The proceeds of the carnival are to be devoted to the Mayor’s unemployment relief fund. Nominations, accompanied by fees, will close on Tuesday next, November 1, at noon, and must be forwarded to the secretary’s box 1034.

Why America Leads Writing in the “Athletic News” recently, Mr. F. W. Parker, for 40 years secretary of the London Athletic Club, attempts to answer the question “How Can England Win the Olympic Games?” Mr. Parker says: I am not in favour of creating hordes of trainers and eagle-eyed “talent spotters” to roam the country and seek out talent in the raw with the view of developing it. What is needed is the will to win. Far too

long we had complacently hugged to ourselves the notion that the “sport” was the main thing; never mind who wins so long as we make a show was our watchword. That which wo now know as keenness and concentration was sccffed at as “making too much of the business of the thing.” The lesson has been well worth the learning. A Wonderful Scotsman Both the Americans, Charlie Paddock and Roland Locke, are credited with doing the “hundred” in 9 s.losec. But the best performance ever put up on English soil is Eric Liddell's 9 7-10 sec at the A.A.A. championships in 1923. The wonderful Scotsman, however, was something more than a sprinter; he could run any distance up to half a mile, and won the Olympic 400 metres in 1924 in 47 3-ssee. In the Empire v. America match afterwards he beat H. M. Fitch in the 440 yards relay by over three yards, after being six yards behind to start with. Liddell was born in China, and came to Scotland while a boy. and returned recently to the land of his birth t<» take up missionary duties among the Chinese.

In Southern Centres The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has in view a North Island and a South Island tour by two teams, comprising probably four members each, of the Australian athletes coming to New Zealand.

Canterbury athletes who perforin with distinction at the New Zealand championships will be presented with provincial blazers. This decision was reached at a meeting last „ week of delegates to the Canterbury Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A.

It is understood, says the “Dominion.” that the names of the New Zealand team to compete in the Australian and New Zealand championships in Wellington at Christinas, will be presented to the council of the Amateur Athletic Association at a special meeting on December 13.

The Canterbury Centro has decided to hold the provincial championship meeting at the usual time in February, and to conduct a series of trials before the New Zealand championship meeting for the purpose of selecting the provincial team.

R. A. Rose and E. G. Sutherland, two of the most prominent athletes in New Zealand, are being invite! to participate in the Otago championship meeting, which will be held on December 3. Rose’s capabilities us a distance runner are well known, and Sutherland is an outstanding performer in field events. The latter, who has represented South Africa at the Olympic Games, returned to New Zealand a few months ago.

Although it is not likely that any lady competitors will be sent from Australia for tike Australian and New Zealand amateur athletic championships in Wellington next December, there is nothing to prevent the New Zealand Association from including ladies’ events in the programme, if it desires to do so.

Amateur athletics in Canterbury has advanced with great strides in the past few seasons and although tlv number of new runners each year has been fair the increase in fixtures is in danger of becoming out of proportion with the increase in athletes, sa\ the Christchurch “Sun.”

It is reported that it is the ambition of K. R. Johnston, of Ashburton, the present holder of the Canterbury 22<) yards title, not only to retain his title this year, in the running of which he beat M. Leadbetter, the- New Zealand champion, but to collar the Dominion title as well.