HARRIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21992, 29 June 1933, Page 4

HARRIERS

ANGLICAN S. D. Divers, winner of the Port Chalmers Road Race last Saturday, is in his first season at the sport, and up to the present lias run wv-11 without showing any sign of outstanding ability. However, the mark he was off in the race indicated to his clubmates that he must have_ a great chance, and his performance justified their confidence. R. A. Rockliffe and R. Scott ran right up to expectations, but A. C. Baker was disappointing. R. (Jain, J. M'Lachhm.- and I). M'Lennan ran well from middle marks, but found the task beyond them. The c-ltib Junior Crosscountry Championship was held last Saturday over the course at Taintii, a good race'resulting in T. H. Pullar winning from I. Gare and G. Davie. The winner holds Messrs JValker and Hall's trophy for one year. The winner of the Sealed Handicap, G. Davie, also won the Sealed Handicap attached to the Novice Mile Championship at the beginning of the season. MORNINGTON The event which is perhaps looked forward to most in the Mornington Club's winter programme is the annual c-.om-bincd run with the Oamaru Harriers, and about 20 Mornington members travelled north on Saturday to return the Oamaru Club's visit of last year. Owing to a belated arrival the run was short, but was. nevertheless, fast and enjoyable, the trail covering excellent harrier, country of a different type •• from that: usually found around Dunedin. The run home was particularly fast, with'A. Aitkcnhead, of Oamaru, carrying too many guns for the Mornington contestants to finish in first place. This runner has several good performances over varying distances to his credit, and, possessing a good stride and plenty of stamina, would certainly keep the opposition busy if given a chance iu open competition in Dunedin. The Oamaru Club possesses several,proven performers, and, having already made a successful start in team racing up north, it should not be lons before a team is seen in action locally. E- Mullin, of Mornington, was second home, putting up another good performance, and big things can be expected of him if he can maintain his present form until the Junior Cross-coun-try. CIVIL SERVICE The form displayed by E. C. Brown in the Port Chalmers Road Race left no doubts as to his ability as a road runner. He has been working up to top form under the watchful eye of his trainer, Mr Gjersen, of Port Chalmers, and to him must go a good deal of the credit for Brown's brilliant performance. Brown has been a member of the club for about 10 years, and though he has been a solid man he has always been up against stiff opposition and has not had so many successes aa have other runners of iiis 'calibre. As he is a resident of Port Chalmers his victory is a very popular one. It Was not expected that the club would retain the Nickels Cup, as the entries from the club were not up to the strength of other years. F. Williams was one ; who went well in spite of the fact that he had no previous racing experience. D. M'Plierson, G. T. M'Kersey, C. M. Walker, P. G. Speiice, and L. M'Keich teamed well, but all had to be contented with places among the bunch. G. Garbutt performed capably, but is seen at his best in cross-country work. He has competed unsuccessfully in this race for a number of years, and it is time that he was in receipt of a better handicap. B. R. M'Kefuan, who first competed in this event in 1011, gave a good account of himself, despite the fact that he has been hindered in his training. In the past M'Kernan has been a road runner to be reckoned with, and provided that his leg will stand the strain, it is probable that he will worry his opponents for a few years to come. J. L. Gerkin and T. M. Brydone ran together for a long way. The former is a versatile athlete, as he is good over all distances. Brydone is one who can give a good account of himself over any distance, but he cannot spare time for training. The club's Junior Cross-country Championship and Anderson Cup Road Race will be field from the Tainui School next Saturday. In the former event an exciting finish will probably be the order of the day, as A. Kirkwood and W. M'Kiniion will have a great tussle for championship honours. The prospective winners in the Anderson Clip Race are difficult to pick as the handicaps have not yet been declared, but the writer will not be surprised to find E. C. Brown well to the fore at the finish. LEITH The performance of the Leith Club in the Port Road Race event proved a decided reversal of success as compared with last interclub event, the Edmond Cup. Besides winning the teams' event, second placing, anej second fastest time fell to Leith members. In all it was the most successful result ever experienced by the club in this event. C. G. Loader, who filled second place oft' the 6min mark, joined up with the club only a few weeks before the race, and with ho previous performance or experience in running, ran a very meritorious race. He possesses stamina and should be a decided acquisition to the club in future distance events. S. A. Anderson, who filled fifth place off the lmin losec mark, was the next club man home, and in gaining second fastest time eclipsed his previous best performance by over a minute. He is showing improvement in every race. R. N. Watson, off the smin mark, completed the winning team by filling thirteenth place. He is the most consistent road performer in the club, having finished in the first 15 on three occasions in this race. CAVERSHAM The Port Chalme'rs-Dunedin Road Race held on Saturday completed the Caversham Club's'first syllabus. The first member home in this event was L. Gerrie, who ran a steady race to finish in ninth place, his time being eighth best in the race. R. Knox and Gus Sadler, who finished' eighteenth and twenty-second respectively, completed the team, which took third place in the Teams' Race. Frye, who finished twenty-ninth, must take honours as one of the oldest competitors in this event, his opponent for the position being B. R. M'Kernan, of the Civil Service Club. As far back as 1921 Frye made best time for the course, and again in 1923. His time this year was actually faster than in either of the years mentioned, so that, even allowing for better conditions, it would seem that he is far from being a back number. With his club mate, Gus Sadler, he dead-heated for ninth time. For the last few weeks the juniors have been taking every opportunity of familiarising themselves with the Junior Cross-country course, and on Saturday held a preliminary trial, several members finishing in good time. The team to contest the cup will be picked after the trial next Saturday. Two teams will probably be entered, and a keen tussle is expected to take place for positions iu the first team. CARGILL ROAD The Cargill Road Club had only two members in the Port Road Race, but both performed very creditably. Wallace, off snrin oOsec, ran very well, and finished fourth, also being the first unplaced novice. M'Gregor, off smin 30sec, also ran well, and finished about twentyfifth. H. Clark and D. Lumbare are both going very well, and are certainties for the Junior Cross-country team. Another two juniors who have performed creditably lately are J. Mauley and B. ■Cox. The-former, especially, showed good form at Port Chalmers a week Or two ago. as he finished fourth in (he junior pack, just behind A. Lysaght. The junior team will probably be J. M'Gregor, H. Clark. D. Lumb. A. Lysaght, J. Maiiley, and B. Cox. N. Thomson did not run in the Port Road Race, but on present form he looks as if he may win the club Five-mile Championship. HANOVER BAPTISTS In view of the -preparation made by the members of the Port Road Race team their performance was somewhat disappointing-. R. A. Brown was the club's hope in view of his previous year's placing and the fact that his time last year was only seven seconds slower than the winner's this year, shows that he did not run up to form. A. Ellis and J. Milburn wei'e contesting (his event for the first time and, with their handicaps, should have performed to better advantage. J. Nicholson, with move preparation, would no doiibt have finished further up. L. M'Millan was first man home, and seems to be in better form. He has signified his intention to compete in the TVmukaTimaru Road Race. With the Provincial Junior Cross Country only two weeks

