Kennett Cup Steeplechase Won By K. E. Williams

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30443, 18 May 1964, Page 14

Kennett Cup Steeplechase Won By K. E. Williams

A former winner of four national harrier titles, K. E. Williams will be a strong claimant for selection later this .-year in the. New Zealand harrier team for the international championships in Belgium. Last winning a national harrier championship in 1958, Williams scored an easy win in the annual Kennett Cup steeplechase at Riccarton racecourse on Saturday.

The performance was one of the best of Williams’s brilliant career: he has won the race four times. His time of 16min 13sec for the three miles and a quarter event was the second best recorded and only 12 seconds short of the record set by A. Potts in 1960. The time by Williams is probably the better, however, for the height of some of the jumps has been considerably increased. Superiority at Jumps It was over the jumps that Williams displayed his greatest superiority. Taking the’4ft 2in “gates”, with a smooth onehanded vault Williams gained yards while most of his closest opponents clambered labouriously over and then sprinted vainly to -overhaul the physical training - instructor from Nelson.

The best Canterbury performance was again that of D. F.

Dixey (Timaru Methodist), who was second to Otago’s P. N. Sidon last year. Although 13 seconds behind Williams, Dixey’s time of 16min 26sec was an improvement of ssec on last year and only a second oft Sidon’s time, which until Saturday was the second best for the race. Forced Pace Williams pressed the pace from the start with B. Skinner. .(Caversham, Dunedin) chasing hard., while others handy were another former winner, J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), Dixey, W K. Kennedy (Christchurch), R. F. Perry (Christchurch), R Reekie (Technical) and A. Dyer

(Christchurch).. Near half-way it was Williams by 50 yards from Skinner, Macdonald, Dixey, Kennedy and Reekie. Skinner dropped soon after arid Dixey pushed through strongly for second.

B. Dyer (Christchurch) was an all the way winner of the junior race with a time of 16min 49sec, only a second slower than sixth best, senior time.

Miss P. Clausen was not seriously challenged to retain her “title” . in the senior women’s section with a time of lOmin 52sec, 34sec better than last year, for the distance of about a mile and threequarters. Results are: MEN Senior Individual.—E. Williams (Nelson), 16:13, 1: D. F. Dixey (Timaru Methodist), 16:26, 2; W. K. Kennedy (Christchurch); 16:.34, 3; R. Reekie (Technical). 16:43, 4; J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), 16:44, 5; B. Skinner (Caversham), 16:48, 6. Teams.—Christchurch (W. R. Green, G. Newby, W. K. Kennedy, R. F.‘ Perry, A. Dyer. N. Fleming), 31 points, 1; Technical, 65, 2; Olympic, 71, 3; Caversham, 81, 4. Sealed Handicap (Fyfe Palmer trophy).—Rover Scouts B 1, Rover Scouts A 2, Marist 3. Junior Individuals.—B. Dyer (Christchurch), 16:49, 1; 1. Hebbard (Caversham), 16:54, 2: H. Neeson (Marist), 17:55, 3: R. Hood (Ashburton), 18:8, 4; A. Sim (Ashburton), 18:13, 5: D. Matthews (Methodist), 18:19, 6. Teams. —Presbyterian (G. Whitfield, T. Mcllwraith, J. Rodger, L. Graham), 47 points, 1; Ashburton, 62, 2; Methodist, 71, 3. Colts Senior.—lndividuals: P. Robertson (Marist). 1, D. Armlshaw (Technical) 2. teams: Technical 1. Junior.—lndividuals: J. Sheddon (Olympic), 10:5, 1; I. Higginson (Toe H), 10:16, 2; N. Harrington (Toe H), 10:22, .3. Teams: Toe H (Higginson 2, Harrington 3, A. Ameriks 11. C. Hill 14), 30 points', 1; Olympic 2; St. Martins 3. WOMEN Senior Individuals,—P, Clauson (Toe H), 10:52, 1; M. Dixey (Ladies’ Pioneer.); 1'1:15, 2; A. Kennedy (Ladies’ Pioneer), 11:50, 3: K. Mackenzie (Toe H) 4, Dixey (Ladles’ Pioneer) 5, N. Hughes (Caversham) 6. Teams.—Ladles’ Pioneer, 10 points, 1:- Toe H, 12, 2; Caversham, 3. Junior Individuals. J. Horton (Ladies' Pioneer), 11:26, 1; N. Hughes- (Caversham, Dunedin), 12:43, 2; P. Hemmingson (Ladies’ Pioneer), 13:16, 3. Teams. —Ladies’ Pioneer, 11 points, 1.

Housing Tax. Brazilian employers will be taxed 1 per cent of their payrolls to help finance the building of houses for workers, the Brazilian Labour Ministry has announced.—Rio de Janeiro, May 16.