HARRIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1920, Page 9

HARRIERS

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

The official opening of the harrier season took place at Lyall Bay on Saturday afternoon in the presanee of a laz-ge crowd. The Mayor (Mr. 5. p. Luke) in declaring the season 1920 duly opened, referred to the part that athletes had taken in the wat>i He congratulated the rumjers on turning out in such large\ numbers on their opening daj|. Araidst cheers the Mayor declared the'saasSn open and sent the runners on r.heir journey. Councillors Bennett and Frost were also present.

Captain H. Robinson (Brooklyn Harriers) was in change of the pack of nearly 50 runner?, with Captain W. Seratchard (Olympic Harriers) acting as whipper-in. Running along the beach for nearly a mile tho course led across the sandhills to the golf links, then along' the side of the hill to Scots College, where it took a turn to Miraniar. Here some ideal .harrier country was encountered and tho pack enjoyed a fast run over the fiat, a number of new members showing to advantage. When the Miramar tram line was reached v turn was taken for Lyall Bay. A halt was made some 300 yards from homo to jhold the usual run-in. The following was 'the result:—W. Seratchard (Olympic Hat-' riers), 1; C. Dentice (Brooklyn Harriers), 2; 0. Willis (Brooklyn Harriers), 3; D. Todd (Brooklyn Harriers), 4.

After the run a large number of runners and friends adjourned' to the tea rooms. Councillor Bennett, a life member of tho old Wellington Harriers, generously offerod to donate to the Wellington Centre a shield, in memory of his son (killed at the front), to be competed.for by teams from scho6ls, over a cross country course. Capt. H. Robinson thanked the Mayor and councillors for being present, and expressed pleasuro at seeing such a large number of young runners.

. Mr. A. IJavies (N.Z. Amateur Athletic Council) said that he looked to the harrier clubs to produce the middle and 'ong-d stance track champions, mentioning a number of track champions who had l "Jine ?rom tho funks of the harrier cluba. . Special mention was made of Hector Burk, of Dunedin, whom Mr. Davies considered the best middle distance man so far produced in. New Zealand. He alao mentioned that the New Zealand cross country championship would again be held this year, after a lapse of a number of years.