A RECORD RUN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1932, Page 13

A RECORD RUN

WILSON'S PERFORMANCE

BENNETT MEMORIAL RACE

GOOD TEAM WORK

Taking the had from the outset and running with supreme confidence, P. Wilson, Olympic Club champion, outstripped a field of seventy harriers in the annual Bennett Memorial road race on Saturday, to win by about 250 yards from G-. Prosser (Brooklyn) and A. L. Stevens (Scottish), in the record time of 35 minutes for the seven-mile course. The teams contest for the Bennett Memorial Shield resulted in the best exhibition of concerted team work by any of the clubs for this season. Although Brooklyn secured a 10-poirit victory, the most cohesive performance was given by the Wellington combination; which • was ■ prominent throughout. Only four' points separated Wellington, Olympic, and Scottish at the finish.

The B grade race for the Craig Cup was field in conjunction with the major event and resulted in another end-to-end vie-1 tory. G. Buchanan. (Scottish No. 1) -went away at the start, and defeated J. O'Brien by 150 yards in-37min 6sec. The Scottish Club's No. 1 team made amends for their A grade team's 'failure by'easily retaining the Craig Cup.- They scored 11W points, as against 41 by (Wellington, who were second. University put up a creditable performance in gaining'third place with 44 points. '■: ••..•• .>■.-■ RACE DESCRIBED. The conditions for running were ideal, arid the field was sent away to a fast start fromthe Star Boating Club's sheds by the donor o£ the shield, Mr. \V. H. Bennett., Wilson and Campbell (Olympic) and Buchanan and Silver (Scottish) were: the first to show! out, ; but. before Clyde quay was reached the two Olympic men had opened up a twenty-yard lead, those behind being -well, bunched. Going round Oriental Bay Wilson gradually left Campbell, who was closely attended by a group of runners, Including Prosser, Stevens, •.Roberts, and Silver. 'The remainder of "the field was already beginning to string out. -After passing Point Jerningham the •runners'.seemei-to settle into their stride, and Uttle ;varia~tidn, in .places resulted. At the Patent Slip, .Wilson had increased his lead to". 100 -yards, while Erosser and Stevens were -running together about 20 yards ahead of Roberts, Barclay, and Silver. Then followed Campbell, Violich, McKinrion^i .Cboke,:..l ..MUlcahy,; .^Morris,. Lovatt, and Woodley; At this stage the first'three. Scottish and Brooklyn men were to the fore with the Wellington runners en bloc in ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth positions; The pace slackened a little before the Constable street hill was reached. At the fire station Wilson was 120 yards in front, while Prosser had established a twenty-yard dead on Stevens,; with Silver, who had gained considerable, ground on the hill, fourth about forty yards ahead of Barclay and Roberts. A similar distance back/ came McKinnon and Copke, followed by Campbell, Violich, Morris,-Lavatti:.Mulcahy, and Woodley...: The competitors then tooi':full advantage of the downhUr run tpward the city and the pace was quickened. Down Adelaide road several changes .itoob place in

the minor placings,.'Cooke and Pedersen moving up, whilst Silver and Smith began to drop back. Wilson rapidly increased his lead over the final stages, and, finish^ ing with surprising speed, ran home an easy winner 37 seconds ahead o£ Prosser and Stevens, who. provided an exciting duel for second place, the former prevailing by a few yards in the sprint to the tape. Detailed results:— » - BENNETT MEMORIAL SHIELD. Teams Section.—Brooklyn (Prosser 2, Barclay 4, Roberts 5, Pedersen, D., 14), 25 points, 1; Wellington (Cooke 6, McKinnon 7, Morris 9, Mulcahy 13)j 35 "points, 2; Olympic, 38 points, 3; Scottish, 39 points, 4; Hutt Valley, 81 points, 5. : Individual. Placings.—The individual placings in the A section were:—P. Wilson (Olympic),'3smin, 1; G. Prosser (Brook;-

lynj, 35min 37sec, 2; A. L. Stevens (Scottish), 33min 3Ssec, 3; A. Barclay (BrookIjn), 30miu, 4; O. B. Roberts (Brooklyn):, 36min 4sec, 5; .'M- .Cooke (Wellington^, 36min asec, 6; S. McKinnon (Wellington)1, 36min 6sec, 7; C. Campbell (Olympic), 36 mm, 7sec, 8; M. Morris (Wellington),' 3? Imm 29sec, 0; M. Violich (Scottish),. 36min 31seq, 10; F. B. Silver (Scottish)/ 36min 37sec, 11; E. Lovatt (Olympic), 36min 40 sec, 12; T. Mulcahy (Wellington),' 36min 43sec, 13; D. Pedersen (Brooklyn), ~36min 47sec, 14; D. S. Woodley (Scottish), 36min 48sec, 15; V. Smith (Hutt Valley),.36min 57sec, 16; G. Strong (Olympic), 37min 3 see, 17. , '•■•••.■ -CRAIG CUP. Tcjmd Section.—Scottish No. I(Buchanan 1, Tunbridge -3p Olifent 4/3 , Jones 9), 17% points, 1; Wellington' (O'Brien 2, Willctts 6, Callaghan 10, Newson 23)j 41 points, ,2;' University, 44.-points, 3; Olynipic, -561 points, 4; Brooklyn, 87 points,'s; Hutt Valley, 95 points, G; Scottish No. 2, 98% points, 7. : Individual PJacings.—G. Buchanan (S.). 37min 6sec, 1; J: O'Brien (W.), 37rain 29 sec, 2; V. Tunbridge (S.), 38min 9sec, 3; T. Olifent (S.)'and R. Violich (S.), dead' heat, 4; E. Willetts (W.), 6; K. Sheard (V.), 7; H. Sullivan (O.), 8; "E. Joues (S.), 9; Callaghan (W.), 10; H. Thompson (V.), II; D. Viggers .(V.), 12. After the race Mr. W. H. Bennett addressed those present and .presented the trophies to the -winners.