Newspaper Article – Amateurs Kept Busy

AMATEURS KEPT BUSY

MANY MEETINGS DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

COMMENT ON THE WEEK’S PERFORMANCES.

(By “Spike.”)

The athletic event or the Christmas season was undoubtedly the Eteveneaux Cup relay at Hastings on New Year’s night, when the local ladies, running true to form, lifted the cup from Wellington by five yards in the sensational time of 51secs., which beats the previous best by one second.

Run in lanes the risk of obstruction was removed and drawing the inside running gave Wellington the advantage of judging the pace with their opponents on the outer circle and consequently in front of them. The baton exchanging of the visitors was much cleaner than that of the local girls although Miss Tong gave Miss Lean a great kick off over the final dash just when it was needed.

It has been stated that the honours of the race were with Miss Lean and certainly she finished in resolute style but the fact remains that Miss Syme did not lose a foot in the first 110 and she had as her opponent Miss Sharp, Wellington’s speediest sprinter.

Wellington, although defeated, were by no means disgraced and to “Spike” it appears that the only difference between the two teams is that representing the advantage of running on the home ground. By that, it is meant that if the race were repeated in Wellington next week the result would be reversed. Congratulations are tendered to the winners, for their’s is the reward for perseverance.

The invitation short limit ladies’ 100 was the next best item on the programme and Miss Lean, conceding varying starts to the remainder of the field, won clearly by a foot from Miss Sharp in the good time of 11 3-5secs. There was a conflict of opinion concerning the result amongst the judges and at first Miss Sharp was named as the winner but this was immediately corrected.

Passing the 75yds. Misses Syme and Miller pulled up thinking it was the 100 yards mark. Their confusion was caused through three onlookers being congregated at this mark. At this point of the race it looked as though Miss Syme would have gained third place.

The remainder of the programme was interesting and in the cycle events the front markers for once had a feast, taking the sprint and long distance races. Nobody begrudges them their turn.

The attendance at the meeting was somewhat disappointing in view of the attractiveness of the programme.