ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

VISIT OF SOUTH AFRICANS.

MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

HANDICAPS PROVE TOO GREAT. The South African athletes, who are touring the Dominion, competed in a sports meeting at New Plymouth yesterday, when athletes from all parts of TaranaKi took part in an interesting meeting.

For some time past amateur athletics have been practically dead in New Plymouth, but this year a number of enthusiasts got together and revived the New Plymouth Athletic Club, and thanks to their good offices fhe local public were given an opportunity of seeing the noted South African team in action here. The visit of iKe South Africans is going to give a new interest in athletics here, as could be gleaned from the enthusiasm displayed by The crowd numbering nearly 1500 that assembled at the High School grounds yesterday. There was a decided improvement in the running of the local amateurs, and it was quite evident from their display that they have been training seriously so as not to be outclassed by their doughty opponents. Their improvement was so market that TJTey were yards better than the form on which they were handicapped, with the result TiTat the visitors were beaten in the handicap events. The arrangements for the sports were very good. The ground was in splendid order, and as is usual in everything entrusted to the High School authorities, the arrangements were complete. A feature was the excellent seating arrangements, everyone Having a good view of the racing throughout. Remarking on the condition of fhe sward, a visitor informed one of the officials that in South Airica if they had grass like that they would not permit people to walk over it; it would be treated as a park. Weather conditions were not perfect, a strong north-wester blowing across the around, detrimentally affecting the times in the sport events. The visitors were hardly seen at their best, one or two being slightly indisposed, whilst Johnson, their best half miler, was unable to start. They were given a good reception and though they were not successful in any of the handicap events, their tine eiiorts were greatly appreciated. Keen interest was manifested in the first appearance of the South Africans in th? 100yds.. in which Kinsman. Bukes, and Ayres-Oosterlaak were competing, and in which they 'wer ? giving away up to 13 yards. This proved too much, though ,hey got to within a couple of yards of the winner, Weir (of Hawera), who ran off the 7yd?.. in lu4-ssecs. —a good performance against the wind. In the half-mile Leathern was the only South African representative, and ne was only able to get fourth, doing the journey in 2min. 4secs. In the 220yds. Kinsman and Ayres-Oosterlaak were each placed in their heats, but in the final Kinsman got close up fourth. In the 440y<ls. Bukes made the pace very fast at the start, but was unable to finish the distance. He would almost h£ve had to put up a world’s record to beat Malcolmson, who won off the 50yds in 43 2-ssecs. Leathern withdrew from the mile to reserve himself for the rc- ‘ lay face, m which he ran half a milc i Here the visitors gave a taste of the’r quality, anu by defeating the three opposing teams eas.’y, showed what they would have don? with the ’ocal men off the same mark.

The special prize donated by Mr. V. Dalgliesh for the most points gained in open events resulted: E. Scott and D. W. Malcolmson, 6 points, dead-heat first; G. 11. Weir, 5 points, second;’ L. L. Frethey, 4 points, third. Mr. W. H. Moyes, as starter, did his work well, as did Messrs. J. McLeod, E. Whittle, and Dr. Fookes. in fact, all the officials worked hard and contributed their quota to the success of the gathering. They comprised: Referee, Mr. L. Webster; track stewards, Messrs. Stagpoole, A. L. Humphries, F. J. Egcrleton, and G. Bertrand; standard judge, Mr. L. A. Nolan; call stewards, Messrs. Pope and Roper; marksmen, Messrs. Diprose and Wynyard; Press steward, Mr. A L Moore; result stewards, Messrs. McEHroy and Crimp; clerk of course, Mr. E. Jackson; timekeepers, Messrs. Dalgleish, Bennett and R. J. Mason (Christchurch) ; survey and record steward, Mr. F. Willis. Mr. A. Papps, the acting secretary, is to be congratulated on the manner in which he carried out his duties. Detailed results are:— , * j

