CENTENNIAL MILE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1940, Page 3

CENTENNIAL MILE

EASY WIN FOR BOOT. ATHLETIC EVENTS AT WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association. I WELLINGTON This Day. To the accompaniment of applause from a crowd that was stirred by a splendid race, V. P. Boot, the British Empire and New Zealand half-mile champion and record-holder, scored a brilliant victory in the centennial on.emile invitation run at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, on Saturday afternoon. The time, 4.15 4-5, was only 2 1-5 outside Randolph Rose's Now Zealand record, and considering that rain had fallen on the track for two hours and that the race was run in a steady downpour, the performance was full of merit.

Boot, who is now in the Trentham Mobilisation Camp, won by 10 yards from the Auckland champion. S. J. Wade, Cecil Matthews, Canterbury, the British Empire Games three and six miles champion, was third. C. Dickie (Wellington), who set a solid pace, was fourth, and W. A. C. Pullar (Masterton) was a disappointing, last. These were the five starters. Probably never before has New Zealand had such a fine collection 'of milers in any one season. Dickie was in front for the first two laps, and Matthews took command at the third. Two hundred yards from the finish Boot came forward with a great burst to mow the field down. The first lap was done in 63 4-5, the half-mile in 2.9 2-5, the three-quarter-mile in 3.13 4-5, and the full distance in 4.15 4-5. The other chief results were:— 100 Yards Senior Handicap.—Final: Prendergast, 1; Gallagher, 2; Gunn, 3. Time, 10 1-5. 100 Yards Junior Handicap. —Final: Hocquard. 1; Kissel, 2; Norton, 3. Time. 10 1-5. 440 Yards Handicap—First heat: W. J. Winter (22yds), 1; F. Taylor (9yds), 2; G. Quinn (scr), 3. Time. 50 4-5. Second heat: W. Evensen (12yds), 1; C. Robinson (scr). 2; W. M. Sellar (15 yds), 3. Time, 49 4-5. Third heat; A. Cochrane (12yds), 1; J. P. Eastwood (scr), 2. Time, 58 3-5. Final: Evensen, 1; Eastwood, 2; Cochrane, 3. Time. 50. One Mile Walk Handicap—N. McCarthy (scr). 1; F. Dumble (150yds), 2; D. Sinclair (130yds), 3. Time, 6.54.