HARRIERS KENNETT CUP RACE WON RY DUNEDIN RUNNER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 17

HARRIERS KENNETT CUP RACE WON RY DUNEDIN RUNNER

After being closely challenged in the middle stages by R. Stevens, the Canterbury harrier champion. A. Potts, ct Celtic United (Dunedin!. last year’s winner of the senior Kennett Cup race, won the event again on Saturday at the Riccarton racecourse. Potts cleared right away over the last mile to win by about 70yds in 16min 17sec. Although this was 16 sec slower than Potts’s record breaking run of last year, the slower time is partially accounted for by the inclusion of extra hurdles. Many supporters were looking forward to the clash between Potts and the former ■record-holder. J. K. Macdonald, the Canterbury sixmiie champion. This did not eventuate, however, as Macdonald scratched from the event, having had a bout of influenza earlier in the week. Subdued Pace Although the race began at a rather subdued pace. Potts was not an early leader, and after 300yds he was still in sixth place. At this stage. S. L Jeliev. A. Maguire (Olympic). and A Evans (Technical) were in front Potts made his move around the back of the mile and a half circuit and opened up a gap. but Stevens went after him again to be level starting the second lap. when they were about 100yds in front. They were followed by B. Buckley (Technical), D Reece and J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), and N. Fleming (Christchurch) with the New Zealand cricketer, F. Cameron (Celtic United), not far behind. Stevens was unable to stay with Potts over the final stages, and N. Fleming achieved the best performance - of his career, coming through for a very good third, ahead of last year's second place man, J. D. Macdonald. Winner of the teams’ contest for the previous two years. Olympic again dominated this section, its first four runners finishing in the first eight places. The best of the other teems was Christchurch with two of its team home in the first 10 and the fourth man not coming In until nineteenth. Juniors The junior race, also of three miles and a quarter, re-

suited in an equally impreosive win for the Canterbury champion, A Bayard, who won the event last year. Bayard strode away from the field with apparently effortless ease to achieve the remarkable time for a junior of l&nin Msec —a time that is almost certainly the best yet done for the under 19 section. Only three of the senior men bettered this time. Given a good start for the teams’ event with a wtn bv Bayard. Anglican, with a total of 41 points, was 23 ahead of Christchurch.

Winner of the fastest time in the colts’ (under 16» relay in Hagley Park earlier in the season. the Christchurch runner, C. McFadden, was again too strong for the other eolts and won bv a margin of 3sec from G. Clarke (Olympic). The winner of the teams’ competition was again Anglican, which gained the decision in a very close contest with Olympic and Rover Scouts. A combined senior and junior race for women was won easily by Miss D. Lagm«e <Technical!, who was 30sec ahead of the next runner, a junior Miss M. Dixey (Ladies' Pioneer), who gained first ptace in the junior event Indies’ Pioneer won the teams' sections of both the women’s events. Detailed results are:— MEN Sentar Individual-A. Potts (Celtle United. Dunedin). 16.17, 1; R. R. Stevens (Olympic), 16 39, 2; N. Fleming (Christchurch). 18.53, 3; J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), 16.59, 4; B. Buckley (Technical). 174, 5; K. Richards (Olympic). 17.6, 6; w. K. Kennedy (Christchurch), 17.10 7; D. Reece (Olympic), 17.11', 8; J. Burberry (Leith. Dunedin). 17.12. 9; F. Cameron (Celtic United. Dunedin), 17.17, 10. Teams—Olympic (R. Stevens 2. J. D. Macdonald 4. K. Richards 6, D. Reece 8), 20 points. 1; Christchurch (N. Fleming 3. W. K. Kennedy 7. J. Lucas 15, R. Perry 19), 44, 2; Technical (B. Buckley 5. Saxon 13, P. Watts 18, A, Evans 33). 58. 8; Olympic No. 2, 88. 4; Leith. 103. 5; 'Umaru Presbyterian, 122, 6. Junior Individual.—A. Bayard (Anglican), 16.55, 1; R Reekie (Technical). 17.20, 2; B. Molloy (Olympic). 1744, 3; R. Allen i Presbyterian I, 1725. 4: T. King (Leith), lira 5; C. Wood (Methodist). 17.35, 6. Teams.—Anglican (A. Bayard 1. R. Inder 8. T. Bennett 15. M. Phillips. 17), 41 points. 1; Christchurch, 64. 2; Rover Scouts. 92. 3. Colts Individual: C. McFadden (Christchurch), 9.12. 1; G. Clarke (Olympic). 9.15, 2; E. Brown (Anglican), 9.16, 3. Team*—Anglican, 48 point*. 1; Olympic. 50, 2; Rover Scouts, 52. 3. WOMEN Senior Individual. D. Lagrosso (Technical), 10.32 1; A Kennedy (Ladies' Pioneer), 1129. 2: L. Abernathy (Ladles’ Pioneer). 12.13. 3; W. Savage (Ladles' Pioneer). 15.11, 4: M. Melhulrh (Ladies' Pioneer), 15.14. 5: W. Chisholm (Ladles’ Pioneer), 15.25. 6. Teams.—Ladles’ Pioneer 1. Junior Individual.—Margaret Dixey (Ladies' Pioneer), 114, 1; D. Dixey (Ladies' Pioneer), 11.13, 2; F.. Atkins (Anglican), 11-50. 3: M. Ward (Ladles’ Pioneer), 12.4, 4: C. Arnold (Anglican), 12.57, 5; W. Kerr (Anglican). 13.44, 6. Teams.—Ladles’ Pioneer 1, 1, Anglican 2.