HARRIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23796, 1 May 1939, Page 15

HARRIERS

WEEK-END RUNS St. Kilda Club The St. Kilda Harrier Club held its first race of the season on Saturday, this being the one mile and a-half Novice Race. The run was started from the St. Kilda Tram Terminus by Mr Bissland. The first man away was E. Talbot (20sec), N. Davies following ssec later, with J. Hodges and L. McKay together lOsec later, the scratch man, G. Clements following ssec in the rear. At the first turn Talbot was leading from Davies, followed by Hodges and McKay, with Clements a short distance back At Cavell street Davies had dropped back, and J. Hodges and McKay were Tuning very well, Hodges slightly ahead. At the home turn Talbot was leading Hodges with McKay and Clements in that order. This order remained the same at the finish. Results: Talbot 1. J. Hodges 2, L. McKay 3. Leith Club Under perfect weather conditions, the Leith Club’s run was held from the Roslyn Methodist Church. A fine muster of 27 runners was led by Captain Pridham up hill to Helensbrugh road, which was followed to the zig-zag and down to Fraser’s Gully From there the pack climbed up via Sonntag’s orchard, and after some good paddocks had been traversed, finished up at the top end of Brockville road. The trail then headed towards Five Tree Hill and eventually brought the pack to the Taieri road. Two packs were formed, the slow, under Deputy Captain Stephenson, following the fast, under Captain Pridham, It was not long before the packs were united, as from a paddock adjacent to Ashburn Hall a challenge was issued, and met, from the Anglican Club to play a game of football. The fast pack then kept a steady pace to the hall, following the Taieri road. The slow pack left the road for a short distance and then returned to follow the other pack at a slightly slower pace. Civil Service Club The Civil Service Club’s annual maiden race was held on Saturday over a mile and a-half course on the inner track at the Forbury racecourse. The heavy nature of the track made the race a stiff test for the competitors and the back markers were unable to catch the leading group. The scratch men. Nelson, Wilson and Rea, set off at an even pace, but made little impression on the field in the first lap. Toner, off ssec. started very fast and picked up a lot of ground in the first half mile. Meanwhile McKersey, off 15sec, had caught the limit man, Greaney, and the pair were leading the field in fine style. They held an even pace which gave the rest of the field little chance, though the scratch man. Nelson, was doing fine v/ork on his own about the middle of the journey and making up a lot of ground. Dickie, in third position, was going well some distance behind the leaders. In a spirited finish, Greaney won by about two yards from McKersey, with Dickie finishing fast about 30 yards back and Bradshaw and Thompson close up in that order. The rest of the field was well up, with Nelson, who had run a fine race, still going strongly but out of the hunt. Deputy Captain Whittleston took charge of the juniors and colts not eligible for the race and C. Stevens of the slow pack, and both packs enjoyed good training runs in the St. Clair and St. Kilda districts. A small fast pack under the whistle of Captain Mackinnon had a steady run over the St. Clair hills to the back of the golf links with a run home down Queen’s Drive. The whole pack showed fine form with Barnes, McLachlan and Geddas prominent in the final sprint. Next Saturday the annual one mile Postal Cup Race will be decided at Carisbrook. Anglican Club The Anglican Club held one of the best runs for some time from the Kaikorai baths. After a short delay, due to a misunderstanding with the caretaker, the pack, under Club Captain T. Allen, followed the Fraser s Glen track through to the top of Mount Grand. From here the trail led across the fields till a road was taken to the slopes of Flagstaff. Here a game of football was played with the Leitn Club for about half an hour. On reaching the North Taieri the pack kept up a steady pace back to the baths via Helensburgh road. Of the new members L. Maw. J. Carathers G. Cooper, W. Norman and J. Caradus showed promising form. Members are reminded that training has commenced at the Caledonian Ground each evening. Caversham Club The Caversham Club’s first_ race of the season, the one-mile maiden for the J. W. McStay Memorial Cup, was run at Forbury Park. Fourteen competitors faced the starter, Mr C. K. Heaton. The race commenced at a fast pace, with the limit man, D. L. Simpson, opening up a fair SaP on the rest of the field. With a lap to go the runners were bunched, witn Simpson still holding his lead. The scratch man, E. Freeman, and E. J. Flockton had overhauled the middlemarkers and were running very easily. In the back straight Freeman took the lead, with McKay, Simpson and Flockton in close attendance. In the straight to the tape Flockton maintained a brilliant sprint, leaving the others to win by 20 yards. Freeman was second, followed by F. W. McKay (80yds), with W. Broadbent fourth. The 30 other members who were ineligible to compete proceeded along the St. Kilda Beach over the sandhills to the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. Continuing, the run led past the Tomahawk Lagoon over the hills and back on to Lovers’ lane, thence home to Forbury Park. The result of the run home by the fast pack was: G. L. Austin 1. G. R. Colston 2, L. L. Hobbard 3. The colts’ pack had a short run home, the order being D. Mercier Bruce Taylor and B. Knox. Mornington Club The Mornington Harriers held their weekly run from the Sunshine Baptist Hall. Two packs were formed. The slow one. under Acting Captain W W. Taylor, by devious routes reached the monument. At this stage E. Tombs and C. Moore were prominent, while W. Gardiner was going very well. Branching off the top road, the pack went across country to Tomahawk and then kept to the road until home was reached. The run home resulted: A. de Courcy, I. Templeton and S. Bragg leading a bunched field. Captain F. Crooke led the fast pack along Tomahawk Beach to Smaill’s Beach and thence to the 4YA mast. This was a non-stop run in which N. Sutherland and T. Wallace showed up well. Although no official run home was be d, J. Callister. T. Kennedy and F. Crooke were well to the fore. Dunedin Club Only a fair attendance turned out for the Dunedin Club’s run from Mornington. Under the whistle ot Captain E. Williams, the trail led along Kenmure road to Barr street and Kaikorai Valley road, then up the hill to the southern reservoir, the waterrace being followed to the old Abbotsford road. The trail - home led to Kaikorai Valley, thence up the hill to the school. Jack McGregor a new runner from the University Club, 3ncl Ted Williams were the first runners to arrive, being closely followed by F. Poole and L, Hill. Hanover Baptist Club The Hanover Baptist Club’s official onening run was held from the Caveisham Baptist Church. Mr C. W. Clark, president of the Otago Centre, was present, and wished the club every success for the coming season He then declared the season open. The club president. Mr H. J. Hayward, also gave a few words of encouragement. Under the whistle of Captain H. Campbell, a good attendance followed a trail down Surrey street, thence via Marion street and Playfair street over Corstorphinc in the direction of the golf links. The trail then led across the Black Head road, and over good harrier country of an undulating nature to Sea View.

