CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22369, 17 September 1934, Page 7

CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY W. A. C. PULLAR OTAGO FIRST IN TEAMS* RACE The Otago nmnera proved more than •qual to the task of upholding the honour of the province in the New Zealand Crosscountry Championships held at Wingatui on Saturday over a course of 10,000 metres, the first four placings going to local entrants, and the Teams' Race being won with the possible number of points. W. A. C. Pullar, who won the Otago Championship, which was held over the same course on the previous Saturday, again stayed the distance to break the tape 20 yards ahead of J. G. Barnes, and third and fourth places were filled by T. Alien and T. G. Pearson respectively. These four constituted the Otago team, which won the Teams' Race. After the morning's rain, the afternoon was fine but dull, and the course was. very heavy, and, considering the conditions, the time (3jfmin SSsec) was exceptionally good. The officials who controlled the fixture were as follows:—Superintendent, Mr C. W. Clark; starter, Mr A. Burke; judges ■ —Messrs R. A. Malone, J. Beatson, J. W. Holley, B. H. Rosevear, P. W. Breen, and A. Hoy; track stewards—Messrs J. A. Bond, A. T. M'lndoe. L. R. M'Millan, C. K. fieaton, J. Brazier, C. A. Broad, A. Seoones. At the conclusion of the race the Teams' Championship Shield Was presented to the Otago team by the president of the Otago Centre (Mr E. L. Maoassey). Mr L. A. Tracy was the New Zealand Council's representative at the race. The course was the same as that used lor the Otago Championships. The race wa« started 6pposite the water jump, the.runners covering half a mile on the track before jumping the sod wall and going through the bluegums on to Boundary road, then turning to the left, following ;.the road, and over & gate into M'Pherson's property. The runners then negotiated.a slight rise, proceeding along a ridge, finishing with a short, deep hill to the pine trees at the corner. Then downhill for about 300 yards to Janefield road, which was followed to the Otago Central railway line, thence a sharp turn to the left, the line being followed for 500 yards, striking across Gow's paddock'(about 440 yards), and over the gate on to the racecourse-vat the half-mile post, along the straight, and past the stand, this distance being covered twice. INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP The Individual Championship resulted as follows: — W. A C. Pullar (Otago), 35min 58sec 1 J. G.'Barnes (Otago), 36min lsec .. 2 T. Allen (Otago), 36min 18sec .... 3 T. G. Pearson (Otago), 36min 29sec 4 J. Valder (Auckland) ■, 36min 34sec .. 5 W. A. Stewart (Otago/ individual), 36min 34sec • G. H. Wateon (Canterbury), 3Gmin 44sec • .. • 7 C. H. Matthews (Canterbury), 36min Slsec 8 A. L. Stevens (Wellington), 36min 57scc ■ ■ •• •• •• •» •• ■ * •• •• ** C. Weller (West Coast), 37min ssec 10 The remaining results were as follows: . ~C. Chalk (Wellington), 37min 6sec, 11; A. E. Park (Canterbury), 37min ]oaeC, 12; G C. Prosser (Wellington), 37min 17sec, 13; W. G. Taylor (Canterbury), 37min 22sec, 14; A. Barclay (Wellington), 37min 32sec, 15; G. Hill (West Coast), 37min 42sec, 16; A. R. Geddes (Otago). 37min 48see, 17; J. Nicholson (Auckland), 37min 58sec, 18; G. S. Harrison (Canterbury), 38min 19sec, 19; B. 11. Birtwhistle (Auckland), 38min 25sec. 20; C. Hill (West Coast). 38min 28sec, 21; A. Lord (Hawke's Bay), 38min 29sec, 22- E. S. Woodley (Wellington), 38mm 30sec. 23; F. Hill (West Coast), 38min 30sec, 24; L 1 E. Fox (Canterbury), 38min Slsec, 25; C Talbot (Wellington),39mm 7sec, 26: K. Timson (Auckland), 39min 205ec, ; "27; A. Bourgeois (West Coast), 39mm, 2lsec. 28: J. Pike (West Coast J. 39min, 42eec, 29; M. Radford (West Coast)y;4omin lsec,|3o; T.Venn (Hawkes Bay); *omin Usee, 31; W.H. Waker (Otago)'. 