Where Are the Men to Return 10½ Seconds?
There seems to be a shortage of good-class sprinters locally. So far as the season has advanced no outstanding form has been revealed among the amateurs. Perhaps the open sports at Withnell this afternoon would produce a "dark horse". The entries included the best of the local athletic clubs and also a strong contingent from the Fulwood Garrison, but I very much doubt whether the sprint handicap will produce a runner capable of returning 10/½ seconds for the full 100 yards. On know form there does not appear to be many getting inside 11sec.
In the recent inter-club match at Horwich, where the local team engaged Leyland Motors A.C. and the garrison, the local sprinters were outpaced by in both the 100 yards and the furlong. Consolation was gained, however, in the jumps, the Motors gaining first points in the long jump and high jump through L. Watkinson and J. Oldham respectively, and also in the half-mile flat through F. Crompton.
Winter evening studies, which extend in some cases to the beginning of May, are no doubt responsible for preventing many young fellows from getting the benefit of early-season training on the track, which is so essential if sprinting fitness is to be attained for the big contests at Whitsuntide.
A preparation for one to reach his best form, for the Northern championships on June 17th for example, should begin not later than the middle of February.
The mystery of the entry of the Northern and A.A.A. junior sprint champion, J. S. K. Glover of Wallasey A.C., in the New Year Powderhall professional handicap has, I am in a position to state, has been cleared up.
The N.C.A.A. have gone to no little trouble to investigate the matter in the interests of all concerned. They are now satisfied that Glover, whose nom-de-plume in the programme was J. K. Kelvin, was the innocent victim of misguided enthusiasm of a relative who had entered him to see how the youthful champion compared with the country's best professional pedestrians.
Glover declares that he was not aware of the entry and that at the time of the race he was out of training.
Ends
Source - Daily Post - Saturday, 27/05/1933
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