FOURTH SUCCESS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 287, 31 August 1931, Page 10

FOURTH SUCCESS

N.Z. Cross-country Title SAVIDAN’S VICTORY Otago Wins Team Event By Telegraph—Pi ess Assdciation. Auckland, August 29. The Dominion cross-country championship, decided to-day in fine weather, waa won by J. W. Savidan (Auckland) from N. F. Cooper (Auckland). H. Johnson (Otago) was third. Otago won the teams’ race, finishing third, fourth, sixth and seventh, thus securing 20 points. Auckland was second with 25 points, Wanganui being thiid with 58 ppints. 1 ' . A fast pace set at the start saw Barker (Auckland) leading from Silver (Wellington), Morris (Otago), and Weller (Wanganui-Taranaki). Over the hill Savidan and Cooper took charge and led in the run round Lake St John. After three miles Savidan gradually drew away, with Cooper second and Johnson (Otago) third. This order was maintained to the finish, Savidan winning brilliantly by 120 yards, with Johnson a similar distance away third. Otago teamed remarkably well, but Wellington was disappointing. G. Prosser, of Wellington, ran well in the early stages, but dropped back and finished fifteenth. R. M. Barter, of Canterbury, came up well to finish sixth. This is Savidan’s fourth victory in the event Auckland in gaining second place in the teams’ event made its best showing for many years. There were thirty-five competitors, representing Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Wanganui-Taranaki, and Auckland. The distance covered was 61 miles (10,000 metres). The time of 35min. Is4sec. was remarkably fast and compares favourably with similar events abroad. With the exception of Savidan none of the favoured division finished very close up, the pace set by the leaders causing many runners to slow down. Cooper, Nicholson and Barker, all of Auckland, in this their third attempt gave greatly improved displays. SATURDAY’S OUTINGS City and Provincial ClubsA brief respite from hard training and championship running was taken by the Wellington harrier clubs in their outings last Saturday. The provincial clubs were also similarly occupied, with the exception of Masterton, which held a ten miles championship. The following are the detailed reports:— Wellington Club. The Wellington club were the guests of Hubt Valley harriers at Hutt Park. Two combined packs followed a varied course of. about nine miles, leading from the club house along the old Day’s Bay Road to the top of the Wainul hill. The road was followed for .a short distance, and then the paper went down into the head of the Walnui valley. A valley trail led back to the road, and at this point the fast pack, under C. King (Hutt Valley) gathered in the slow pack. From the top of the hill the Walnui Road was followed home again. The stream at the clubhouse provided several members with the opportunity of having a dip, some going In voluntarily, some otherwise. Afternoon tea was held later. Mr. Donaldson, of Wellington club, expressed his club’s appreciation of the afternoon's entertainment, Mr, Hadley, replying. Olympic Club. The Olympic Harrier Club held its weekly run from Lyall Bay, about 30 members being present. The trail-layers, W. and G. Sceats, set a good trail of about seven miles. The members split into two packs, and started on the course at the bathing sheds, following ■ along to the end of the beacb to Breaker Bay, then up the hill to the signal station and around the back of Scats College, and back on to the road leading to Lyall Bay. A run-in held over the last 900 yards was won by Bade, with Clapham second and Chandler and Strong dead-heat for third. Scottish Club.' Twenty-five members of the Scottish club participated in, the weekly run held at Karori. The runners split into three packs, followed an excellent trail laid by M. Violieh and E. P. Smith. This trial covered seven miles of undulating country, and included a sprinkling of solid hill work. The packs merged about a mile from home, and kept together to within about 200 yards of the finish. A run-in held over the last 150 yards saw C. Thompson narrowly defeat C. Brown, with R. McKenzie third. Wanganui Club. _ The Wanganui harriers' team ran over rough, hilly country at the back of Aramoho, with a final run-in of a mile and a quartgr to Mr. Roland Young’s residence. Owing to the absence of the Wanganui representatives at the New Zealand crosscountry championships, the outing was mainly an exercise run. Ten-mile Championship Dominion Special Service. Masterton, August 29. The Masterton Harrier Club's annual ten-mile district championship race from Carterton to Masterton was held to-day, Ideal weather conditions favouring a big field of starters. The winner of the championship and the Wad'ham Cap for last season, S. Carr, is not a resident of the district now,, and was unable to defend the trophy and the title. L. Rutherfurd and J. Mulvey tied for first placed the latter catching Rutherfurd just on the tape. The winners’ time was 55min. 19sec. A. Burns was placed third, and registered a time of 56min. ssec. J. Burns was fourth and J. Carter fifth. A sealed handicap race was run in conjunction with the cbampionshtp, and was won by Johansen (lOsec.).