All-Dominion Track Field and Championships

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 11

All-Dominion Track Field and Championships

What are Auckland’s Chances Next Mon th ? FEW NEW MEN IN SIGHT “What sort of a show are the Auckland athletes going to make when they compete at the New Zealand Championships at Christchurch next month?” This question, at the present time, is quite a burning one among the “boys who run” and the more enthusiastic athletic fans. But it is hard to say just yet, even though most of us know that we have some rather smart and fleet-footed athletes pounding the track. There is only one outstanding performer to represent Auckland in the distances, and that is J. W. Savidan, who has been running away from the field and romping home by a big margin in his last two or three starts. He has the pace and stamina, fitting to represent any province; but even with him, as with Elliott the sprinter, there is something lacking which will not do when competing in a championship class. Savidan went over to Sydney recently to compete in the 10,000 metres race, but he was beaten by Hyde. He says that it was the sand that beat him. Possibly it was; but Savidan, as good a runner as he is, has one fault which is quite evident. He must cultivate better judgment. He is almost too fair. He seems even disinclined to take advantage of legitimate openings to go through in a race. Good luck to Savidan, and admitted, Tie is a great sportsman, but is tie treated by his colleague athletes as well as he treats them? Not likely. They grab the inside running when they can. they pass on the inside when they can, and they cut out another competitor every time there is an opportunity offering. They know all the tricks of the game, and certainly put them to full advantage. They know that the shortest distance between two points is the straight line, and they abide by this by running right on that white line. In the mile event at the evening sports held on Wednesday evening. Savidan won the race easily, but he lost a deal of energy and ground by going on the outside to pass when he could have got through on the inside. At Christchurch in the distance events Savidan will in all probability run up against Rose, and it would be as well for him to bear in mind right I now that Rose is not the type of run-

ner to say: “Look, Savi., old boy, don’t move from the inside. I will amble round and pass you on the outer.” No; Rose will get through on the inside if he can, and can he be blamed? MEN WHO BEAT THE PISTOL Now what about Elliott? Much has been said about this young sprinter’s starting. Admittedly he is slow at getting out of the holes compared with other sprinters, but of course it must be borne in mind that at the meeting held on the Domain recently, the starting of races has not been very well officiated. Some competitors have managed to get away with a flying start, in many case beating the pistol. They are not brought back a yard for this offence, and to ask a man to leave the track for breaking more than twice would be, in the minds of some of the Auckland officials, an absolute absurdity. But the .man with the gun at the big championship meetings in the South will not consider it an absurdity, and flighty contestants will have to watch their step. It is possible, therefore, that Elliott will not be such a long way out of place when he gets among the champions, even though he is last away from the mark when running with Aucklanders, because he does behave himself at the holes. Both Elliott and Savidan will be very hard to beat in Christchurch, and there is no saying but what Lance Williams may not create a surprise, if he gets back to the top of his form. If McCoy was more consistent in his running, he would have to be given a big chance in the New Zealand quar-ter-mile championship, even against such a brilliant young runner as Fleming proved himself to be here last season. McCoy ought to take the game more seriously. Unlike last season when the early meetings brought Elliott and McCoy to light, there is so far no really outstanding new talent in sight. Garlick’s defection owing to heart trouble will be a big loss, as he would have had a great chance in the quarter hurdles, and would run Fleming of Wellington close in the quarter-mile flat. It looks, too, in the field events, as if Shirley will again be Auckland’s sheet-anchor. This department has been one of Auckland’s weaknesses in late years, and the province is lucky to have such a sterling all-round performer available. Every attention should be given by the Auckland Centre to strengthening this branch of the sport under its control. In the cycling events, Byrnes is improving all the time, and Southern contestants will have to travel fast all the way to head off the Manukau Club’s crack. So far, there has been little mention in the South of any new stars in the athletic firmament, and it looks as if the veterans will be fighting out their old battles again in Christchurch. Auckland’s success or otherwise will depend largely on the men available, and the expense of getting a team away.