CROSS-COUNTRY TITLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 10

CROSS-COUNTRY TITLE.

SAVIDAN'S TRIUMPH. YOUNG HARRIERS DO WELL. AUCKLAND TEAM'S IMPROVEMENT. Wanganui was astir early with excitement and interest in the New Zealand cross-country championships. Splendid organisation and publicity by the West Coast Centre officials, and full teams of highly-trained provincial representatives made the Saturday afternoon an auspicious occasion. The Wanganui Rugby Union helped tremendously by allowing the runners to start and finish on Spnggen's Park, whero over 5000 people had assembled to watch the Wanganui v. King Country game, and of course the race. Five minutes before starting the athletes were assembled, and lined-up in team formation, the centre of admiring crowds. Punctually at 3 p.ml pipers headed the teams, and amidst great applause, played the athletes on to the ground where they lined across the end of the field. George Benson, well-known Centre official, and one of the Dominion's best starters, fired the gun, and away the athletes leapt, with young Parkhouse, of Wellington, in the lead. Round the stands and into the racecourse they sped, and here about 350 yards level flat going caused the pace to be a. terrific one. Out into the road, and almost immediately into over half a mile of heavy bog, where the runners were in trouble early. It was at this stage that the West Coast team showed its knowledge of the course and fitness, and coming over this soft area they immediately took the lead, Barnes and Savidan being the only men to stay with them. Halfway over Weller was in front, with Savidan just behind him, and threo yards back came H. Broun, oi New Plymouth, Barnes, of Otago, and just behind tho two Johnston Brothers. Taylor, of Wellington, Fox, of West .Coast, Park, of Canterbury, Northover (West Coast) and Steveiiß (Wellington) were next in order. Weller was running a solid, determined and plucky race, and was superior to all tho field, bar Auckland's Billy Savidan. In contrast to the forced running of the fine little runner Weller, Savidan was running lightly and easily. Over two nicely grassed paddocks, the first runners through the bog made fast time, and soon the road was reached. With Savidan and Weller leading on to the road, the very largo crowd of cyclists, cars and foot followers grew very excited, and cries of "Stick to him, Chaidie!" were heard from all supporters. Back at the football grounds the wireless broadcasting arrangements were perfect, and with relays of telephone messages coming from all along tho course, the crowd were very excited on learning that the local champion was giving the Empire champion such a splendid race. The first hill was very steep and runners climbed on all fours, and it was just going over the top that Savidan took the lead for the first time.

From then it was fine cross-country going with undulating hills, and Savidan began to make the pace faster still, and gradually drew away. Jack Morris had missed his way early and was out of the race, and there was some grim struggling going on back of the first eight men. The West Coast team were now well assured of success, having four men in the first six and their fifth man only two places back. Ansel Browne now began to pick up a lot of ground, and from now on ran a fine race, coming along strongly to eventually take tenth position.

With two miles to go Savidan was JOO yards in the lead from Weller, with Ken Johnston 120 yards back, and Jim Barnes about 40 yards away in fourth place. Then came young G. Johnston, who was running a wonderful race. This boy is only 18 years of age, and along with Weller, who is 19, was the youngest competitor in the race. The order of most runners did not change much, but E. Broun, of Otago, put in a late run to come up into sixth place. Broun is always in at the death of any big race. Stan Andrews made a great name for himßelf by coming along in fine style to finish strongly in 15th place, and being third Auckland man in, as against his sixth placing at "the Auckland championships. There were other surprises, as young Parkhouse, of Wellington,_ a 20-year-old runner, who ran as an individual, actually defeated four of the team selected.

Savidan received a wonderful ovation on entering tUp ground to sprint round two laps to breast the tape an easy, unruffled winner, and to collect his fifth Dominion eross-country title. "Great" is the only word that can describe this "Antipodean Nurmi," and he ran and looked like the champion he is. All Wanganui gave Charlie Weller a great hand when he completed the oval, and the plucky youth des.erved it all. Carefully nursed, he has the ability to become a great distance star. Ken Johnston, who has always been a fine runner, finished well in third place, seven seconds ahead of last year's champion, Jim Barnes. The Otago star ran a fine race, and took his defeat in a fine sporting spirit. A genuine sportsman is "Torchy" Barnes, and all supporters wish him luck at nest meeting of champions. It was a day for the young runners, as Otago's second man home was Allen, who took ninth place, and was the baby of the team. The provincial champions all show r ed good form, Savidan taking first place, H. Broun fifth, Stevens eighth, Parkhouse eleventh and Barnes fourth. The Auckland team showed up well, much better than was expected, and scored 43 points to take third place behind Otago, who scored 32. Wellington and Canterbury tied for last with 72 points, and, of course, West Coast with 17 points must have made a record in securing such a small total. R. Mackenzie was suffering from a heavy cold, but after the halfway mark gained much ground and finished two places back of Stan Andrews, who _ was 15th. Both these men are 'the ideal racing type, and will show to better advantage next season, now they have this racing experience. Jack Nicholson was troubled by the bog, and was last at one stage, but made a fine late run to mow down 12 men and finish well up in the field. Gordon Hill moved sluggishly at first, and was striding out well after two miles, when he wrenched his foot jumping a fence and had to run with a limp. His sprint at the finish, when he passed two men who were 40 yards ahead of him when there was only 150 yards to go, brought the crowd to its feet. Altogether it was a memorable meeting; the race, dinner at night, dance, 'and Maori welcome the next clay making it a very happy gathering. The Wanganui officials and West Coast executive are to be congratulated on staging jierhaps the best championship ever held in New Zealand in cross-country circles.