HARRIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 16

HARRIERS.

PRESBYTERIAN CLUBS.

TWO SOUTHERN TEAMS COMPETE AGAINST AUCKLAND.

On Saturday next the fourth annual contest will be held for the St. Andrew's trophy, symbolic of Dominion supremacy among the I'resb.vterian harriers. The Auckland team will hi l opposed bv teams from Wellington and Christchure'h.

J.ast year, on the l.yall Bay course. Welling:, >n regained the trophy from Aucklanil, Chrislcliurch then competing for the first time.

The trophy Is awarded to the team whose first four men have the lowest aggregate of placings. Wellington have twice Ih'cii holders and Auckland once. -Veil, of Auckland, has been the individual winner on each occasion.

The < 'hristchurch team is very strong for this year's rare. Hewitt, this' season's Huh champion. has been with the club for nine For the last two yen r* he has set tin' fastest time for his lap in the ('hrisiclumh-Akaron relay race. Mattliews, wiin ti iji sll o<l second to Hewitt, is a most promising runner. Lindsay is a consistent rininer, who is reliable for his team idaring. Ritchie. champion for is only now reaching the top of iiis form for the season, and will l>o watched with interest. ciordon. now ,"{3 years old. has not missed a run in nine seasons, and is a regular iiieuil>er of Ihe club's A team. He is a brother- of the exNew Zealand sprint champion. Ken wick, a junior of promise. completes a team which is calculated to test the northern combinations.

-Wellington received a considerable setback by the detection of A. <'ongalton. who gained selection for the province this vear. They will be led by I»r. Seelve, 'club captain, who has tilled second or third places in all club events thir; season. Campbell will come north with a reputation for a great burst over the last half mile. Hay. formerly of Cliristcliurch, favours the road and will find the course to his liking. Tait has been carefully nursed in his junior days and is beginning to produce the results expected. Aston, the mile walking champion of Wellington, has been turning in some excellent performances this season, while Walls and Jardine complete the seven from whom the final team will be selected to defend the trophy. Both are seasoned performers.

The local team will comprise Nell, <io;idie, Turner, Rlamires, Hislop and Birnie. Although he lias given up serious competition in open events. Neil will probabil.v be favoured for iiTtHvidual honours. Uoudie, by his showing in the Auckland championships where he filled fourteenth position showed definite improvement. Manures, Turner and Birnie are all good runners, while Hislop has fine performances to his credit.