EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 5

EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

GEODES RETAINS INDIVIDUAL HONOURS CIVIL SERVICE?WINS TEAMS' RACE SEALED HANDICAP TO MORNINGTOH In the worst track conditions for many years, the twenty-fifth, Edmond Cup Steeplechase over a three-mile course was decided at Wiugatui on Saturday afternoon, under tho control of the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, the oldest harrier organisation in the Dominion, 11 teams, drawn from 10 clubs and comprising 100 runners, taking part. The course has not been heavier within the memory of those officiating at this race, and for the greater part of tho journey the runners had to plough their way through mud and slush. From start to finish the race resolved itself into a stern tussle between last year’s winner, A. R. Geddes (Civil Service) and L. Logan (Anglican), both of whom ran splendidly under such adverse conditions. Geddes established a slight advantage over the last half-mile or so, and, staging a, fast finish, withstood a strong challenge from Logan to win by 10yds in 18mm 25sec, an indication of the heavy nature of the course. Third place went to N. Greaney (Civil Service), who recently gained fourth place in tho Kenhett Cup Steeplechase in Christchurch. Greaney was with the leaders all the way, and ran a solid and determined race, which augurs well for his showing in the Otago crosscountry championship. I. L. Curtis (Anglican) held his place all the way to finish fourth, and L. K. Donovan (Caversham) put up his best performance to date to finish fifth. J. H. M’Laren (Dunedin), one of the most seasoned runners in the race, showed form almost equal to his best to_ finish sixth, and a very promising Mornington runner, C. Moore, was seventh. Civil Service turned the tables on Caversham (which won the Kennett Cup teams’ race) by taking the teams’ race to-day with 51 points, this event being for teams Sf 10, six of whom count for points. Civil Service’s first man won the race, and the sixth member of the club to finish was sixteenth. Caversham No, 1 team was runner-up with 8 1 points, and Anglican (last year’s winners) filled third place with 93 points. A gratifying feature of the race was the promising showing made by the Mornington Club, which had a man in the first 10, filled fourth place in the teams’ race, and won the sealed handicap with a net total of 40 points, Toko, being runner up with 7 points. The race' was ably controlled by officials of the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, assisted by Otago Centre officials. Messrs F. T. Breese and W. N. Connell were superintendents, Mr B. Thompson was the starter, and the judges were Messrs J. Boardman, C. W. Clark, J. W. Holley, G. ' Jackson, and J. L. W. Gerken. Mr B. R. M'Kernan was the chief track steward, and he had associated with him Messrs C. K. Heaton, H. Connell, and A. L, Price. 1 The results were announced after the race by the chairman of the Otago Centre’s Harrier Sub-committee (Mr C. W. Clark, who presented the prizes. THE COURSE. The runners started a furlong below the grandstand and proceeded along the training track until they entered the course proper 100 yards from the sod wall. They then followed the steeplechase course, crossing the post and rails, second post and rails, and the water jump. Instead, of coming down the straight, they entered on to the training track again at the top of the straight. This course was covered twice. THE RACE DESCRIBED. The field got away to a splendid start, Geddes whoso team had the inside running, jumping to the front with Logan and Curtis in close attendance. The runners were already well strung out at the sod wall, Logan leading Curtis by a yard lyith Pilling (University), Donovan, Colston, and N. Greaney together in a bunch. Logan opened up a gap approaching the first post and rails, Curtis, Pilling, Geddes, Asher, N. Greaney, Colston, and Donovan' following in that order. Going down the back stretch Geddes rapidly overhauled Logan, being followed by Curtis, N. Greaney, Asher, and Pilling. Approaching the water jump Geddes had reduced Logan’s lead to 20yds, Asher being in a handy position at the head of a bunch comprising Curtis and M'Laren (who was again running well in the heavy going), N. Greaney, and Donovan. Colston was another 20yds away, Pilling having dropped hack several places. Passing the grandstand the first time round, Geddes and Logan were running together, both going strongly, and 20 yards further back was N. Greaney, who was running very solidly. Curtis was holding his position well, and was followed by C. Moore (who is in his first year as a senior), and Donovan, and M'Laren, who were together. Geddes established a slight lead going down the back straight, N. Greaney being another 50yds behind Logan, with Donovan and Curtis disputing fourth place, M‘Laren, Moore, Asher, and Colston following. Logan was on terms again with Geddes at the water jump, and both were handling the heavy going in masterly fashion. Geddes led Logan on to the course by three yards, and although Logan entered a challenge 100yds from home, Geddes drew away and finished strongly to win by 10yds, N. Greaney finishing ■gamely for third place 50yds back. Curtis, who held his position throughout, was fourth, 20yds away, and a similar distance separated him and Donovan, who ran a solid race for fifth place, being Caversham’s first man to finish. Then came M'Laren. Moore, Asher, Colston, and Barr, all fairly close together. INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS. A. R. Geddes (Civil Service) 1 L. Logan (Anglican) 2 N. Greaney (Civil Service) 3 I. L. Curtis (Anglican) ... ... 4 L. K. Donovan (Caversham No. 1) 5 J. H. M'Laren (Dunedin) 0 C. Moore (Mornington) 7 S. Asher (Civil Service) .;. G. R; Colston (Caversham No. 1 ... 9 A. J. Barr (Caversham No. 1) ... 10 Time, 18min 25sec. TEAMS’ RACE. Civil Service (A. R. Geddes 1, W. Greaney 3, S. Asher 8, N. Coutts 11, R. Whittleston 12, W. Mackinnon 16), 51 points, 1. Caversham No. 1 (L. K. Donovan 5, J. R. Colston 9, A. J. Barr 10, G. L. Austin 17, L. L. Hebbard 21, S. J. Maddoohs 25), 87 points, 2. Anglican (L. Logan 2, I. L. Curtis 4. G. Davie 15, A. Mann 20, A. Marrott 22, A. Romeril 30), 93 points, 3. Mornington. 180 points, 4. Caversham No. 2, 225 points, 5. University, 295 points, 6; Toko , 307 points, 7; Dunedin, 322 points, 8; St. I

