CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27612, 19 March 1955, Page 11

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

POSSIBLE TOUR BY N.Z. TEAM REPORT TO CANTERBURY COMMITTEE The possibility of an overseas tour by « New Zealand harrier team was bpin? investigated by the New Zealand Am”, tear Atnleac Association, said Mr G F Voller at a meeting of the Canterbury' Cross-country Running Management Committee on Thursday evening Australia did not appear very interested but an attempt was being made to sttal late interest there. Mr Voller said The possibilities of international competition m Europe were also being looked into although a venture of this nature would cost about £lO,OOO. ' wouiu ■"Hie time is here when we should do something to awaken interest within the schools,” said Mr W. A. Kennedy, speaking on a proposal for an inter-secondarv schools harrier race. "It seems that generally only two sports are encouraged within the schools—cricket in summer and football in winter. As a sub-committee had made little progress in its efforts to work through the Sports Masters’ Association, he felt that more tangible results would be obtained by submitting concrete proposals direct to the schools, Mr Kennedy said The meeting decided to make this a recommendation to the executive elected at the annual meeting on March 31. Takahe-Akaroa Relay As the Takahe-Akaroa relay was the classic race of its nature in Australia and New Zealand, it was worthy of more than just the six hours devoted to it on the day, said the president (Mr H O. Savage) Further entertainment should be provided this year, when the race would be open to clubs throughout New Zealand. The visitors should be shown something of Canterbury as well. At the time of the 1940 centennial race some of the visitors had been taken to the Hermitage, Mount Cook. The matter was held over for the incoming executive and race committee to consider. South Canterbury clubs were dissatisfied with the handicapping for last year’s Akaroa relay race, stated the South Canterbury sub-centre in a letter. This was no reflection on the handicappers (Messrs Voller and Savage), but as no performances had been called for it -was considered that the handicappers could not fairly estimate the performances of the South Canterbury runners over that course. Performances had not been called for, the president said, because the handicappers already had all performances that were of any help. Advice was received that a new relay race would probably be added to the inter-club programme. Organised by the South Canterbury sub-centre, the event would be run from Timaru to Cave and back. The proposed Rosewill venue, about •even miles from Timaru, offered an excellent course for the national championships, said Mr Savage. It would be a 3i-mile circuit, starting and finishing in the school grounds, and would be over undulating country, with excellent spectator facilities. The president and the treasurer (Mr D. H. Clibborn) intimated that they would not seek re-electicon for the coming year.