GREAT SUCCESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10307, 17 January 1927, Page 3

GREAT SUCCESS

AMATEUR ATHLETICS AT OVAL.

RECORDS EQUALLED AND

BROKEN. ROSE AND MISS EASTWOOD ■SHINE. PALTRIDGE AND DOUGLAS IN FORM. LAMB HAS HARD LUOK. A perfect day, a splendid course, and tliree Olympic aspirants backed up by a good field of other athletes I What else could a sports’ loving public want at a well conducted athletic meeting? And this combination of attributes favored the Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club meeting held at the Oval on Saturday. Tile track was on the hard side, due, of course, to the nature of the soil. During the afternoon occasional gusts of head wind militated slightly against the sprinters. Nevertheless, despite these inconveniences, fast times were recorded. Rose bfoke the Poverty Bay record for the mile, covering the distance in 4.38 ‘2-5. Miss Eastwood equalled her, own Poverty Bay record of 12sec. for the hundred yards on two occasions during the afternoon, and' Owen Paltridge also equalled his own Poverty Bay record of 10 l-ssec. for the hundred yards twice during the meeting. An enthusiastic and appreciative crowd of well over 2,000 persons viewed the various events, and competitors were spurred on to fresh endeavors by the ever-ready plaudits of the spectators, for the meeting went with a swing throughout, and the officials spared no effort to assure the continuity of the programme, and eveut followed event with clock-like precision.

The conduct of the meeting left little to be desired, and the efforts of the handicapper— (Mr. A. 0. Swan) were rewarded with close and exciting finishes in every event. Undoubtedly the star attractions were the two distinguished visiting athletes. Each time they appeared their efforts were closely watched by the spectators and any special effort spout a neously a pplauded. Rose more than fulfilled all expectations. His first start was in tbe half-mile, and he rapidly overhauled all his opponents. In the run for home, however, Grant McDonald proved he had more staying power than the champion, and in a dingdong finish won by three yards

amidst. tremendous enthusiasm. Rose’s second and last appearance was in the mile handicap. In tbe last lap he bad overhauled all his opponents but Glanville. In the final hundred yards the champion gave impressive evidence of his finishing powers in the longer distance, and passed his opponent, leaving him practically standing, and won easily by ten yards, his win being followed by an ovation from the crowd, for such a sensational finish lias never before been seen in Poverty Bay. Lamb, tbe Australian . champion, was not seen at bis best. In Ins first start, the mile invitation scratch race, he did not get properly going, an'd could get no nearer than fourth place. .In the "mile handicap Lamb set off at a great pace from tbe start and rapidly overhauled half the field before the first circuit bad been covered. Then, unfortunately, in taking a corner at too sharp an angle, his tyre .came off. His third start was the three mile Handicap, and all went well until 200 yards from home when the order was Douglas. E. Algie,' McMahon and Lamb. Then Algie struck a peg at the side of the. track and fell heavily, Lamb having to ride round him, and thus an oxciting finish was spoilt, Douglas winning by twenty yards from the Australian.

Flying finishes were the feature of Miss" Eastwood’s (the third Olympic aspirant) work. In the ladies’ events, however, a large number of competitors failed to line up for the pistol and poor fields resulted.

