HARRIER NOTES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 13

HARRIER NOTES

Provincial Title Races Tomorrow REVIEW OF FORM (By Whippeu-In.) The highlight of the Wellington harrier season will take place tomorrow at Silverstreain, when the senior and junior provincial cross-country chaiupioiiislnp and teams races will be decided. These races are attracting unusual interest this year, as the system of past years has been altered considerably. In the junior race, which is a new departure for Wellington, the course will be approximately 3 1-8 miles, or one lap of the senior championship course. The Junior Events. The junior teams race, to be ruu in conjunction with the individual race, will no doubt be keenly fought. In this event clubs may enter as many juniors as they wish, but the first three home in any club

will be the only ones to count for pointH. This ruling is made by the sub-committee as a number of the clubs find it difficult. to raise the usual six-man team. The junior championship is regarded ia other centres as an ideal testing ground for young runners, and it is expected to be a success locally. The only qualification is that competitors must be under 19 years of age on the day of the race. The individual junior championship maj- not be isuch a runaway as is expected. The logical choice is the promising runner, It. J. Ballantyne (Scottish), who ran a great race in lhe Dome Cup event, to finish sixth. lie is running very well at present, but some other outstanding juniors are due to enter crosscountry racing. Among these are P. Anderson (Brooklyn), who won the mile junior title on the track last summer, and C. McManus (Wellington club), who has been pushing W. Owens, the club senior champion, very hard lately. Other promising juniors are C. A. Hudson (late of Caversham club, Dunedin, and now of Scottish), J. Thompson (Brooklyn), and A. Scott (Wellington). Masterton is reported to be sending down some first-rate juniors, so the issue is very open. The teams race offers the same difficulties. Scottish, Wellington, Masterton and Brooklyn should all be well in the running. Senior Titles.

The senior race of 0i miles should be of great interest as it will be run in one grade this year, instead of A and B grades as in former years. The teams race will be for the usual teams of six men, the first four counting for points. The Scottish club, with a strong No. 1 team, should be well in the placings, with Bourgeois, Bruce, Iliddington and Kennedy well to the fore. The Masterton club, however, has a strong team competing, headed by W. Pullar and G. Gregory, and they are quite likely to upset calculations. For the other clubs most interest will centre in the teams sealed handicap event, which is to be held in conjunction with the championship. . On past form, the individual winner should come from an outside club —W. A. C. Pullar (Masterton). Pullar, late of Otago, is an ex-New Zealand crosscountry champion, and at present holds the national one and three-mile titles. Thu? season he has been running very easily and in the Wairarapa recently showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Strong opposition, though, will come from a number of Wellington entrants, including C. Bruce and A. Bourgeois (Scottish), both of whom ran very well in the Scottish championship last Saturday, and Prosser (Brooklyn), the present provincial champion, who is defending his title. From recent races he does not seem to be in form, but on the day of the race this veteran is always liable to come to the fore.

Richardson (Olympic), on his run in the Dome Cup race, when he finished first, is expected- to be well in the running, but a slight leg injury is likely to hamper him. W. Owens (Wellington) is another who should not be far away, and it is quite likely that,he will improve on his sixth placing of last year. Others who must be reckoned with are Gregory (Masterton), Riddington (Scottish), Shaw (Masterton) and Scrymgeour (University). Among the veterans who are probable starters are A. Barclay, F. Silver and A. L. Stevens. Barclay was a member of Brooklyn's winning team as far back as 1921. He was also in the winning team in 1923, 1928, 1930, 1932 and 1933.' This is a record for the shield, and, after 18 years’ competitive running, he ran third in the Brooklyn championship a fortnight ago. Silver (Scottish) won the individual title in 1924 and is still displaying great keenness. Stevens (Scottish) was a member of his club’s winning team .in 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937, and is still full of running.

Transport. The sub-committee has not made arrangements for buses to Silverstream tomorrow. Most clubs will travel by a train leaving Wellington at 1.20 p.m.

Starting Times. The starting times will be: Junior, 2.30 p.m., and senior, 3 p.m. The races will start promptly, and competitors are warned to be at the starting point on the road in front of St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, at least five minutes before time. The starter has received instructions to start the races on time, and not to delay for any person or club. Club Teams.

