HARRIERS DIXEY REPEATS SUCCESS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 7

HARRIERS DIXEY REPEATS SUCCESS

The backmarker, D. F. Dixey (North Otago), repeated his success of last year to win fastest time in the Methodist club’s annual Governor’s Bay-Lyttelton handicap harrier race on Saturday. Dixey thus became the first since the inception of the contest in 1962 to win the senior race twice.

Dixey’s time contrasted sharply with that of last year, however. Then his 29min 21sec for the six miles was seven seconds outside the record set by J. K. Macdonald in the first race. This year a head win probably contributed to his comparative slump to 30min 19sec, the second slowest time by the winner of fastest time. The handicaps, with a limit of 13min 30sec, were too much for Dixey, and in spite of gaining fastest time he was still able to achieve only fifty-fifth place, although not all of the 158 entrants started Competition for fastest time was keen with Dixey’s supremacy not being so marked as in the previous race. Close Rival R. Allen was Dixey’s closest rival, being only llsec behind. R. J. Stevens, who has figured prominently without ever taking time honours in the event, was third another lOsec back. A disappointment was the withdrawal of K. E. Williams,

[ who was to have started 30sec ahead of Dixey. A leg injury has ’ kept Williams from competition 1 for some time and influenza ; kept him out on Saturday. Tfie individual winner was R. . Hayes off about the middle of 1 the field, from seven minutes ’ behind scratch. After dropping . his co-markers early, Hayes hit the front about Corsair Bay and ■ won by nearly a minute. ! It must have been a bitter i pill for the second man, B. Bradshaw off 3min, who set the pace for more than three miles : through the middle stages. > A fine run by M. Poulton gaink ed him third place from nine • minutes behind scratch. r Innovation An innovation this year was ■ the introduction of an additional teams’ race in the senior div : isioh As well as the unusual . contest computed on the first ‘ six runners of each club to fin 1 ish, there was another decided ; on the times of a club’s fastest six runners. Olympic won both, however, and so is the first winner of a new trophy given by the Lyttelton Lions Club for the fastest team. Off two minutes behind scratch A. Glass (New Brighton) won the junior race over the same course, completing the distance in 34min 49sec. Again fastest time was taken by a backmark-

er. D. Armishaw (Technical), who returned 32min 30sec, 25sec faster than the next best by J Tomlinson, who started 30sec ahead. Results: Senior Handicap.—R. Hayes (Technical), off 7:00 behind go, 33:22, 1; B. Bradshaw (Methodist). 3:00, 38:18, 2: M. Poulton (Christchurch), 9:00, 32:40, 3: J. M. Simpson (University), 6:00, 4; D. Bates (Olympic), 5:00, 36:50, 5: A. Patterson (Anglican), 38:50, 6. Fastest Times.—D. Dixey (North Otago), 30:19, 1; R. Allen (Presbyterian), 30:30, 2; R. J Stevens (Olympic), 30:40, 3; 1. Sim (Baptist), 31:01, 4; S. McLean (St. Martins), 31:05, 5: B. Curie (Olympic), 31:22. Teams (six runners to count) —Finishing Placings: Olympic No. 1, 102 points, 1; Presbyterian, 113, 2; Technical 136, 3. Fastest time: Olympic, 3:08:57, Veterans (over 40). —A. Sutherland (Baptist) 1, D. Jackson (Presbyterian) 2: E. R Griffiths (Baptist) 3. Juniors Handicap.—A. Glass (New Brighton), off 2:00 behind go, 34:49, 1; R. Ayers (Presbyterian). 4:00, 35:.00, 2: P Hitchin son (Olympic), 1:00, 3; M. Botherstone (Presbyterian), go, 39:24, 4; M. Hodges (Baptist), 1:00. 39:00, 5; M. Jago (St. Martins). 6:00, 34:19, 6. Fastest Times.—D. Armishaw (Technical), 32:30, 1; J Tomlinson (New Brighton), 32:55, 2; P. Robertson (Marist), 33:43. 3: N. Sideaway (Olympic), 33:55, 4: M. Jago (St. Martins), 34:19. 5: A. Searle (St. Martins), 34:30, 6. Teams (four runners to count) —St. Martins 1, Methodist 2, Marist. 3