OPEN EVENTS. 100 Yards.—G. H. Weir (Hawera), 7yds, 1; E. Scott (Hawera), 9yds, 2; E J. Whittle (New Plymouth). 9yds, 3. Also started JBukes (South Africa), -T. K - Ayres * o ?2 Stet ? laak (South Africa), H. F. Kinsman Africa) scr , T. L. V. Hoffmann (New Plymouth) Byds, M. Gray (Hawera) llyds, °. «• Boswell (New Plymouth) 13yds. AU hoppe d off together. Whittle led over the first seventyfive yards, but in the final stages the> fie d hunched, and the nine men finished within three yards of the winner. Weir beat Scott by inches, Whittle being Inches further back. The handicap proved too much for the '’’ sltnrc? > who just caught their men on the post. Oosterlaak, Kinsman and Bukes finished in that order within iAches of each other. Time, 10 4-ssec. , „ 880 Yards Handicap.— l>- W. Lovell (New Plymouth). 80yds, 1; R. Brewster (New Plymouth), 80yds 2; L. L. Frefhey (New Plymouth), 85yds. 3. Also started: D. A. Leathern (South Africa) scr., G. E. Jones (Hawera) 55yds, T. L. V. Hoffmann (New Plymouth) 55vds. J. D. Willis (New Plymouth) 60yds, J. H. Nicholson (New Plymouth) 00 yards, C. H. Stevenson (New Plymouth) 85 yards. Again the handicap proved too much Lovell, running strongly, won by 20 yards from Brewster, who just beat Frethey for second place. Leathern was* fifteen yards further back. Time, Imin 58 2-ssec. Leathern’s time was 2mln 4sec.

220 Yards Handicap.—First heat: E. Scott (Hawera). 14yds. 1: D. W. Malcolmson (New Plymouth), 26yds, 2; H. P. Kinsman (South Africa), scr., 3. Also started: J. D. Willis (New Plymouth) 15yds, J. D. Mackay 26yds. Won by about two yards. Kinsman just got up on the tape in time to beat Mackay for third position. Time. 24sec. Second heat: G. H. Weir (Hawera) 12yds, 1; C. H. Stevenson (New Plymouth), 26yds. 2: J. K. AyresOosterlaak (South Africa), scr., 3. Also started: G. R. Boswell (New Plymouth) 25yds, L. w. Lovell (New Plymouth) 25yds. Won by about four yards. Oosterlaak got up with liis field early, and was content to qualify for the final. Time, 24 l-ssec. Final : D.W. Malcolmson (New Plymouth) 1, E. Scott (Hawera) 2, G. H. Weir (Hawera) 3. All qualified started. The scratch men moved off smartly and rapidly reduced the gap between them and the front rankers, Kipsman proving the faster. The handicaps, however, proved too great. Malcolmson (who has improved wonderfully) winning by a good yard from Scott, who was two yards in front of Weir, with Kinsman two feet away. Oosterlaak did not finish. Time, 23 2-ssec.

440 Yards Open.—D. W. Malcolmson (New Plymouth), 60yds, 1: E. Scott (Hawera), 24 yds, 2: J. D. Willis (New Plymouth), 30yds, 3, J. W. Bukes (South Africa)

scr., J. H. Nicholson (New Plymouth) 40yds, R. Brewster (New Plymouth), J. D. Mackay (New Plymouth) 45yds, C. H. Stevenson (New Plymouth) 50yds. Bukes set out after his field at a great pace, and had passed some of the back markers in the first 150 yards. He was unable to sustain the effort, and pulled up. Malcolmson, running strongly, had no trouble in winning by over 20 yards, with Willis several yards further back. Time, 48 2-ssec.

One Mile.—L. L. Frethey (New Plymouth), 180yds, 1; F. C. Kelly (New Plymouth), 14Q yds, 2. Also started: D. W. Malcolmson (New Plymouth) 170yds, J. D. Mackay (New Plymouth) 190yds. Only the placed men finished. Frethey, who is a strong runner but too apt to look behind, won by over fifty yards. Time, 4mln 32 2-ssec.

Relay Race, 4 men aside, over 880yds, 440 yds, 220yds and 220yds.—South Africa (Leathern, Emery, Oosterlaak and Kinsman) 1, Hawera (Jones, F. C. Kelly,- Gray, Weir) 2, New Plymouth No. 2 (Lovell, Brewster, Boswell, Stevenson) 3. Also started: New Plymouth No. 1 (Nicholson, Malcolmson, W’illis, Hoffmann). Leathern easily established a break of over 60 yards from Jones, the Hawera representative, and each of the South Africans further increased the gap, finally winning bj’ over 150 yards from Hawera, with New Plymouth No. 1 10 yards further back. Time, 3min 56sec.

