HARRIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 20

HARRIERS

PROMISING FORM

EVENTS FOR NOVICES

(By "Paperchaser.") A bitterly cold wind and intermittent rain did not prevent harriers from turning out in largo numbers for the runs last Saturday. The Scottish Club opened tho racing season with a three mile novice. race at Lyall Bay, and an interesting contest resulted. Maiden Handicap races are being decided this afternoon by the remaining Wellington clubs, and good showings by the novices are expected. The country situated round Lyall Bay was ideal for the Scottish Club's novice race over a course of three miles. Twenty-five runners competed, and after a gruelling race honours went to Violick (ser), with Ellis (scr) second, and Parkhouse _(25see), third. Others who showed promise wero Buchanan, Ward, and Brown. The winner also secured fastest time honours. Club Outings. Thirty odd runners were present at an invitation run from Mr. Hartley's residence, Gracefield road, Lower Hutt. Four packs followed a stiff trail over the hills and some difficulty _ was ex-. perieneed by the runners in picking up the paper trail. No run-in was held owing to the scattered, position of the respective packs. Afternoon tea was served by the host. . . ~ . The unfavourable weather did not affect the attendance of the Olympic harriers. Forty-seven runners traversed an excellent trail, selected by L. Carmichael and G. Long. A_ 500 yards run-in was won by Bright, with Strong second, and Mountjoy third.The Wadestown hill, whore the run was held, was favourably commented upon by the runners as an excellent training ground.

Two packs, totalling twenty runners, from the Wellington Club were out at Kelburn for the weekly run. _ A hilly trail was covered and a mile from home a novice run-in took place and resulted in a win for Willetts, with Thorley second, and O 'Connell" third. A handicap run-in for the experienced runners was won comfortably by Murray. M'Kinnon Tvas second, and Allen thTrS. Hutt Ladies' Club. A shorty trail of two miles covered at an easy pace made the Hutt Ladies' Club run at Hutt Park an enjoyable outing in spite of the bad state of the country. Fifteen girls put in an ap-. peararice and a pack of twelve participated in the run under the leadership of Miss M. Jones. , The girls are getting very fit. . . ' . Sub-Committee Meeting. Several-important matters were-dis-cussed at a meeting of the Harrier Subcommittee held last week. The Wellington Provincial Crosscountry Championship was set ; down for Saturday, the 15th.August. An application from the.Masterton Club to hold the championships at'-Mas-terton was received, but was held over pending advice from the various clubs. The Vosseller Shield and the Bennett Memorial road races were fixed^ for 12th and 26th September respectively. ■'» . ' Arrangements are being made to hold a field day for the Nimmd Cup at the Winter Show ground on the sth September, owing to the existing road running race in the past having been unfavourably received by competitors. Affiliation Disapproved. After a discussion at the general meeting, of the Hutt Valley Harrier Club, the ladies' section of the club decided to step out and control its own activities this season. The runs under their jurisdiction have proved successful, large attendances being recorded at the weekly outings. At the recent meeting of ■ the. Harrier Subcommittee an application for affiliation was brought forward and, after discussion, ft was decided to forward the application on to the Wellington. Centre with the following recommendation: "That this committee strongly-dissoci-ates itself from the principle "of lady harrier clubs being afiiliated, and recommends that the suggested Ladies' Harrier Club operate as a section of the existing Hutt Valley Club."

< At a special meeting on Saturday; the letter was placed before the Ladies' Club, and the secretary (Mr. A. Marshall) explained the disadvantages of the club if they endeavoured to carry on as an, unregistered body. It was stated that movements to establish this branch of sport in other parts of the Dominion had been nipped in the bud owing to the proposals being declined by the governing bodies. Taken in a moderate way the girls experience no harmful effect, the popularity of the sport in . England being a good example. , . . .: ' .

In seeking.re-election with the Hutt Valley Club, the girls have been notified that permission will be granted them to carry on under their present officials. ,