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Panorama of the Playground
Some Brilliant Sporting Achievements.

(Specially Written for “N.Z. Railways Magazine,” by W. F. Ingram .)

the many brilliant sporting achievements by New Zealanders in the month of February this year none could be classed as greater than the ride of the Canterbury cyclist, George Giles, in the final of the 1,000 metres sprint at the New Zealand championship meeting at Wanganui on February 29th. Giles rode the last furlong of the course in 12 2/5 secs. It might be explained here that a “1,000 metres sprint” is a misnomer. Two riders are on the track at the same time and tactical knowledge counts as much as pace; the riders aim to “position” one another and then burst away with a phenomenal sprint over the last part of the race. The time for the full distance is never taken, the only section timed being the last furlong. Giles was about eight yards behind his rival as the leader passed over the 220-yard mark, but rode a wonderful race to win by two lengths. The time announced was slower than that actually recorded by Giles, because the watches were started as Wade passed the check line and stopped when Giles passed the winning line. Had Giles been timed individually he would have been credited with time nearer 12 seconds than 12 2/5 secs. But even so, the time credited to him stands comparison with the performances of riders abroad. The sprint race at the Olympic Games in 1932 was won by Van Egmond, of Holland, whose, best time in the series was 12 1/2 secs, for the final 200 metres (just short of 220 yards). This time was established on a board track at the Pasadena Rose Bowl where the track was completely protected from wind. Giles made his fine time at Cooks Gardens, Wanganui, where the bitumen track is exposed to all the vagaries of the weather and his ride must go down as the best effort by a New Zealand cyclist.

Champion athletes come in all shapes and sizes. This was borne out at the New Zealand track and field championship meeting in Dunedin this year, when Brian Tapley, short, stocky sprinter won the 100 yards sprint from men better built for quickness off the mark. Tapley, brother of Colin Tapley (now making a name for himself in the movie world at Hollywood) demonstrated that he is the fastest man off the mark that New Zealand has seen for many years. Malcolm Leadbetter, former sprint champion and at present co-holder of the 100 yards New Zealand record of 94/5 secs, was generally conceded to be fast off the mark, but he could never lead championships finalists by two yards at the first fifty yards of a 100 yards sprint. That is what Tapley did in Dunedin, and it would be interesting to see him race against time on a specially prepared 50-yard track. The world's record should not be far beyond his reach.

New Zealand has had some great all-round athletes, and the names of “Buz” Sutherland, Len McKay, Arthur Holder and J. W. Shirley come readily to mind when discussing feats of skill on the track or field. But the performances of the Oamaru athlete, Alastair Cameron will stand comparison with any of the quartette mentioned above. Cameron, a reinstated athlete, won four New Zealand championships at the New Zealand title meeting held in Dunedin on February 28th and 29th, winning every event in which he competed. Without wishing to be derogatory to the actual winner of the high jump it may be confidently assumed that Cameron would have won that event as well, had he competed, and so set a new record for a national championship meeting. Arthur Holder, Wanganui athlete of the late ‘nineties, holds the best performance at a New Zealand championship meeting. At Auckland, in 1896, he finished second to A. J. Patrick (Wellington), in the 100 yards, and won the 250 yards in 25 secs., 440 yards in 522/5 secs., 120 yards hurdles in 16 secs., and 440 yards hurdles in 584/5 secs. (establishing world's record). In Cameron's case there was a uniformity of good performances. He bettered the best New Zealander's performance in the discus throw by 1 1/2 inches. throwing the plate to 139 ft. 3 1/2 inches. (The previous record was 139.2, by Peter Munro). He won the hop-step-and-jump with 48 ft. 3 1/2 ins. (17 1/2 inches behind the New Zealand record, but in excess of what the record was three years earlier) and won the broad jump with 22 ft. 6 1/2 ins. In one effort in the broad jump Cameron actually bettered Gerald Keddell's 30-year-old native record, but as his shoe just showed over the edge of the take-off board the jump could not be counted. Cameron's fourth win was in the shot putt, but in this he did not achieve any great figure. An all-rounder, Cameron finds it difficult to specialise on any one event, but would probably find the broad jump and hop-step-and-jump his best events.

