AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15827, 28 July 1913, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY CAVERSHAM. The ninth annual interclub cross-country championship, run under the ausp;ces ol tJic Otago Centre of Hie Now Zealand Amateur Atnletic Association, was held at Wingatui on Saturday afternoon. In consequence of the heavy ram on the previous night the ground was in a very sodden condition and made the running very heavy. The weather during the alternoon looked threatening, but- tile rain fortunately held oft'. The lollowing 10. teams competed: — Dunedin, tit. Kjlda, St. Joseph's, Pacific, Civil Service, Anglican, Y.M.0.A., Caversham No. 1, Caversham No. 2, and Cargill Road Methodist. Entries had been received lroni the St. Andrew's Club and Dunedin Club (No. 2 team), but these teams did not put in an appearance. Tiio meuibere of the teams were as published, with the exception of Dunedin No. 1, in which Hawkins took the place of Mickelson. The draw for positions gave Dunedin inside running, St. Kilda and St. Joseph's occupying second and third places,-and Qaveisham No. 1 on the outside. The trail, which was similar to last year's, led, for. slightly over -half a mile round the Wingatui racecourse, thence across country through Mr Gow's paddocks, continuing along the Otago Central railway lino to the Janefield estate. The trail then led through Messrs Guy's and Gow's properties, entering the racecourse about the naif-mile post, the first half of the journey of five miles finishing in front of the stand. The second portion was a repetition of the j first, the finish being in frcnt of the judge's box on the racecourse.

At the start Gillman (Anglican) lost 100 yards through neglecting to take olf his overcoat. The field was bunched until the runners left the course. Going through Mr Gow's paddock Jack and M'Knight were well to tho front, with Torrie just behind. Beatson, C. Frye, Crimp, and J)'. Frye followed in that order until the Otago Central railway line was i cached. At this stage Beatson took the lead. Tho field lad stretched out considerably on reaching the racecourse at the end of the first half of the journey. Beatson (Caversham) had maintained his position and was the finer man to pass the judge's box, having covered the 2£ miles in 14min 3sec. Beatson was followed by M'Knight (Civil Service), D. Jack (Civersham), C Frye (Caverahani), D. K. Thompson (Dunedin), G. Dungey (Dunedin), IvrLauchlan (caversham), Crimp (Caversham), and F X?rye (Oaversham) in that order. On leaving the course for the second time this order was practically unchanged. Going through Mr Gow's paddock Jack ran up to Beatson, and the two Caversham mon ran together until reaching the Mosgiel road. Beatson then drew off and, running strongly up the straight, increased his lead, winning by about 70 yards, thereby placing the fifth interclub victory to his credit. Jack, 20 yards back, finished second, with M'Knight, .30 yarn's behind Jack, third. C. Frye finished fourth and Thompson fifth, followed by Crimp, M'Lauchlan, F. Frye, Dungey, Torrie (Pacific), L. H. Henderson (Pacific), J. Swanson (Dunedin), .A. Love (Caversham No. 1), E. J. Orchard (Pacific), A. Melville (Civil Service), and W. Mayail (Dunedin), in that order.

Across some of the paddocks the going wa« found to bo very heavy, the mud being over the ankles in some places. Beatson was in splendid form and well maintained his reputation as the finest cross-country runner in the dominion. Jack and M'Knighi ;?ere also in good condition, the latter running better than he has done for sonic time. Jack, who won the Bdraond Cup Steeplechase (in which Beatson did not compete), again ran up to his best form. The results were as follow: — INTERCLUB TEAMS' CHAMPION-

SHIP. i Ca.ve-Tish.im No. 1 (J. Beatson, D. Jack. G. Crimp. C. Frye, F. Frye), 21 points 1 I Dunedin (D. R. Thompson, J. Swanson, Hawkins, W. Mayall, G. Dungey), 67 points ■ , ~ ... 2 Pacific (Scott, Henderson. Bond, Ferguson. Orchard, Torrie), 79 points 3 Cavcraham No. 2 finished fourth with 130 points, Civil Service fifth with 154, Cargill Road Methodist sixth with 159, Anglican and Y.M.C.A. tied for seventh place with 178, St. Joseph's, eighth with 182 and St. Kilda ninth with 221. SEALED HANDICAP. In connection with the race the centre heU a sealed handicap, the results of which were as follow : — Civil Service. 131min 51sec 1 Cavereham No. 2, 132min 16sec '. 2 St. Joseph's, 152min 27eec 3 Pacific, I32min 32seo ' 4 Anglican, 132min 59sec .. '." 5