Newspaper Article – Hawke’s Bay Ladies Show How

Athletics.

HAWKE’S BAY LADIES SHOW HOW.

AMATEUR athletics in Hawke’s Bay are certainly on the “boom,” and the large number of lady competitors necessitate several heats for all events. But the one thing that catches the visitor’s eye is the large fields and expert manner in which the ladies compete in the 80 yards low hurdles. The star attraction in this event is Miss Rona Tong of the Hastings A.A.C., who for feminine grace and vigour over 80 yds. hurdles is unequalled in the Dominion. At Havelock North sports last Easter Monday she started in this event from 10yds. behind scratch, the limit lady being on 12 yards and 1 down.

Although her opponents were also most adept, she was the only one in the race, and taking three strides in between and hurdling with a perfect straight leg that would make many men competitors green with envy, she caught her field at the last hurdle and went on to win by a yard in the good time of 13 2-5 secs. Her best time this season is only 1-5 sec. slower than the best registered in Australia, and it seems a great pity that the N.Z.A.A.A. do not recognise this event and so help and encourage the good work already started in Hawke’s Bay – “Spike“ (New Plymouth).