40min 12sec, 32; W. Sherlock (West Coast, individual), 40min 48sec, 33; 8.-Rei'd (Hawke's Bay), 41min lpsce, 34: A. Penberthy (West Coast, individual), 41min 30sec, 35; A. Angus (Hawke's Bay), 43min SOmc, 36. . E. J. Johnston (Otago, individual) was the only other starter, and he failed to comolcte the course. THE RACE The field of 37 got away to a good start, and Allen, Pullar, and Barnes took the lead as they came into the straight for the first time. These three maintained that order as they negotiated the sod wall and the fence on Boundary road. Approaching the end of the first mile Allen had a good lead from Pullar, with Barnes, Park, ! and Taylor close up, aud Allen had 20 yards in hand as the descent to Janefield road was made. After two miles Pullar led the field back on to the racecourse by 30 yards, and coming .up the straight the order was Pullar, Barnes, Allen. As they passed the stand Barnes sprinted ahead of Pullar, who was 100 yards in front of Allen, who was.followed by Pearson. Walker, \ alder Watson, Weller, Chalk, Taylor, Stewart. Matthews; Park, Prosser, and Stevens. Passing the four-mile mark Pullar was well ahead once more, with ■ Barnes about 100 yards away, and Allen, Tearson, and Walker following. Approaching the course, with a mile to go, Pullar's lead was down to 20 yards with Barnes 40 yards ahead of Allen. Pullar, Barnes, Allen, and Valder led the way into the straight, and as the leaders .neared the tape Barnes put ma lastminute challenge, but Pullar held on to win by 20 yards from Barnes, with Allen 60 yards back, and Pearson another 40 yards away. Valder and Stewart made the decision for fifth place a hard one, inches separating them as they passed the post. TEAMS' CHAMPIONSHIP The individuals' placings were not reckoned in calculating the results of the teams' race. The results were as follows: — Otago (W. A. C. Pullar 1, J. G. Barnes 2, T. Allen 3, T. G. Pearson 4), 10 points •• '••.•• •• jy 1 Canterbury (G. H. Watson 6, C. H. Matthews 7, A. D. Park 11, W. G. Trfylor 13), 37 points .. .. .. 2 Wellington (A. L. Stevens 8, C. Chalk ' 10, G. C. Prosser 12, A. Barclay 14). 44 points 3 Auckland (J. Valder 5 D Hill 15. ' J. Nicholson 17, B. S. Birtwhistle 13), 56 points .. .. .. •• •• 4 West Coast, North Island (C. Weller | 9, C. Hill, 20, F. Hill 23, A. Bourgeois 27), 79 points .. .. .. • ■ 5 Hawke's Fay-Poverty Bay (A. Lord 21, T. Venn SO, B. Reid 32, A. Angus S 3), 116 points 6 The performance of the winning Otago team was undoubtedly the best given by any team in a championship race., lhe result was never in doubt from the start, the Otago men going to the front and retaining that position throughout. Canterbury also put up a good performance to secure second place—the best position, this province has so far secured iD the championship. Wellington was seven points behind in third place and the Auckland team, another 12 points behind, was fourth. HANDICAP RACE Before the start of the championship event a handicap race over a mile and aquafter (once round the course) was held, and was won by S. Anderson (Civil Service), with T. Pullar (Anglican) second and E. Davie (Anglican) third. Anderson, who ran off the 15&ec mark, completed the course in 6min 32? cc. There were 18 starters. WINNERS TO DATE The winners.to date of the championships are tabulated below, the team winner being followed by individual winner: — ~ 1903— -Canterbury, at Christchurch; P. Malthus (Canterbury). 1909—Otago, at Timaru; W. F. Simpson (Canterbury). 1910—Otago, .at Invercargill; G. MaCnight (Otago). 1911 —Otago, at Auckland; G. N. Hill (Auckland). 1912—Otago, at Wellington; J. Beatson 1913—Otago, at Dunedin; J. Beatson ( Otago).

