HARRIER RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 15

HARRIER RACING

ANNUAL ROAD CONTEST

ONEHUNGA TO AUCKLAND

SAVIDAN'S FOURTH VICTORY

lie-establishing himself as Auckland's best road runner, J. W. Savidan made amends for his sensational defeat in the marathon run of June 13 by scoring ji comfortable win in the sixth annual Onehunga to Auckland road raco on Saturday. Running with the ease and grace which has won him so many road and track honours, the champion established an early lead, which lie gradually increased throughout the race to finally win by 150 yards from B. H. Birtwistle, who also ran magnificently, and J. Neil, who was 30 yards further back. It was Savidan's fourth successive win, but his time of 37m 28s was lm Is slower than the record which he established last year. More than 100 runners lined up for the start, while Mr. J. Park Mayor of Onehunga, briefly welcomed them and wished thorn a good run homo. Sir. I'ark made the suggestion, evidently very popular from the reception it received that next year the race should start at Auckland and finish at Onehunga, which would give Onehunga sportsmen (he opportunity of entertaining the runners with light refreshments after their strenuous run. Promptly at .'5 p.m. Mr. Park gave (ho word "go," and the field moved off in a bunch, accompanied by more than ISO ears.

Littler, Collins, Savidan, Nicholson, Chappell, McCarthy and McNeil were away first, but Savidan was soon in front and, going up Queen Street began to increase bis lead. At Hoy a I Oak he was MO yards ahead of Birtwistle, Watt, Littler, Crompton, Nicholson and Hill in that order. At Greenwood's Corner, Savidan, although troubled by the strap of bis singlet which kept slipping down his arm, was moving very freely JOO yards ahead of Birtwistle, who was closely followed by Crompton, Neil, Briggs and Francis. At the Ranfurly Goad intersection, Epsom, Savidan, Vi<)m out, had increased his lead to 130 yards from Birtwistle, who was running well and was 50 yards ahead of Neil. Savidan passed the Newmarket post office, 2,">m out, with a lead of nearly 200 yards from Birtwistle, who was well ahead of Neil, followed by Crompton, Hill and Harding. No change in positions took place as the runners left Manukau Road and turned down St. Stephen's Avenue, and Savidan steadily drew away from the field to win from Birtwistle and Neil, with Crompton, Briggs, Littler, Hill and Harding together and Nichoijson close up.

The finish was:—-J. W. Savidan, 37m 28s, 1; Birtwistle, 37m 535, 2; Neil, 37m 5Ss, 3. The next to finish were:—Briggs, 38m 4(is; Crompton, 38m 555; Littler, 3!) m 1.35; Harding and Hill, dead heat, 3!>iu 235; Nicholson, yjim" 2(is; Stephenson, 30m 275; Hazard, 3().tn 50s; Brown, 40m 235; Watt, 40m 275; llolden, 40m 30s; French, 10m liis; Edgar, 40in 4(is; McCarthy. 40m 50s; Francis, 41m lis; Roberts and Perictt, dead heat, 41m Us. The handicap race, run in conjunction with the championship, was won by 11. Cooper (12m), of the Wesley Club, whoso net time was 31m JSs. J. Perrett (Om 455), of Lynndale, was second in 31m 24s and S. Edgar (8m), Baptist, third in 32m 4(is.

The teams race for the Wilson Road Cup was won by Auckland A with a score of 2»M, points. The team was Savidan, Birtwistle, Hill and Roberts. Technical A team was second with ■Ui/ 2 points, and Lynndalo was third with 53 points. After the run the competitors gathered at the Tepid Baths, where the prizes were presented by Mr. A. W. Warren, president of the Technical Old Boys' Athletic Club, who congratulated the winners on their performances. J. W. Savidan was again presented with the G. G. Chambers Cup und a gold medal presented by the Technical Club. In addition, he took the Wilson Road Cup as captain of the Auckland A team. The Metropolitan Road Cup, presenting by Messrs. Walker and Hall for the handicap winner, was presented (o Mr. J. Perrett, of the Lynndale Club.

BAPTIST CLUB I Eight members of tho Auckland Baptist j Harrier Club held a run from the home of I Mr. 11. G. Fountain on Saturday. The course ; lay over Mount Ilobson, Mount St. John and | One Tree Hill, and the pace was good considering that the best runners were compet- ' ing in the Onehunga-Auckland race. The re- ; stilt of the run-in was as follows: —W. ; Reevely, 1; T. Turley, 2 ! PRESBYTERIAN CLUB Members of tho Presbyterian Harrier Club' ! who were not participating in the Onehunga ■ road race held a run from the Ellerslie Presbyterian Church, Jubilee Road, on Saturday. \ The slow pack started at 2.30 p.m., followed ;at five-minute intervals by the remaining i two packs. The trail laid by B. Devitt and I M. Dickie led along Great South Road for | about half-a-mile, then turned off toward One Tree llill. through To Papapa, around Mount Smart and out as far as Westfield. It then continued toward Mount Wellington, along Panmuro Road and back to the church.

In the fast pack Gladding was always to the fore and was closely followed by Buchanan and J. Hislop. In (he intermediate pack Gondie, If. Taft and Olden wero pro> minent. Slow pack members kept up a great pace all the way, E. Linfoot and I. Hislop leading for the greater part. Results of tho runs-in were as follows: —

Intermediate Pack.—J. R. Boyd, 1; si. R, Goudie, 2; W. Mclndoe, 3; G. Ocilin, 4; M. Taft, 5. Slow Pack.—li. Linfoot, 1; H. Taft. 2; I. Hislop, 3; K. Ilandcock, 4; J. Mandeno, 5; I. Budge, (J.

WESLEY CLUB The Wesley Harrier Club held a run from the Trinity College, Grafton Road, on Saturday for those not taking part in the Onehunga road race. The two packs • formed from the 20 members present followed a 4/2-mlles course which led down Grafton Road and back past the museum. Crossing Khyber Pass, and making a circuit of Mount Eden, tho trail finished by leading back to Grafton Road, where a 300 yds sprint was held. ANNUAL RELAY RACE [BY TKT-iKGRAPIT PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCir, Saturday Tho cross-country relay race from Takahe, which is on tho summit of tho road over Port Hills to Akaroa, was held to-day over a distance of about 50 miles. Nineteen club teams of eight men each, 152 runners in all, ran in .he event. Tho race was won by Timarn, chiefly through the splendid effort of Shivas. The placing* were as follows: —Timaru (McKirdy, Gillon, J. Derby, E. Derby, Aitkenhend. Holmes, Wilson, Shivas), 1; Christchurch Club, 2; Methodist, 3; Presbyterian, 4. In tho B grade race, the placings were:— Methodist, 1; Presbyterian, 2; Marist, 3.