CROSS-COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 7

CROSS-COUNTRY

CHAMPIONS TO MEET

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY'S EVENT.

Three teams are to take part in the crosi-country ohampionahip of Australia and New Zealand, to be held at the Hutt Park Raceoourse next Saturday. New South Wales, the present holders, will be represented by the following runners:—

0. B. Weeks, State 5 miles champion.

A. Gainsford, State 10 miles champion. H. Hayden, second in 5 miles championship, five times winner of _ Manly ilarathon of 12 miles, . and winner of Melbourne Marathon over full distance. M. J. Mackenzie, a member of the winning teams of 1921 and 1923. A. Swinbourne, a member of th'a winning team in 1923. R. J. Fitzsimmons, captain of winning team in 1921, and also a member of tho 1910 team. Viotoria will bs represented by:— W. M. Whyte. present Australasian and Victorian half-mil* champion, second in Victorian 5 miles championship, holder of 1000 yards New Zealand record, and winner of the 5 miles Dome Cup race last Saturday. - R. Whittle, fourth in Victorian 5 mdes championship, 1925. E. Moore, fifth in Victorian 5 miles championship, 1925. R. Muir, aixtb. in Victorian 5 mile 3 championship, 1925. J. E. Bell, formerly represented N.S.W., and was a member of that State's winning team in 1921. New Zealand « team is as follows:—

R. A. Rose, tho greatest distance runner yet produced in New Zealand; holder of one and three miles championships of Australasia, New Zealand, and Wellington; holder of the Australasian record for three miles; champion of Wellington Province over oroea-oountry. E. L. Brown, New Zealand Cross-coun-try champion, 1926. J. Tapp, runner-up in New Zealand cross-oountry championship, 1825, and a member of the New Zealand team in 1923.

D. Todd, third in New Zealand ohampionship; holder of New Zealand ten miles record; was selected for 1923 team, but was unable to make the journey to Sydney. 0. Heffer, runner-up to Rose in Wairarapa championship, and third Wellington provincial championship. R. Kent, fourth in both New Zealand and Wellington cross-country ohampionshipa, 1925. Cross-country running hat greatly gained in popularity in New Zealand in recent years, particularly in the Wellington and Otago districts, and the sport is expected to receive further impetui through the enterprise of the N.Z.A.A.A. in undertaking the control of the biennial championship of Australia and New Zealand, Through the action of the New South Wales and Victorian Associations in Bending teams across, looal enthusiasts will have the opportunity of viewing most of the prominent runnen of those States in Action against N»w Zealand's boat.

An indication of the open nature of the event was given last week in the Dome Cup race, when D. Todd, who is regarded as fourth in order of merit of those chosen to represent New Zealand, was beaten by six men, three of whom hailed from Viotoria and New South Wales respectively. It is more than likely that the decision of the event will rest upon the form displayed by the fourth man in each of the competing teams.

Very oomplete arrangements have been made by the N.Z.A.A.A. for Saturday* race, of which spectators will be able to obtain a good view from the raoecouree stand. No charge will be made for admission to the course, but patrons ar» to be given an opportunity to assist in defraying expenses through the medium of collection boxes.