AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 930, 25 March 1930, Page 13

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

EAST TAMAKI SPORTS COMMENTS ON THE MEETING ' Favoured with ideal weather con- { ditions, the annual sports meeting of j the East Tamaki Amateur Sports Club | attracted a large attendance of spec- | and good fields of competitors ; iaced the starter in each e\ ‘;nt. The | programme at times was allowed to drag, and dusk was falling before the last event was decided, but the spleni did exhibitions given in both the ' athletic and hunting events more than i counterbalanced the delays experienced. A popular feature of this club with tho competitors is the delivery of the orders for the prizes to the winners on the day of the meeting. This procedure is in striking contrast to the treatment meted out by some of the larger and more prosperous clubs, and was favourably commented upon by the competitors. Owing to the disqualification of the members of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club, three cycling events had • to k e cancelled on account of the lack |of nominations. The club was unfortunate in not being able to stage these races, as they are always very p opular among the suburban enthusiasts. Negotiations were in progress between the East Tamaki Club and trio New Zealand Centre up to the day prior to the meeting. BELLINGHAM'S FINE PERFORMANCES In the athletic events, A. Bellingham, a local competitor, was the star performer. Ho won the half-mile handicap, for the third year in succession, the Potter Handicap of 120 yards, for local runners, tied for first place in the high jump, and was second in the hop. step and jump. He acquitted himself well in all of his performances, and was not greatly troubled. If he indulged in systematic training and made a few more appearances, he should go far. The star event of the meeting, the East Tamaki Handicap, of 120 vards, for a handsome cup valued at £5, was won by A. Dawson, a popular member of the Papatoetoe Club. He was liberally treated by being placed on the 15yd mark, but in both the heat and . he showed good judgment in his finish. The latter event was a great tussle between the winner and X. F. Funnell off the 12yds mark, and 11. C. Willey, who was on Byds. Inches separated the three placed men, in the above order. E. C. Barker ran well in the halfmile handicap oft 25 yards, and filled second place, close up. j The finish of the 220 yards open handicap was closely contested, G. McLeod, off 14 yards, gaining the decision from G. T. Mitchell, 22 yards, by inches. The rest of the field was very handy, bunched together, and the judges found some difficulty in giving the decision. The 120 yards hurdle handicap was a gift to B. M. Murray on the five yards mark, who gave a faultless display to win easing up by about eight yards. R. Callinan, from 4 yards behind, filled second place, with KerrTayior, six yards behind, third. MEREDITH IN FORM L. H. Meredith, on the two yards mark, showed good form and judgment in the 440 yards handicap. When more than half the distance had been covered, he had the field in hand, and kept in it good position till reach the straight, when he put in a good sprint to get the decision over G. T. Mitchell, 32 yards, by inches. He was clucked at 52 3-ssec over the distance. Tho high jump was one of the most keenly contested events of the day. J. W. Allen on two inches, and A. Bellingham on eight inches, could not be separated at sft 9in, and for third place E. Howarth, five inches, and R. Callinan, six inches, tied at sft 7in. The only cycling event, the half-mile handicap, for local riders, was won by G. Jones from the scratch mark, who beat his club mate, F. Brain (20 yards), by a couple of lengths. Jones Ifad the field well in hand soon after the first lap had been completed, and he put in a good sprint on turning into tho straight and passed the post at a good clip. HUNTING EVENTS The hunting events staged by this club are always popular ones, and some of the exhibitions given are up to the standard of anything to be seen in any of the four large centres. Although the entries were not as numerous on tliis occasion as have been seen before, the exhibitions were well up to previous standard. The blue riband of the meeting, the open hunters’ competition, for £ 5 and a silver cup valued at £lO, was won by Miss Phyllis Weston’s Bluelight, which was ridden by Mr. Alex. Walker, and gave a good exhibition over all the obstacles. Bluelight also accounted for the cleverest hunter class, and Miss Weston was placed second in the best woman rider over obstacles on it. The latter event was won by Miss Una Bennett, who gave a very good exhibition. In the wire jump class, Mr. M. Wright’s Dandy gave a faultless exhibition. Mr. C. Allen’s Salvaboy and Mr. I'. M. Smith’s Merry Maic tied for second place, and in the rejump, the former was awarded the honolrs.