HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 16

HARRIER NOTES

End of Season Approaches FORM FOR BENNETT MEMORIAL j —7

(BY

Whipper-In)

To-morrow’s Fixture. Bennett Memorial inter-club road race, of seven miles, Town Hall, 3 p.m. To-morrow’s inter-club race of approximately seven miles marks the end of the official harrier season so far as interclub races are concerned. In some cases clubs are making this race the finish of their activities for the year, but the majority of clubs will have their final runs next week, and in addition it .s anticipated there will be a large entry for the Olympic club’s 20-mile race at Trentham on October 3. For some unknown reason harrier interest seems to wane considerably from the beginning of September in each year, no doubt due in some measure to warmer temperatures and summer activities commencing, and this state of affairs is reflected in the entries usually received for the Bennett Memorial race. On the harrier syllabus it stands second in importance only to the provincial championships as an inter-club raee, and is deserving of more support from ell clubs It is, admittedly, a hard race, but it should not present any difficulties to harriers who have been training, mostly over roads, right through the season. This year should see Brooklyn and Scottish having a great 'contest for the Bennett Shield. This race is a teams event, the first four in each team of six to finish constituting the club’s team. The Brooklyn club gave Scottish a hard tussle for first place in the provincial championships, and they should be exceptionally hard to beat in this road race. The members of the A team for Brooklyn are showing good form and should team well. Scottish appear to lack the enthusiasm so vital to fit men if they are to win races. It is problematic whether J. Riddington has completely recovered from his attack of ’flu’, and both he and A. L. Stevens will require to produce better form than that shown at Auckland if they are to lead their club to victory. However, appearances are deceptive, and it would ill behove any club to think they have a good thing in Scottish in their apparently indifferent attitude toward this race. The team consists of first-class cross-country men and they will undoubtedly prove a tough preposition. Taking the two teams man for man I consider Scottish will just shade Brooklyn if each individual member of Scottish runs to form. The race should be an interesting one to follow, particularly the third and fourth men of the Brooklyn and Scottish clubs as they will in all probability be the deciding factors for the shield. A difficult problem is again presented in endeavouring to place the individual winner of this race. If G. Prosser reproduces his brilliant effort at Auckland he should take the honours. Then again, A. L. Stevens might take it into his head to turn the tables on the other leading runners. It will be remembered that last year he surprised all iby the excellent run he put up, beating his clubmate Riddington, who up to that race had beaten Stevens right through the season, and in Australia comparatively easily. J. Riddington, D. C. Pedersen and A. Barclay have also performed meritoriously over the Bennett course, and if on form they have every chance. The bid for first place should come from one of the runners mentioned, any one of whom is capable of producing a winning performance. Craig Cup Form. The B grade race for the Craig Oup, run in conjunction with the Bennett Memorial road race and over the same course, will probably be fought out by the Scottish and Brooklyn clubs. Scottish seem to bold superiority over other teams in the B grade and should wm the event with Brooklyn second. B. MeCalman, of the Brooklyn club, is unfortunate in that he is required to run for his A team, depriving him of what appears an excellent opportunity of winning the B grade event. In view of his promotion to the A grade, where he should help consolidate the Brooklyn team, B. Elleray (Scottish) appears to have a splendid opportunity of winning the B grade individual prize, provided he has retained or improved the form shown by him at Masterton in the provincial championships, and J. Gunty (Scottish) may turn the tables on him if he has kept up his training. He has the ability but. as has been previously mentioned in these notes, he does not appear to be trying very hard this season. Inter-church Teams’ Race. Arrangements are being made to inaugurate a yearly inter-church crosscountry race for Bible class members over a good cross-country course. The course selected commences from Miramar tram terminus and for a short distance follows the course for the Shaw Baton race, branching off where the latter course ascends the hill to follow the flat through the cowyard and over the knoll where the old Anglican Church was situated. Undulating country is here experienced until the prisons road is reached, and the trail follows~this road northward for about half a mile before branching off across downhill grass slopes into the old gardens, where the first portion of the Shaw Baton trail is picked up and followed in the reverse direction to the finishing post at the terminus. This race will be a teams’ race. Any number can constitute a team, but only the first four runners home count for points, the remaining members counting against other teams. The scheme is a good one, and I feel sure will have the support of every harrier in the district. It should be the means of bringing many new members into the sport, and the consequent forming of newjclubs. There is plenty of room for more harriers and harrier clubs in Wellington. Launching out on new lines, it will be imperative to see that the event is confined strictly to amateurs in accordance with-the rules of the N.Z.A.A.A.. but as the movement has the approval of the Wellington Harrier Sub-committee, it is not anticipated there will be any trouble in that direction. It is rather unfortunate that this year’s inaugural race clashes with the Olympic club’s 20-mile race. While it will not take any entries from the 20mile race, it will tend to rob some of the interest and support usually accorded. It is understood, however, that no other date is available for this race, other than October 3. nnd so this year the two fixtures will require to remain as they are. It is expected that more suitable arrangements will be made next year to ensure the event having the full support and cooperation of all harriers. Nearing the End. With the running of the Bennett Memorial Race quite a few of the local clubs are dosing down for the season. . and arrangements are being energetically made for the holding of annual dances and other social activities. To-morrow two dubs, Wellington and Methodist, will hold their end-of-season gatherings. It is to be hoped that local harriers will support kindred dubs to the best of their ability and by so doing consolidate the harmonious relationships already existin" between clubs.