HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 17

HARRIER NOTES

Presbyterian Club Team Goes to Auckland ST. ANDREW’S TROPHY Wellington’s Prospects in Inter-University Race

(By

Whipper-In.)

To-day seven members of the Wellington Presbyterian Harrier Club will compete against the Presbyterian club in Auckland for the St. Andrew’s trophy, a teams event for annual competition between Presbyterian harrier clubs. Six men compose a team, the first four home from each club counting for noints. The trophy was donated by the ca;>tains of the Auckland .and Wellington clubs. Last year the event was held in Wellington, and was won by the home team, but the individual winner was J. I. B. Neil, Auckland. Neil is in splendid form this season. He won the annual road race from Onehunga to Auckland in very fast time, and before that the Savidan Cup race, over six miles, from Pakuranga to Ellerslie. He was seventh in the 10,000 metres race on July 19. when the Presbyterian club was third in the teams event. The long journey to Auckland may affect the form of the Wellington men this year. The Wfll’ngton team is as fellows: — A. Congnlton (contain), C. Seelye, H. Walls, F. Norton. L. Cox, T. Papps and S. Dick (emergency). Great Australian Harrier Retires. By the retirement of J. H. Sheaves. Australian cross-country champion and New South Wales one and three miles track champion runner, the sjairt in Australia has lost one of its brightest stars. This is after twelve years of competitive running.

One of the most popular runners that ever n.nt n spike in a running track, Sheaves was noted for bis unqualified fairness in running, and his remarkable stamina, writes “The Ranger’’ in the “Referee.” Though 29 years of age last December. Sheaves won the New South Wales one and three miles championshins. His inches win over Lionel Goff, of Botany, in the mile, was a race that will live long in the memory. On the books of the A.A.A. of New South Wales for 1931. Sheaves’s records are: Two miles. 9.32 2-5; 4000 metres. 12.12; 5000 metres. 15.23 2-5. When he beat A. J Hillhouse and J. W. Begg, Victoria, in the first test match between New South Wales and Victoria in 1932, at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sheaves won a marvellous race in 4.22 — the fastest time ever put up by a New South Wales man over a mile. Sheaves will go down in athletic history as unlucky not to have represented Australia at the Olympic or Empire Games. He was definitely of a better standard than some who gained their Australian jersey. Some of the championships won by Sheaves are: Australian cross-country championship (1935); Australian three ml.es track (1930) New South Wales one mile (1932-37) : New South Wales three miles (1931-37) ; New South Wales 10 miles (1,931-35).

Inter-University Championships. On August 21 the inter-Universlty cross-country championships will be held in Wellington. The present form of the Victoria College men might incline one to the view that they have strong chances of winning this year, but reports of Auckland's doings in inter-club events show that they are at least as good as the Wellington ruuiiers. The Auckland university teams were third in the Savidan Cup contest, and second in the 10,000 metres championship. The present New Zealand university champion, E. H. Stevenson, is showing good form again this year, running fourth in the 10.000 metres. He will have to be as good as that however, to defeat R. Scrymgeour, who should be the first of the Victoria College men home. A. G. Bagnall, who regards his own future running with the utmost pessimism, nevertheless has a natural speed and stamina which may show up well iu the championships. P. Porter has not produced any remarkable results so far this season, and Horsley, another member of last year’s team, is not fit- D. Cairns’s form varies considerably; ho seems to be the temperamental type, and an injury to bis foot which kept him from Uist week’s run may affect his training, though there i§ still time for a slight spell. A. R. Burge has shown the most consistently good form among the young runners, and O'Flynn has been coming to the fore recently.