HARRIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21980, 15 June 1933, Page 4

HARRIERS

EDMOND CUP RACE Civil Service supporters and members are highly satisfied with the victory gained by the No. 1 Edmond Cup team last Saturday. Despite the fact that he had been ill for two or three days previous to the race, J. G. Barnes once again came to light and won the race for the fifth time. The surprise of the team, however, was L. C. M’Lachlau. At the beginning of the season he decided not to attempt winter racing, as long distances are considered harmful to half-miters, but he was persuaded to train for last Saturday's race, and was, indeed, a big factor in the winning of the team’s race. B. C. Brown was very unfortunate nr finding M’Laohlan so fit on the day of the race, but, in spite of this, he run a very useful race, and more should be heard of him later on in the season. A. R. Geddes was also confined to his bed with a bud throat during the week before the race, and he did exceptionally well to fill ninth place. G, Garbutt improves his placings every time he competes in this race, and he can always be depended on to give a good account of himself. A. Kirkwood afided to his good performances this season by occupying fifteenth position. W. M’Kinnon and L. M’Keioh also performed capably, but were unfortunate in not qualifying for teams’ medals. The best man in No. 2 team was A. Adams, who is one of the club’s most promising juniors. He has run consistently this season, and is improving all the time. M'Kernan, M’Kersey, and Spence also went well and should be in good form for the Port Chalmers Road Race. The Kennet Cup team has been picked. It is every bit as strong as last year’s, and chib supporters are confident that it will achieve success. Although Caversham did not manage to recover the laurels they have held _so often in the Edmond Cup race, they improved on the position they held last year. The respective placings were very close to those occupied in club races, and little fault could be found with the form displayed by the members of the team E. P. Brown was expected to finish rather further up than he actually did, but probably the extra strain imposed in setting the pace for the first lap, combined with the after-effects of an injury to his arm early in the week, took its toll, and he had to be content with fifth place. No doubt the fast time in which the race was run was largely brought about by the pace he set in the first lap. C. Clark has improved with every run and showed good form to run in tenth place, closely followed by G. Hebbard, who has also shown considerable improvement. Unfortunately, J. A. Robertson, who has run well all the season, was off colour, and finished further back than he would otherwise have been. Gus Sadler ran his usual steady race, and L. Gerrie and George SadleV, who were making their first run in No. 1 team, came in together to complete the team. The St. Patrick’s Club has every reason to be proud of its representatives in the Edmond Cup Race, and the fact that they scored the least number of -points ever obtained by the chib in the event should afford the team a great deal of satisfaction with their efforts. It is pleasing to supporters and members alike to see the club forging steadily ahead each year, and the advance into fifth position in the Teams’ Race last week represents St. Patrick’s best placing to date. It is to be hoped that the juniors will emulate their elders when the opportunity occurs next month, as it is hard to understand that, although the seniors have improved each year, the junior standard has been decidedly mediocre during the past few seasons. ■ ( Although failing to obtain some share of the honours, the Mornington team fully justified its entry, and with perhaps a little luck might have been further up in the Teams’ Race. G. Miller, who was the first Mornington man home, ran well considering lack of training, but was about 17 places back on his 1931 performance. L. Rackley and F. Sanders teamed well to finish within eight places of Miller. This is Sanders’s highest placing so far in this race, being over 20 places up on his previous best. Rackley fulfilled expectations, and proved that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the club’s Five Mile. F. Oooke and T. Burton performed quite well, and the former should benefit considerably by the' experience, this being his first big race amongst such well-seasoned runners. A. Chirbside, who was the sixth nian of the team to finish, was off colour, and therefore unable to reproduce the form he generally shows in this race. W. Taylor, who also made his debut, ran well and should also benefit by the experience. The performance as a whole showed the presence of the right material, and in view of the cross-country races should be an incentive to members to train in order to find out what can be done by preparation. HANOVER BAPTIST Again this year the Baptist Club hopes to field a strong team in the Port-. Dunedin Road Race in view of thd* Nickels Cup, of which the club was the first holder. A. Ellis ha s signified his intention of competing in this race. His performances so far have been mostly cross-country, and his introduction to road racing will be watched. J. Milburn, although competing for the first time, can be depended on to give a good account of himself as he ha« the advantage of training in daylight. B. A. Brown, who was second last year, was beaten by a record-breaker, and his performance in other years would have gained him the coveted honour. At the present time he is fairly fit. If J. Nicholson could give more time to training he would strengthen the team. L. M’Millan has had two placings in this event, being suitably adapted to the road. He should give of his beet if fit. PACIFIC The Pacific Club’s Edmond Cup team gave a very favourable account of itself last Saturday in winning the Sealed Handicap and coming third in the Teams’ Race.' Considering the time these men have spent in training it is gratifying to the club and encouraging to them that they did so well. F. Mowat did good work in helping the team together, and this was probably the reason for their success in the Teams’ Race. E. M’Goun, who ran ninth in the club’s Trial Threemile, showed greatly-improved form in coming sixth man for the club on Saturday With the progress he has been making lately there ig no reason why this runner should not bring success shortly to himself and the club. S. Hill, winner of the club’s Three-mile, and C. Lucas ran well on Saturday, coming third and fourth in the Teams’ Race. T. Chettlebnrgh, one of the club’s most consistent runners, was a good first for the club.