HARRIERS OLYMPIC WINS SENIOR RELAYS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 16

HARRIERS OLYMPIC WINS SENIOR RELAYS

Much too strong for its opposition, Olympic won both senior divisions of the Canterbury cross r country running management committee's "mile” relays at Rawhitl Domain on Saturday. Olympic’s win in Ute senior A section was its third, successive victory. On Saturday, for the first time, it took the second section as well. An Olympic runner also had fastest, individual time: J. D. Macdonald ran his stage of just over a mile in smin 6sec. Two other Olympic men figured in the first six best times in the senior A section Other honours were shared Teams from different clubs were first in each of the other grades,, and individual best times were well distributed Christchurch won the junior grade, Technical the colts, and Pioneer the women’s grade. Course Slower Generally slower than in former years, times were adversely affected by modifications to the course. The five events were decided over a circuit of about half a mile instead of the former 440-yard lap. Seniors and juniors each ran two laps and the other grades ran one. The accurately measured lap was 20 yards more than half a mile, and ■ it took in some rougher country than previously. In spite of Olympic’s winning margin, the senior A section was not without interest. Christchurch and Marist had turns in the lead also. Christchurch was given a useful start by W K. Kennedy whose first lap time of smin 15sec gained him third best senior time. Olympic, at this stage, trailed the leader by 70 yards and held third place. A. Buckley (Marist) was a close second to Kennedy. Missed Trail Running fastest time. Macdonald took Olympic to a 55-yard lead on the second section. N C Fleming snatched a brief lead for Christchurch again. when Olympic’s No. 3 man, S Payne ran off the course. Christchurch's glory was short lived however. A powerful run by J. Gordon had Marist 40 yards clear at the baton change. On the fourth stage, T Preece (Olympic) built up a 90-yard lead which R. J Stevens and R. T. Farmer consolidated on the final two laps. One of the most remarkable performances was that of R Alcorn (Methodist). Running the first lap for Methodist, he recorded fastest time ip the senior second division, completing the two circuits In smln 18sec. Although only a few days earlier, Alcorn had attempted the New Zealand 100 mile time, he showed little sign of his gruelling effort and scampered in at the head of the field on the first “leg,” taking fifth best time for the combined senior divisions. After a shaky fifth place on the first stage' of the senior second division. Olympic pulled up to wrest the lead from Methodist on the fourth stage and held it to the finish. Other Grades In the junior event, Christchurch and Technical disputed the lead during the first three raps, with Christchurch holding the lead it gained on the third stage The best time of smm I6sec by R Reekie (Technical i was good enough to have taker, fourth best in the senior races Technical distinguished itself in the colts' (under 16) grade by Its teams being both first and third. Marist figured in the honours with P Robertson returning the fastest time of 2min 31sec Pioneer No 1 was a clear winner in the women’s event ?nd as well its first lap runner. M Dixey. gained the best time of 3min 4sec. A bold bid for individual time honours was made also by P Clausen iToc H). who was credited with 3min 7sec Results:— • _ Senior Section A.—Olympic (W. L Hobbs, J. D Macdonald. S Payne. T Preece. R J Stevens. H T Farmer), 32:24. 1: Christchurch (W. K Kennedy, C F ? e ®£ e - N « Fleming. V. Burt. T . p °wer. W R Green), 32 52. 2: Marist (A. Buckley, P Wood. J. Gordon. P Shackle r Sharp. R Avrey). 34:24, 3 ..Peetest Individual Times (Mile) —J d. Macdonald. 5:06 G J Gordon. 5:09. 2: W K Kennedy. 5:15. 3: R. F Farmer 5:17. 4; A. Buckley. 5:19. 5: J T- Power and R. J. Stevens 5:23 (equal). 6.

Section B—Olympic (P. Brown. G. Edwards. D. J. Reece, B. Heseltine. T. Cattermole, G. T Wilson), 33:44, I: Methodist (R. Alcorn. T. Lucas. M. Gosney. R. Caldow, P. Betts, B. Smith), 34:26. 2; University (J. R. Blakely. G. Sutherland. P. B. Lake. L. F. Phillips. I. Reid. P. Crisp), 35:07. 3: Christchurch. 35:48, 4; Technical, 35:50, 5; Rover Scouts. 37:30. 6. Fastest Individual Times (Mile).—R Alcorn. 5:18. 1; P. Watts. 5:20, 2; S. Gawler, 5:22, 3. Junior Christchurch (C. J. McFadden. K Jago, G. Newby, J. Collie i. 21:55, 1; Technical (M. Couuhlan. R. Reekie. J. Whitworth. M Jones). 22:21. 2; Marist No. 1 (J. Williams. P. Jacobs. H Nelson, B. Brown), 22:56, 3; Olympic No. 1, 24:13. 4; Rover Scouts. 24:59, 5; Methodist. 25:02, 6. Fastest Individual Times (mile).—R. Reekie. 5:16, 1; C. J. McFadden. 5:22, 2; M. Jones. 5:24. 3. Colts. —Technical No. 1 <G. Poulton, D Annishaw, W. Waal. L. Cane). 10:48. 1; Christchurch No 1 (P Bruce. B. Suckling, G. Carpenter, N Matson), 10:50. 2: Technical No. 2 (P Morris. P. Bartlett, N Weatherhead. B. Chadderton), 11:07, 3: Shirley, 11:36. 4; Marist. 11:47, 5; Christchurch No 2, 11:57, 6. Fastest Individual Time.—P. Robertson, 3:31, 1. Women Pioneer No. 1 (M. Dixey. A. Kennedy, D Dixey. L. Fisher). 12:49, 1; Toe H (C. Brewer, S. Govan, M. Brown. P. Clausen), 13:12. 2: Pioneer No. 3. 15:15. 3. Fastest Individual Times—M. Dixey. 3:04. 1: P. Clausen. 3 07. 2: L. Fisher. 3:12, 3; C. Brewer, 3:13, 4.