CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27368, 5 June 1954, Page 9

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

ANGLICAN CLUB’S block RELAY

The Anglican Harrier Club has received a record entry of 23 five-men teams for its annual block relay, to be held on The race originated from a visit to Australia of the president of the Canterbury Cross-country Running Management Committee (Mr H. O. Savage), who. while there competed in a similar event, it was first held as a special twenty-first anniversary commemoration face, but it was so popular that many requests were received for it to be held annually. The reduction of teams from six to five should greatly strengthen competition, for it will allow many of the smaller clubs to dispense with their weakest link. There seems a good distribution of ability through the teams, with little between the top half dozen. J. C. Daly will give Marist a big boost on the second lap, and J. Kyle will be an excellent anchor man. Olympic will be without two of their men, E. Stroud and S. Jelley, who helped win the Kennett'Cup for the club a fortnight ago, but J. K. Macdonald should give them a useful lead on the first lap. Christchurch will show up to better advantage over the longer, tougher course, and K. E Williams, who has now recovered from his knee operation, will be a force to be reckoned with over the final lap. Anglican, University, and Technical will also have well-balanced A teams, and Timaru Anglican has entered two teams.

A change has been made from the New Brighton racecourse to a four mile and one-tenth circuit based on the Burwood golf links. A variety of footing will be encountered, including, soft sand, grass lands, and undulating plantation country. Competitors will not be allowed to use spiked running shoes in this race, which is a scratch contest for the H. O. Savage Shield, with a sealed handicap for the D. H. Clibborn Cup. The winning team is expected to take just over two hours for this 20 miles and a half race, which will start at 1.30 p.m. -