AMATEUR SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23094, 20 July 1938, Page 22

AMATEUR SPORTS

TEAMS' CHAMPIONSHIP LYNNDALE RETAINS TITLE FINE EFFORT BY SAVIDAN Tlio Lynndale Harrier Club and the veteran J. W. Savidan were outstanding when the annual CJ miles teams championship was run over a hard course at Birkenhead last Saturday. The Mi-years-old champion outclassed the field across country, while the Lynndale club was easily successful for the sixth year in succession. A record field of almost 200 runners competed in perfect weather. lhe course in many parts was particularly heavy. Hills, swamp, road and dozens of fences were included, and the wholo course was one of tho most difficult over which a race has been decided in Auckland. Savidan took over 39 minutes to cover tho distance, while in the Onehunga road race he took less than 37 minutes for 7i miles. Tho difference in tho. time for a mile shorter race indicates tho difficult nature of the going. From tho start Savidan followed his old policy of making tho pace, llis early speed soon opened up the field and with every half-mile covered he increased his load until at the finish he had an advantage of 250 yds. in second place to Savidan over practically the wnole jourpey was his teammate, L. R. Watters, who ran his best race to date. Both Watters and Crompton, of Lynndale, had to take minor placings to Neil, of Presbyterian, in the early road events this season, but it was thought that the placings would be reversed when they met across country. Watters did this decisively on Saturday, but Neil managed to hold off Crompton by only a yard in a desperate sprint for fourth place. These three runners and W. Briggs were always at the head of tho field behind Savidan, but after a couple of miles Watters began to draw clear slowly and eventually finished about 20yds ahead of Briggs. It was a really good run on the part of Watters and in the heavy, going he was better than Crompton. W. Bxiggs ran his best race for tho past two seasons to finish third and no might have beaten Watters for second place had ho stayed closer to him in the middle stages. At one part 6f the journey he was over 100 yds behind Watters, but over the final mile he went faster than anyone to bo a very creditable third. Briggs is almost back to his 1935 form and with a few more runs ho may be capable of Savidan a struggle. J Neil ran a good race and again showed that the firmer going is moro to his liking. H. Crompton had his weight and style all against him in the heavy conditions, and it was purely his strength and stamina that gained birn fifth position. On the rond stretclios where ho could open out ho moro than held his own, but in the hills and swamps his long-striding style was affected considerably.

PROMISING RUNNER GOOD PERFORMANCE The next runner to finish was Darroch, of Calljope, and his performance was one of the best in the race. He is having only his first season at crosscountry running and in finishing sixth and defeating many experienced harriers he displayed promise above the average. Still j'oung, Darroch is a product of the Takapupa Grammar School, where he was an outstanding athlete and the winner of several championships. In winning the teams' championship for the sixth year in succession Lynndale has set a record that will be hard to beat. In races in which the points of only tho first four men in each team count, the club has been only occasionally successful. It showed, however, complete domination in tho 10-men teams' contest. The club's fourth man to finish was L. Kemp, in only 18th position, and at that stage the Auckland club was in front. From, then on the next six Lvnndale men finished at close intervals in hard finishes, mostly with University runners, and the team's final total was 211 points, which was 39 points better than that of University. The University club is making a splendid showing this year and on Saturday it followed its good road race performance with another fine effort. Both Lvnndale and University showed complete domination over the other eight clubs and Hamilton, with 483 points, was the next best. It was a good performance on the part of the Waikato club to defeat larger Auckland clubs like Technical, Auckland and Presbyterian. The Auckland club held a SOOOyds steeplechase for those not competing in tho big event at Birkenhead, but only a small field took part. J. Dunn went to the lead with about a mile to go and, staying on well, won by 100 yds from It. S. Brown and D. Collecut.