HARRIER RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23100, 27 July 1938, Page 23

HARRIER RACING

HEAVY CONDITIONS

SLOW TIMES REGISTERED forthcoming championships The inclement weather that prevailed last Saturday did not affect the various harrier meetings, and successful ! outmrrs were reported by ; ,II clubs. | A cry heavy going was experienced on all tracks, and times in most events were much slower than usual. Only a month remains now before the Auckland provincial championship and six weeks before the New Zealand chainpion.-hip at New Plymouth, so that the leading contenders for places in the foam for the latter event should he a>v preaching their best form. The policy Of the selectors in choosing a number of the outstanding runners for special training is a good one, as the members of the team finally selected will have a . fair idea of team-work. It is not surprising to see the name of Darroch. the young Calliope runner, among those selected, as his form this year has been outstanding. Savidan was an absentee from the I Domain on Saturday, and there was j lather a poor field to contest the ; f>o()oyds. steeplechase. Starting with the , large handicap of Jim, F. J. Bryan ' led for the greater part of the journey, hut about a quarter of a mile from the ' finish he was passed by J. Davis, who had started from the 2]m mark. The I latter finished with a good burst, to i win by about ,10yds. from Bryan. He also registered the fastest time of 19m ! l~s. In third place came J. Dunn, who I made second fastest time. Dunn is a runner who has failed to fulfil the: promise he displayed a few years ago. , Although he stays on well over a dis- 1 tance, he has no speed, and next track < season he would be well advised to race • in plenty of furlong. f|iiarter and halfmile races.

Ihe sprint ing truck was also very heavy, and R. .J. Wcatherhurn required Ss to win off 7 Jyds.

AN IMPROVED RUNNER

J. PERRETT PROMINENT CHANCES AT HAMILTON J. IYnett and IJ. Croinpton showed up best- in the Lvnndale Club's run «\or a stiff course in the Avnndalo and litirangi districts. Ihe former has shown great iinpro\ enu'iit this season, and is now holding his own with the i best runners in -Auckland. He is likely to surprise some ot the favoured runners, and finish in the lir-t six in the big race at Hamilton.

I diversity, which is having a most successful season, had a record muster

on Saturday, and a good run was held over both road and country. L. Barker was again to the lore. It is mainly his enthusiasm that has placed the club where it is this season. Barker, although a veteran, has placed very well in the open events decided this season. Wilson, Coo in bos, Tweedie and Collins also moved very well. The Wesley and Baptist Clubs combined, and a big field raced over a variety of country in the Mount Albert and Avondale districts. Neither of these clubs possesses any really outstanding runners, and the result is that the packs race very evenly. Cliapjiell, of Wesley, was the lirst man home, with Ferguson and Kdgar, of Baptist, following. I!. Linloot was hack with the fast pack for Presbyterian, and ho showed good form, although the run-in resulted in Crowe linishing lirst from Dean and Douglas. .J. Neil and L. Hack ran best of the racing bunch, the former appearing to handle the heavy going better than usual. The championship course at Hamilton is fairly flat, and, if there is not too much rain and the going is reasonably solid. Neil will go better than he did at Birkenhead in the teams' championship. The flat course will also suit Croinpton.