HARRIER RUNS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 13

HARRIER RUNS

Enjoyable Outings In Bracing Weather NOVICE HANDICAP RACES Bracing weather prevailed on Saturday afternoon for the weekly runs of Wellington harrier clubs. Several of the clubs staged their novice handicap races, which produced some promising runners. Presbyterian Club The Presbyterian club’s novice handicap was held from the Miramar tennis courts. A field of 34 members turned out for the race, the trail being laid over a course of 2i miles. The trail led up Darlington Road, acro% the paddocks and hill, coming down by the gasworks, and leading thence to the polo grounds back to the tenuis courts. The winner, M. Pumphrey, made good use of his handicap, and went to the front on the hill, winning comfortably by 100 yards in the good time of 17 minutes net. _ The scratch man, A. Congalton, ran splendidly, finishing in_ fifth place, and making fastest time, 15.28. Several new runners showed surprisingly good form. The results were: —JI. Pumphrey, 1, G. Arcus, 2; D. Morris, 3 ; H. Easton, 4; A. Congalton, 5. Fastest times were:—A. Congalton, 15.28, 1: F. Cox, 16.58, 2; M. Pumphrey, 3; W. Wainwright, 4. Next week’s run is to be from the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church. Scottish Club Eleven runners faced the starter in th® Scottish club’s novice race, held from Miramar tennis sheds. The trail was similar to that followed in previous yeais —past the tram terminus, across the paddocks to the cow-bails, thence along the track at the back of the Shell oil works. At this point a rather stiff bill confronted the runners, but, once negotiated, the remainder of the course was confined to the road. Blewman (2min. 15sec.) led for the greater part of the distance, increasing his lead considerably over the hill portion, but unfortunately took the wrong turn going down Miramar Avenue. Ibis mistake no doubt cost him the race. Intt (20see.) came through at this stage, taking the lead down Para Street to breast the tape 60 yards ahead of McKenzie. Blewman aud Woodcock (scr.) fought out the third position, the former winning by fiV The a winner is a nephew of G. Dome, donor of the Dome Cup, so is well connected with the sport. He ? lent judgment throughout the race, and demonstrated that the experience gamed on training nights was of great benefit in the race. R. Woodcock also ran well to „ain fastest time from scratch, and finish in fourth place. Results are as follow:— Placings: Tritt (20sec.), 1; McKenzie (35sec.), 2; Blewman (2mm. l;>sec.), 6, Woodcock (scr.), 4; Gariy (lOsec.), o; Archer (Imin. 30sec.), 6- ovu Times: Woodcock. 16.50, 1: arm, 16.57, 2; McKenzie, 17.25, 3. Methodist Club Twenty-seven runners participated in the novice handicap from the Church, Miramar, lhe JJ-mile trail le t down through Strathaven Road. the lupins to the Seatoun te.-imhne, and via the tunnel to beatoun Heights. IK metal roads along the top and down Townsend Road proved rough going to the brickworks. A straight run m was provided along Devonshire Road. The limit men, with a margin of four minutes, were Baker and Verry, and they kept control for the first half-mi e. Here Kelly forged ahead, with Brooker clos. bv. Ascending the hill, Kelly, Brooker niid Burton were leading, with the former well ahead at the top. Richards and Oliver appeared, and ran with down the hill. Richards (3.30) near the bottom went ahead, and gradually increased his lead to win by 40 yards; Kelly (3.45) was second, and McKmney (-.Io) third. Time winners were : M alker revtsecl time, 15.17, 1; R. Ingram (lo. 31 — J T. Kerslake (15.38) 3. Olympic Club Twenty-five members turned up for the Olympic club’s weekly run from Brooklyn. The paper was laid early by three of the members over what proved to be a hard but excellent training course, lhe trail led up behind the soldiers memorial, and then down into the valley at the back. The creek was followed lor some distance, and then a climb of about WJU or more feet was made only to drop down almost immediately again on to Happy Valley Road. Here there was some confusion as to where the trail led, but finally the road was followed down tor about half a mile, nnd then a climb was made on to the hills on the other side, the ridge then being followed toward Vogeltown aud home again. Altogether nine miles or more nitist have been covered. The slow pack were out for an hour and a half, while the fast pack were out for about an hour and a quarter. No run-in was held on account of the scattered nature of the runners over the last three miles. Some of the runners are already getting very ’fit, and it would not be at all surprising to see several new faces in the club’s A team when the inter-club events start. H. Patrick, for one, should be a hard man to keep out if he keeps going as he has been lately, while S. Reid, a new member, is rapidly showing good form. A. Shaw, winner of last week’s maiden race, would be well advised to take things a little more steadily at present. Varsity Club Starting from the Methodist Church. Porirua, the Varsity harriers ran across the beach round ,the harbour, the slow pack going over the Porirua hills, while the fast pack skirted the peninsula. Descending to the beach opposite Pliminerton, the slow pack followed the coast over the rocks to Titahi Bay, the fast pack taking to the hills, and a fast runin over three miles completed the course. Promising newcomers. R. J. Reid, G. S. Farquhar, and H. W. Gretton, will be in the fast pack in next Saturday’s run from Karori. Wellington. Club The Wellington Harrier Club held its first race of the season nt Miramar for the E. J. Green Cup, over a mixed course of 2} miles. The course skirted the foothills. and followed through the cowyard. It then went over the hill and cut. round into Miramar Avenue by lhe oil tanks. The trail led into Para Street and Darlington Street. At Darlington Street the leaders were J. Murray, H. Thomas, L. Beere and L. McAuley.

Placings were (handienjis in parentheses) :—J. Murray, 17.55 (Imin.), 1: L. Beere, 18.39 (scr.), 2; 11. Thomas, 18.44 (20sec.), 3. The fastest times were: L. Beere, 16.39, 1: J. Murray, 16.55, 2; 11. Thomas, 17.04, 3.

Murray proved the surprise of the day, and finished with a lead qf 100 yards. He is n promising runner. Beere ran very well, nnd deserved second place. lie has greatly improved since last season.

The race showed that the Palmer Cup, to be held next week, should prove full of surprises.