away, the club's junior men are settling down to their probable placing in the teams. ST. PATRICK'S Last Saturday the St. Patrick's juniors had a short run over the Junior Cross Country course at.Tainui, and the knowledge of the country thus gained should stand them in good stead in the' trial on Saturday. The club has material enough for only one team, and aspirants for places in it will need 'to show their best form in the trial. J. L. Hartstonge has decided to retire from active running for the remainder of the winter. He showed promise with the discus last track season, and it is to be hoped he will take up this branch of the sport during the summer. NORTHERN , The Northern Club's Three-mile Championship will be held next Saturday, and as the course is from Chisholm Park the junior members should have a fair trial before che Otago Centre's event. Tv. M'Kinlay and A. Jackson have been training for this event for some time, and should be among those to catch the judge's eye. On his last appearance in this event G. King was unable to display good form, but can be expected to give a good display this year. Of the other juniors J. Lothian. R. Stephen, B. Haugh, and R. Haley should bo well placed. For the third year in succession only one starter for the Port-Dunedin Road Race came from the club. On the last two occasions Frank Harkness has been the runner. Although this year he was tuiable to better his last year's placing of seventh, lie ran a splendid race throughout. He is in splendid condition at present, and this race suits his style admirably. With more experience he should develop into a fine type of distance runner. Last Saturday a short unofficial run was held from Dilndas street. lii the junior pack all finished well bunched together, while from among the seniors J. Boiitho and IT. Jephersoli were among the placings. Both of these are first year runners, and, with some more experience, should become valuable assets to the club. PACIFIC The Pacific Club should congratulate j itself this season in having 11 entries for the Port Road Race —the largest for some years. It would have been more gratifying to have seen the club's men : more to the fore, but with so many new and young runners there, should be no reason to" doubt that this should bring better results next year. Eight miles of road is a good test for even experienced runners, and for new men like those who represented the club on Saturday to complete it shows that they have grit. C. Lucas and L. Hill ran good, strong races all the war, while H. fearee. who was | also doing well, 'developed a stitch at St. Leonards, which slowed him up. E. W. Gain, the new member, who is doing so we'll this season, showed stamina in lasting the race so well. Before long this member should bring good results to the club. The next event is the clubs Junior CrosS-coulVtrv Championship. It is the "■eneral opinion that Y. Robinson and D. Lucas will be the most likely competitors. The club's training quarters, which have been provided by the Social Committee, are now open to members.