TEN-MILE GROSS-COUNTRY HANDICAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14282, 3 August 1908, Page 2

TEN-MILE GROSS-COUNTRY HANDICAP

The second annual Ten-mile Crosscountry Handicap promoted by tile Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club was contested at Wingatui on Saturday. The <la.y was an ideal one for tho race, although the going was a bit heavy in places. Cross-country running, owing to the formation'of jo nianv harrier clubs, has become a most popular sport, and it is duo to the cross-countrv running thatdistance racing on the track lias improved so much in Dunedin of recent yearw. Workman, the great English distance champion, in discussing the groat superiority of the English distance men as a class as compared with the rest of the world's distance runners, said:—"The chief reason why England lias so many first-class distanco men is because we aro brought up to run distance from our early youth." Paper-chasing and regular crosscountry Work aro practically a part of the early education of tlie English schoolboys, and they are all able to go a distance. There is no reason to doubt that when paper-clmsing and cross-countrv running become a recognised sport in the public schools of the Dominion wo will turn out athletes who will bo able to covcr a distance on the trade and compare favourably with the distance athletes of Great Britain. Reverting to Saturday's race, a fact that struck the casual onlooker was the woll-t rained appearance of some of tho runners as compared wtih the poor appearance of others. If an athlete is to succeed ho must work hard, and this fact has apparently not. been brought home to a large number of our cros6-country runners. The course taken was similar to that of last year's rhce. It extended from Wingatui to the black bridge, through North Taieri, Wylie's Crossing, Wairongoa Springs, and tliehce back to AVingatui, via Mosgiel, crossing paddocks, ploughed ground, road, and stream. At 4 p.m. the starter (Mr T. P. Williamson) sent the limit mpn (Munro and Hill) off on their 10-mile' rice. The positions of the i runners practically unchanged whilst on the. racecourse, except that tho scratch men and 11. G. Wilson had improved their positions. Going up tho hill Stephens (scratch) had slightly dropped back, whilst M'Murtrie had drawn level with the leaders. Going along the North Taieri road M'Murtrie and M'ludoo led from Beatson and M'Knight. with Wilson close at hand. Passing the North Taieri School Moore and M'Knight led, but M'Knight drew out and led Moore by about three seconds; he filrther improved 011 this, and won rather easily in the time of Uir lOinin 43sec. The following are the plaeings. G. M'Knight (3osec), llir lOmin 43500 1 S. W. Moors (scr.), Ashburton, lhr llmip 45sec j H. G. Wilson (2><iin). (::r 13min tec 3 J. G. Stephens (scr.), lhr lomin .. . 4 W. Stewart (4min), lhr 15mir 120seu .. 5 Fastest time—G. M'Knight. First Novice Prize—A. ll'lndoe Credit is duo to the hon. secretary (Mr L. R. Prideaux) for the able miinner in which the race was got off. He had all arrangements well in hand, and was ably assisted by a staff of eapa-blo officials. The club s thanks are duo to the Dunedin Jockey Club for the use of the course. 1 and to the caretaker (Mr J. Crawford) for his courtesy and attention to the welfare of the competitors, and to tho farmers whose properties were crossed, particularly Mr Jame3 Gow, of Wingatui, whoso kindness on these occasions is well known.