HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 17

HARRIER NOTES

Brooklyn Turns Tables on Scottish Club VOSSELER SHIELD RACE (By ) To-niorrow’s Fixtures. Brooklyn: Eastbourne, 1 p.m. boat. Hutt Valley: Hutt Park, field day. Methodist: Kaiwarra. Olympic: Karori, invitation, Mr. and Mrs. I*. Wilson, 70 Beauchamp Street. Presbyterian: Kelburn. Scottish. Brooklyn terminus. Varsity: Khandallah. Wellington: Hataitai, invitation, Mr. and Mrs. Resnick, 18 Matai Road.

The result of the Vosseler Shield race, which was competed for last Saturday at Lyall Bay, resulted in an unexpected, though thoroughly deserved, win for the Brooklyn club, who defeated the ehampion Scottish club by the narrow margin of 13 points. The win for Brooklyn came as a great surprise, even the runners and supporters of the club did not expect a victory over Scottish, who have held the shield for five years. The win nevertheless was well earned, the young runners of the Brooklyn club rising to the occasion in a remarkable manner and achieving what was almost thought to be the impossible.

The day was unsuitable for a 10-mde race; a strong northerly was blowing and it was raining for the greater part of the time the runners were competing. In spite of this, however, a record field of 127 runners faced the starter, Mr. F. Vosseler, Of this number 106 completed thp course, truly a remarkable achievement and one which shows the presentday runners to be imbued with plenty of strength and stamina anfi to compare more than favourably with past generations of harriers. A fast pace was set along the beach at the start of the race.' F. Silver (Scottish)’ making the runners move to keep up with him. After approximately oue mile had been covered Silver was leading A. Congalton (Presbyterian), D. Pedersen (Brooklyn),- A. Stevens (Scottish), V. Tunbridge (Scottish), G. Prosser (Brooklyn), with J. Riddington (Scottish) lying in twelfth position, After the runners had traversed another two miles and a half the following group were rum ning close toegther, separated by about 150 vards from the next man: Pedersen. Riddington, Tunbridge, Prosser, Stevens, and E. Lovatt, Olympic. Little alteration took place between the leaders at the end of the first lap, Stevens, Riddington and Prosser leading Tunbridge, Pedersen and Lovatt. The runners by thio time were strung out in a long line extending back for over a mile. Going up the dreaded Vosseler bill for the second time Riddington had a two-yard break on Proseer, with Stevens 30 yards back and about 60 yards behind him came Pedersen and Tunbridge, with Lovatt making hard work of it 40 yards to the rear of Tunbridge. It was the negotiating of the hill for the second time that gave Riddington his opportuntiy to drop Prosser, which he did in a remarkable manner, emerging on to the road at Moa Point with a clear 250-yards lead. Riddington must have bolted over the Vosseler hill to gain such a lead. Stevens picked UP Prosser on the hili and kept with him till Freyberg Street was reached, when Prosser caught cramp in his legs, enabling Stevens to gain a sufficient lead to finish in second place to Riddington, who finished very tired after the gruelling race. Prosser ran into third place, with Lovatt fourth, Pedersen fifth and Tunbridge sixth. So keen was the interest in the fight the leaders were putting up that little or no interest was taken in the teaming of the clubs, and it was not until the leader,) finished that it was discovered Brooklyn had made a remarkable recovery in the second lap and were leading Scottish, the seventh and eighth men to finish, S. Woods and W. Hiscoek (Brooklyn), were the deciding factor for Brooklyn, apd it ean be claimed that these two boys carrier! the day for their club. The placings of the clubs were as follows:-— . 4 Points. 1— Brooklyn 168 2 — Scottish ....... 181, i 3—Olympic 467 4— Hutt Valley ..... 505 5— Presbyterian ... 539 6 — Methonist ...... 559 7 — Varsity 565

As will be seen from the above points, both Brooklyn and Scottish stand out from the other clubs. The remainder of the dubs are well below the standard ot Brooklyn and Scottish, at least so far as a 10-men 10-mile event is concerned. A very disappointing feature of the race was the fact that Wellington club did not finish a team, owing to withdrawals from the race by some runners who in the opinion of "Whipper-In” could quite easily have completed the course. In view of the fact that the race was controlled by the Wellington club, strong efforts should have Been made by both officials and runners to have ensured their club finishing a team in the race, no matter what position they filled. Other runners, representing various clubs, were noticed by “Whipper-In" to withdraw from the race, prejudicing their team s chances of winnjng the shield. This is to be regretted, particularly so as some o. them appeared capable of completing the full course without injury to themselves in any way. o' ’ , . , The win of Brooklyn club is the result of the keenness exhibited by .its younger members, particularly at training. If a club wishes to reach the top in its particular sport ite members must be prepared to train conscientiously. Large and keen musters at training has been the lot of the Brooklyn club,' and they have rightfully displaced the Scottish club. Of late, and particularly this season, the general rank and file of the Scottish club seems to have relaxed somewhat in their efforts to keep their club in the premier position in the harrier world in this province. The tendency has been to let a few of the leaders do all the work and training, and yet they still expect to remain on top. This, of course, cannot he so, and unless the members of the Scottish club as a whole wake up to their responsibilities, other clubs beside Brooklyn will down them be fore this season ends. Success is only attained by each member doing bis share and co-operating fully with tile others,

Riddington’s Performance. J. Riddington, in winning the Vosseler Shield race gave a finst-elass performance, proving that to date he has no master in his sport in Wellington. He is running effortlessly this season, and he would not surprise “Whipper-In” if he gained national honours at Auckland this year. A. L. Stevens had a great duel with G C. Prosser for the greater part of the way, and it is problematical whether he would have beaten Prosser had not Pros ser got a touch of cramp about half a mile from home. Stevens’s performance was a first-class one, as also was Prosser’s, It is to be hoped that Prosser will be fit this season to represent his province at. Auckland, as ho was very unfortunate last season in meeting with an accident just prior tq the New Zealand C.C. championships. Prosser tried hard to hold Riddingtop last Saturday, but the younger runner had too much steam up, gnd ran away from him over the last bio to three miles.

Lovatt’s performance was a high-grade one. although somewhat of a surprise. On present form he should be quite capable of making the provincial team to Auckland. He is a first-class performer when tn top form, and it is to be hoped his duties this year will permit of him getting fit and being able to represent his province.

Pedersen ran a good race, and helped his club considerably in regaining the Vosseler Shield. He is showing excellent form at present, and should be of great assistance to his club at the provincial championships. Rumour has it that Pedersen will not be available for selec-

tion for the New Zealand championships, even if he makes the team. It is to be hoped he will reconsider his decision, as on his present form he would be a decided acquisition to the team. Tunbridge performed consistently. He appeared to find the djstflncp a little too long for him though, but apparently IS not on top form yet. A place in the provincial team is not beyond him, but he will require to improve considerably on present performances to make the team. F. Thorlcy (Mothodist) and W. Cowan (Presbyterian) performed very well, but still require further training before they can say they are really tit.