HARRIER CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 173, 19 April 1937, Page 11

HARRIER CLUBS

Runs in Bracing Weather GOOD FORM DISPLAYED The Wellington harrier clubs held their weekly runo in macing weather ou Saturday atteriioou. Large fields followed the trails, and the form displayed was generally good lor so cany m the season. The Olympic club held its ruu trum the Baptist Church Hall, Berhampore. There was an attendance of 22 senior members and four colts. The members were divided into olow, medium and fast packs, under tile control of W. Watt, L. Meyers, and A. O. Fisher respectively. A. Sbaw took charge of the cults. The iive-mile trail, laid by A. MeNaught aud A. Magnusson, led to the end of llintoul Street, and then took to the hills. It followed along the ridges, ami after an encounter with a large patch of gorse, descended on to a clay road, which ran into Albert Street. The paper then led to the top of Albert Street, and the packs agaiu took to the hills, running along the ridges above Haughton Bay to the trig station and then descending on to the Queen s Dm e, near Island Bay. At this stage the medium and fast packs caught up _ with the slow pack, and the ruu was continued along Brighton Street, down Humber Street, aud into Derwent Street. Hie pack proceeded along Derwent Street, skirted the edge of the golf links, and went up aud along the hills on the western side of the links. The trail then led down the hill, across the northern end of Wakefield Park, and back along the Parade to Berhampore. A run-in oyer the last 500 yards resulted m a win for M. Copp, with D. Sunderland second, and G. Murray third. The result of the colts’ run-m was:—L. Goetzlof, 1; and P. Barber, - Next Saturday’s run will be held from Brooklyn. Wellington Club. In ideal conditions for running 30 members of the Wellington club participated in a very enjoyable invitation run from the residence of Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien Te Whiti Street, Kilbirnie. Three packs were eent away under the care of J. Murray, R. Newson and tL Brady, and a steady pace was maintained over 'a six-mile course. The trail led through the Miramar cutting over the bills to the Miramar terminus, along the main road to the Evans Bay waterfront. A fast handicap run-m of three-quarters of a mile was held and resulted in a win for A. Robinson by three yards from R. Wakelin, who.was five yards in front of L. Beere. Tlie host and hostess, assisted by lady members of the club, served afternoon tea. The club captain, H. Brady, asked J. Drawbridge to thank Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien for their hospitality. The members of the club then sang “For They are Jolly Good Fellows,” followed by hearty cheers. Mr. O’Brien replied suitably on behalf of Mrs. O’Brien and himself. The run for next Saturday will be held from the Anglican Church, Kilbirnie. Varsity Club. The Varsity club's run was held from the Lyall Bay bathing sheds. The first pack to leave was the Idle Along, followed by the slow and fast packs. The route was up Sutherland Road to Melrose, along the ridge to the top of Haughton Bay Road, down that road to the coast, and then along the coast back to Lyall Bay. The run was an ideal one, in that it included sand, hill and road work. No run-in was held. Next week’s run will be from Wadestown tram terminus, one of the most eo joyable of the year. Methodist Club. The Wellington Methodist Harrier Club held a very pleasant run from the Brooklyn Methodist Church. There was an attendance of 37 runners, together with supporters of the club. The club divided into four packs, led by It. Richards, T. Hinde, J. Walker, and D. O. Walker, and followed a trail along Happy Valley Road for about two miles, then deviated to the left up the hill, and along the ridge down to Mornington, where the course then led by road back to Brooklyn, making the distance about five miles. After the club captain, Mr. J. Walker, had made announcements and welcomed new members, Mr. D. O. Walker thanked the Brooklyn ladies for providing the club with afternoon tea. Scottish Club. The weekly run of the Scottish harriers was held from Kelburn cable car sheds, over 50 runners participating. A good five-mile trail was laid by A. A. Brown aud D. McGruar, along Upland Road, over the viaduct, and through the Karori tunnel. The zig-zag leading up to Measures Road was followed, thence along the road as far as Croydon Street, whereupon the paper led down into the valley, where a bad patch of bog was encountered. A stiff climb up the hillside followed, and after a short run along the ridge, the steep descent was made by way of the ereek bed that runs through the patch of native bush at the bead of Beauchamp Street. After turning down Vievers Street into Campbell Street, the return journey was made via the Main Road aud Upland Road. The correct trail, however, was via Wilton Bush Road through Northland and the Botanical Gardens. As only a few followed the correct trail, no run-in was held. Several runners of former years are turning out again, including A. Paulin and Colin and A. Brown. Silver was also out on Saturday, but the nature of his occupation will prevent his regular attendance at the runs. Next Saturday the run will be from St. Cuthbert’s Church, Luxford Street, Berhampore, the first tram stop past Athletic Park. Brooklyn Club. The Brooklyn harriers ran from the Island Bay Surf Club’s sheds. A good muster of members took part in the run, and set off in two packs, following a trail laid around the Happy Valley district by Messrs. Fitzgibbon and Appleby. Some good, hard work was put in by some of the newer members in the main pack, who, in spite of their inexperience of harrier conditions, managed with determined effort to keep well up with the, pace-makers. A. Hopburn was responsible for much of the pace-setting, which was brisk enough to set off the keenness of tlie wind. Following down the Mornington hill-slopes, the runners followed the trail onto the main road in Island Bay, and thence to the dressing sheds, where cold showers were available. All hands voted the run a very enjoyable one. Hutt Valley Club. The Hutt Valiev club held a training run of five miles. There were 22 runners, who sot out in two packs, and followed a well-varied course. Starting from the Hutt racecourse, the trail led out on to Seaview Road, thence to the bench as far as the oilworks, and across Cullen’s paddocks- to Gracefield Rond, and hack to the starting point via the railway workshops. The club has reason to be proud of the fact that there were nine new members present, all of whom showed distinct promise. _ . . Next week's run will be the invitation from the C.Y.M. club, starting at the Y.M.CA.. Hall, Cuba Street, Petone, at 2.30 p.m. Presbyterian Club. The Presbyterian Harrier Club held its second run for the season from the Seatoun Presbyterian Church. The GO members present were divided into three packs the .-low pack being under the leadership of R. D. MbiSre. the medium pack under E. Clayton, and the fast pack under A. Congrlton. A four-mile trail led around the beach to Breaker Ray, up tlie hill to Seatoun Heights, and down the road back to the church. The three packs combined shortly after reaching (be road, and a run-in was held over the last quarter of a mile. Gibbons was first home. Fagan beating MeConchie over the last yard for second place. Both Gibbons and Fagan are new members to the club this year. Tea was served by tlie Bilile class girls. Next week’s run will be from St. Giles’s Presbyterian Church, Kilbirnie.