EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 11

EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

BROWN WINS EASILY TEAMS RAGE TO CAVERSHAM SEALED HANDICAP TO CARGILL ROAD. The fourteenth contest for the Edmond Cup was decided over the steeplechase course at Wingatui Racecourse. This race, which is an annual one of three miles, for teams of ten runners, the first six men homo in each team to count for points, was first held in 1907, and the winning team holds for twelve months the handsome Challenge Cup presented to the Dunedin Harriers by Mr W. F. Edmond. The field of eighty-nine runners in their various club colors was an impressive sight as they raced for position at the start. Every local club was represented, the Cavershnra Club having two teams. The race was controlled by the Dunedin Harriers, who are to bo congratulated on the successful management of tlio contest. THE COURSE. The course, which was the same as for last year’s race, started opposite the grand stand, over the sod wall, and following the steeplechase course over the post and rails and the second sod wall till the back straight was reached. Here the runners came through the fence on to the course proper, thus missing the brush fences, till the end of the straight was reached, where they took the post and rails, and then over; the water jump, coming on to the course proper at the entrance to the straight This course was covered twice, the finish being at the judge’s box. The race was followed all tbe way by the few hundred enthusiasts who inurneyed to Wingatui. The ! weather was warm, and the track in fair condition, but a strong south wind : made things unpleasant fa the back straight. THE RACE. Starter Albert Burk got the large field away to a good start. The usual j rush for positions took place, the | leaders at the sod wall being Brown (Civil Service), Hobbs (Pacific), Douglas and Cox (’Varsity), and.Williden (Pacific), with about thirty others close together. Brown continued to force i the pace, with Douglas trying hard to | keep with him. Tapp was some disI tance hack, and the rest wore out of ! the race. xU the water jump the New Zealand cross-country champion had a i 50yds lead, and was running like a I machine, Douglas still second, and Tapp I (Cavershamf 10yds further back, tne next men being Williden, Cox, Pollock M’Ara (Pacific), Ashbv (Anglican). Passing the stand with half the distance covered, Brown led by over a hundred yards, there being very little change among she next dozen. Round the back Houglas was making valiant efforts to decrease the leader’s advantage, with Tapp, Cox, Williden, and Frye (Cnversham) following. Brown took things easy over the last half-mile, and won easily from the fast-finishing Douglas by fully "Ovds, with Tapp 100yds further back third; Cox was 20yds further away, and 10yds further back Williden just beat Frye. The water jump was again a source of amusement to the many spectators, who congregated there to watch the more unfortunate runners who fell in.

I Time, 17min 13 2-oscc, Eighty-five ; runners completed the distance. | TEAMS RACE.

SEALED HANDICAP. The Sealed Handicap, which was held for the first time for a cup presented by Mr E. Mollor, resulted: —

THE WINNERS. Eddie Brown, the winner, has won this race for the past three years. Last season he also accounted for the Otago and New Zealand Cross-country Championships. He was laid up at tho beginning of this .year, and today’s race, his first, open race since, shows that lie is back to form. I Len Dougins, who finished second, filled third place last year; was a mcm- : bor of last season’s Otago cross-country j team. He ran well in track races dur- ! tho season, his victories including the | ’Varsity three-mile championship. ! Johnny Tapp, who occupied third ' position to-day, was second last year, and finished second to Brown in the New Zealand Cross-country Championship, and to Rose in the Australasian I Cross-country Championship last sea- ! .son. He has been out of training with I a hurt foot, and is not yet at his best. | The veteran Charley Frye put up a ! remarkable performance by finishing | sixth. 1 After the race Mr C. W. Clark prei sen ted the prizes to tho winners, and congratulated them on the performances. Mr Clark apologised for the ; absence of tho donor of tho cup, Mr i JV. F. Edmond, who was unable to be present. Mr Brown returned his trophy for first home to the Dunedin Harriers.

WINNERS TO DATE. The following is a complete list of winners to-date:— 1907 Gaversham Harriers, F. J. Frew. 1908— Dunedin Hamers, I'. J. Frew, j 909—Cav. Harriers, G. M'Knight. 1912—Gaversham Hamers, J. Beatson. 1913_Caversham Harriers, D. R. Jack. 1914 Dunedin Harriers, M. Mickelson. 1915 Gaversham Harriers, W. F. Oxley. 1920 Pacific Harriers, R. Bell (Wellington). . 1921 Olympic Harriers (Wellington), Z. Wilson (Wellington). 1922 Gaversham Harriers, D. C. Lister. _ 1923 Anglican Harriers, W. H. B. Hobbs. 1924 Anglican Harriers, E. L. Brown. 1925 Anglican Harriers, E. L. Brown. 1926 Cav’sham Harriers, E. L. Brown.

—Result.— E. L. Brown (Civil Service) ... ... 1 L. Douglas (’Varsity) ... ... 2 J. Tapp (Cavershnm) ... B. G. Cox (’Varsity) 3 ... 4 G. Williden (Pacific) ... 5 C. W. Frye (Cavorsham) ... 6 W. Connell (Anglican) ... 7 H. Pollock (Anglican) ... 8 C. M‘Ara (Pacific) ... 9 W. fT. B. Hobbs (Pacific) ... 10

' Ciivorsham (J. W. Tapp 3, C. W. Fry 6, H. Emmcrsou 11, , A. Hills 13, L. Woods 15, I). Inglis J. 41—89 points Anglican (W. Connell 7, H. Pollock 8, A. Kane 14, C. Benthnm 19, J, Henderson 22, N. Suckling 23— 1 93) Pacific (G. Williden 5, C. M‘Ara 0, W. H. B. Hobbs 10, F. Mount 17, 2 W. Smith 33, J. Bird 40—119) ... .3 Civil Service (151) 4 ’Varsitv (1G4) 6 Leith (183) (1 Cargill Road (193) 7 Cavorshani No. 2 (322) 8 St. Kilcla (383) 9

Carp-ill Boad (T. King 2, H. M'Farlane 16, 11. C. Knowles 30, A. Brown 37. M. MMndoe 47, W. M'lndoe 51)—193 points, handicap 225, 32 points 1 Pacific—119, 00, 59 2 Civil Service—151, 70, 81 ... 3 Anglican—93, 5, 88 4 Cavershnm —89, scr, 89 ... 5 Leith—183, 90, 93 0 'Varsity—164, 55, 109 ... 1 Caversham i\o. 2—322, 150, i?2 ... 8 St. Kilda—383, 185, 198 ... 9