FROM TAKAHE TO AKAROA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22108, 2 June 1937, Page 3

FROM TAKAHE TO AKAROA

BIG RELAY RACE ON JUNE .26 STRONG FIELD OF ATHLETES TO COMPETE [By WHIPPER-IN.] To be held little more than three weeks from now—on June 26—the annual Takahe-Akaroa cross-country relay promises to draw a strong and evenly-matched field. This will be the ihird race over the 50-mile course, and interest among the clubs is already as keen as ever There is promise of a large entry from the city clubs, and a strong team will be sent from South Canterbury, the holders of the handsome trophy given by the Akaroa Progress Association tor Therace will be held over the course used last year and in 1935. starting at the Sign of the Takahe and travelling to Akaroa by way of AUandale, oeobie's Valley, and the main road. There will be eight stages for teams of eight, each man taking one stage. The stages are as follows:—TakaheAllandale (5.4 miles) Allandale-Geb-bie's Valley (6.1 miles), Gebbie s VaUeyKaituna (6.6 miles), Kaituna-Lake Forsyth (6.8 miles), Lake Forsyth-Little River (7.3 miles), Little River-Hill Top (4.5 miles), Hill Top-Duvauchelle (5.9 miles), Duvauchelle-Akaroa (6.6 miles). ■ .„ , Clubs entering teams will have to plot out the stages very soon, as entries will require to be closed within the next 10 days. Transport and accommodation for teams are to be arranged by the clubs. The first open event of the crosscountry season—the Kennett Cup steeplechase—will be held over the three-and-a-half mile course at Riccarton racecourse on Saturday. Civil Service (Dunedin) will defend the trophy, which it has held since the inception of the race in 1930. It looks most unlikely that any of the city clubs will be able to field a team capable of beating the Dunedin men. If any club can it will be the first time for many years in which a Christchurch team has offered serious competition to the Civil Service Club. Points scored by the clubs in the, inter-club competition are as follows: A Grade, Methodist 26, Christchurch 32, Baptist 41, University 51. B grade, Presbyterian 28, Anglican 29, Marist 48, Technical 50. One more round of the competition will be held on Saturday week, June 12. In the A grade, Christchurch will meet Methodist and University will meet Baptist. In the B grade Presbyterian will meet Anglican and Marist will meet Technical.