CROSS-COUNTRY TITLE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 290, 3 September 1931, Page 6

CROSS-COUNTRY TITLE

N.Z. Championships

WELLINGTON’S FAILURE

(By

“Whipper-in'’).

For the eleventh time since the inception of the event in 1003, Otago men won the teams event at the New Zealand crosscountry championships held at Auckland last Saturday. Even in face of stronger opposition from other centres Otago cut down last year's aggregate by one point, winning from the strongest Auckland opposition yet by five points. The teaming spirit was ever predominant, and the fact that the Otago representatives did not possess really brilliant individual runners speaks volumes. Although the Auckland men, J. W. Savidan and N. F. Cooper, pulled their team's aggregate well up by running into first and second places, the other members of the team did all that was expected of them, and they are to be congratulated on the fine Improvement—the most noticeable in recent years.

Another young centre in the sport, Wanganui-Taranaki, gave ample evidence of improvement in securing third position in the teams section. Some Surprises.

The day was not without its surprises, the most noticeable being the failure of the Wellington team, as a team and as Individualists. Wellington suffered the greatest reversal for a number of years, and in gaining fourth position managed to escape winning the "wooden spoon” by half a point. j The failure is Inexplicable, and even the Wellington captain. F. B. Silver, could not offer a solution. The Wellington men were conspicuous as a team throughout, and although they finished within 30 seconds of each other, one can but assume that they were as good as their opponents allowed them to be. Canterbury were never impressive, although they shone in the early stages. Quadruple Winner.

By his fourth success in the individual section, J. W. Savidan, the British Empire six-mlle champion, Is probably the greatest New Zealand distance man of all time. Hla time of 35mln. 40sec. for a 10,000 metres race, has not been equalled in New Zealand in cross-country running, and compares favourably with times abroad. Right from the start he was associated In the pace-making, and three miles out saw him . well away, with his team mate, N. F. Cooper, In close attendance. Savidan was never challenged, and although he was not forced, he returned the fastest time ever established In the fixture. Once a splendid three-mller, N. F. Cooper has developed into a first-class long-distance man. His following J. W. Savidan into second place spoke for itself, and the Auckland centre may be Justly proud that it possesses the two best crosscountry men in the Dominion. B. J. Johnson, C. McLaren, and B. C. Brown gave a great teaming effort, and ran Into third, fourth, and fifth places. Johnson made terrific going in the closing stages, and headed his club mates by close on a minute. C. Weller is this year's "find,” and although only 17, ran into sixth position, beating R. M. Barter (Canterbury). The Wanganui-Taranaki centre has produced a brilliant lad, and It is hoped that he will not fade as did last year's runner-up, H. J. Brown. . J. G. Barnea did not Justify the hopes placed In him, and could get no nearer than eighth position. b. Barker, the fourth Auckland man, clinched matters for his team In finishing twelfth. Then came the Wellington trio — F. B. Silver, D. Pederson, and Prosser, all of whom fought gamely to preserve the sequence. A. L. Stevens and V. Smith were well out of the picture, but the former was not fit J. J. Morris (Otago) was well back, and headed L. Sinclair into eighteenth position. Below Expected Form. The results reveal that many runners were tar below their expected form, and except for the time set by Savidan, Cooper, and Johnson, the performances were on a par with those of past years. Also that the Wellington men timed over a minute slower than they did over a 10.000-metre course at the provincial championships; this must be considered an indication of faulty running. Harrier Field-Day. A - new departure will be made in the harrier sport on Saturday, when a fieldday will be held at. the showgrounds. The event includes practically aU athletic events, the chief of which will be the Shaw Baton relay. For the paet two seasons the harrier sub-committee has been searching every avenue whereby the inter-club syllabi can be curtaUed slightly, and this year, mainly through the deliberations of Mr. L. A. Bond, chairman, the Nlmmo Cup and Shaw Baton fixtures have been merged. All the Wellington harrier clube will enter, and a large entry is expected for each event. It is intended to hold the event annually.