AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 877, 22 January 1930, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PAPATOETOE MEETING NOTES ON THE PERFORMERS The athletic and cycling carnival presented by the Papatoetoe Athletic and Cycling Club, at Papatoetoe, on Saturday, was deserving of greater patronage from the public. A fair crowd, however, turned out, and it was provided with the best programme seen in the district. With New Zealand champion runners and cyclists competing, it was certainly a great programme. Xinety-three competitors took part in the meeting, big fields starting in all of the events. The officials of the club are to be congratulated on the very successful meeting. The heaviest burden was carried by the club president. Mr. W. J. Hindman, -who supervised the running of the lengthy programme. He was ably assisted by Mr. H. C. Webster, secretary, Messrs. C. G. Culpan and Cleaver, starters, Messrs. A. G. Grin ter, R. C. Wallace and Gedye, judges, and Mr. R. MacLeod, timekeeper. G. Rose won the 100 yards maiden handicap with a bit to spare from C. Drum, who also ran a good race. R. Bennett was right up in third place, with P. Anderson, the scratch man, close behind him. G. Rose has just joined upi with the Papatoetoe Club. The four mentioned are all promising runners. The 100 yards open handicap was noted for close finishes. D. F. Gardiner (9yds), just scraped home in the first heat from A. J. Elliott (scr.), in lOsec. V. R. Walker (3yds), won the second heat nicely from X. F. Funnell (7yds), in similar time. K. Carter (10yds), beat L. H. Meredith (31yds), in the good time of 9 3-ssec. Carter won the final from A. J. Elliott, with Millward almost in line in the great time of 9 4-ssec. Elliott imt up a wonderful performance. The time gave some indication of the excellent condition of the track. Carter is a good boy, and more will be heard of him. The 220 yards handicap provided a great contest. D. F. Gardiner (2Lyds), shewed good form in beating V. R. Walker (7yds), with Ker r-Taylor (10yds), third. The whole field was bunched at the bottom of the straight. The second heat saw L. H. Meredith (7yds), win nicely from E. D. Kingley (16yds), with G. W. Millward (20yds), right up third. A. J. Elliott (scr.), got a bad passage. The final saw Millward judge his run nicely, and win by two yards from Keagley, with Meredith third. Millward is promising. Seven women faced the starter in the 100 yai'ds handicap. Miss G. Billington (2yds), ran an excellent race, winning by a yard from Miss J. Cowling (3yds), with the scratch girl, Miss T. Richards, right alongside her in third place. The other four starters were all close up. The placed girls are all fine runners. About ,20 runners started in the halfmile. It was a good race. J. Jones, a maiden runner, off the 75 yards mark, ran a good race, winning nicely from W. A. Briggs (60yds), with E. B. Smith (35yds), third. X. F. Cooper (scr.), ran a good race to the straight, but was not within striking distance. Another good field started in the mile handicap, and a good finish resulted. The winner turned up in A. Bellingham, off 125yds, who showed a surprising turn of speed over the last 75 yards. C. Scown (40yds). ran a good race into second place, while J. Jones (170yds), who had previously won the half-mile, did well to gain third place. X. F. Cooper, from scratch, gave a great exhibition, finishing close up fourth. CYCLING EVENTS

The half-mile novice cycle race was won fairly comfortably by A. Culpan (10yds). G. Jones (75yds) and S. Pinfold (10yds) filled the places. C. Culpan, scr., was well up fourth . The one-mile cycle handicaps provided a stirring contest. J. Whitten (55yds) rode a fine race, and, slipping the field 200 yards from home, he won fairly comfortably from X. Casey (115 yds), with E. J. Avery (130yds) in third place. J. H. Wade and A. Mackie both started from scratch, but failed to gather up th<3 field.

The two-mile cycle handicap was run in two heats. The first was won by E. J. Avery (210yds) from N. Casey (180yds). J. Whitten (95yds) was an easy winner in the second heat from P. J. Casey (55yds). In the final, Whitten did not complete the distance, the winner turning up in Avery, with N. Casey second, and E. Mullane third. It was a great race. The three-mile cycle handicap was a real thriller, a fitting finale to a great day’s sport. J. H. Wade and A. Mackie both started from scratch, but Wade fell in the first mile. In the first two miles, Mackie was noticed gradually overhauling the field, his riding being superb. Whitten, in the middle of the field, with A. W. Pinker and. P. J. Casey, were all riding well. With four laps to go, Avery was still carrying the field along. With half a mile to go, Mackie closed up on the field, with Whitten, Pinker, Avery, and Casey in a bunch. Halfway round the last lap Whitten went to the front to be immediately challenged by Mackie, who took the lead. Coming round the bend 200yds from home, both were clapping on the pace. Mackie turned into the straight in front, with Whitten trailing him. Showing a great burst of speed, Whitten challenged Mackie in the run to the judge, eventually winning by half a wheel, amid great excitement. SOME PERSONAL NOTES G. Rose, who won the maiden, is a new member of the club, and is very promising. C. Drum is also a newcomer, and will do well. R. Bennett ran well from a back mark, as did P. Anderson from scratch. With training, both the latter will do better. D. P. Gardiner, although he won two heats, was not at his best. A. Dawson got into the final, but was disappointing. V. R. Srnythema.n was not in form, and can do better. IC. Carter was at his best, and is going to be good. V. R. Walker ran well, but* was on a tight mark. This also applies to L. 11. Meredith. D. Kerr-Taylor was, as usual, in at the finish at each start. G. W. Millward ran consistently well. A. J. Elliott was near his best, and his two runs in the 100yds were great performances. X. P. Funnell ran good races. E. G. Kedgley ran a good race in the furlong, into second place. J. Jones, a local beginner, accounted for the half-mile in good style, and also ran third in the mile. He will improve. W. A. Briggs was favourite in the half-mile, but he had to be content with second place. E. B. Smith did well to get up into third position. A. Bellingham, another local maiden runner, won the mile 'with a good run over the last 70yds, and is another find for the club. C. Scown put up a fine performance to gain second place. CYCLISTS J. Whitten was the star performer on tho day, winning four out of his five starts. His win in the threemile, after a stirring finish with A. Mackie, was a great performance. A. Mackie gave a fine exhibition of riding, and without doubt is a great wheelman. J. H. Wade was riding well with Mackie in his th.ree starts, but had a day off; he fell twice. E. J. Avery was in good form, and rode well in all his starts. X. Casey was consistent, gaining two seconds in the finals. P. J. Casey, H. R. Dwight, L. Dwight, and E. Mullane. all rode well, while C. K. Galbraith rode a good race into second place in his mile heat. A. W. Pinker did well to get to within six lengths of J. Whitten and Mackie in the three-mile event.