The officials responsible for the conduct of the meeting were: Judges, Messrs. H. F. Forster (chief), A. Ingram, snr., A. S. Parker and J. R. Kirk; time-keepers, Messrs. A. W. Mason, J. Harvey and AY. Wareham ; director of sports, Mr. P. Fulton, referee, Mr. C. Brown; marksman and track Stewards, Messrs. A. Rice, and W. Jenkins; lap and bell stewu ard, Mr. It. Benson; starter, Mr. L. Houlihan; handicapper, Mr A. C. Swan; call stewards, Messrs. W. Haukey and F. Herbert; Aon. secretary, Mr. 0. Paltridge. The results of the events were:— 880yds. Cycle Handicap (9). —First heat: J. Douglas (scr.) 1," N. Bai .(60yds.) 2, J. Mercer (60yds.) 3. Second heat: H.’ Swan (35vds.) I', O. Goldsmith (15yds.) 2, C. McCoy (40yds) 3. Final: J. Douglas 1, H. Swan 2, G. Goldsmith 3. Also competed: F. Pollard (20yds.), E. Algio (syds.), M. McMahon (95yds.). Fast pedalling was the feature of this event, Douglas’s time equalling the Poverty Bay record. Swan led the field until about 200 yards from the finish when Douglas came away and. in the fight for the finish, won bj two yards. Goldsmith was eight yards further back. Time, 1.12 1-5. 100yds. Ladies’ Invitation Race (3). —-Miss Eastwood (scr.) 1, Miss McDonald (6yds.) 2, Miss McCarthy (3yds) 3. Miss Eastwood’s fine burst of speed at the conclusion of the race was the feature. Time 12sec., equals Poverty Bay record. 880yds. Handicap (16); C. G. McDonald (15yds) 1, R. A. Rose, Master ton (scr.) 2, G. Ingram (80yds) 3. Also competed: G. Nicol (20yds.), E. Glanville (20yds.), C. McDonald (25yds.), A. J. Ogilvie (25yds.), R. H. Brown (30yds.), V. Blackburn (50yds) A- livingstone (55yds.), L. Smith (60yds.), &. Smith (60yds.),"V. Clouston (65yds.), B. Curran (65yds.), J. R. Witty (70yds.), J. H. Walker <lO5yds). This was cue of the surprise packets of the day. Clouston was the first runner to hold the lead for any length of time. He pegged away for one lap .and half-way round the final when he had to- give way to Ingram. Rose, taking things easy, had all this time been pacing the leaders in the ruck '* behind. He woke up at the entrance to the home bend, however, and made short work of the leaders. Here the public got the surprise ot the day. Watching Rose, few saw McDonald till lie shot to the front, and to the cheers of the crowd maintained his lead to win by about three yards, Rose easing up on the tape, it was a sensational race to a finish between the two first placed men. Ingram was several yards behind. Time, 2.1 4-5. ' v 100yds. Handicap (9). —First lieat: O. Paltridge (scr.) 1, A. Thorpe (9yds.) 2, L. Sutcliffe 3. Time, 10 l-ssec, equals Poverty Bav record. Second heat : F. Dobbie Oyds) 1, E. Forrest 2, L. Barker (9syds.), 3. Time, 10 1-5. Final: O. Paltridge 1, A. Thorpe 2, F. Dolihie 3. Also competed: B. Thompson (7\yds), W. McDonald (B)yds.), T. Cor-i-ery (Kyds). From a good start in the final Thorp? drew to the front and maintained Ins lead for over twothirds of the distance till Paltridge came up with a fine burst of speed and, in* a fighting finish, won by about six inches. Time, 10 1-sscc., equal to Poverty Bay record. Boys’ - 220yds. Handicap.—First heat: G. Quin 1, * Y. Davy 2, N. Simon 3. Second heat ; R. Mace 1, W. Dennett 2, R. Cousins 3. Final: R. Mace 1, G. Quin 2,' N. Simon 3. Time. 27 ]-ssec. . _ 75yds. Ladies’ Handicap (7). —First beat: Miss McDonald (olvds.) 1, Miss Denton (syds.Y 2. Time, 9 1-osee. Second heat:* Miss Jansson (13yds.) 1,

