OUT OF HAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 307, 19 March 1928, Page 11

OUT OF HAND

CROWD SWARMS GROUND AT DOMAIN SPORTS ELLIOTT’S BRILLIANT RUNNING Lack of control in Handling the public was markedly in evidence at the Auckland Domain on Saturday, when the big St. Patrick's Sports Carnival was staged. Durin the athletic events in the afternoon, crowds of people flocked the track, and thus, not only were the athletes and cyclists seriously hindered while competing but in many case the timekeepers were unable to secure the times. It was an unfortunate state of affairs, for the carnival was favoured with an attendance of over 3,000 people. During the morning, when the children’s events, which included basket ball contests and running took place, everything went along smoothly, but in the afternoon when the athletes and cy- ' clists took the field, there arose a hitch which marred a fine day’s sport. A big majority of the crowd, mostly children, flocked on to the track, and in spite of the efforts made by both the officials and the police, refused to move back to the proper place, behind the fence. Half-way through the programme complaints, which were undoubtedly justified, commenced to come in from all directions, especially from the cyclists who, while doing theix- laps, were narrowly missing children who played about the track. The timekeepers also found it impossible to take the times for many of the events, owing to the encroachment of the crowd, which pushed across the track, hiding the view. The president of the A.A.A. and C.C., Mr. W. Morton, then announced by megaphone that the sports would not be continued until the crowd moved away from the ti’ack. But he may as well have talked to a post, for the hundreds which were trespassing merely stood and blankly gazed at one another. Later* on, however, when the events were stopped for a children’s display to take place, the multitude seemed to imagine that Mr. Morton had carried out his threat, and they nimbly moved back a few feet. So the sports continued. COUPER BEATS ELLIOTT But in spite of such conditions, both athletes and cyclists treated the inconsiderate public present to some fine racing. The feature of the day was the brilliant running witnessed in the 220yds handicap event. In the first heat A. J. Elliott, the crack Auckland sprinter, qualified for the final without a deal of trouble, in the second heat K. H. Couper, quite an unknown quantity as far as Auckland fans are concerned, came in to win easily off the 12yd. mark. This made the final interesting. Elliott, running off scratch, got away well, and putting in a lot of speed round the bend, caught up to the field before it entered the straight. Forty yards from the tape he was abreast with Couper. and the two athletes ran neck and neck up the straight* The latter, however, showed that he had something in reserve for the final dash, and drew r ahead to come in about a yard and a-half ahead of the champion. WADE'S FINE RIDING Among the cyclists, J. H. Wade was perhaps the outstanding competitor on the day. Although not clinching a win, he put up two brilliant performances in finishing second in both the one mile and half-mile handicap events off the back mark. M. P. Byrnes, the Auckland champion, was very disappointing and failed to ride anywhere near a place. Following are the results:— TWO MILES CYCLE HANDICAP First Heat.