Athletics

Possibly because of the battalion's success in rugby and perhaps due to the shortage of the necessary facilities and grounds, athletics did not reach as high a standard as possible in the 29th. However, representatives did much in both battalion and brigade sports to increase the honours of this most sporting of units.

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The first athletic meeting was held in August, 1941, at Namaka, Fiji, and good times were recorded in spite of the blazing sun. The highlight of the afternoon was the mile, won by D. Chambers. Before, during and after the race Dudley possessed all the appearances of being 'under the influence.' On the other hand, the excessive heat plus the thought of winning a five shilling bet may have made Dudley a little shaky on his feet.

Albert Park, Suva, was the scene of the first brigade meeting, and under Max Conder's tuition the athletes were made reasonably fit. The day was very wet, and on a heavy track the Fijians scooped the pool, winning all events except two. Brian Johnson won the high jump and scored the battalion's only points. Running strongly in the 440, H. G. Cutler went very well for 200 yards, meeting with disaster on a turn and finishing face downwards in the mud. Some say it was the easy way out, but Bert maintained that he fell accidentally.

Time passed and the next athletic meeting was held in N'epoui Valley, New Caledonia. This was followed after an interval by a brigade meeting at Ouenghi, which was won by the battalion team, The following registered good performances that day:—'Snow' Skinner, who won the mile; Allan Campbell, first in the 880; V. G. Nix, winner of the high jump; 'Rusty' Russ, a good second in the mile; and 'Dusty' Miller, who was narrowly beaten in the 22.0 by Graham Quinn, the Empire Games representative. Another competitor worthy of mention was 'Haggis' McLeod, who ran well in two 440's, scoring valuable points for the battalion.

At the next brigade meeting held on the same ground the battalion was narrowly defeated by the 36th Battalion. As a result of this fixture the following 29th men gained the distinction of competing at the divisional sports;— R. B. Burke, P. J. Eastwood, A. J. Campbell, P. J. Reidy, Nix and McLeod. Jim Eastwood proved himself the battalion's star performer at these Olympic Games of Necal by winning both the 220 and 440 yards events, while Pete Reidy carried off the hop, step and jump.