CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 18715, 18 August 1924, Page 5

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

OTAGO’S FINE SHOWING. The Now Zealand Cross-country Championship over five miles was held in cold, dull weather at Miramar, Wellington. Wellington and Otago were the only competitors The course was on the Miramar flats, which, being of a sandy nature, are unaffected by rain. In shape, it is almost an oval of about two and a-quarter miles, with the two trails projecting into the centre, one projection of 440yds being for the start to the course proper, the other being from the course up a straight of 300yda to the finishing post. The start was made in a large paddock ; then came half .a. mile on Ike grassy side of a road; and then the trail crossed the Seatoun tram lino towards Lyall Bay. The course then threaded through the sandhills over firm tussock, going for three-quarters of a mile; then it skirted the Miramar Golf Links for half a mile, Scots College being reached at the twomilo peg. The train line was then recrossed, and the runners entered a largo field (which included a water jump) for the remaining quarter mile. This d : sianco bad to bo covered thrice, and contained five jumps in each lap. RESULT. J. Tapp (Otago) 1 If. Brown (Otago) 2 ML Hobbs (Otago) ■ 3 F. Silver (Wellington) 4 J. B. Bihby (Otago) 5 I). Todd '(Wellington) 7 W. Scatchnrd (Wellington) ... 8 THE POINTS. Otago 11 Wellington 25 HISTORY OF THE RACE.

The 1924 championship, decided on the, Miramar course, Wellington, marks the eleventh contest for the dominion’s premier cross-country race. Only Otago and Cant orb nry took part in the original contest, held at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, in 1S05; and the, home team, which included such well-known runners as the lato W. F. Simpson, of Christchurch, and F. Malthus, of Timaru, proved the winners. In those days eight men formed the team. The second contest, held at Timaru in 1909, under altered conditions, which remain in vogue, a.fc the present time, stipulating that teams were to consist of five men, the first four to count, was won easily by Otago, Wellington and Canterbury dca-d-hea.ting for second place. The 1910 championship was decided at Invercargill, Wellington, Otago, and Southland competing. Otago repeated her previous year’s success with the fine score of 12 points, Southland second and Wellington third. At the 1911 contest, held at Auckland, the Otago representatives retained, the championship with a. score, of 15 points, Auckland being second and Wellington third

Otago wore again tho winners in 1912, when the event was decided at Wellington, the other teams being Auckland and Wellington. Wingalui was the convincing ground in 1915. The Otago team, consisting of J, Beatson, D. R. Jack, G. MTvnight, D. R. Thompson, and C. W. Fryo, put up :i great performance, finishing the first five men homo, and scoring the possible points —viz., 10. Wellington finished second and Southland third.

No contests wore held during tiro war (1914-19), but it was revived in 1920 a.t Christchurch, when Wellington won for the first time with 18 points, Otago second, and Canterbury third. In 1921, at Wellington, Wellington again won from Otago with a score of 12, Canterbury being third. In 1922, a.t Wingatui,_ Wellington repeated Otago’s great performance of 1913 by patting up a possible of 10 points, with Otago second and Canterbury third. Tho 1923 contest was decided at Christchurch, Wellington again proving the winners, with Otago and Canterbury in that, order.

The individual championship lias beon won as follows:

1905.—P. Maltbus (Canterbury). 1909. —W. F. Simpson (Canterbury). 1910. G. M‘Kuight (Otago). 1911. G. N. Hill (Auckland). 1912. —J. Beatson (Otago). 1913. —J. Beatson (Otago). 1920. C. W. Frye (Otago). 1921. —H. Moore (Wellington). 1922. D. Todd (Wellington). 1923. H. Naldec (Canterbury).