HARRIER TITLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23139, 10 September 1938, Page 16

HARRIER TITLE

DOMINION CONTESTS

AUCKLANDERS' PROSPECTS

NEW PLYMOUTH RACE TO-DAY

With J. W. Savidan and L. R. Waiters not in the team, and B. H. Birtwistle, A. 0. Dare and L. B. Clarke of last season's team not, available, it would appear that the Auckland combination is not up to the standard required, to carry off the teams event at the national harrier championships, to be decided at New Plymouth to-day. Otago, holder of the teams championship, should have no difficulty in retaining the title. The leadership of Snvidan in past years has paved the way for victory for Auckland representatives, and his absence from the combination to-day should be emphasised when the placings points are added.

Providing that C. D. Welter, holder of the individual title, displays the form he has shown in the past two years ho should find no great difficulty in retaining the honour. Weller's first win and seventh attempt was at Auckland two years ago - when he led the field home' at .Ellerslie by a wide margin. He emulated this performance at Timaru last year, when he won by several hundred vards from the southernci, Geddes. The champion has been unable to train during the past fortnight owing to sickness, and in some quartets it is thought that he will not start to-day. Marathon contests PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Representatives of Auckland, West Coast (North Island), Wellington, Otago, Canterbury and Hawke s Ba>Poverty Bay athletic centres and of the New Zealand council attending the national cross-country championships at New Plymouth held a conference to-night, when a proposal for the holding of centre and national marathon championship races received support. It was decided to hold next year s cross-countrv championship in Hawke s Bav The date of the championship aroused considerable discussion before approval was given to a suggestion by the Auckland centre that the time be fixed soon after the beginning of the harrier season, and not later than April 30.