CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27671, 30 May 1955, Page 2

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

CAVERSHAM CLUB WINS KENNETT CUP

Headed by P. N. Sidon in a recordbreaking time, Caversham (Dunedin) runners dominated the Kennett Cup steeplechase at Riccarton racecourse on Saturday. Caversham's win is the first by a Dunedin club since 1951, when University became the first Christchurch club to win the event. Since the inception of the race in 1930 until 1951 the Dunedin clubs. Civil Service and Cavershdm, had monopolised the trophy.

Sidon covered the distance of approximately three miles and a quarter, a little more than two laps of the racecourse, in 16min 37sec, beating by 20sec the record set by A. H. Wayman (Methodist) in 1939. Although favoured by near perfect conditions, the best experienced since the revival of the race after the last war. and with some jumps lower than usual, Sidon clearly showed himself as one of the country’s leading distance runners. Now only 22 years, Sidon still has his best running ahead of him.

Scoring 23 points with first, third, fifth, and fourteenth placings. Caversham was well clear of Technical, in second place With 39 points. As the field settled down, G. Smith and N. Jelley, both St. Kilda (Dunedin), showed up as early leaders. Forcing the pace, Sidon soon took over, closely followed by last year’s winner, J. C. Daly (Marist), with Jelley and E. B. Stroud (Technical) handy. With a mile and a half to go, Sidon had a 50-yard break cn Daly, with another 20 yards to Jelley, followed by Stroud, C. F. Reese (Olympic), and H. Hendry (Caversham). Increasing his lead, Sidon finished over 200 yards clear of Daly,. R. Cain (Caversham), finishing fast, headed Reece off for third place. Leading almost throughout the junior race, C. Wiseman, who has transferred to Christchurch from Technical, came home a clear winner by nearly 50 yards. Wiseman and B. McStay (Anglican) made* an early break, with P. Wood (Marist) in third place. Next came B. Bates (Baptist), M. Walsh (Marist), and B. Curie (Olympic). Wiseman continued forcing the pace, with McStay holding on determinedly till a half-mile to go, when Wiseman sprinted away.

Olympic, with 23 points, won the teams contest by one point from Christchurch. Results:—

A Grade.—P. N. Sidon (Caversham), 16mln 37sec, 1; J. C. Daly (Marist), 17min Msec, 2; R. Cain (Caversham), 17min 20sec, 3; C. F. Reece (Olympic), 17min 21 sec, 4; H. Hendry (Caversham), 17min 27sec, 5; C. Dillimore (Technical), 17min 30sec, 6; P. Hack (Technical), 17min 34sec, 7; N. Jelley (St. Kilda), 17min 36sec, 8: J. Mahan (Uriiversity), 17min 40sec, 9; P. Joyce (University), 17mln 42sec, 10. Teams’ event: Caversham (P. N. Sidon, R. Cain, H. Hendry, J. Mears), 23 points, 1; Technical (C. Dillimore, P. G. Hack, E. B. Stroud, A. W. Richards), 39 points, 2; University (J. . Mahan, J 5. Joyce, M. Craighead, L. Scott). 58 points, 3; Olympic, 64 points, 4. B Grade.—D. Tucker (University), 18min 58sec, 1; P. Barnett (University), 19min 2sec. 2; J. H. Havenaar (Olympic). 19min 6sec, 3. Teams’ event: (J. H. Havenaar, K. Richards, L. E. Fox, K. Lange), 219 points, 1; University, 234 points, 2; Anglican, 245 points, 3. Junior. —C- Wiseman (Christchurch), 17 min B4sec, 1: B. McStay 1 (Anglican), 18min 2sec. 2; P. Wood <Marist), 18min IBsec, 3; D. Sherlock (Olympic). 18min 25sec, 4; R. Farmer (Olympic), 18min 26sec, 5; R. Baxter (Christchurch), 18min 27sec, 6; D. Bell (Baptist). 18min 29sec, 7; D. Reeves (Olympic), 18min 36sec, 8: K. Hay (Christchurch). 18min 38sec. 9; M. Walsh (Marist), 18min 44sec, 10. Teams’ event: Olympic (D. Sherlock. R. Farmer, D. Reeves, B. Curie), 23 points. 1; Christchurch (C. Wiseman. R. Baxter. K. Hay, R. Wilkinson). 24 points, 2; St. Kilda (C. Marsh. W. Bennett. A. Maguire, I. Cooper), 69 points, 3.

CLUB RUNS

Results of runs held by harrier clubs on Saturday were:— Presbyterian Club.—Colts No. 1 pack. D. Lucock 1, P. Slattery 2, R. Williams 3. Colts No. 2 pack: B. Moore 1. R. Taylor 2, B Andrews 3. Colts No. 3 pack: D. Allen 1 K. .Bush 2. P. Kay 3. Slow pack: K. Brown 1. D. Parks 2, B. Peters 3. Medium pack: B. Bellam 1, B. Brookes 2, J. Laugesen 3. Fast pack: M. Batten 1, C. Geddes 2, S. Dailey 3. Technical Club.—Colts fast pack: J. Toohey 1, C. Saxon 2, P. Watts 3. Slow pack: D. Vaughan 1, A. Evans 2, R. Tucker 3. Races of one mile and a half were held by women harriers at the Riccarton racecourse on Saturday. Results were:— Senior: G. Williams (Pioneer Club), 9min 48sec. 1; J- MacDonald (Pioneer), lOmin 44sec, 2; H. MacDonald (Pioneer), llmin 30sec. 3. Junior: M. McDonald (Pioneer), lOmin 13sec, 1: L. Conradie (Pioneer), lOmin 49sec, 2; F. Perkin (Anglican), lOmin 55sec. 3. Sealed handicap: R. Smith (Pioneer), «4min 49sec, 1: D. Neylon (Anglican). smin, 2; C. O’Neil (Anglican), smin lOsec, 3.