THE CROSS-COUNTRY

Evening Star, Issue 22087, 22 July 1935, Page 5

THE CROSS-COUNTRY

AUCKLAND TAKES THE DOUBLE SAVIDAN'S SIXTH WIN fSPBOUL to rns ‘ Stab.’] WELLINGTON, July 20. Assuming the lead soon after the start, J. W. Savidan ran away in peerless fashion to win his sixth New Zealand title at Lyall Bay, Wellington, to-day, Making all his own running, Savidan extended a 20yds lead at two miles to over 200yds at the finish, receiving a great ovation from a huge crowd as he sped to the tape. Auckland’s second string, N- FCoper, after trailing W. A. J?nllar for five and a-half miles, went to the front in brilliant fashion, giving the title-holder no chance. He won by over 50 yds. Throughout the top men ot the provinces were millinog freely, A, L. Stevens and J. Tlidington (Wellington) pushing through over the last mile and a-half to dead-heat for fourth place. C. Weller (West Coast) and A, it. Gcddes were prominent on the early stages, but fell back to superior competition in the last stages. J. G. Barnes was out of the picture in the telling stages, and from four miles deteriorated sadly. Due mainly to the splendid legacy by Savidan and Cooper, Auckland won the _ teams championship with 28 points j Otago (83) beating Wellington (39), who wore without the services of G. Prosser, who _ received an injury yesterday.

Savidan went to the front from the first 300yds, and on leaving the aerodrome was followed closely by Pullar, Weller, Watson, and Park, the other Canterbury men being well up at this stage. Savidan revelled in the hill going, and running to the flat again to the aerodrome, had 24yds on Pullar, who headed Cooper, Weller, Watson, Riddington, Park, Stevens, Bertwhistle (Auckland individual), Hard ing, Geddes, Stewart, and Barnes. Out of the aerodrome for the next lap. Savidan was running away from Pullar, who still hold the measure of Cooper (Auckland). The tail men were going well, the Northerners .'fading Otago in the teams' iggregate. Setting out on the home road stretch after clearing tire aerodrome for the last time, Savidan, with typical accion, running freely, was 280yds ahead of Pullar, who was falling back to Cooper. With Savidan within sight of the tart-, Cooper moved easily past Pullar, who could not catch the Aucklander in the last stretch, Cooper running on by 15yds. Many stirring finishes, with the teams issue fairly clouded, followed. Weller and Barnes were the most conspicuous failures on, the day. INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS. W. SAVIDAN (Auckland), 35min 43seo 1 N. F. Cooper (Auckland), 36min ssec ... 2 W. A, Pullar (Otago), 36min 21soc 3 A. L. Stevens (Wellington and J. Riddington (Wellington), dead heat, 36min 27sec 4 A. R. leddea (Otago) ... 6 H. , Watson (Canterbury), 86min 41soo 7 W. A. Stewart (Otago), 36min 44sec ... ... 8 W. Birthwistlo (Auckland), running individually, 36min 47seo 9 W. K. Johnston (West Coast, N. 1.), 36mtn 55seo 10 TEAMS PLACINGS. Auckland , (Savidan 1, Cooper 2, Briggs 11, M'Kenzie 14), 28 points ... 1 Otago (Pullar 3, Geddes 6, Stewart 8, and Barnes 16), 33 points ... 2 Wellington (Stevens 4}, Riddington 4Jj Bagnall 13, Roberts 17), 39 points ... 3 Canterbury (Watson 7, Park 12, Fox 18, Rogers 25), 62 points ... 4 West Coast, N.I. (Johnston 9, Weller 10, Smith 20, Bills 26), 64 points 5 Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (Lord 19, Peedy 24, Wright 27, Donford 33), 103 points 6

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM PULLAR AND GEDDES INCLUDED fPEH United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July. 21. The following cross-country team has been picked by the joint selectors, Messrs B. R. M'Kernan and A. Croker, to represent New Zealand at the Australian championships in Sydney on August 17:-—J. W. Savidan (AuckItnd), N. F. Cooper (Auckland), W. A. Pullar (Otago), A, L. Stevens (Wellington), J. Riddington (Wellington), and A. R. Geddes (Otago). 6. H. Watson (Canterbury) and W. A. Stewart (Otago) have been selected to replace any of the above who are unable to go. On Saturday night Savidan, who announced on Friday that he would not be able to make the trip, said he was still very much in doubt, and. unless financial arrangements could be made there was little prospect of his going. SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS WIN FOB CAVERSHAM TPeb United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, July 21. The Southland cross-country championships were decided at the Invercargill racecourse yesterday afternoon under perfect weather conditions. In the senior event, which was of six miles and a-quarter, the Caversham team put up a fine exhibition of team work to win the event handsomely. The rules of the race do not permit a team from outside Southland to hold the shield, which therefore goes to the Invercargill Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club. The individual senior championship was won by B. Crowther (Invercargill). P, M'Lauchlaii (Invercargill) won the junior event, v