HARRIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 20

HARRIERS

SATURDAY'S RUNS

The membership of the Methodist Harrier Club is increasing, and there were 40 runners on Saturday to follow a trail of six miles laid by D. Walker and G. Thompson from Island Bay Methodist Church. Sli?pery trails were followed up the valley into Melrose, whence the road was followed down to Lyall Bay and round Queen's Drive to Island Bay. All packs made a fast, steady pace over the last three miles. The club captain, J. Walker, announced the presentation of a shield made of beautifully inlaid woods by Mr. S. Trevithick, the club patron. This shield is for competition between seven teams picked from the club, and promises to be an inspiration among club members. Next Saturday the novice race will be held from Miramar Methodist Church. PRESBYTERIAN CLUB. Nearly sixty members participated in a very enjoyable run from the Island Bay Presbyterian Church on Saturday. The trail of five miles involved plenty of hill-work, leading over to Happy Valley and Mornington, and joining the main road just north of Wakefield Park. The runners were in four packs, one of which, unfortunately, inadvertently decided to follow the trail of another club in favour of their own after having gone only half the distance. The error was discovered when they had reached the bottom of another steep hill, and they were recalled by the stentorian tones of the club captain from far away. The runners were well spread out, and two runs-in were held, both of which will count towards the trophy for these events. Results: —A grade: P. Bay 1, M. Pumfrey 2, H. Miller 3. B grade: S. Campbell 1, H. Blore 2, K. Moore 3. Afternoon tea was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright and assistants. The club president, Mr. W. J. Ferguson, extended to them a few words of thanks, and Mrs. Wainwright suitably replied. Next Saturday the novice race will be held over a course of about three miles from the Miramar tennis courts, commencing at 2.30. It is expected that there will be over 40 starters, and an excellent race should result. HUTT VALLEY CLUB. Two annual races over a distance of three miles were decided by the Hutt Valley Harrier Club. The course for these events started in front of the grandstand on the Hutt racecourse and led out on Seaview Road, passing the Maori cemetery. It then led along the beach as far as the oil works, across to Gracefield Eoad, and back to" the starting point, via Mr. Cullen's paddocks, finishing on the racecourse. The novice race drew a field of 11 runners, and a good pace was set by the limit men. W. Loughnan (30sec) and L. Sheehan (15sec) were heading the field at the oil works, but approaching Gracefield Road A. Loany (scr) and F. Dumble (scr) took charge. Entering the racecourse Dumble held a lead of 45 yards on Loany, with A. Mack 60 yards back in third position. These positions were unaltered, Dumble going on to win by 140 yards from Loany. The winner gained fastest time, 20min 44sec. Thirteen runners lined up for the president's race, which poved a very closely contested one, and the performance of the winner was meritorious. The scratch men were up with the limit ones with a mile to go, and entering the racecourse M. Petersen held a 10 yards lead on M. Patterson, with R. Kent coming along fast. With 300 yards to go, Patterson, moving freely, passed Petersen, and went on to breast the tape with .35 yards to spare. R. Kent, in a good burst, beat Petersen by 15 yards for second place. Patterson' (scr) made fastest time, 19 min 35sec. Next week the race for the Craig Rose Bowl, a teams event, will be held at 2.30 p.m. from the, Hutt Park. OLYMPIC CLUB. A muster of 26 members attended the Olympic Club's run at Berhampore on Saturday. The slow pack, in charge of W. Watt, and the fast pack led by the captain, E. Lovatt, followed a five-mile trail up Britomart Street to Mornington and then down to Happy Valley. The road was followed for half a mile, and the trail led up the hills again, the ridges being followed before dropping down to the Parade, Island Bay. Both packs united at this point, and the 440 yards run-in resulted as follows:— Senior: D. Sutherland 1, J. Duignan 2, A. Chapell 3. The junior race resulted in a win for W.. Shaw, with L. Goetzloff, second. Next Saturday's run will be from Brooklyn tram terminus. WELLINGTON CLUB. On Saturday afternoon 28 runners of the Wellington Club left Wadestown Anglican Church and followed a trail of five miles. The three packs went down into the gorge and' then up the hill into Ngaio. A fast pace was kept through Ngaio, and the three packs met up on the hills. Here the trial was very slippery over the hills and led through gorse and thick bush. The run-in of three-quarters of a mile was held from Wilton's Bush, and A. Robinson, from scratch, won easily. ,L. McAuley was second and R. Wakelin third. The runners found the trail very strenuous, but thoroughly enjoyed the run. Next Saturday two club races will be held from the Miramar tennis courts, the maiden handicap race, tor runners who have not had a first in open racing, and the old boys' memorial race. BROOKLYN CLUB. An excellent muster of runners gathered at the Island Bay Surf Club sheds on Saturday to participate in the second run of the season. Fully 35 runners were present, including several new runners and three old club members, who need little introduction, Ted Da vies, who was a member of the Aberdeen University Harrier Club whilst in Scotland, Bruce Bibby, • who last turned out at the club's opening run for the 1937 season and came third in the "run-in" on that occasion, and Gordon Prosser, last season's winner of the club and provincial championships. The trail was laid by L. Todd and led from the Surf Club sheds, around to Houghton Bay, up Hornsey Road, over the top of the ridge, down past the back of the Zoo, across Duppa Street Park, around the side of the hills, thence back to the starting place. There were two packs, a slow pack, under the control of R. Watterson, and a mediumfast pack, led by C. McCalman. The course demanded some solid running and a good sense of balance, greasy tracks and pot-holes filled with water helping considerably to keep the runners alert. However, once the flat was reached, towards the end of the run, some pace was put on by the more energetic runners. M. Moir, R. MacGregor, H. Reid, D. Pedersen, B. Bibby, and T. Davies were among the first batch to reach the sheds.