CHAMPIONS IN ACTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 317, 30 March 1928, Page 7

CHAMPIONS IN ACTION

Athletic Carnival at Domain TO-MORROW’S BIG GATHERING AT the big athletic carnival to be staged on the Auckland Domain to-morrow afternoon, followers of the sport in Auckland will be treated to one of the finest gatherings of cash runners and cyclists promoted in the city for some time. Cracks in both branches of the sport, hailing from all parts of the Dominion, will be seen in action, and included among the wheelmen will be the renowned Phil O’Shea, of Christchurch.

THREE seasons ago the champion cash athletes and cyclists of the Dominion raced the tracks of the Blandford Park Stadium in a series of the finest gatherings staged in Auckland for many years. Since then there has been a lull in meetings for cash athletes. But the rank and file of fandom who, during that time have been presented with very little indeed to keep them in touch with the sport, will to-morrow once more enter the realm of real enthusiasts; for the array of crack athletes and cyclists who will be seen in action will give the carnival a real championship flavour, so long lost to this city. A GREAT SPRINTER

With Don Maclennan, the slickest sprinter to pound any track in the Dominion for some seasons, out of action with an injured leg, F. B. Toms running off the back mark in all the sprint events on Saturday, may be considered the champion of the country at present. His last outstanding per-

formance was at the big cash meeting at Taihape, when he romped home off the back mark in the 120yds Sheffield Handicap, defeating some very classy runners. On Saturday in the 120yds he is off a virtual scratch mark of 3yds and thus his chances look bright, although certainly not as Prig at as they appear in the quarter-mile event, in which he rushes away off a virtual scratch mark of 22yds. Many think that this will be the race for Toms, as he is a strong finisher. It is not expected, however, that he will manage to get up in time in the 220yds to do much.

D. Molesworth, who made no bones about the 75yds and the 120yds forced handicap at Taihape, looks a very likely member off the 7yd. *nark in the 120yds. Off 14yds in the 220yds it does not look so good for him, but there is every possibility that he will be one of those to do things in the quarter, with a start of 32yds up his sleeve. Still dabbling/ in champions we have A. Watson and Harrs' - Hudson, the

Auckland champion. Watscn proved his worth when he came out to win the 100yds and 440yds at Taihape, and also to run second to Toms in the big race. At Taihape, Toms gave him 3yds in the Sheffield race and beat him by inches. To-morrow Watson gets 4£yds off Toms, so he looks to have a good chance of keeping in front of Toms to-morrow. Hudson, however, after the performances put up by him at Blandford Park Stadium,, is not likely to be forgotten by Auckland fans for some time. Off 9yds in the 120yds, 20yds in the furlong and 32yds in the quartermile, he looks just the man to come out and do big things. He appears well treated in the 440yds. where he certainly has a royal chance, and unless he has gone off a bit in the meantime it will take an exceptionally good man to lead him home in the 120yds. R. McNamara is not likely to have much to do with the 120yds off B£yds, but looks quite good for the 220yds off the 18yds mark. The best of the limit men include H. Carran, who clinched the Bombay Cup. but to-mcrrow, running off 11yds in the dash places him on a very tight mark, and he will have to show much improved form to romp in for a place. Maloney, getting away off 11yds in the 120 and 20 in the furlong, appears to have the brightest chances of those to get out first. Adams, an ex-amateur, also has a good show off 12yds in the sprint, if he can reproduce his amateur form. AMONG THE CYCLISTS The half-mile cycle event timed to start at 2 p.m. sharp will set the ball rolling. In this event there is a a field of 27. The limit of 120yds seems big. but when there are such riders as O’Shea and Henderson, they will have to be considered as having a chance. Should the limit riders go all out the winners should be found in F. Lowndes, K. Rae, I. George or P. Rickman. The one mile is a favourite distance with the scratch men, and even allowing for the limit, 250yds, it is possible for tl*em to get up if the race is run slow. The placed men in the final should come from I. George, M. J. Randrup and P. O’Shea. THE BIG RACE The big race of the day, the Auckland wheel race of two miles, carrying with it £2O in prize money, is a very open race. The two heats contain the 22 contestants, and the gaps are such that with all entrants toeing the mark a great race should result. Those whose chances are fancied are P. O’Shea, S. Hayes, M. J. Randrup. or Jac.k Henderson. Seventeen starters will take the field in the last race of the day, the threemile, and with the riders all more or less tired, anything might happen. Of the front-markers W. Francis, if well, will be out in the lead ail the way. He is a most determined rider and with such good ones round him as W. Hills, D. Storey, P. Rickman and N. Healey, the placed men should be found here. Should a big contingent of back-markers start, the finish should be an interesting one, as with such riders as O’Shea and Henderson together on the mark, a great exhibition of pacing each other should be witnessed. Over the last lap there should be something doing if P. O’Shea, Jack Henderson, S. McCann, S. N. Powell and J. Harcourt turn into the back stretch together. On a grass track it would be no surprise to see J. Haroourt win this