HARRIERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 159, 21 June 1935, Page 11

HARRIERS

INTER-CLUB CONTEST Hastings Poor Team-Work WRIGHT LEADS THE FIELD (By “Fence.”) The second inter-club contest of this season was staged last Saturday over the Napier Harrier Club’s new course at Taradale. The teams’ race resulted in a welldeserved victory for the Napier Club by 137 points to 163, the weakness of the Hastings Club in team work being apparent. The new course starts at the Taradale Post Office and goes about 600 yards on the road when a fence is encountered, followed by a piece of marshy ground, and then a stiff climb up a hill followed again by a sharp descent to the flat again, where two ' water jumps and a few fences are encountered. A second hill is then tackled and crossing behind Perry’s homestead the trail drops down to the main road crossing it by the Redclyffo bridge. The stop bank is then followed to Murphy road which is traversed to the Meeanee road and so back to the , starting place. This course was completed twice, to make the run 6} miles. The steep hills were new obstacles, and the course altogether a sufficient test of stamina for any runner. Again' the Hastings dub gained the individual honours, but the tail failed to wag and so let the whole club down. Napier has a valuable man in Morris, who held five of his men together, well displacing several of the Hastings team. There does not seem to be any one in the Hastings chib to pull the middle and lower men along in a race, with the result that they run as individuals and not as a team. It might be worth trying Wright or Andersen in the role of teainer. They would certainly lose a few places themselves, but this would be more than offset by the gain the lower men would make. The race was well organised and the trail was very clearly marked out by paper and flags. Spikes were an advantage on the hills, but the wearers would lose a certain amount of ground on the bitumen roads going through the township. The Race Described. A good field of about 45 runners faced the starter, Mr A. Clough, and from the word “go” Wright and Ready (Hastings) set a still pace, the

field being well strung out by the time the first gate was reached about 600 yards from the start. The leaders maintained their break over the hills, but Beady found the pace too hot and slowed up, allowing Lord to take second place behind Wright, with Dcnford displacing Andersen for third. Along the stop-bank Holt and Hunt caught Andersen, and these three teamed together for the rest of the journey. Wright ran his usual race and by winning could do no more. Next to the winner’s run, the outstanding performance of the race was L. Holt finishing fifth equal, without much training. With a little regular training he would be giving Wright a fright. He is easily the best hill runner in the province, his down hill work especially being an eyeopener. Hunt and Andersen ran well, but reversing their usual positions. G. Spurdie is slowly working into form, and if he had a team mate would no doubt have improved his position. He was one Hustings man among seven Napier, who were being held together by Morris. Coles ran one of his best races. Ron Cooper having his first race over the full distance put up a fine performance over such a strenuous course. Ready failed badly, but should profit by the experience. G. Warden (H) and O. Brock (N) had a great sprint up the straight, the former just getting home. George is having his first year across country and developing well. The'last three of the Hastings team, Chapman, Poppelwell and Cameron, ran steady races and showed improvement. The other Hastings runners, Apperley, O’Shea, Snadden, Webb, Cohen, Lee and Dane, should benefit from the ex-

perience of such a race, and with continued training should be able to reduce their times. All cannot be champion athletes, but it is surprising what training can do in improving runners. The Napier Runners. Of the Napier runners Lord and Dcnford were the best. The latter has undoubtedly improved. The remainder, although not outstanding, teamed well, and pushed the local club’s tail right buck. The racing throughout was always interesting, and it is good for everybody that the two clubs are so evenly matched. The younger runners should not be discouraged if they did not succeed in being the club’s first 12 men home, as there will be many more such opportunities, for several of the Hastings members are still in their teens, and they can look forward to • many more years of harrier activities. ' General Notes. It. has been decided to hold the H. 8.I’.B. provincial cross country championship over the Napier course on July 6. ; There will be two grades, A and B, I with teams of six men with four to count. ’ The national championship takes place on July 20 at Wellington, and it is to be hoped that the best team will • lie available to travel this year. The Hastings club championship will be held on July 29 from the H.B.J.C. ’ racecourse, and in conjunction the second distance of the Angus Cup will i be run. It is hoped all members will be lit for these events, as the distance will be 6} miles. Up till last. Saturday’s race Hastings member had not run oxer that distance this year, but it is lime now that the runners be able to stand up to such strenuous races. All ex-harriers especially and others interested could no doubt help the local club I bv attending the championship meeting I and other gatherings. I On Juno 29, championship day, the Hastings cub is holding another of its ; popular dances in the Oddfellows’ Hall. There is now every likelihood of the iii'.-borne harriers becoming active again, and it is pleasing to learn of the 1 renewed interest in that district. I To morrow Hastings will hava a trains ling rtia at. Ea,v clock