100 Yards Handicap.—First heat: T. Taunt (Central) scr., 1; F. Davis (Central), 7yds, 2; W. Lee (Central), 7yds, 3. Also started: S. Black (syds), E. Arnold (9yds),.A. Hutchen (10yds), all of N.P.H.S. Won easily. Time, 12 3-ssec. Second heat: R. Taylor (N.P. H.S.), syds, 1; H. Fookes (N.P.H.S.), 7yds, 2; R. Barlow (N.P.H.S.), 7yds, 3. Also started: T. Boyle (Central) 4yds. A close finish. Time, 14sec. Third heat: C. Gilmour (N.P.H.S.), scr., 1: Warner (Central), scr., 2; S. Allhusen (N.P.H.S.), 9y<is, 3. Also started: W. Bowie (N.P.H.S.) 7yds, R. List (N.P.H.S.) 7yds, T. Bellringer (N.P.H.S.) Syds. Won comfortably. Time, 13 4-ssec. Final: T. Taunt (Central) 1, C. Gilmour (N.P. H.S.) 2, F. Davis (Central) 3. A great contest between the two scratch men, who early caught their fields. Taunt running strongly and winning by two yards, with Davis close up third. Time, 13 l-ssec.

440 Yards Handicap.—T. Taunt (Central) scr., 1; C. Gilmour (N.P.H.S.), scr., 2; F. Davis (Central), 25yds, 3, Also started: D. Carter (Central) 10yds, J. Warner (Central) 18yds, H. Fookes (N.P.H.S.), R. List (N.P.H.S.) 20yds, R. Jury (N.P.H.S.), T. Bellringer (N.P.H.S.), A. Hutchen (N.P.H.S.) 30yds. The scratch men caught their field about 150 yards from the post, and a great race ensued between Taunt and Gilmour, the former gaining the verdict by almost two s’ards, with Davis some distance further back. Time, Imin 3sec.

Relay Race: four boys half lap each.—Central (Taunt, Boyle, Taylor, Warner) 1, New Plymouth High School (Gilmour, Fookes, Fletcher, Barlow) 2, West End (Haughey, Standing, Christiansen, Prior) 3 This proved another great race between Taunt and Gilmour over the final 220 s’ards, the former winning. Time, 2mln 15sec.

220 Yards Handicap.—First heat: M. Gray (Hawera Technical School), scr., 1; L. Abbott (N.P.H.S.), Byds, 2; H. McNeill (N.P. H.S.), 30yds, 3. Also started: L. Dinniss (10yds), C. Dinniss (16yds), S. Hutchen (18 yds), all of N.P.H.S. Won nicely by three yards. Time. 26 l-ssec. Second heat: H. W. Brown (N.P.H.S.) syds, 1; G. Bayly (N.P. H.S.), 28yds, 2; J. D. Mackay (N.P.H.S.), 9yds, 3. Also started: A. Moyes 12yds, V. Mitchlns’Yn 16yds, S. Fookes 18yds (all of N.P.H.S . Won by a couple of yards. Time, 26 2-ssec. Third heat: A. J. Dickson (N.P. T.C.), 9yds, 1; W. O’Byrne (N.P.T.C.), syds, 2; G. Morey (N.P.H.S.), 16yds, 3. Also started: H. Rickard 14yds, A. Brodie 16yds, B. Mahraj 18yds, all of N.P.H.S. A close finish. Time, 26 4-ssec. Final :.H. W. Brown (N.P.H.S.) 1, A. J. Dickson (N.P.T.C.) 2, M. Gray (Hawera T.S.) 3. All qualified started. This proved a . great race. Brown took the lead about 70 yards from the post, and in a great run home reached the tape about 1% yards in front of Dickson, Gray, the scratch man, making a great effort and getting within a foot of Dickson. Time, 26 2-5

880 Yards Handicap.—L. Abbott (30yds) I, Moorhead (50yds) 2, F. Knuckey (60yds) 3. Also started: A. Rumball (10yds), R. Brewster (20yds), J. Brodie (25yds), L. Dinniss (28yds), H. Rickard (30yds), W. Alexander (40yds), V. Mltchinson (45yds), G. Morey (50yds), W. Brewster (80yds) and G. Webb (80yds), all of N.P.H.S. Abbott and Knuckey kept together for some time, but over the last 200 yards the former drew away and won by about 15 yards from Moorhead, who beat Knuckey by 10 yards for second place. Rumball was inches away fourth. Time, 2min

Subsequently the visitors were entertained to afternoon tea by Mr. Moyes. They were later taken through the Recreation sports ground by Messrs. J. McLeod, A. L. Humphries, G. E. Jago, E. Jackson, and A. Smith. They left later by motor car for Wanganui, where they will compete to-day.