HARRIER RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 21

HARRIER RACING

LAKE EOAD EVENT ! ' SUCCESS OF D. PORTER . WINNER'S FINE DISPLAY NEIL DEFEATS CROMPTON The first of tho lifujor events of the harrier season was held on Saturday, when the annual three and a-half miles road race round Lake Pupuke was decided. The growing popularity of the event was shown when the record field of 93 runners lined up for this year's contest. Some of the clubs had poor representation, but Lynndale, with 40 entries, Baptist, with 16, and Hamilton, with 10, all showed a fine response. The best race of the scries resulted and the fact that the first 20 runners to finish were all' within 2o seconds of the winner, was a tribute to the handicapping of Mr. L. Lanigan, of the Calliope Club. The limit men set a merry pace from the start and it was obvious after the first milo that the back markers would have no chance of filling the major places. With a mile to go A. Thompson, of the Calliope Club, Avas in front just ahead of a bunch of> a dozen runners, while the rest of the field was well strung out. The leader held his place for the next threequarters of a mile in spite of several challenges, but from this point he had to give way to D. Porter, of the Papatoetoe Club, who was finishing with a great burst. Thompson responded gamely, but Porter was the stronger aud he went on to win by three yards •with Stephens and Hammond right up in third and fourth positions. The winner gave a fine display and his time was only half a minute slower than the fastest time registered for the race. Porter showed good form when ' lie outclassed the field in his club race the previous week. He has a preference for the hard and firm going and his efforts in the Technical race will be watched with interest.

H. Thompson, who finished second from the 3m 40s mark, is a junior runner who was competing only in his third event. He appears to be an acquisition to the Calliope Club.

J. I. B. Neil

A. R. Gedde»

There was a mild surprise when R. Cronipton and L. R. Watters were decisively beaten by J. Neil in the race between the scratch men for fastest time. Neil was road champion last year, but as he had had very little work so far this season, his defeat, of the oth?r pair was not expected. Over the final mile lie drew right away to record 19m 6s, while Cronipton was- next fastest with 19m 265. The times were about six seconds' slower-' than either runner returned last year, while Neil's fastest • time, was •20 - seconds slower than Savidan's record for the race. Watters failed to stay-on as well as was expected and he - never looked like holding the first pair in the final stages. He will probable show to much better advantage in the softer going across country. : 'V RACE NEXT SATURDAY STRENGTH OF THE CLUBS The five miles Pakuranga to Ellerslie road raco next Saturdav will throw further light on the leading road runners, while an idea of the strength of the clubs will also be gained as there is also a teams' * contest run in conjunction. The Kllerslie Club will lia\e control of the latter event. Apart from the road race, all clubs held their usual Saturday afternoon events. Another good race resulted at the Domain in the 3000 yards steeplechase, which was won bv P. I'-. Mat meson, who was having his first race of the season. He stayed on well over the last half-mile after having made the pace from the half-way mark. R. S. Brown also finished well for second position about 10 yards iii front of Colkeut and Evans,, who is not doing as well as was expected. Fastest.tilue went to W. A. Briggs, who is having a few runs with the Auckland Club to sharpen up. Briggs is a- fine runner, but has so far just failed to reach the top flight. Tf he trains on well this season, his chances in the major races cannot be overlooked. '-"