CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25253, 4 August 1947, Page 8

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS W. J. WELLS WINS SENIOR EVENT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 3. Running effortlessly, ' and with fine judgment,* W. J. Wells (West Coast of the North Island) won the New Zealand crosscountry championship with surprising case from the title-holder and Olympic Games prospect, W. H. Nelson (Otago), at the Ellerslie racecourse on Saturday. Wells outclassed the field of 47, and finished lmin 20sec ahead of Nelson.

The junior championship was won in equally decisive fashion by the Auckland champion and the New Zealand junior two mile record holder, G. W. Hoskins, who led throughout the three mile race.

Auckland won both the senior and junior teams’ race, and now holds every centre trophy available for athletic competition in New Zealand.

Wells set a fast pace from the start of the race, and after the first lap only he and Nelson were “in the hunt." after three miles and a half Wells began to force the pace, and Nelson showed signs of. tiring, and began to lose ground. Wells put on a great spurt’ when approaching the hill for. the last time. He took the hill comfortably and ran home to win by just on a quarter of a mile. Results:—

New Zealand Cross-country Championship.—W. J. Wells (West Coast of the North Island), 38min llsec, 1; W. H. Nelson (Otago), 39min 31sec, 2; J. R. Clarke (Canterbury), 39min 50sec, 3; R. Crabbe (Auckland), 40min 57sec. 4; M. Lousich (Auckland), 41min 6sec, 5; D. Griggs (Wellington), 41min 26sec, 6. Senior Teams’ Race.—Auckland (Crabbe 4. Louisch 5, A. Darroch 7, N. H. Ambler 9), 25 points, 1: Waikato (47), 2; West Coast of the North Island (53), 3: Ctago (59), 4; Wellington (66), 5: Canterbury (86), 6; Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (116), 7. Junior Championship.—G. W. Hoskins (Auckland), 19min 55sec, 1; B. White (Auckland). 20min 5 2-ssec, 2; J. Sloan (Hawke’s Bay), 20min 14sec, 3.

Teams’ Race.—Auckland (18 points), 1; Canterbury (35), 2; Otago (44). 3; Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (73), 4; Wellington (79), 5; West Coast of the North Island (101). 6; Waikato (110), 7.

COLTS’ CHAMPIONSHIP The colts’ cross-country chgmpionshio for clubs affiliated to the Christchurch Centre was held at Hagley Park on Saturday. Results:—J. Holden (Baotist) 1, P. Power (Christchurch) 2. D. Ennis (Anglican) 3. M. Batten (Presbyterian) 4. Teams’ Race.—Christchurch (P. Power. M. Corkin. A. Campbell), 23 points, 1; Technical and Tb*esbyterian (eoual) 2. There were good musters at the weekly runs held by Christchurch Harrier Clubs. Results:—

Anglican Club.—Racing pack: W. R. Wilkinson 1. R. Button 2, A. Cocks 3. Fast pack: K. V. Lawrence 1. B. Carr 2, H. C. Savage 3. Medium pack: P. Fuller I. T. Locke 2, R. Johnson 3. Slow pack: K. Walker 1, G. A Walker 2. G. F. Jenkins 3

Christchurch Club.—Fast pack: L. Fox .1. T. Bain 2. W. Kennedy 3. Medium pack: R. Nicoll 1, R. Magee 2. J. Kyle 3 Slow pack: C. M. Clark 1. J. Hodder 2. B. Green 3. Colts pack: M. Corkin 1. A. Timmings 2. Marlst Club —Fast pack: B. O’Connor 1, J. Hampson 2, P. Sharp 3. Medium pack: A. O’Byrne 1. C. Griffiths 2, K.

3. Slow pack: J. O’Brien 1, M. O’Byrne 2, W Kenny 3.

Technical Club.—Fast pack: J. Mcßoberts 1, M. Thackwell 2, R. Philpott 3.

Baptist Club.—Fast pack: R. Griffiths 1, N. Smith 2, C. Harper 3. Medium pack: W. Landery 1, G. Richards 2,jL. Dix 3. Slow pack: R. Bierworth 1, L. Garlick 2. D. Gilling and S. Perkins (equal) 3. Methodist Club.—Bob Thompson Cup Handicap, five miles and a half: K Norton (lOmin) 1. V. Bailey (12min) 2, D. C Brown (12min) 3. Fastest time: G. Fielbeg (39mln 23sec) 1.

Rover Scouts Club.—Fast pack: A. Pay 1, J. Austin 2. R. Harding 3. E. Wright 4, J. Ede 5.

Ladies’ Pioneer Club.—Fast pack: E. Richards and J. Richards dead-heat 1. J. Orton and N. Godfrey dead-heat 3. Medium pack: R. Godfrey and B. McKechnie dead-heat 1, M. Sherry 3. Slow pack: M. Cunningham 1, J. Sherry 2, R. Plato 3.