HARRIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23201, 27 May 1937, Page 4

HARRIERS

CIVIL SERVICE Although weather conditions were anything but ideal for last run, all Civil Service harriers had an enjoyable afternoon's sport. The racing pack, consisting of about a dozen of the club's best runners, under the leadership of Captain S. Asher, are down to serious Saturday runs. W. Mackinnon. second in this year's Postal Cup, is remarkably fit and is likely to make time next to A. R. Geddes in next Saturday's race. The Greaney brothers are both proving themselves to be runners of ability, and their running in the Railway Cup will be watched with interest. L. R. M'Millan, who has some fine road performances to his credit, including first place in the Port-Dunedin and Modified Marathan, is another man who is expected to run a good race. S. Asher, although not yet displaying the form he is capable of, is training regularly and should be able to get a place in the Kennett Cup team. M. Mackinnon, second in last year's Railway Cup and a member of the Kennett Cup team, will be out for a place in this years team. Besides the Railway Cup next Saturday, the juniors under 17 will have a half-mile handicap race, so this should afford them a chance of showing their form in comoetition. Several of the members of the junior pack are now regular trainees at the Caledonian Ground and are showing the benefit of their training in Saturday runs. G. Richards, L. Carter, K. Baird and M. Collins are always prominent. W. Wheeler would improve considerably If he spent more time in training. DUNEDIN The Dunedin Harriers ran from the George Street School under the charge of Captain Sturgeon. A steady pace was maintained along George street, turning into Duke street and up past the paper mills on to the Ross Creek reservoir. W. M'Leod and T. M'Donnell were running well at the head of the pack. The Civil Service Harriers were met on the road leading down to the reservoir, and cheers were exchanged. Deputy Captain Hill and M'Leod acted as pacemakers, these two members taking the pack over some ideal country, and the pace set suited all who participated in the run. The trail led up from the reservoir across the paddocks in the vicinity of Pine Hill. The pack set off for home down the Pine Hill road and on to Leith Valley road. The final sprint for home back to the school was held from the bowling green in Duke street, those prominent being W. M'Leod, T. M'Donnell and L. Hill. On Saturday next the members will run from Mrs Kennedy's residence. Marne street. Anderson's Bay. CAVERSHAM The Caversham Club's run last Saturday was extremely interesting, as a trial was held in view of the Kennett Cup Race. Composed of some 20 members, the pack proceeded at a jog to the southern water race, where approximately a three-mile course was set. Although the track was in a terrible condition, some good performances were put up, and sjiould give the selectors an idea as to the team, which will be selected after the Three-mile Vice-president's Handicap at St, Kilda next Saturday. This race, the threemile, should bring out some first-class efforts, and the men around the front and middle marks must keep moving, for the scratch men and those near them are very fit and keen at present. It is only by settling down right from the start that the best use can be made of their handicaps, which are on a time basis. Some of those who should be close up at the finish are A. J. Barr, R. Abernethy, and C. M'Gregor. All members are asked to pay strict attention to training from now on, as, with club races and interclub fixtures ahead, fitness is essential. MORNINGTON Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, a fair muster turned out from Caversham, when the Mornington pack experienced the longest and hardest run of the season. After traversing the Valley road and Short street, the trail led across some excellent harrier country at the back of the freezing works, where F. Crooke and C. Moore found the going to their liking. On reaching the water race, the pack set a steady pace for about a mile and a-half before dividing into fast and slow. The fast pack, under Deputy Captain F. Graveson, set a fast pace around the race until the road from Wingatui to Abbotsford was reached, and here, owing to the slippery nature of the road, the pace slackened. After Abbotsford had been passed the pace again became fast, and, on passing through Green Island, Crooke, Moore, and Wilson drew away from the rest of the pack. Crooke lengthened his lead after he passed Lookout Point, to reach home well ahead of Wilson, while Moore was close behind. The remainder of the pack came in together some distance back. The slow pack, under Captain W. Taylor, had an easy two-mile run around the water race before branching down to the Green Island coal mine and Abbotsford. On reaching Green Island, the pack began to stretch out along the Main South road, where R. Thompson was beginning to feel the effect of the long run while Kroon and Dyson were keen to be on the run. After the pack had travelled up Short street to Lookout Point, tne whistle was blown for the run home, which Kroon led from Dyson, with Everett in third place G'illan and Ghent, two new members, who joined up a fortnight ago, again turned out on Saturday, but. owing to starting late in the season, they found the going hard. Crawford, anotner member who joined up with them, was abscn' on Saturday. ST. KILDA Good competition was witnessed at St. Kilda last Saturday when the St. Kilda Harriers held their annual Three Mile Junior and Open Handicaps. The junior race was particularly interesting, four runners finishing very closp together, and returning good times, which compared more than favourably with the times of the seniors. First place in the open event went to a new runner, Gordon Thompson, who is to be congratulated on his meritorious performance. He finished quito undistressed without being extended. R. Beatson was second, and ran a sound race. He won this event last year, but had a much bigger handicap on that occasion. He recorded second fastest time, and should be in good trim for the Edmond Cup next month. A. Smith ran his usual good race, and secured fastest time, in spite of very little training. If this runner would lake his running more seriously he would go a long way in the sport. The veteran, C. Pope, ran gamely, but could not keep pace with the younger and fitter competitors. L. Carter ran very sportingly, and just beat Pope to the tape. The club captain displays an admirable spirit, and sets a fine example to the younger runners. Arthur Carter, D. Lumb. and A. Fraser ran well below their form, and will need some solid training if they intend competing in the open events later in the reason. In the junior race outstanding performances were registered by E. Cope and V. Crimp, both of whom arc fast approaching their best form Their handicaps were just a bit severe to give them places, but their actual times were better than the times recorded in the open event. John Middlemiss scored a narrow win over R. Baldwin and A. Wilson, the two last-named being first-year runners Middlemiss has been running for a lew years now. and his run on Saturday was his best to date. Baldwin has a nice easy style, and is most promising. With a little more experience and determination he will bo making his team mates extend themselves to keep pace with him. The : same remarks apply to Wilson, who was more severely handicapped. He is to be congratulated on his good performance. LEITH Last Saturday, under wintry conditions, the Leith Club held its first sports meeting at the Ross Creek reser- , voir. The remarkable feat of the day was that of Ray Dallon, who won all four events—namely, the One Mile. 440 Yards, Broad Jump, and Hop, Step, and Jump. A first-year runner, Arthur Markham. performed very creditably

