AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 14

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

SUCCESSFUL HARRIER RUNS.

GOOD STEEPLECHASE TESTS. SAVIDAN IN WINNING FORM. Successful mcolings were again held by the four athletic clubs last Saturday. Rain made the courses very difficult, but they provided the runners with tests under true steeplechase conditions. All clubs reported good attendances, while J. W. Savidnn signalised his first appearance this season with a brilliant win from scratch in tho 2£ miles steeplechase at tho Domain. A fine courso which would bo eminently suitable for the Now Zealand crosscountry championship was covered by moinbors of tho University Club. The fast pack started five minutes after (he slowone and caught it just at the finish. Starting from the Public Works camp on CTic Kohiinarama Road tho trail led over rough, undulating country, including several creeks, to Mount Wellington, which provided an extremely hard climb. More rough country around Lako St. John brought the packs back to tho main road, whero a handicap raco of 600 yards was run back to the starting point. This resulted in N. F. Cooper winning from, J. Mageo and A. R. Hill. The two lastnamed are newcomers to the sport, but both are showing good form, and should race well later in the season.

The Calliope Club conducted a four-miles sealed handicap and a good race resulted. Clayton, Eyre and Rowland were the leaders for the best part of the race, but over tho concluding stages Rowland took chargo, and won easily by 50 yards from Clayton. «T. Wengdal camo up fast to defeat Eyre by a few yards for third place. Tho sealed handicap was won by Clayton.

The Technical Old Boys Harriers journeyed to Northcote and a difficult course of about eight miles was covered. The run-in resulted in S. Gudsoll again winning from L. Barker, with Murray, Kirkwood, Longworth and Kells following in that order. Tho Auckland Club had a record attendance •at tho Domain when the usual programme of a sprint, steeplechase and two field events was conducted. E. N, Muir won the first heat of tho 75 yards sprint from McNiel and Willey, while the ■ second heat was won by Turnbull from Miller and Keddle, The final saw a reversal of the placings when J. Keddle came through to win by inches from W. Miller and R. Willey, with the 6thor three starters close up.

The 2jr miles steeplechase was run over four and a-half laps of the Domain course and 13 hurdles had to be cleared. A. Clark, on the limit, was the leader for the first three laps and going over the hill for the last time he still led from Francis, McCarthy and Rodgers, with, the two back men, Nicholson and Savidan, coming up fast. Savidan moved into second place as they passed tho grandstand, and, gaining the lead as they entered the straight, he went on to win easily from C. Francis, with J. Nicholson ten yards away third. The Auckland Club will again meet at tho Domain next Saturday. The Technical Club will start from Ranfurly Road for a run round One Tree Hill, the Calliope Club will meet at Birkenhead and the University Club will start from Mount Roskill School for a run across to Waikowhai.