AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 17

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING. A BUSY SEASON JN AUOKLAND. Thanks to the initiative of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, the winter competitions are now in full swing, and the cross-country runners are beginning to strike form. Four steeplechases have been decided, one at Carlaw Park, and three at the Domain. On Saturday next the Onehunga Club will -control the competitions at the recreation ground, when a steeplechase will be decided over a course of two miles.

The Auckland Club will conduct sports at Mt. T. Scown's farm, Mangere Crossing, near Otahuhu, on Saturday, May 26, when a course will be laid over country, including swamp and creeks. It is anticipated the Technical College Old Boys' Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will be in charge on June 2, the Auckland Club on June 9, and the Henderson Club (at Henderson), on June 16. If the Henderson trail is laid the same as last winter it will provide an excellent test to assist in the selection of the Auckland team to visit \V anganui for the New Zealand cross-coun-try championship meeting. There will be runs on June 23 and 30, and on July 7 East. Tamaki will be the venue. An endeavour is being made to arrange an afternoon's sport at Pukekohe for July 14, nt which the Hamilton harriers could meet tho representatives of the Auckland Club. From this date on until September there will bo weekly sports, including the holding of the Auckland provincial cross-country championships, senior and junior. Should competitors be forthcoming steeplechases will be arranged by the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club for pupils of secondary and primary schools. The present marks the third season of the revival in Auckland of cross-country running, and the half-dozen or so enthusiasts who brought it about have every reason to be satisfied with the results achieved. Two years ago the individual and teams' crosscountry championships of New Zealand went to the credit of Auckland. On July 2 of last year Auckland sent a team of four to compete in tho championships over the severe Cashmere Hills course at Christchurch. J. W. Savidan annexed the championship, but the teams' honours went to Otago, with Auckland third. From present indications, with J. W. Savidan, G. Kells, N. F.' Cooper, T. M. Wilson, C. Scown, L. C. Barker. T. E. Henry, J. Crum, J. R. Green, W. Watt. C. R. Wilson and others showing up prominently. there is every reason to anticipate that a team worthy of representing the province will be available for the championships.