Dunedin was Host City to swimmers, surfers, track and field athletes during the month of February, and it says much for the capabilities of the officials in charge of the various New Zealand championship contests that no complaints were made against the arrangements. The swimming championships have been classed as the most successfully organised in the history of the sport, while the life-saving contests earned high praise from competitors and public alike. It was left to Guy Tapley, newly-elected president of the Otago Athletic Centre, to put the finishing touches on a month of sport. He conceived the idea of staging a miniature Olympic Games opening ceremony at the track and field championships. To be numbered among the 5,000 who witnessed that imposing, impressive ceremony was a privilege, and one's mind could not but think of what a wonderful, inspiring message must be driven home when the ceremony is staged before some 150,000 at the Games. “We swear page 50 page 51 that we will take part in these Games in loyal competition, respecting the regulations which govern them and desirous of participating in them in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of our country and for the glory of the sport”—that was the solemn obligation accepted by each one individual athlete as Rex Creeser, holding his right arm aloft, recited the Olympic oath.

“The-true spirit of sportsmanship.” This spirit was pre-eminent throughout the sporting fixtures in Dunedin, and it is pleasing to record that this sporting community now houses the Ranfurly Shield (for Rugby), the Yaldhurst Shield (for senior swimming), War Memorial Trophy (for junior and intermediate swimming), New Zealand Championship Shield (symbol of amateur athletic supremacy), and the Speight Cup (for the most impressive team in the opening ceremony at athletic championships). Otago is on the rising tide in sport, and with young, keen officials, will set a standard for the rest of New Zealand to attain.

The performances of L. Newell, of Canterbury, in winning three New Zealand swimming championships at Dunedin last February recalls the great deeds of Malcolm Champion whose career is not generally known to New Zealanders.

There is a mistaken idea that Ted Morgan is the first and only New Zealander to win an Olympic Games championship—in fact it is more or less accepted without question by sports writers and others who should be better informed. The first New Zealander to win an Olympic championship was, however, Malcolm Champion, of Auckland.

Malcolm Champion, one of New Zealand's greatest swimmers in the days before the European War, was the first New Zealander to return with Olympic honours—his success was as a member of the Australasian swimming relay team at the Olympic Games of 1912.

Back in the ‘teens—and even before he grew to that stage—Champion was a strong swimmer, and residents of North Shore have recollections of seeing Malcolm and a boy friend strolling down to the water-front to keep fit with their rowing, and after having an hour of that exercise, plunge into the harbour and swim over to Auckland shore and back again. This gave Champion a wonderful physique.

It was in 1897 that the future Olympic champion was persuaded to take on competitive swimming. He was swimming off the dock at Devonport with some friends when an onlooker who had been impressed with his style and strength in the water suggested that he should enter for some of the swimming carnivals then being held. Champion laughed at the suggestion, and replied that he was not good enough. Not good enough! How many possible champions have said those words, I wonder?

But the suggestion made by the onlooker—a total stranger to Champion—was not forgotten. At the time Champion did not take a great deal of notice, but when he discovered that he could outpace and outlast his companions in the water he took to improving his style. He improved beyond belief, and with some of his friends formed the North Shore Swimming Club. It was a club and that was all! The boys did not realise that it was necessary to affiliate to the controlling body or anything of that nature. They formed a club to have fun, and have fun they did, without worrying about such things as Dominion controlling bodies.

Before long Champion was the best swimmer in the district—unchallenged at all distances—and when it was announced that the New Zealand Swimming Championships were to be held in Christchurch he set his heart on competing against the best. New Zealanders. The members of the North Shore Swimming Club were just as keen that Malcolm should get his chance and three of them were selected to cross the water to Auckland to see if Champion could be included in the Auckland team. The reception given this trio by the Auckland officials sent them home in dismay. Champion might be a champion but he wasn't getting in the Auckland team.

Wasn't it Hinemoa who made swimming history in New Zealand by a fabled exploit taught us at school? Well it was the Hinemoa, the old steamer so well-known in New Zealand waters, that assisted Champion to make swimming history, too. The steamer Hinemoa was in port at Auckland at this time and this spelt opportunity and success for Champion. A member of the crew met him one day and in conversation it came out that Champion was disappointed in not getting a chance to go to Christchurch and swim in the title meeting. This friend in need proved a friend indeed—he introduced Champion to the skipper of the Hinemoa and as the ship was going to Lyttelton he offered to take Champion as a member of the crew. This was luck with a capital L, thought Champion, who hurried home to gather in a towel and a pair of swimming togs.

All went well until the Hinemoa, passing Wellington, received a call to “make port.” A bad break, thought Champion, but it proved to be Dame Fortune lending him a hand instead. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. A swimming carnival was being held at the Thorndon Baths that day and the purpose of the carnival was to select the Wellington team for the New Zealand championships. How he performed at this and subsequent championship meetings will be related in next month's issue.