HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 17

HARRIER NOTES

Competition Likely to be Keen in Wellington COMMENT ON FORM

(By

Whipper-In.)

Saturday's Fixtures. Brooklyn: Tawa Flat. C.Y.M.: Invitation to Kiatere club. Masterton. Hutt Valley: Normandule. invitation. Mrs. Lewis. Methodist: Thorndon. Olympic: Miramar (Grand Memorial Race and old members’ day). Presbyterian : Karori. Scottish: Rongotai, Le Gaye Rose Bowl, three miles, sealed handicap. Varsity: Island Buy. Wellington : Wadestown. All clubs are now settling down to the serious side of barrier running and the various races now being conducted by Wellington clubs are serving to give an indication of their strength for the ensuing season. Competition is going to be very keen this year, and indications are that new stars will arise in one or two of the clubs. Palmer Cup. The Wellington club's Palmer Cup race produced some fine efforts, that of Murray being particularly outstanding. In winning both the Novice and Palmer Cup races in one season Murray has earned the right to have bis name coupled with such outstanding runners as Terry Mulcahy and Jack Shepherd, who a£e the only runners for the last 10 years to equal this feat. Wellington club appear to have unearthed a runner of great natural ability and one who, if carefully watched and developed, should in a season or two blossom into one of the district’s champion runners.

It is pleasing to see Cooke out again for Ills club. This runner, as has been previously stated, could rcaeb great heights, but be will never do so until he takes his racing seriously. Really . tit and well he would be a tough proposition for any Wellington runner. H. Brady is fast gaining good form, and.if he is able to carry on with his training right through the season will produce some excellent performances later on.

Brooklyn's Novice Race. Fifteen runners faced the starter for the Brooklyn club's novice race, good form being shown by some of the new members. Scarff and Argue had a great battle all the way, Scarff. by a very determined finish, gaining first place, beating Argue by a very small margin. P. Argue put up a splendid performance for a first-year runner and should develop into a good club man. S. Wood to gain fastest time and finish in third place performed very creditably. The three placed men in the novice race show every indication of developing into useful members of the Brooklyn club and should be encouraged accordingly.

Hutt Valley Craig Rose Bowl. Hutt Valley staged their teams’ event for the Craig Rose Bowl last Saturday at the Hutt Park, and the race produced some fine performances. Outstanding runners were M. Patterson, K. Robbie, and G. Turner. The course was very heavy and proved a real test to all runners. Next Saturday’s Events. The Scottish club’s rnce next Saturday for the Le Gaye Rose Bowl should produce some fine running. If full advantage is taken of his speed at the beginning of the race, Riddington should put up fastest time for this event. Other runners who must be given a show of >displacing Riddingfon are Stevens. Tunbridge and Woodley. Any one ot the above runners is capable of springing a surprise on the day. lu the Olympic club s Grand Memorial Race Richardson should have no difficulty in annexing fastest time honours, though Lovatt should make him step lyPalmerston North Club. Information has been received by “Whipper-In” that a harrier club is in the course of formation at Palmerston North. I understand several years ago

a barrier chib functioned in Palmerston North, but it ceased to exist for waut of support. There is no reason whatever why there should not be one or more large harrier clubs in this town, and I am sure every harrier in Wellington will join with me in wishing the promoters the best of luck in their efforts. There is excellent cross-country running to be had in Palmerston North and the surrounding district; in fact, much better running is to be bad there than is the case in Wellington. It is to be hoped that th*' promoters of the Palmerston North club will not wait until they have a large number of prospective members in hand before commencing operations. Most clubs have originated through the efforts of two or three live men. Once a definite interest has been aroused it is usually found that quite a number of keen men are ready waiting to help the movement along. Central Training. Two seasons ago a definite movement, was afoot to institute a system of central training, the Basin Reserve being the place decided upon by reason of its central position. However, on account of the cost to the clubs the matter was reluctantly abandoned for the time being. The Scottish club, however,- decided to obtain training quarters at the Basin Reserve, and as a result of their experiment found the number of runners attending training increased considerably and helped, it is considered, in no small measure to bring success to the Scottish club *n inter-club races. Subsequently Presbyterian and Wellington clubs have obtained training quarters at the Basin Reserve, and it looks as though other clubs will before long avail themselves of the facilities offering. Central training quarters is an excellent means of bringing all clubs together and so help to do away with any feeling o,f antagonism which may exist toward another club. It also enlarges one's circle of acquaintances and friends and after all why should not the movement become one strong union of friends? We are all in the sport for all the good we can get out of it, and one of the greatest treasures we can obtain in any undertaking we are engaged in is that of lasting friendships. To my mind no other sport offers such opportunities of fraternising as the sport of cross-coun-try running.

Then again another very important factor to be considered is the opportunity it affords runners ->f running or training with men from opposition clubs as good, and in a great number of cases, better, than they are themselves, thereby improving their own running and gaining more confidence for future inter-club events. All clubs contemplating making their club better in every way should seriously consider central training as a definite means of gaining their objectives. Writing from England, F. B. Shetland, who was, prior to his departure, a prominent runner for the University Harrier Club, has some very interesting remarks to make. What is not. generally known in this country is that instead of individuals being selected to represent a province or district, the winning team m the particular race is chosen, the general principle being that elub teams and not individuals are chosen to represent the district. This is entirely different from the procedure adopted in New Zealand although there is a lot to be said for both methods of selection.

Varsity Club. Judging by the number and promise ot its new members, the Varsity club has prospects of a good season. There have been five runs so far, the one last Saturday over the Mnkara Hills being a severe t.est for so early in the year. A. G. Bagtiall can always show an amazing fund of energy over the last mile of a run. No comparisons can be made until those on vacation return, but the Sherwood Cup race at Rongotai on June 6 should find out where the quality is. Three runs are required to qualify. To-morrow a short run will be held from Island Bay, and the club will afterward' be entertained at afternoon tea by Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Shetland, the parents of a former Varsity harrier.