PELTZER ACCLAIMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 893, 10 February 1930, Page 13

PELTZER ACCLAIMED

FINE PERFORMANCE IN WELLINGTON

SENSATIONAL RUNNING Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday, j the athletic meeting: held this afternoon | at the Basin Reserve, where Dr. Otto I Peltzer, holder of the world’s record ; for the half-mile: Gerhard Emton, his I youthful compatriot: and George Gold- ! lns\ the brilliant Xew South Wales 440yds champion, were seen in action. Every corner of the ground and every vantage point was occupied by people anxious to see the great German. Peltzer competed in two events, and turned each into as sensational and thrilling a contest as has ever been witnessed in Wellington. His first race was an invitation SSO yards shortlimit handicap, in which he conceded 10 yards to the next best competitor. The field was a strong one, composed of the best half-mile runners available, and included the recent find, D. Evans, of Wanganui, who ran from ! the 10yds mark. I Peltzer won this event magnificently, taking lmin 5G 3-ssec. He eased up slightly in the last ten yards, which might have made a. difference of one-fifth of a second in the time. His second appearance was in the last event of the afternoon, and was sensational in every way. This was the special relay, in which Peltzer was to run a Zap of 440 yards against Golding. In Australia this particular contest was found impossible to arrange. It was one of the greatest 440yds races ever run in Australia or Hew Zealand. REMARKABLE TIMES The lap time from pistol to changeover was clocked at 47sec dead, by one of the timekeepers, and the lap was won by Peltzer after an epic race. I he world’s record for 440yds is 47 2-5 sec,, and the Australian and New Zealand record is 4Siseo. The lap today was officially 430yds from clock to change-over. Golding was ljyds behind at change-over. In the 440yds invitation race, GoldJ ng, off scratch, was beaten by rather more than the five yards he conceded l ° Ik T- Wemiag in the excellent time ?q4° x S emin S has held since lih7 the best New Zealander’s performance of GOsec for the distance. It was a fine race, with a strong field, and the competitors were well applauded on its conclusion. Emton won the long Jump handicap, came third m the high Jump, but was unplaced in the 100yds Junior invitation race. His performances were very popular with the crowd, which made a demonstration after his plucky and excellent performance in the high jump. The 100yds race was held up for a few minutes In order to wait for Emton, who was competing in the high Jimp. When the lad went over, he did not grasp the fact that the race was the one' in which he was to do his best. He thought It was a preliminary. His I

start in consequence was not good, and although he strained every nerve and finished strongly, he failed to secure a place. The weather was excellent. A light northerly breeze was blowing, and had 'an undoubted effect of Peltzer’s pex- ] formances. ' There was a field of 10 for the SSO j yards race. W. Ogg. a local runner. ! started five yards in front of Evans. who in turn was 10 yards in front of j Peltzer. Ogg took the lead very soon, i and the rest of the field trailed behind j with Peltzer well to the rear of them I all. The ease with which Peltzer was covering the ground was quickly I noticeable. | Several hundred yards had been covered, and Peltzer was still in the rear, but with about 650 yards gone he be- | gan his spurt. It was hardly a spurt in the ordinary sense, but was simply an amazing lengthening of stride, which brought gasps and cheers from the crowd. The leaders put in their last ounce, but for the final 200 yards of the race Peltzer went up surely for a win. When he passed the leader in front of the northern end of the stand, pandemonium broke loose. The German athlete flashed across the tape in the midst of tumultuous applause. Ogg, who had done well, came second a few yards behind, and L. Hack (Masterton) finished third. The time was lmin 56 3-ssee. At the end of the afternoon the relay was staged. The teams consisted of Dr. Peltzer, Gerhard Emton, and T. Mexted (Wellington), against George Golding, W. Tuckwell (Welland F. Stephenson (champion ol Wellington College). With the exception of Peltzer and Golding, the j runners were juniors of the first rank. ! 'L, el H er and Go,d *ng ran the first lap * ya,rds ’ and the others took laps ! or 200 yards. Peltzer broke ahead of the pistol, ! and the pair were recalled. Then the i magnificent race started. Golding led away, and kept liis lead of three or lour yards. As the distance flew bv the crowd was waiting for the remarkable lengthening of stride from the German, and a roar went up as he opened out in spite of the hitherto break-neck pace shortly after the halfway mark had been passed. From here to the end was the fastest effort ever seen here in a similar event. Once again Peltzer passed his man, amid cheers, as the two came into the straight, and when the exchange was made Peltzer had beaten Golding by a yard and a-half. Emton and Mexted won the race fairly easilv. Ih© time was lmin 37 4-ssec. Hundreds of people rushed across 1 the grounds to where Peltzer was standing with Emton, and the scene I vas one of the wildest enthusiasm. Into ‘lie middle of the crowd came Golding, full of congratulations for the great German, and the Mayor. Mr. G. A. Troup, said informally a few words within the hearing of those nearby, llie demonstration was remarkable. Peltzer was extremely happy, as the people insisted on shouldering him and cheering him to the echo. A similar honour was done the sporting Golding.^ Notable performances were put up by the cyclist, ,F. W. Grose (Canterbury), who won all the three match cycle races over half-mile, mile, and three miles. His times were respectively lmin lOsec, 2min 27 l-ssee, and 7min 42 4-ssec. T. Oakley (Wairarapa) and Ij. Pearce ('Wellington.) were second and third respectively in each of these events.