NELSON HARRIERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 2

NELSON HARRIERS

A TEAMS RACE WITH BLENHEIM CLUB TEST OF ABILITY Members of the Nelson Harriers Club are notified that this Saturday’s run will be held from the Fire Brigade Station, Halifax street, at 2.45 p.m. New members are always welcome, also members of hockey or football clubs who may happen to have a bye, and will find the sport an enjoyable method of securing a training run. Word has now been received from the Blenheim Harrier Club that Saturday, Bth August, is the most suitable date for the teams race between the Nelson and Blenheim clubs. The Blenheim Club’s course, while a bit longer than that over which the event was held in Nelson last year, is a genuine test of a harrier’s ability to negotiate cross-country, and as several of the Blenheim boys are in regular training over it, it is necessary that the Nelson runners be as fit as possible to make anything like a reasonable contest. The comfortable win of the Nelson Club last year is no criterion as to what will be this year's result, and the Blenheim runners make no secret of the fact that they are out to wipe out that defeat. The three-mile cross-country handicap of the Nelson Harrier Club is the next event to claim attention. This will most likely be held in another four or five weeks, and if the same course is available as last season, should provide a good pipeopener for the Blenheim trip. The club’s selector will also be guided very largely by the result in this event as to the members picked to participate in the teams race, so that members have some incentive to go in for serious training from now on. THE NOVICE HANDICAP The result of Saturday’s one mile and a-half novice handicap was largely reviewed on Monday, but there are one or two aspects that are worthy of further mention. First and foremost was the great improvement in the times of competitors in comparison with last year’s event, showing that with increased experience the standard of harrier running is undoubtedly improving also. The fastest time last year was bettered by almost 10 seconds and in one instance 15 seconds’ improvement was shown by a runner who participated in both seasons’ events. Another feature was the forward running of McGlashen, who, unfortunately was laid up with “flu” early in the week and put up a wonderful effort when palpably unfit. He was undoubtedly wise to withdraw when he did rather than overdo the strain. The form shown by a number of the younger members was distinctly encouraging, and with the increased membership the club can undoubtedly look forward to a most successful season.