CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27986, 5 June 1956, Page 12

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

ANGLICAN CLUB’S BLOCK RELAY

RECORD BROKEN BY OLYMPIC

The Olympic Harrier Club maintained its unbeaten record in Canterbury races for this season by winning the Anglican Club’s block relay in record time yesterday. This was Olympic’s third successive win this season and its time of Ihr 59min Bsec was 2min 48sec better than the record set by Technical last year. The all-round superior strength of the Olympic team was shown by the times recorded by its five runners. Three of them recorded the three fastest lap times and although it had to replace one of its nominated team. B Curie, all expect one of its runners did better times than the opposition on their respective laps. J. K. Macdonald returned the fastest time for the course of approximately four miles and one-tenth through the Burwood plantations with 23min 4sec. It was the second fastest lap time in the three years that the race has been held over the present course, based on the Windsor Golf Club.

In 1954 K. Williams, the national cross-country champion, ran the final lap in 22m in 49sec. The fastest lap time by a junior runner was taken by B. Cook (Technical) with 24min 37sec. which was Isec faster than that of D Reece (Olympic), a younger brother of C. F. Reece, the Canterbury champion. The sealed handicap was won by the Technical number four team.

In spite of the heavy rain the course was in excellent order for fast times.

J. C. Daly (Marist) led the first lap runners in the scramble over the first obstacle about 600 yards after the start. C. F. Reece took the lead for Olympic shortly after, and going into the plantation held a small break on Daly, who was followed by C. MacGuire 'Christchurch No. 1). D. Beauchamp (University). A. Mahan (Anglican No. 1), R. Newby (Anglican No. 2), and D. Bougen (Christchurch No. 2). Reece drew away c/er the middle stages, to hand on to his brother. D Reece. 200 yards ahead of Marist. The marathon champion, A. W Richards (Technical), moved through steadily from tenth place in the early stages to challenge Daly over the last mile. Richards beat the Marist man into the finishing straight by 15 yards, but had no reply to the strong finishing burst by Daly The Christchurch No. 2 runner, Bougen, surprised by filling the next place, ahead of his No. 1 team, followed by University, Anglican No. 2. and Rover Scouts Although retaining the lead, Olympic lost 15 seconds of its lead on the second lap, but at no stage was it in danger of losing its position. D. Greig took Technical into second position, ahead of C. Wiseman (Christchurch No. 1) and J. Williams, a brother of Kerry Williams, in the Christchurch No. 2 team.

There was no change in the positions of the two leading teams. Olympic and Technical, after this. University moved up to third place over the third lap, only to be displaced by both the Christchurch No. 1 and 2 teams over the last two laps.

Results:— Olympic (C. F. Reece. D. Reece, J. K. Macdonald, J. D. Macdonald. R. Stevens), Ihr 59min Bsec), 1; Technical (A. W. Richards. D. Greig, B Cook, R. G. Shaw, P. Hack) 2hr 2min 58sec, 2; Christchurch No. 1 (C. MacGuire, C. Wiseman, R. Wilkinson, R. Green. B. Dingwall), 2hr 4min 28sec, 3; Christchurch No. 2,2 hr smin 57sec, 4; University, 2hr 6min 16sec. 5; Marist, 2hr 7min 23sec, 6.

Fastest Times.—J. K. Macdonald (Olympic), 23min 4sec, 1; C. F. Reece (Olympic). 23min 18sec, 2; R. Stevens (Olympic), 23 min 28sec, 3; J, C. Daly (Marist). 23min 55sec, 4; A. W. Richards (Technical). 23 min 58sec. 5

Fastest times by junior runners:—B. Cooke (Technical). 24min 37sec, 1; D. Reece (Olympic), 24min 38sec. 2: K. Hay (Christchurch No. 2), 24min 42sec. 3.

PRESBYTERIAN CLUBS’ RACE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 4. The Christchurch team, headed by D. Lucock, won the New Zealand Presbyterian St. Andrew’s trophy harrier race at Trentham today. It gained 18 points. Timaru was second wtih 34 points, and Wellington third with 35.

The course was six and a half miles, starting from the Trentham School. The slushy conditions severely tested the runners. Lucock, who was the first home of the large field by 35 yards, took 44min 19sec Second was L. Day (Timaru). N. Gosling (Wellington) was third, and A. Candy (Christchurch) fourth. The race wa's primarily a teams event, the placings of the first four runneis home in a team of six counting as points.

The results of the sealed handicap, a race for those not included in the club teams, will not be known for several days.