Cutting down a sharp declivity, thence up the steep slope opposite, the trail led over the hill and down the other side to come out at Green Island Cemetery. The Main South road was then followed as far as Reid and Gray s. to branch up in front of the Concord School, and then down to the foot ot Lookout Point. The captain led the pack up the back road and thence across the paddocks to eventually come out on Sicily street. The Mam South road, where the pack was bunched, was then reached. The whistle for the run home was blown at Laing street, and Deputy-captain J. Stewart led the pack in, closely followed by H. Benfell and Captain Campbell. University and Celtic United An enjoyable combined run for the University and Celtic United Clubs was held from the Nga Maara Hall, Under Deputy Captain Paterson, of Celtic, the fast pack ran along the NorthEast Valley and up to Signal Hill, through gorse paddocks. The trail then led along the summit of the hill to the Brown House, and down the road through Bethune’s Gully. A run home from the tram terminus was held, in which a very fast pace was maintained throughout. Result: D. Foord (U.) 1, A C A. Coombes (U.) 2. T. E. Dorman (U.) 3. The slow pack, under Captain Woods, of Celtic, ran up to Normanby and then up to Liberton through paddocks. After following more paddocks through Dalmore a run home was held. L. W. Woods 1 (U.) set a very fgst pace throughout and managed to maintain his lead. Result: L. W. Woods (U.) 1. W. A. Russell (U.) 2, N. Dorman (St. Paul’s visitor) 3. The juniors, under Captain P. Carroll, ran up the main road to he Brown House and down the Sawyers’ Bay road. Then paddocks were crossed back to the Main road, and a fast pace was maintained down to Normanby. No run home was held, but Clements and F. Kenelly showed prominently.