Miss Eastwood (scr.) 2. Time, 9sec. Final i# Miss Jansson' 1, Miss Eastwood 2, Miss M. McDonald 3. Miss, Jansson held her lead throughout, despite a great finish by the scratch competitor. Time, 9 l-ssec. Mile Scratch Cycle Invitation Race (7). —J. Douglas 1, J. Algie 2, G. Goldsmith 3. Also competed: E. Algie i'. Pollard, H. Swan, It. W. Lnmb (Australia). -The race had l.ttle to commend it. Lamb drew fourth place, but though ho did make a halfhearted attempt to leave the 'field at the start, Swan drew to the front. With Lamb lying fifth this position was maintained till almost on - the bell; when J. Algie, Douglas and Goldsmith passed pedalling hard together. Lamb made several ineffectual attempts to break out of tne ruck, but never got away and had made no progress when Douglas crossed the tape. Time, 2.42 4-5. a One Mile Handicap (13). —IA. Rose (scr.) 1, E. Glanville (55yds.) 2, V. Blackburn (85yds.) 3. Also competed: G. Nicol (40yds.), O' McDonald (55vds.), A. J. Ogilvie (65vds.), R. W. Brown (76yds.), J. Roberts (90yds.), A. Livingstone (105yds.), L. Barker (125vds.), G. Ingram (125yds.), J. Maynard (loOvds.), J. W. Walker (165yds.). Walker made the pace for the first lapFßose completing the circuit in :59scc. Glanville moved up in the second lap and passed the stand first, Rose’s time for the half-mile being 2min. TO 2-ssec. Glanville was still "well in the lead in the third lap, Rose running fifth, the champion's time for the three circuits being :3m in. 24sec. On the home bend of the final lap even the public appeared anxious, the champion seemed to be failing them, for even though he had worked out of the ruck lie was still running second to Glanville. It. was in the straight, however, that he showed the public what he was made of. Without apparent effort he passed Glanville with a long swinging stride that made his opponentseem like a small boy. He won easily with ten yards to spare. Time, 4.38 2-s—Poverty Bay record. 220yds Handicap (10). —-First heat. O. Paltridge (scr.) 1, B. Thompson (14vc3s.) 2, L. Sutcliffe (4vds.) 3. Time 23 i-ssee. Second heat: T. Corkery (34yds.) 1, H. Martin (31yds.) 2, E. Forrest (11yds.) 3. Time 23 2-sscc. Final: Martin 1, Paltridge 2, Corkery 3. Also competed: F. Truman (4}yds.), F. Dobbie (16}yds.), L. Smith (11-} yds), W. McDonald (14yds.) Dobbie, who ran third in the first heat, was disaualified for getting into the wrong lane. The final brought forth little outstanding performances except, perhaps, Martin's strong finish against a determined effort on the part of Paltridge rignt on the tape. Time, 23sec-. Mile Cycle Handicap (10): J- Douglas (scr.) 1, H. Swan <66y'us.< a. Algie (15yds) 3. Also competed: E. Algie (scr.)/ G. Goldsmith (30yds.), F. Pollard (40yds.), M. McMahon (65yds), CL McCoy (75yds.), J. Mercer (100yds.). The hard luck of Lamb.was the feature of this event. Tiie race proved unevontual until the third lap, when on the hack stretch Lamb made a sensational sprint, hut rounding the bend ho tore his hack tyre off, leaving Douglas to win by about five yards, with a wheel between second and third. Time, 2mm. 34 l-ssee.

High Jump (2). —J. C-arron 1, W. F'indlav 2. This is the first time these two local lads have met and jumped off an oven mark. Height, oft. sin.

100yds. Ladies’ Handicap (7). First "heat: Miss Jansson 17yds.) 1, Miss Eastwood (scr.) 2, Miss E. Denton (74yds.) 3. Time, 12scc. Second heat: Mrs. Evan (6}vds.) 1, Miss McDonald (6yds.) 2, Miss J. Haisman (84yds.) 3." Time, 12sec. Final: Miss Eastwood 1, Miss Jansson 2, Miss Denton 3 Also competed: Miss R. McCarthy. Miss Eastwood’s fine hurst of sneed at the finish to win by inches just on the tape, was the only outstanding feature of this event. Time, 125e0., equals Poverty Bay record. _ _ 600vds. Bovs’ Handicap Walk.—P. Whitelv 1, T. Bradley 2, D. Drummond 3. 100yds. Girls’ Handicap (5). —Pln i]is Beale 1, Peggy Prentice 2, Phyllis Prendagast 3. Three Miles Crete Handicap (9). — J. Douglas (scr.) 1, It. W. Lamb (scr.) 2, M. McMahon (145yds.) 3. Also competed: E. Algie (20yds.), J. Algie (30yds.), G. Goldsmith (Wives ) F. Pollard (85yds.), H. Swan (135yds) J. Mercer (250yds.). Mercer led the field for "a couple of laps till forced to give way to Swan. McMahon took the lead at the seventh round and maintained his position for four laps. Tin field was bunched at the ten Li round awl the positions at the noil were Goldsmith, T. Algie, Swan, McMahon, Pollard, Douglas, Lamb. In the last lap Douglas and Lamb moved up rapidly overtaking the field. On the home' bend Lamb’s chances vanished, for E. Algie fell in front of him and the time wasted bv Lamb in dodging the wreck gave Douglas too great a lead. Time, 8.15 4-5. 440yds. Handicap (12). —L. Smith (30yds.) 1, C. G. McDonald (7yds.) 2, B. Thompson (25yds.) 3. Also competed: H. Martin (scr.), W. McDonald (20yds.), J. Roberts (25yds), Y. Blackburn (27yds.), S. Smith (30yds), B. Gurran (33yds.), J. 1L Witty (36ycls.), F. Truman (7yds.), Hullan (25yds). Time, 51 4-ssee. After two false starts the field got away well and were close together at the entrance to the straight. McDonald’s strenuous fight to wrest first nlace from Smu aroused the enthusiasm of the crowd, and cheers followed a close finish. The programme concluded with a match between. J. Algie (cyclist) and L. Sutcliffe (runner) over 100 yards, the latter winning by about five yards. Algie was very slow at the stait, and could not cut down the runner’s lead in the distance.