Weller Breaks Record

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 184, 7 August 1939, Page 12

Weller Breaks Record

SHOWS EXCELLENT FORM AT MARTON Y.M.C.A. CLUB WINS EVENT C. Weller, national cross-country champion, who made rather a poor showing in the West Coast (N. 1.) Centre championship a week ago, made a completo reversal of form on Saturday, when he won an inter-club race of oj miles between Palmerston North Y.M.C.A. and Marton Harrier Clubs, defeating his formidable rival, F. Hill, by 70 yards in record time. A field of 24 runners faced the starter, Mr. S. Oxenham, and tho runuers went away to a fast start.. Weller took the lead, closely followed by F. Hill and N. Hearsoy. They made the paco very fast and the field was well strung out on reaching the railway deviation. At the end of the first lap Weller was leading Hill by 50 yards, with N. flearsey a further 50 yards back. Then followed M. Hunt (Marton), J. Scott, D. McCardle, L. Hawthorne, M. Griffen (Marton), J. Woodd, C. McVicar, A. Carlisle, J. Spall and Iv. Woodd in that order. Weller maintained his lead and, finishing strongly, won with 70 yards to spare. N. Hearsey finished some 120 yards behind Hill and then followed M. Hunt, the second Marton man, another 100 yards back. The next seven places were filled by Palmerston North ruuThe following are the times and placiugs of the first .14 runners to finish:— C. Weller (P.N.), 33min. Bsec. .. 1 F. Hill (Mart-on), 33m;n. 25sec. .. 2 N. Hearsey (P.N.), 34min. 2sec. .. 3 M. Hunt (Marton), 34min. 27sec. . 4 L. Hawthorne (P.N.), 34min. 58sec. 5 J. Scott (P.N.), 35min. 7sec 0 D. McCardle (P.N.), 35min. 35sec. 7 J. Woodd (P.N.), 35min. 37sec. .. 8 C. McVicar (P.N.), 36min. Msec. .. 9 J. Spall (P.N.), 36min. 33sec 10 A. Carlisle (P.N.), 36miu. olsec. .. 11 M. Griffen (Marton), 36min. 53sec. 12 K. Woodd (P.N.), 37min. 2-6 sec. .. 13 H. McDonald (P.N.), 37min. 42sec. 14

The race proved a good try-out for the West Coast representatives and, providing Weller and Hill run as well in the New Zealand championships at Hastings on Saturday, West Coast should give a good account of itself. N. Hearsey ran excellently to head off M. Hunt, third in tho West Coast championship. Hearsey will be running as an individual |it Hastings, and should perform well. L. Hawthorne gained a lot of ground in the second lap and finished fresh. J. Scott, D. McCardle, J. Woodd, C. McVicar and J. Spall all ran consistently. Scott ran one of his best races, and J. Woodd and J. Spall made up leeway over the cross-country. A. Carlisle ran well on the roads, and when he builds up more stamina he should make a good distance man. K. Woodd, H. McDonald, C. Cozens and S. McVicar all finished well. J. Corlett is a promising runner and did very well to finish seventeenth as this is his first inter-club race. K. Woodd has shown a big improvement this season and is one of the club’s most promising runners. The senior championship was won by C. Weller for the third successive occasion and the junior championship by D. McCardle for the second year in succession. The C. Hurley trophy, decided over three races, resulted in a dead-heat between H. McDonald and J. Woodd. At the afternoon tea after the run, Mr. C. White, town clerk of Wanganui, and manager of the cross-country team to Australia in 1935, gave an inspiring address on harrier matters and expressed the hope that Charlie Weller would win the New Zealand championship for the fourth year, and that West Coast would win tho teams’ race.