The following entires have been received for the championships: Olympic No. 1: D. Richardson, E. 11. Hovatt, A. O. Fisher, G. Murray, J. Duignan and A. Richardson. Olympic No. 2: J. Bezes, F. Reeves, T. Watson, J. Keen, A. B. Chappell, L. C. Myers. Baptist No. 1: D. McFadyen, R. Tonson, K. Mai, R. Wadham, G. Voller. Baptist No. 2: M. Dawson, H. R. Yarrell, J. Elder, P. Kennedy, M. Smith. Methodist No. 1: J. McKenney, D. Walker, E. Patterson, F. Kerslake, F. Thorley, R. Sinclair. Methodist No. 2: R. Ingram, R. Bellman, C. Thompson, T. Hinde, R. Stone, N. Leggott. Kiatere : R. Greeks, J. Laing, W. Burgess, W. Burns, W. MacDonald, A. MacDonald. Masterton: W. A. C. Pullar, G. Gregory, R. Shaw, W. M. Sellar, R. Wyeth H. Carle'. Wellington: W. Owens, T. Strong, R. Wakelin, R. Jones, A. McCallum, 11. Flint. Hutt Valley No. 1: R. Goss, W. Patterson, C. Talbot, M. W. Busby, L. Prichard. Hutt Valley No. 2: F. Dumble, O. Turner, R. Robbie, T. Shaw, P. Taylor, E. A. Peterson. Scottish No. 1: A. Bourgeois, C. Bruce, J. Riddington, 11. Violich, I’. Kennedy, S. Woodley. Scottish No. 2: G. Hill, F. Cox, A. L. Stevens, G. Foster, F. Silver, J. Garty. Scottish No. 3: J. Elleray, D. HenderHou, J. Maturin, W. Seoble, W. Clements, E. Garty. University No. 1: 11. D. Scrymgeour. S. Newall, A. De La Mare, N. O’Flynn, W. Burge, D. Henderson. University No. 2: W. Bowyer, C. Morpeth, A. Farquhar, S. Oliver, D. Wilson. C.Y.M.: G. Heppleston, K. Booker, 11. Willis, D. Peters, K. Everard, 0. Couchman. Presbyterian No. 1: O. Seelye, A. Congleton, N. Jardine, S. Hay, 11. Walls, S. Ca mpbell. Presbyterian No. 2: J. Armstrong, It. Tait, J. Aslou, 11. Seelye, E. Kliull, M. ■ Stevenson.

Prewbyterian No. 3: 11. Miller, M. Pumfrey, S. Diek, IV. Ince, A. Williamson, V. Reid. Brooklyn No. 1 ; G. Prosser, G. Appleby, P. Argue, A. Barclay, A. Thompson, D. Pederson. Brooklyn No. 2: H. Reid, C. Pearee, M. Moir, D. Sinclair, 11. Walsh, B. McManus. JUNIOR RACE. ■Wellington: C. B. MeMnnus, A. Scott, G. Ilowberry, G. Hontz, E. Chown, C. Poeock, I). Parkin. Presbyterian: B. Couehman, R. Dock-

ery, E. Thompson, M. Brown, R. Craig, H. Hawker, S. McFarlane. Baptist: O. Parker, J. Richie, J. Grigg, R. Veloin, D. Hogan, D. Kitchingman. Scottish: R. J. Ballantyne, C. A. Hudsou, J. Tracy, J. O'Shea, A. Halliday, A. Howard. Brooklyn : W. Anderson, P. Anderson, J. Thompson, J. Wilkinson, R. Harper, B. Porter, A. Harper, K. Headifin. Olympic: L. Matthews, — Kiatena, D. Francis. Masterton: A. J. Andrew, 0. J. Carle, P. Greenlees, L. Reynolds, C. D. Ore, D. Cairnes. Hutt Valley: J. Goss, L. Brunett, R. J. Taylor. University: C. J. Wilson, — Canter, — Hellyer, R. Daniell. A team from Methodist ie also entered.