CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 September 1934, Page 3

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

OTAGO WINS TEAM EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP TO PULLAR WKLLEIR, FINISHES TENTH (By Telegraph—Proas Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 16. Otago runners outclassed those from other provinces in the New Zealand cross country championship held at Wingatui on Saturday. The weather was fine but dull and the course heavy. From start to finish Otago always had sufficient men in front to ensure winning the team’s race, and the result of the individual championship rested between Pullar, the Otago champion, and Barnes, who won the championship in 1932. Results are:— INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Pullar (Otago), 35m 58s ....„ 1 Barnes (Otago), 36m Is - Allen (Otago), 36m 18s 3 Pearson (Otago), 36m 29s 4 Valder (Auckland), 36m 24s 5 Stewart (Otago), 36m 34s 6 Watson (Canterbury), 36m 38s ... 7 Matthews (Canterbury), 36ih 51s 8 Stevens (Wellington), 36m 57s ... 9 Weller (West Coast), 37m 5s 10 TEAMS race. Otago, 10 points 1 Canterbury, 37 points 2 Wellington, 44 points 3 Auckland, 56 points 4 West Coast, 79 points 5 Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay, 116 pts. 6

Six 1 centres were represented in the teams’ race, a field of 37 runners being a record for the event. Teaming in brilliant fashion, Otago had four men in front all the w'dy and won the teams’ race w r ith the possible of ten points. Canterbury put up the province’s best performance to date, to be runner-up with 37. In the early' stages Allen led, but his Otago team mates, Pullar, Barnes and Walker, were close handy'. Pullar went to the front after about a mile and a, half was covered, and when the first round was completed and half the distance covered, Pullar led by a yard from Barnes, with Allen, Pearson, Calder, "Walker, Stewart and Watson following in that Oder. Going down the hill with about a mile and a half to go, Pullar had increased his lead to 100 yards, but moving (on to the racecourse after traversing about 500 yards alongside 1 the railway line and across country', Barnes had reduced the lead considerably. Pullar finished on well, however, to win by 20 yards from Barnes, who was cutting down the leeway at the finish. Allan was 60 yards back, Pearson being about 40 yards away fourth. Valder and Stewart had a great race for fifth place, Valder lasting Jong to get there by inches. Watson was not far back, seventh, and then came Matthews. Stevens and Weller at close intervals. The last-named, who was second last year when West Coast (North Island) won the teams race, was never prominent, though he improved his position the second time round.