HARRIERS Olympic Takes Major Honours In Block Relay

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29224, 7 June 1960, Page 14

HARRIERS Olympic Takes Major Honours In Block Relay

Although the changing of the Anglican Harrier Club’s block relay from a scratch to an open handicap event prevented the Olympic No. 1 team from being first to finish, its runners took the major honours in most convincing fashion. On this showing it will indeed be very surprising to see it beaten by a Canterbury club in open events this season.

Olympic clearly demonstrated its over-all strength by supplying two five-man teams that took first and second fastest time honours. The No. 1 team recorded 118 mm 58sec .for the total distance of about 20 miles and three-quarters, while the No. 2 team was only 44sec slower. Further proof of the ability of ' the Olympic runners was evident in the fastest lap times, of which it had five of the best six. The man to break the Olympic domination was a former national junior champion, J. Herrick (University), who was third with 23min 32sec for the 4.15 mile circuit over undulating sandy country through the Burwood plantations, starting Trom the Windsor Golf Club. J. K. Macdonald’s Return The former Canterbury champion, J K. Macdonald, marked his return to Canterbury after a season or two in the North Island, by gaining fastest time honours with 23tnin 4sec on the first lap for Olympic No. 2 team. He beat his brother, Jim, who started 2min behind him, for the Olympic No. 1 team, which gave the limit team. Christchurch No. S. a 30m in start. J. K. Macdonald was not the only one of the Olympic No. 2 team to excel on the day, and two others figured in the six fastest times. They were R. T. Farmer, on the third lap and B. Curie, on the fifth lap. Both recorded 23min 38sec to share fifth fastest time. Had Olympic’s six fastest men been included in its No I team, its time would have been a good deal better.

Teams Disqualified First place in the handicap section was awarded to Christchurch No. 3. which finished 41sec behind the first team to finish. Technical No. 3. Off 2min behind the front marker, Technical No. 3 led through all the baton changes, but was subsequently disqualified for not having notified an alteration to its team within the required time limit. Four other teams were affected by almilar rulings.

The change to a handicap race was a worthwhile experiment, especially as the handicaps generally proved well calculated with teams coming in at close intervals for a race of this distance. The handicap starts, however detracted from the spectator appeal of the event.

An innovation this year was the introduction of a race for women's teams, this event being decided over six laps of two miles. The winning team was Ladies’ Pioneer No. 1. which had a good duel with a team o( Marlborough girls. Less than a minute separated these two teams at the finish Miss A. Kennedy (Pioneer) headed three other Pioneer girls for fastest time honours. Results:—

Men „ Handicap Event.-Christchurch No. 3 (A Dyer. J. Perry. M. Eder, I. Brownie, J Clifford), net running time. 129 min 50sec, 1; Martst No. I L A - ® uck, ?. y - Smith, B. Atkins. F Sharp, P Howard), 128 min 54sec. 2: Anglican No. 1 (A S. Bayard. D. S Leemtng R Lloyd. B Curry, C. R Ogle) 134m1n 10 sec 3. . F ?, ste ?s Team Times.-Olympic No. • (J D Macdonald. D. J Reece R J Stevens, G. T Wilson, C. F. Msec. 1; dlymplc ?J O —2 (J- K Macdonald, T. Preece. B-T. S. L. Jelley, 3. Curie). 2: Christchurch No. 1 (J Williams. W K. Kennedy. 3 F2> w ‘i r * M K Wa . n, «* N - Fleming) 120mfn 32sec. 3; University No. 1 (R

Crisp. M. Taylor, D. Clemente. 1 Herrick, G. Wyatt). 123m1n UM, 4: Christchurch No. 2 (J. HamilteoL R. Swain, D. Mackley, R. OrsateT Perry). 12Smin 27sec, S. Fastest Lap Times.—J. K. Maeda* • aid (Olympic), 23mln 4sec, 1; 1. J. Stevens (Olympic), 23min 2Ssse. 1; J. Herrick (University), 23min dam 3: J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), 53 36sec, 4; B. Curie (Olympic), and 1. T Farmer (Olympic), equal. Bota 38sec. 5. Women Teams.—Pioneer No. 1 (R. Mas* donald, M. Macdonald, C. ShaeMs, A. Kennedy). 70min 12see. r, Martborough (J. Stanfield, C. elects, L Hart. V Promt), Timin teas. t; Pioneer No. 2 (M. Dixey, BTsGm G. Blee. P Wilkinson), 74mto 4Ms> 3. ~. r t ' * • Fastest Lap Times.—A. KsaaaMl (Pioneer), 15min 42sec. 1; MJMae* donald (Pioneer), 16min Usee, I; M. Dixey (Pioneer). Khnin MsM, 3; D. Dixey (Pioneer). ISmin Mao,