HARRIERS Wellington-Masterton Relay Record To Owairaka

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 15

HARRIERS Wellington-Masterton Relay Record To Owairaka

(Sew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. Sept. 3. A brilliant display of planned team running, climaxed by a great lap by M G. Halberg. saw Owairaka win the Wellington to Masterton 63-mile road relay on Saturday. Owairaka’s time of shr 25 min llsec broke Lynndale’s 1959 record by more than 11 min.

Halberg was mobbed by a large crowd as he crossed the finishing line after running the last lap from Clareville to the Masterton Post Office, a distance of seven miles and three-quarters, in 36min 44 sec. This took more than 2m in off the lap record. G. Wheeler brought Scottish (Wellington) into second place, just ahead of the unlucky Onehunga team, followed by Methodist (Wellington) and Hutt Valley. In spite of a blustery southerly, and heavy showers, a large crowd followed the race. The wind fell away on the Wairarapa side of the

Rimutakas, but showers persisted. and at one stage the runners had to race through floodwater more than 6in deep. A remarkable standard was achieved in that nine teams bettered six hours for the 63mile journey. Hie Heliopolis Cup, awarded to the most improved team on last year's performance, went narrowly to Palmerston North, just ahead of Methodist.