N.Z. CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 21501, 28 August 1933, Page 2

N.Z. CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

SAVIDAN'S FIFTH WIN TEAMS' RAGE TO WEST COAST (N. 1.) fPr.n Un-ited Puess Association - .] WANGANUI, August 27. With the race always in hand, J. W. Saviclau, of Auckland, won the New Zealand cross-country title for the fifth time on Saturday. Although led by C. Weller (Wanganui) for a short distance he left the nineteen-ycar-old runner after the first two miles had been covered, and gained a lead over hilly country, the Aucklander returning to Spriggens Park to win thb six miles and a-quarter race by 120yds from Weller. Filling four of the first seven positions, the West Coast (N. 1.) team won the teams race from the holders (Otago). The positions and times were: — J. Savidan (Auckland), 36min 36sec 1 C. Weller (West Coast), 37min Lsec 2 K. Johnston (West Coast), 37min 30sec 3 J. G. Barnes (Otago), 37min 47sec 4 H. J. Brown (West Coast), 38min jsgo ... 5 E. C. Brown (Otago), 38min 3sec ... 6 G. Johnston (West Coast), 28min Bsec ... 7 A. Stevens (Wellington), 38min jyggQ ti i(i ~, 8 T. Allen (Otago), 38min 30sec ... 9 H. B. Brown (Auckland), 38min 35sec 10 A. D. Park (Canterbury), 38min 37sec ; 11 Taylor (Canterbury), 38min 38sec 12 S. Anderson (Otago), 38min 44sec 13 A. Barclay (Wellington), -38 min 46sec 14 S. Andrews (Auckland), 38min 49sec 15 C. Hill (West Coast), 38min 56sec 16 M'Kenzie (Auckland), 39min llsec 17 Parkhonse (Wellington), 39min 13sec 18 Fox (West Coast), 39min losec ... 19 Nicholson (Auckland), 39min 20sec 20 Watson (Canterbury), 39min 23sec 21 J. J. Morris (Otago), 39min 30sec 22 Northover (West Coast), 39min 35sec 23 A. R. Geddes (Otago), 39min 42sec 24 Roberts (Wellington), 39min 44sec 25 M'Leocl (Wellington), 39min 56scc 26 A. Hall (Auckland), 39min 57sec ... 27 Thomson (Canterbury), 40rain ... 28 Hay (Canterbury), 40min 56sec ... 29 Kingston (West Coast), 41min 4sec 30 Wilson (Wellington), 42min lOsec ... 31 The teams placings were:— West Coast (N.L), 17 points 1 Otago, 32 points 2 Auckland, 42 points 3 Canterbury, 67 points 4 Wellington, 67 points 4 OTAGO SECOND IN TEAMS RACE. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] WANGANUI, August 26. In winning the cross-country championship race to-day comfortably J. W. Savidan, the British Empire champion, further emphasised his superiority as a distance runner over other New Zealanders. His victory was generally anticipated, but the surprise of the race was the splendid run of C. Weller, the Wanganui youth. He hung to Savidan for half the distance, and beat all the other competitors' by as big a margin as Savidan beat him by. Another surprise feature was that four West Coast (N. 1.) runners should finish in the first seven, this ensuring West Coast’s victory in the teams race. J. G. Barnes (Otago) did not run up to expectation, having to be content with fourth place. He was the first Otago man to finish, and E. C. Brown filled sixth position, with T. Allen ninth, S. A. Anderson thirteenth, and J. J. Morris in twenty-second place. The last named was generally expected to bo in the first two or three, but did not run up to form. Savidan and Weller made the pace very hot in the early stages, the Wanganui lad leading Savidan at the mile and a-half point, and they were followed by H. I. Brown (West Coast) and the Johnston brothers (also of West Coast), Barnes being next. The remainder of the field was bunched. At three miles, where a turn took place, Savidan was in the lead by 25yds from Weller, who was 50yds in front of K. Johnston. These were followed by J. Barnes, H. J. Brown, and G. Johnston. On reaching the five-mile point Savidan was about 200yds in the lead from Weller. At this stage the field was well strung out, with the loaders going strongly. A mile from home Savidan was striding out freely, while Weller was tiring, but battling along gamely. Then came K, Johnston, Barnes, H. J. Brown, and 6. Johnston. It was plain at this stage that Savidan had the race in safekeeping, and that Weller would only need to keep jogging to fill second place. Increasing his pace without apparent exertion, Savidan entered Spriggens Park some 200yds or so ahead of Weller, and went on to won comfortably by that margin from the Wanganui runner, who battled on and finished with a fine spurt to beat K. Johnston by 175yds. Barnes -was next 12yds further back, and then came H, J, Brown (West Coast) close up, followed closely by E. C. Brown (Otago) and G. Johnston (West Coast).

This made the fifth occasion on which Savidan has won the championship, a truly wonderful record. On to-day’s performance the Aucklander appears as good, if not better than, ever. It was a popular win, and Savidan was accorded an ovation, as also was Weller. The visitors were loud in their praise of the course, the management, and arrangements generally.