to gain three secbnds and one third. The Mile was the first race of the day, and was very interesting, the issue not being decided until the last straight was reached. The starter, S. Anderson, sent a lair field away, and by the time half the distance was covered B. Haugh (65yds) led, with A. Markham (120yds), J. Thomson (130yds), L.Kerr (50yds) following in that order. G. Markham (10yds) and R. Dalton (40vds) were coming up very fast. Shortly after this stage G. Markham and R Dalton went through the field, with D.Scott and R. M'Kinlay in hot pursuit. When in the final straight R. Dalton sprinted away to win from G. Markham by seven yards, with A. Markham third. In the 440 Yards R. Dalton, oil 35yds, took the lead early in the race and went on to win from A Markham (40yds) and I. Hannah (35vds). The standard of the Broad Jump and Hop, Step, and Jump was not very high, the slippery nature of the ground being partly responsible. The best jump in the Broad Jump was by B Haugh, 16ft Bin. R. Dalton was i-.'cxt with 16ft 7in, and B. Timnis and G. Markham both jumped over the 16ft mark. However, with a handicap of 4ft 3in, Dalton had no trouble m securing his third win. In the Hop, Step, and Jump Dalton was again to the fore with the best jump of 36ft 10in. B. Haugh, from the scratch mark, jumped 35ft 6Jin, but again Dalton gained a victory. These wins have given Dalton a good lead for the Senior Cup with 12 points, R. Markham being next with seven.