—J. I-I. Wade (scr), 1; H. Dwight (60yds), 2; Iv. . Mathieson (120yds), 3. Time, 4m 50 4-ss. Second ITeat.—S. Bail'd (240yd.s), 1; A. Sercoinbe (200yds), 2; F. C. Henwood (100yds), 3. Time, 4m 53 2-ss. Third Heat.—J. Whitten (100yds), 1: W. T. Bray (80yds), 2; C. Gainsborough (110yds), 3. Time, 5m 3 4-ss. Final.—F. C. Henwood (100yd3), 1; J. Whitten (100yds), 2; W. T. Bray (80yds), 3. Won by 10 yards, with about two yards between second and third. 100 YARDS JUBILEE CUP HANDICAP First Heat. —Elliott (scr), 1; A. Warren (Oiyds), 2; H. C. Garlick (syds), 3. Time, 10s. Second Heat. —L. H. Meredith (SJyds), 1; A. S. Jamieson (siyds), 2; K. IT. Couper (6yds), 3. No time. Third Heat.—V. R. Walker (41yds), 1; L. R. Hook (3*yds), 2; A. E. Kerri sk (7yds), 3. Time, 10 l-ss. Final. —A. J. Elliott (scr), 1: L. R. Hook (33yds), 2; A. Kerrisk (7yds), 3. Time, 10s. A great finish, Elliott rushing up to win by inches. 880 YARDS HANDICAP W. Watt (58yds), 1; C. Scown (38yds), 2; R. Kirkwood (lSyds), 3. W. Watt took the lead from the start, and passing the stand the first time was running about 10 yards ahead cf Scown. Approaching the hospital bend in the last round Scown took the lead, bui Watt challenged him in the straight and won the race on the tape by inches. 100 YARDS LADIES' HANDICAPMiss E. Heron (43yds), 1; Miss V. K. Gallagher (syds), 2; Miss D. Morgan (6yds), 3. A good finish. Won by inches. 220 YARDS HURDLES D. Kerr-Taylor (owes 2yds), 1; G._ W. Shirley (owes Byds), 2. Time, 23 4-ss. ONE MILE CYCLE First Heat.—J. IT. Wade (scr), 1; F. C. Henwood (50yds), 2; A. W. Pinker t6oyds), 3. Time, 2m 2G 3-ss. Second Heat. —S. Baird (120yds), 1: K. Spragg (165yds), 2; F. Casey (30yds), 3. Third Heat.’—W. Bray (40yds), 1: W. Dwight (70yds), 2; E. A. Cleaver (165yds), 3. Time, 2m 29 3-ss. Fourth ITeat. —K. J. Mathieson (60yds), 1; C. Galbraith (45yds), 2; J. Whitten 2. Time. 2m 24 3-ss. Final.—S. Baird (120yds), 1; J. M.ade (scr), 2; G. Galbraith (453 ds). 3. Time, 2min 29 2-ssee. HALF-MILE CYCLE HANDICAP First heat.—J. H. Wade (scr) 1; F. J. Casey (20yds) 2; E. M. Taylor (oOyds), 3. Time, 70 3-ssec. Second heat—C. G. Galbraith (2oyds) 1; A. Pinker (30yds), 2; K. Matheison (,20yds) 3. Time, 71 l-ssec. Third heat. —K. Spragg (Soyds), 1; W. Bray (25yds), 2; L. Pinfold (45yds), o. Time, 70sec. x „ ___ Fourth heat.—W. Dwight (353'ds), 1; w - Sammons (80yds), 2; S. Litchfield (-ayds) Fifth heat —E.’ A. Cleaves (85yds), 1: A. C. Watts (50yds), 2; J. WTutten (2d vds) 3. Time, 69 l-ssec. _ , Pinal. —K. Spragg (85yds), 1; Wade (scr), 2: C. G. Galbraith (253'ds), 3. Time, 60 2-ssec. THROWING DISCUS D. H. Grant (108 ft 9in), 1: A. Elliott (107 ft 9in), 2; O. Dunlop (106 ft), 3. 440YDS. HANDICAP H. O. Garlick (183'ds), 1; T. Henry (scr) 2; D. Kerr-Taylor (18yds), 3. Time, PUTTING 16LB. SHOT O. Dunlop (Bft), 39ft lOin, 1: S. Sheaf fSft), 35ft 3in., 2; T. Elliott (10ft 6in), 35ft, 3. 220YDS. HANDICAP First heat.—L. H. Meredith (4yds), 1: A. J. Elliott (scr) and H. C. Garlick (2 yds), dead heat, 2. Time, 22 2-ssec. Second heat. —K. H. Couper (12yds). 1: L. R. Hook (7yds), 2; G. Bartleet (14yds) 3. Time, 24 2-ssec. Final.—k. H. Couper (12yds). 1: A. J. Elliott (scr) 2; H. Garlick (10yds), 3. Time, 22sec. MILE RUN HANDICAP i F. L. Whitten <1 OOyds). 1; C. Scown i (SOyds). 2; J. Savidan (scr), 3. Time, j 4nxiu 26 3-ssec.