AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21257, 10 August 1932, Page 15

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

STRENUOUS HARRIER EVENTS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The University and Technical club championships were the main events in harrier circles last Saturday, and in both races stirring contests took place. The tracks were very heavy after rain, while the strong wind was a severe handicap, particularly to the Technical runners on the hills above Mission Bay and Orakei. In this event, N. F. Cooper had a clear-cut win in the club championship from L. Barker and A. G. Bradley, but his contest over the last 2£ miles with Browne, the Lynndale champion, provided the hardest and closest individual race for a long tirno. At Avondalo the University championship was run over the hard teams' championship course and, true to form, R. Hazard won nicely, but only by 17 seconds from A. Ball, who forced him all tho way. Tho winner, however, ran a very fine race, and was tho pacemaker for the whole distance. Francis was third and showed improved form, while E. Holmes, C. Stuart and K. Watson were tho next to finish in that order. The Auckland Club held a 6000 yards steeplechase at the Domain, comprising six laps of the usual course. Although K. Allen ran his best race of tho season to win comfortably, McNiel, Nicholson and ' Henshall were only separated bv f«ur seconds in filling tho minor places. Tho Auckland provincial championship will bo decided next Saturday over the same 10,000 metres course as that used at Ellerslie for the last Now Zealand championship. With places in the representative team practically resting on (lie result, a great race is anticipated. After leaving the racecourse at the Ladies' Mile, tho trail leads around the basin of the 'old Lake St. John, which is very heavy going, and tho course will test runners' to the utmost. Three-quarters of a mile of the racecourse at the start and half a mile at the finish will give plenty of opportunity for fast work. On the season's performances so far N. F. Cooper appears to have the best chance of success in the individual ohanipionshipj but, .after his showing last Saturday A. B. Browne must be seriously considered, as well as Barker, Briggs and Andrews. ,T. foichohon will be the Auckland Club's strongest man, while Hazard, Ball and Francis should place University well to the fore.