HARRIERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 14

HARRIERS

Provincial Championship Race SLOWER TIMES RECORDED (By Whipper-In.) One of the outstanding features of the Wellington provincial championship on Saturday was the times returned, though it is not fair to judge times when conditions are not the same. Many competitor remarked that conditions appeared to be better on Saturday than in the championships la>'t season, and, with thm in mind, one is inclined to compare,.the times of last season with the championship on Saturday. In the first place, the time, 37min. 3sec. ( put tip by the winner, Pullar, was bettered last season by the fii»t six, and tlie time registered by the first four on Saturday was bettered last season by the first 12, Nevertheless, time.s are realiy nothing in cross-country racing, for conditions are never the same, and competitors as a rule, race for positions only, and uot time, lor it is places that count in team racing. The team selected should give a good account of it» self at the New Zealand championships. Past Holders of the Title. Following is a complete list, of past ho-lders of the Wellington provincial championship:— 1912, J. Bradibury, Alasterton; 1913, K. J. Byrne, Brooklyn; 1914, F. J. Byrne, Olympic; 1915; N. Cummins, Brooklyn; 1916-18, no contest; 1919, A. B. 'Wilson. Olympic; 1920, J. W. Scatchard, Olympic; 1921, 11. E. Moore, Olympic ; 1922, 11. A. Hose, Masterton ; 1923,. It. A. Rose, Masterton; 1924, F. B. Silver, Scottish; 1925, R. A. Rose, Masterton ; 1926, E. J. Better, Masterton; 1927, R. A. Rose, Masterton; 1928, R. A. Rose, Masterton ; 1929, A. L. Stevens, Scottish; 1930, A. L. Stevens, Scottish; 1931, B. Prosser, Brooklyn; 193*2, <3. Bayne, Hutt Va'l'ley; 1933, A. L. Stevens, .Scottish; 1934, G. Prosser, Brooklyn; 1935, J. Ridtlington, Scottish; 1936, G. Prosser, Brooklyn; 1937, G. Prosser, Brooklyn; 1935, G. Prosser, Brooklyn.

Junior Championship. The junior championship was a great success, and R. Ballantyne ran a welljudged race to gain the honour of being the first junior cross-country champion in the province. The team contest, with three to count, was also a win for Scottish, with Wellington four points behind, second. Even if the usual championship condition, four to count, had been held the Scottish club would have beaten the Wellington club by two points.

The First Ten. W. Pullar needs no introduction to Wellington supporters, and the hope of Wellingtonians is that he will annex the national title, and thus hold the three long-distance national championship titles in one season (one mile, three miles, and cross-country).

C. Bruce (Scottish) came into prominence last season when he finished fourth. 'This season he has shown much improved form.

G. Gregory (Jlastertqn) lived up to the reputation he had gained in. the. Wairarapa, and, with the help of his club-mate, Pullar, should do well at the New Zealand championships. W. Owens (Wellington) is a. mnehinvproved runner this season. .His third in the Dome Cup, and his place on Saturday led one to expect that he will finish in a much better place at Hastings than he did at the New Zealand championships last season. A. Bourgeois (Scottish) appeared to have an off day on Saturday; he should have been farther up. A. Congalton (Presbyterian) ran the race of his life to gain sixth place; he was always in a handy position. P. Argue (Brooklyn) is a likely runner, and next season should be better placed. J. Riddington (Scottish) did not live up to his Dorno Cup form ; he appeared to leave his final run too late. R. D. Scrymgeour (Varsity) ran well to finish in ninth place. He does not seem to run as well in the championship as he does in other' races. P. Kennedy (Scottish) should, when he docs a bit more serious training, mate the provincial team. Next year, perhops?

The Cbpntpionslup. Following are the corrected results of the championship: Scottish No. 1, 25; Masterton, 60; Kiatere, 76; Presbyterian No. 1. 86; Brooklyn -No. 1, 98; JVellington, 121; Scottish No. 2, 127; Hutt Vai-, ley No. 1,132; University, 146; Methodist No. 1, 148; Olympic No. 1, 165; Presbyterian No. 2, 170; Scottish No. 3, 234; Presbyterian No. 3, 252; Hutt Valley No. 2, 254; Brooklyn No. 2, 290; C.Y.M., 322; Baptist, 357; Olympic No. 2, 367 ; Methodist. No. 2, 428. Sealed Handicap.

Following are the corrected results of the sealed handicap, the handicaps being shown in parentheses: Presbyterian No. 3, 252 (380), —128; Brooklyn No. 2, 290 (372), —B2; Wellington, 121 (183), —62; Olympic No. 2, 367 (422), —55; Hutt Valley No. 2, 254 (306), —52; Presbyterian No. 2. 170 (215), • —l5; Presbyterian No. 1, 86 (114), —2B; Kiatere. 76 (78), —2; Olympic No. 1, 165 (156), —9; Brooklyn No. 1. 98 tSl>, —l7; Scottissh .No. 3, 234 (212), —22; Univensity, 146 (124), —22; Scottish No. 2, 127 (104), —23; Scottish No. 1, 25 (scr.), —-25; Methodist No. 2, 428 (-102), —26; Masterton. 60 (30), —3O; Methodist No. 1. 14S (109), —39; C.Y.M., 322 (2SI), —4l; Hutt Valley No. 1, 132 (88), —44; Baptist, 357 (278), —79.

Junior Cross-country. Scottish, 10, 1 ; , Wellington, 14, 2; Presbyterian, 25, 3; Brooklyn, 49, 4; Baptist, 67, 5; Hutt Valley, 73, 6; Varsity, 84, 7; Methodist, 84, 8; Masterton, 117; 9; C.Y.M., 119, 10.

Presbyterian Club. Saturday’s performances are going to cause the Presbyterian club's selectors some concern. Runners iu the second and third club teams ran extremely well, and finished right up with members of the A team. This was unexpected, and the second and third teams carried off the teams’ handicap event. The outstanding performance for the club given by Athol Congalton, who ran the best race of his career. It was rather disappointing that he wars not better supported by other members of his team, some of whom should have been considerably further up. Tomorrow's run will take place from the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church. Wellington Club.

Next Saturday, members and supporters of the Wellington club will be the guests of Messrs. T. .Strong and L. JlcAuley at St. Anne’s Hall, Northland. '