1920—Wellington, at Christchurch; C. W. Frye (Otago). 1921—Wellington, at Wellington; H. E. Moore (Wellington). 1922—Wellington, at Dunedin; D. Todd (Wellington). 1923—Wellington, at Christchurch; J. H. Nalder (Canterbury). 1924—Otago, at Wellington; J. W. Tapp (Otago). 1925—Otago, at Dunedin; E. L. Brown (Otago). 1926—Auckland, at Auckland; G. Kells (Auckland). 1927—Otago, at Christchurch; J. W. Savidan (Auckland). , 1928—Wellington, at Wanganui; J. W. Savidan (Auckland). 1929—Wellington, at Dunedin; J. W. Savidan (Auckland). 1930—Otago, at Wellington; R. A. Rose (Wanganui-Taranaki). 1931—Otago, at Auckland; J. W. Savidan (Auckland). 1932 —Otago, at Christchurch; J. G. Barnes (Otago). 1933—West Coast (N. 1.), at Wanganui; J. W. Savidan (Auckland). 1934—Otago, at Dunedin; W. A. C. Pullar (Otago). VISITORS ENTERTAINED The complimentary dinner tendered to the visiting teams was held at the Tudor' Hall on Saturday night. The chair was occupied by Mr E. W. Clark, _ in the unavoidable absence of the president of the Otago Centre (Mr E. L. Macassey). After the loyal toast had been honoured. Mr P. W. Breen proposed the toast of the New Zealand Council, which was replied to by Mr L. A. Tracy. Mr Tracy stated that although the decisions of the council did not always meet with the approval of the different centres, the council wag guided by what it thought best for the sport on the whole. Mr Tracy then presented medals to the Winner (Mr W. A. C. Pullar), and runner-up (Mr J. G. Barnes), and also to the winning team' (Messrs Pullar, Barnes, Allen, and Pearson). . ' „ The toast of "The Winning Team" Was proposed by Mr C. R. White (Wanganui), who congratulated Otago on its very fine performance. It was, indeed, a great record that Otago should score the possible by taking the first four places. , . , _, Mr J. G. Barnes, captain of the Otago team, responded. The toast of "The Winner" was proposed by Mr B. R. M'Kernan, who stated that 'it was indeed a very meritorious performance, and that those who knew I the sacrifices that had to. be made to attain the premier position would realise I how thorough Mr Pullar had been in his j preparation. j Mr Pullar, replying, stated that his success was due a great deal to the help | he had received from his club and from his coach (Mr R. O. Johnson). Mr A. C. Bourgeois (Wanganui) proposed the toast of "The Otago Centre," which was replied to by Mr C. W. Clark. .Proposing the toast of "The Visitors," Mr 8.. Masters specially welcomed the Hawke's Bay team, Avhich was making its initial appearance at New Zealand crosscountry championships. This toast was responded to by Messrs E. A. Sayers (Christchurch), A. Stevens (Wellington), Patterson (Auckland), A. C. Bourgeois (Wanganui), and A. Angus (Hawke's Bay). The toast of "The Otago Officials" was in the hands of Mr W. J. Bennett, who specially mentioned the work that was being done by the secretary (Mr T. Brydone). Messrs W. J. Holley and T. Brydone replied. Mr R. O. Johnson proposed the toast of " Ex-New Zealand Cross-country Champions," Messrs J. Beatson, J. Tapp, and C. W. Frye replying. The visitors were then entertained at a dance held by the Civil Service Harrier Club in the Gardens Tea Kiosk. Yesterday afternoon the visitors were taken for a motor trip round the Otago Penninsula.