Record Entries For Harrier Relay

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 9

Record Entries For Harrier Relay

TJECORD entries have been received by the Anglican 'Harrier Club for its annual block relay events which will be decided over a course through the Burwood plantation on Monday. This is without taking into account the entries for the colts’ division, which has. been included in the programme for the first time this year. Twenty-four five-man teams have entered for the men’s relay, in which each runner will do one lap of the 4.1 mile circuit from the start at the Windsor Golf Club. The course is shorter than last year, when the lap distance was about four miles and a half. Each competitor in the women’s event will run about two miles, an additional baton change being provided for them about half-way around the circuit. Competitors in the colts’ (under 16) grade will contest a two-mile scratch race starting from the second baton change mark of the women’s relay. The organising club's officials are particularly gratified at the excellent response for the first colts event which has attracted more than 50 runners. Added interest will be given the event by the. entry of four teams from the Nelson club—two men’s, a women’s and a colt’s—and a team from Timaru

Anglican. Usually committed to the New Zealand Methodist championships at Queen's Birthday weekend, the Methodist club has entered a team this year too. The men’s event is conducted as a handicap race and this week officials of the club, iu conjunction with the Canterbury CrossCountry Running Management Committee's handicapper (Mr S. L. Jelley), have been busy assessing all the runners (and teams) to determine the time handicap the various teams will get on the back markers. Major interest is still likely to centre on the clash between the strong teams from Olympic and Christchurch. Although Olympic will be without J. D. Macdonald, who has been its strongest runner this winter, it will have this disadvantage off-set by having the national threemile champion, A. G. Pyne make his first appearance of the harrier season. Anglican is hoping for an improved showing, particularly as the former outstanding junior, A. Bayard, appears to have found top form again as a senior. In the triangular tournament among Anglican clubs from Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin at Timaru last week, Bayard had a most impressive win.