HARRIERS' RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 11

HARRIERS' RACE

TEN MILES CONTEST SHEAVES BEATS SAVIDAN COOPER IN THIRD PLACE TIE IN TEAMS' EVENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 25, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. Aug. 25 The New Zealand running champion J. W. Savidan again failed to beat Sheaves, who won the ten miles harrier championship of New South Wales, at the Kensington racecourse yesterday. The course was of spongy grass, all flat with no hurdles and 11 laps were covered. Sheaves won in 53m. 45 4-ss. Savidan's time was 54m. 50s. Athletic interest was more engaged in the individual struggle than the result of the test race between Australia and New Zealand. There is no question that Sheaves is the superior runner on the flat. He is taller and more rangy and always called the tune with youth on his side. After five miles Sheaves and Savidan were together with Cooper nearly a furlong behind. The New Zealanders were then packing well. When seven miles had been covered Sheaves was still striding comfortably and Savidan was struggling. Cooper then moved away from the ruck and the race resolved itself into an individual struggle. Savidan had no chance of catching Sheaves. Riddington, New Zealand, surprised by finishing sixth in the actual race and fifth to count as Farnhill was not even an emergency for New South Wales. The race resulted: —Sheaves (Australia), 1; Savidan (New Zealand), 2; Cooper (New Zealand), 3. Points for New Zealand were scored by Savidan, Cooper, Riddington and Stevens, who finished second, third, fifth and eighth respectively. New South Wales filled first, fourth sixth and seventh places. The test race thus resulted in a tie. W. A. Pullar disappointed by running sixteenth. After the race the manager, Mr. C. White, said: Sheaves showed the greatest endurance in the special event. I am satisfied youth counted." Savidan also complimented Sheaves, who he said should have a good chance at the Empire and Olympic Games. There was doubt about the length of the track. The secretary of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association, Mr. Heathwood, "said he was satisfied that it was correct. Savidan showed his true New Zealand ranking by leading home his team members, but met more than his match in Sheaves, who thus proves that his win in the Australian crosscountry title race was well merited. After five miles Sheaves was too fast for Savidan, who was up with him at this stage. While the New Zealander made hard work of it, the New South Wales star ran right away to win by a margin of lm. 4 l-55., which in such an event would mean about 325 yards. Cooper's form in making a late run to gain third position, indicates that the Aucklander, who is only 26, will perhaps be the Dominion's "future Olympic hope. This is the first occasion on which New Zealanders have racked over such a distance, and naturally they would be lacking in extra training. In the circumstances the performance of the New Zealanders in tieing with the strong New South Wales team, holder of the Australian title, is very creditable. Riddington has proved himself by being placed sth. Stevens, who was Bth, was expected to be most at home over the 10 miles route, but to have lacked the speed. Pullar's form in slumping from second to sixteenth Can only be put down to his finding the distance too far, as he is at his best over three miles. Sheaves is obviously a real " find " in Australia, for although a comparative veteran and recognised title holder, he has not vet had the opportunity of displaying his true worth against outside champions.