Country Teams Take Lead In Harriers

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 15

Country Teams Take Lead In Harriers

THE Canterbury championships last Saturday may have ushered in a new era in harrier racing in the province. Two clubs from country centres, Greymouth and Ashburton, ended the long domination of the championships in particular, and harrier racing in the province in general, by powerful metropolitan clubs. First Christchurch was supreme, until in the 1950’s the fledgling Olympic club took over the domination of senior events, while University made a fleeting claim to fame by gaining its only team success in the championships in 1955. Apart from the championships, Christchurch and Olympic have shared the honours in major events in recent years. Some indication of Greymouth’s strength was given when it won the senior division of the Jane Patterson events a few weeks ago. Some considered the West Coast club fortunate on that occasion, as both the Christchurch and Olympic teams were without their No. 1 runners, W. K. Kennedy and A. G. Pyne. Greymouth met tougher competition in the senior championship. Both Greymouth and Olympic scored 46 points but consistency of team ability gained Greymouth the decision by having its fourth and final man to count for team points finish seven places ahead of the Olympic fourth man.

Winning the junior cham- * Pionship was not the first * success of the Ashburton * team either. Earlier it had s won the junior Kennett Cup * and then in the Jane Patter- * son events, it was the first * Canterbury junior club team, * being second to Nelson. j

The success of both these 5 clubs should do much to 5 simulate enthusiasm among 5 other clubs, both in Christ- * church and in the smaller ; centres. *

The success of Greymouth ' must have been a tremen- 5 dous satisfaction to Mr T. A. yr,

N. Sweeney, the club’s president, who has worked enthusiastically for this goal since the club’s foundation about 13 years ago. During that period, Mr Sweeney has served the club in most capacities, but not the least has been his untiring work in helping the training of the less experienced members. The club strength has been built up by developing younger runners through the grades and it should have a nucleus of a strong team for some time. Three of the successful team are still 22 or under. The success of the Ashburton juniors indicates that club is building its

The former i.anteroury five-eighths, J. Adams, showed quite good form for Albion against Marist. He ran strongly and displayed some of the dash and side-stepping ability that made him one of the most dangerous backs in Canterbury in recent seasons. ★ A soccer player showing improvement every week is the Technical Old Boys left-half, Colin Chee. One of three brothers playing for the club (they appeared together in the senior team once last season), Colin has successfully moved from centreforward to wing-half, and played no small part after his recent return to the team in Technical’s belated revival to evade Wellington. rZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

strength also by developing younger runners with the prospect of having them continue through to senior ranks. Although some of the Ashburton team, J. Mcßrearty, R. Hood, and A. Sim, have had harrier experience outside Ashburton while attending secondary schools in other centres, they and other members of the club are benefitting by the help they are receiving from a senior member, D. Chadderton, a member of the New Zealand coaches association who is a physical education master at the Ashburton High School. The find of the season for the club is considered to be the fourth member of the successful championship team, R. Franks, who was twentyfirst in what was his first inter-club run.

The Mac Alpine brothers, Neil and Angus, have been prominent players in High School Old Boys’ winning the second division soccer championship and promotion to the senior grade. Neil has also been a strong defender in the Canterbury under 18 team’s successful run into the New Zealand final of the Junior National Cup. ★ In the last few years the Western senior soccer team has seen many changes in personnel and, for a time, even the ever-

green W. Rodger, was absent from the ranks. His return to the side has added strength to the defence and vital support to a youthful attack. 'ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.