CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 18034, 31 July 1922, Page 2

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

WON BY D. 0. LISTER. The Otago five-mile cross-country championship was held at W-ingatui on Saturday. Tho weather was ideal, while the tr,ack for the greater part was fairly dry. The course was approximately five miles, and it exacted no little amount of energy from the runners. It was a trno_ crosscountry course. Tho attendance of spectators V-as very disappointing. This was caused no doubt through lack of publicity. The race was very interesting, and under the control of the referee everything worked smoothly. The contest has been an annual one since its inception in 1905. The officials were: Referee, Mr C. W. Clark; starter, Mr W. Rudkin; nidges—Messrs P. W. Breen, A. Melville, J. H. List, R. Thompson, C. W. Frye, sen., and J. Reynolds; track stewards—Messrs J. Bond, S. Gale, G. Lucldinrst; timekeepers—. Messrs H. A. Hogg, T. P. Williamson, A. Burk. THE COURSE. Commencing on tho track opposite the grandstand, it extended to the post, and rails fence, where it deviated on to Mr Fisher's property. here the runners had to contend with very heavy- ground. Clearing Mr Fisher’s paddock, it crossed on to the flat fields owned by Mr Hazlott. Tho going there had improved, and striking in a westerly direction it passed near the residence of Mr Hazlelt, and then on to the Janefield- road. After traversing the road (or about ball a mile, it crossed on to Mr Gow’s fields on its way back to the racecourse, eventually coming on to the track at the half-mile post, a point nearly opposite tho grandstand. The runners followed the race brack around the south bend and up the straight- Tho course had to bo negotiated twice. Mr Rudkin effected a good start, the field commencing at a very steady pace, which was maintained until the post-a.nd-railg ivere reached. Here the field commenced to string out, and the champions went into the lead. Crossing on to Mr Fisher's fields, Hobbs (Pacific) was in the lead, closely supported l by M'Lean, his club mate. Frye (Caversham) and Stables (Anglican) were following very close, while the remainder ol the field were strung out for about 600 yards. The leaders were forcing the pace, and gradually established a decisive lead. Crossing on to Mr Hazlett’s -paddocks, Frye and Lister (Civil Service) were moving up. The pace now settled down to steady striding, but the younger runners were failing back. Coming into view again, it was seen that Frye and Lister were leading, while Bibby (Anglican), Hobbs, and Stables _ were handy. Leaving Mr Glow's and coming on to the racecourse, the two leaders continued to ghin ground, and, with the exception ol some four or five runners, the remainder of the field was strung out about a mile. Passing the stand on the completion of tho first round, the order was Lister, Frye, Bibby, Hobbs, Stables, and Hill. Leaving the" track at the poat-and* rails, Lister was forcing Frye, while Hobbs and Bibby were endeavoring to close nip the gap. It was now evident that the two leaders were running the race to their own time-tables. The pace increased down the Janefield. road. Lister was moving in fine style, his striding was even, hut his several efforts hero to head off Frye were unsuccessful. Last year’s champion, Frye, was displaying his usual dogged style, and his running was very consistent. Over tho

plough in Mr Gow’s paddock Lister gained on Frye, while Hobbs was somo fifty yards in t'he roar of tho leader. Here the Civil* Service champion seemed to open out, leading at a merry. pace right up to _ the straight.. Entering the straight, Lister forged ahead,, and was leading Frye by some twenty yards,’ while Hobbs commenced to challenge Frye. The three leaders were now sprinting; but Lister was safe, ho having a lead of ten yards, which lie maintained to the tape, Jlobbs’s efforts to overtake Frye failed by four yards. Biibby and Tapp bad moved up, and in tho run homo the former led 'by a few yards from Tapp, who was some 100 yards behind ’ Hobbs. Bibby and Stables were some 100 yards in the roar of Hobbs, while tho hast runner was fully a mile ‘behind. Coming round the south bend of tho track, the spectators wore given an interesting display in the stamina of tho leaders. Lister was travelling at a great pace, slowly gaining on Frye, who had increased his pace, but failed dn his efforts to close np the gap. Results : —•lndividual. D. 0. Lister (Civil Service) ... 1 C. W. Frve (Oaversham) ... 2 W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific) ... 3 J. B. Bibby (Anglican) 4 J. Tapp (daversliam) S J. D. Stables (Anglican) 6 Time, 30min 55sec. —Teams’ Race.— Anglican No 1 team, 48 points 1 Cavorsham No. 1 team, 51 points ... 2 Pacific, 54 points ... 5 Anglican No. 2 team, 121 points ... 4 —Sealed Handicap.— Oaversham No. 1 (14 points), 37 ... 1 Pacific (10 points), 44 2 Anglican No. 1 (scr), 48 3 Tho placing of the teams’ members wore as follow ; Anglican No. 1 : Bibby 4, Stables 6, Sinclair 9, 0-nnrod 13, Patterson 15. Oaversham No. 1 • Frye 2, Tapp 5, Beat-son 3, Maync 34, G-ibhs 22. Pacific : Hobbs 3, Hill 10, Jolly 11, Grey 12, M’Lran 18. At the conclusion of the race Mr C. W. Clark presented the interclub banner lo the winners, Dunedin Anglican Harriers, fie congratulated the dub on their win. and remarked on the spirit of good .sportsmanship shown throughout the contest. 110 also added that the team to represent Otago in the New Zealand Cross-country Championship would be j selected from the results of this race, | The previous winners of the interolub banner are :—Dunedin Harriers. 1905 to 1909; Cavorsham Harriers. 1910 to 1914; Pacific Harriers, 1919 and 1920; Anglican | Hamers, 1921.