Kilda, 336 points, 9; Leith, 346 points, 10. Invercargill did not finish a full team. SEALED HANDICAP. Mornington (C. L. Moore 7, A, Ferry 19, F. W. Crooke 27, R. A. - Wilson 38, A. G. Hall 44, R. S. Roxburgh 45), 180 points—22o 40 points 1 Toko., 3Q7 —300—7 points ..; ... 2 Civil Service, 51—15 —36 points ... 3 PREVIOUS WINNERS. Below are given the nqmes of previous winners of the teams’ race and individual championship respectively, the times of the individual winners also being given:— 1907 (at Forbury Park) .—Caversham; F. J. Frew (Caversham), 16rain 30sec. 1908 (at Forbury Park). —Dunedin; P. J. Frew (Caversham). 1909 (at Tahuna Park),'; —Caversham; G. A. M'Knight (Caversham), 15min ssec. 1912 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; J. Beatson (Caversham), 16min 28sec. 1913 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; D. J. Jack (Caversham), 16min 6 4-5 sec. 1914 (at Wingatui).—Dunedin; M. Mickelsen (Dunedin), 17min 6sec. 1915 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; W. F. Oxley (Y.M.C.A.), 17mm 28 2-sseo. 1920 (at Forbury Park). —Pacific; R. Bell (Brooklyn, Wellington), IGmiu 3 (j sec 1921 (at Wingatui).—Olympic (Wellington) ; T. Wilson (Olympic, Wellington), ISmin llsec. 1922 (at Forbury Park). —Caversham; D- C. Lister (Civil Service), 16min 33sec. 1923 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific), 17mm 41sec. 1924 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 17min, 1925 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), ICmin 47sec. J 926 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 17miu 13sec. 1927 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service) 17min lOseo. 1923 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17min 17sec. 1929 (at Wingatui)).—Caversham: J- J. Morris (Caversham), 17rain 16 3-osec. 1930 (at Wingatui).-!-Caversham; J, E. Lovelock (University), 17min. 1931 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), ITmiii 12sec. 1932 (at Wingatui).—Civil Service; J. G, Barnes (Civil Service), 17min 34sec. 1933 (at Wingatui).—Civil Service; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17min 1934 (at Wingatui).—Anglican: W. A. C. Pullar (Anglican), 17min 28sec. 1935 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; W. A. C. Pullar (Anglican), 16rnin 29 1930 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; A. R. Geddes (Civil Service), 17min 27 l-ssec.