HARRIER TOUR MAY CLASH WITH EMPIRE GAMES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 3

HARRIER TOUR MAY CLASH WITH EMPIRE GAMES

I invitation for a New Zealand harrier team to compete in * j durin S July and August, 1958, is unfortunately timed, If the tour takes place then it will clrsh with the next Empire Games in Wales. As many of New Zealand’s best cross-country runners are also its best track distance men, the best talent would be included in the Empire Games team and it would be mainly a second class team for the cross-country. Australia would not be affected quite as seriously because with its larger population it has more athletes to call on.

A wisely timed inrernational contest for New Zealand harriers would be a great stimulus to cross-country running, frequently regarded as a Cinderella sport. As it is 21 years since New Zealand last had an international contest, when it had two matches with Australia, losing one and drawing the other, every effort should be made to get the greatest benefit from another contest by arranging it at a more opportune time. This could be achieved by bringing the tour forward to 1957 or even delaying it until 1959.

It is largely through the efforts ol the Canterbury Cross-Counry Running Management Committee that the possibility of the tour has come about. Every athlete who registers with the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association pays a shilling to an overseas travelling fund. The Canterbury committee considered that this fund was being devoted to the benefit of track athletes at the expense of crosscountry runners. Mr G. E. Voller was the first to raise the question, when secretary ot the Canterbury Cross-Country Running Management Committee some years ago. Since the 1935 tour. Mr Voller conservatively estimates that

harriers have contributed more than £3OOO.

When submissions were made to the national association along those lines, asking that encouragement be given to harriers by more international competition, the association said that indirectly, harriers had benefited from their contributions by being included as distance runners in Olympic and Empire Games teams. This was largely true for these men haH been among the best in both sides of the sport.

Mr Voller’s contention was, however, that cross-country running, as such, was not receiving the consideration to which it was entitled. Although his efforts did not get an enthusiastic reception from the NewZealand association at the time, it appears that the Canterbury insistence over the years is about to bear fruit. If the tour does take place, it should not be just a fleeting visit with one or two contests. The additional expense of a slightly lengthened tour, providing for state matches and other major competitions' in addition to a full scale international race, would be fully justified. Regular exchange visits between the two countries of both track and cross-country teams on similar lines to those between European countries and Britain would be a great fillip to New Zealand athletics, which has existed in comparative isolation