HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 18

HARRIER NOTES

Runners Who Show Promising Form AROUND THE CLUBS (By M’iiirrEß-IN.) Saturday’s Fixtures. Brooklyn: Wadestown. guests of Mr. J. Barclay, Wilton Road. Hutt Valley : Novice race, president s handicap, Hutt Park. Methodist: Novice race, Miramar. Olympic: Brooklyn. Presbyterian: Novice race, Miramar tennis courts. Scottish: Novice race, Miramar tennis courts. Wellington: Maiden handicap, L. J. Green Cup, Miramar. Olympic Chili’s Races. Good form was shown by quite a few members of the Olympic club in their two races last Saturday. A. Shaw, who won the maiden handicap, showed a good turn of speed to win this race and should prove a decided asset to the club in tunc to come. In the president’s race an outstanding performance was registered by B. Richardson. Richardson put.up the fastest time for the day and it is quite evident he is going to be a powerful contender in the inter-club races later ou in the season. This runner showed up very prominently last season, but on account of his youth was wisely not allowed to overdo his racing. He has great possibilities ahead of him if he continues to maintain his close connection with his club and trains conscientiously. A position in the 'Wellington representative team is not beyond his capabilities and he should at least be quite able to win his own club championship. It is pleasing to see E. Loyatt snowing quite good form so early in the season. A year o r so ago this runner was picked as a coming champion, but . inability to put in the requisite training, so necessary to make the top grade, prevented him from reaching the heights in cross-country running he should have reached. He is, however, still capable of running brilliantly if in form and should he get anything like fit this season will make a very tough proposition for Richardson. 'With two such A grade runners to carry the Olympic club’s banner this club should be well in the picture in m-ter-club races and it is to be hoped that members will give these two runners every support this season and help regain some of the prestige the club had in former yeans when it could boast oi having Wellington’s premier cross-coun-try runners in its ranks. Brooklyn Jottings. The younger runners of the Brooklyn club are showing great keenness and as a result the club will benefit considerably. Among the comparatively new and young runners in this club Mansd and Appleby catch the eye as very likely men to show up later ou. Mansil during the track season cofnpeted in both the 10 miles and marathon races and so lacks nothing in stamina. If he can speed up a bit he should prove a very valuable club man in th? teams’ event.. Appleby is a very keen member, and this, in my opinion is half the battle, sa far as getting fit ’is concerned. Properly looked after, Appleby should go quite a long way m the sport of cross-country running. Present indications are that Brooklyn will be hard put to to field a real top-notch-team for the provincial championships. Prosser has not, so far, put in an aPPearance, and it is understood his leg, which he injured last season, is still troubling him. O. B. Roberts is at the moment out of Wellington, and so the club cannot rely on him to produce one of his brilliant flashes to help the club out. Both Pedersen and Barclay, two old and tried harriers, are, however, on hand with two such able men to bring along the younger runners it would not “WhipperIn” to see the Brooklyn club make . a great showing on the day of the provincial championships. They have effectively turned the tables on other clubs before today and in any case the championships are as yet a long way off." N. Johnson, one of Brooklyn’s most promising runners of last season, has not as yet turned out. This runner impressed “WhipperIn” considerably as a runner with great possibilities. Properly coached and trained he would prove a great acquisition to his club and should on last season’s running, and allowing for a natural improvement, make the cluffis A team. Scottish Jottings.

Excellent attendances continue to be the lot of this club so far phis a keenness to excel in the various activities ot the club. Fully ten to twelve new members have hit the trail this season, and among them one or two runners show promise of developing into good, souud cross-country runners. Some good racing should be seen next Saturday in tne novice race, and it would not surprise “Whipper-In” if T. C. Tritt, a newcomer, gained fastest time for this event. lhe Scottish club is very fortunate inasmuch as it will have all its cracks to rely upon this season with the exception of 11. Cowan. Cowan has been transferred to Whangarei, and he will be missed very much by Scottish, as this year he showed every sign of having improved. It is to be hoped he continues to take an active interest in the sport at Whangarei, and all Wellington harriers will wish him the best of luck in his new sphere of labour. W. Scoble is showing great form for so early in the season. He states he feels fitter at this time in the season than he has ever done before. Scoble is a very conscientious trainer, and it should not' surprise me to see him placed in the first six in the province before the end o£ the season. T. Olifent has made a welcome reappearance this season, and is keen to get fit and help the club along. Like so many of our younger runners in Wellington Olifent has had to devote time to studies, and as a consequence his running has suffered. However, Scottish are pleased to have him back, and he will help materially in keeping this, club in its well-nigh impregnable position. Crossing of Trails.

A great deal of confusion occurred to the runners of Scottish, University, and Methodist clubs last Saturday by me trails laid by the respective trail-layers crossing, thereby leading to confusion and the splitting of clubs into many packs. While this did not actually destroy the outings of the clubs concerned it did tend to upset the general sociability of the run and to some extent spoil the run-ins, as members arrived home at odd intervals instead of as one pack. It appears to “Whipper-In,” however, that this is a matter which could easily be avoided if club captains or whoever are responsible for causing the trails to be laid were, when chibs are running in close proximity to one another, to get together before the day of the run and decide beforehand just where they intended to run. If this procedure were adopted satisfactory arrangements could be made for all parties concerned and fo stop any trouble of a like nature occurring in the future.

Central Harrier Club. A very old syllabus, dated 1912, that of the now-defunct Central Harriers (Wednesday club), has come to the hands ot “Whipper-In.” This syllabus of twentythree years ago is a very interesting linK with the past and serves to remind the vounger generation that the sport > s becoming quite old. The secretary at that time was Mr. Chan Rough, while such prominent, men at Herb U’me. D. 1. Shortt, IV. H. Philp, and M. IL Bennett are listed as vice-presidents of the club. _