CROSSCOUNTRY RUNNING

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 148, 17 June 1920, Page 10

CROSSCOUNTRY RUNNING

MEMORIAL SHIELD FOR SCHOOLS.

An interesting letter read' at this week's meeting of the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. was from Mr. W H. Bennett as follows :—"lt has been in my mind to do something to help along the cross-country side of athletics in your centre, and at the same time to set up a memorial to my late son, W. B. Bennett, who loved that sport, and himself did so much to keep it alive during many years in his connection with the Wellington Harriers. This club is now defunct, and I sincerely hope it will be reformed, for in its time it was responsible for producing many fine runners—amongst others I call to mind Fleming Ross, Stewart Robinson, L. D. Morpeth, Pollock brothers, Watt, and Johnson, some of whom paid the price of their loyalty in the Great War. Now, my idea- is that your committee which is working up the encouragement of athletics in the schools, ■should, if it thinks fit, accept from me a memorial shield to be annually competed for by teams of «ay five lads from the various schools in a cross-country race (not very long or arduous), thus to create a love for this branch of sport. On leaving school these boys may be induced to join one or other of the harrier clubs, which would have a good recruiting ground tor new members. Football, cricket, tennis, etc/are already catered for, and adult clubs are able to get new members from this source. Why not cr</ss-country runners? "I therefore formally offer to your centre a shield to be known as the W. B. Bennett Memorial Shield for the foregoing purpose, the details of size, number of plates, inscription, etc., to be left to your representatives and myself to settle."

The offer was accepted, and a motion passed expressing thanks to Mr. Bennett for his assistance and encouragement towards fostering athletic sport among the younger generation. It was decided that the headmasters of schools be consulted with a view to starting the competition.