CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20473, 30 July 1928, Page 5

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

WON BY J. G. BARNES. TEAMS’ RACE TO CAYERSHAM. In perfect weather conditions and before a large crowd of enthusiasts, the Otago cross-country championship was contested at Wingatui on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a stirring finish in which J. G. Barnes (Civil Service) won by 18 inches from J. J. Morris (Caversham). J. W. Tapp (Caversham) was third. The large field was sent away to a perfect start by Mr A. Burk, and Barnes took the lead almost immediately, being closely followed by Logan, M'Larcn, Tapp, and Morris. Crossing the paddock Tapp gained on the loaders, and going over the hill he and Morris were together leading Barnes and M'Laren. The pace was increased going down the hill by Janefield road, and Tapp led by five yards from Morris, Barnes being close behind. Then came M'Laven about a chain further back. Approaching the course proper, Tapp, Barnes, Morris, and M'Laren were together in a bunch, and when the course was entered Barnes and Tapp were running neck a neck a few yards ahead of Morris and M'Laren. When the stand was passed for the first time Barnes was in front, leading Tapp by a yard, while Morris was a similar distance further back. Then came M'Laren another 15 yards behind, followed by E. J. Johnston, Earquharson. Frye, Clark, Logan, Mann, Brown, and Fish. The tail end of the field was about half a mile behind the leaders. The position of the leaders remained practically unchanged the second time round, Barnes being a yard ahead of Morris going up the hill, while close behind e me Tapp, M'Laren, and Johnston. The hard going appeared to suit Tapp, and at the top of the hill he took the lead from Barnes and Morris, while M'Laren had fallen back considerably, but was still running gamely. Then came Clark, Earquharson, and Frye. Racing down the hill the leaders put on the pace, and on the plough by Gow’s paddock Barnes, Tapp, and Morris were still together. M'Laren was another 20 yards behind. Coming on to the course proper the front men set a very hot pace and rounded the turn into the straight almost together. Barnes and Morris sprinted desperately, but Tapp was unable to keep up the pace and dropped back. In one of the closest finishes seen in the race Barnes beat Morris to the tape by half a yard after a great spurt over the last few yards, Tapp being third about 20 yards further back. Another 50 yards behind came M'Laren, closely followed by Farquharson, who beat Frye for fifth place. Then came C. Johnston, E. C. Brow I Gordon, Fish, Logan, D. F. Brown, King, Peterson, and Kay. The individual championship results were as follows; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service . . . . 1 J. J. Morris TCaversham) .. .. 2 J. W. Tapp (Caversham) .. . . .. 3 J. H. M'Laren (Pacific) 4 G. Earquharson (Civil Service) .. 5 C. W. Frye (Caversham) 6 E. J. Johnston (Pacific) 7 E. C. Brown (Civil Service) .. .. S I. Gordon (unattached) 9 E. Fish (Pacific) 10 L. W. Logan (University) .. .. 11 D. F. Brown (Caversham) . . . . 12 T. J. King (Northern) 13 S. Petei-son (Leith) 14 A. Kay (Hanover Baptist) .. . . 15 The winner’s tim e was Slmin I2sec. Out of the 91 starters 82 finished. The competition for the teams’ championship banner resulted as follows: Caversham No. 1, <rl points .. .. 1 Civil Service No. I, 49 points .. .. 2 Pacific, 94 points . . . ... . . 3 Leith, 132 points .. 4 Anglican, 164 points 5 Caversham No. 11. 167 points .. .. 6 University. 176 points 7 Hanover Baptist, 201 points .. .. 8 Civil Service No. 11, 227 points .. 9 Northern, 236 points .' 10 Abbotsford, 263 points .. .. ..11 St. Patrick’s, 295 points 12 Civil Service No. 111, 311 points .. 13 Dunedin, 332 points .. .. .. 14 The sealed handicap resulted as follows: Hanover Baptist, 201 points (handicap 170, i.et 31) l Civil Service No. I, 41 (10, 31) .. 2 Caversham No. I, 41 (scr, 41) .. .. 3 At the conclusion of the race the president of the centre (Mr E. L. Macassey) presented the trophies to the winning teams and the individual winners. The judges of the race were Messrs E. L. Macassey, P. W. Breen, C. W. Clark, J. Beatson, R. Swinney, B. H. Rosevear, and A. Melville. The time-keepers were Messrs T. P. Williamson and H. A. Hogg. Afer the race the selectors (Messrs J. Beatson, C. W, Clark, and R. Thompson) announced that the following team had been selected to represent Otago in the New Zealand cross-country championship 011 August 11:—J. ( Barnes (Civil Service), J. J. Morris (Caver?r, a . m )’ ' W. Tapp (Caversham), J. H. M Laren (Pacific), G. Earquharson (Civil SeriieM, and C. W. Frye (Oaversham). Emergency, E. J. Johnston (Pacific). CANTERBURY CROSS-COUNTRY . HAMPIONSHIP. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. July 28. In the Canterbury cross-country championship, G. L. Austin was first, followed by C. G. Mahan, J. Eaton. Time, 41min 26sec, for a distance of 10,000 metres. THE TARANAKI CENTRE. (Per United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 29. The West Coast Centre’s Cross-country Championship at New Plymouth on Saturday was won by H. E. B. Newton (Wanganui), with H. Brown (New Plymouth) second, and Moore (Wanganui) third. New Plymouth won the teams’ race.