NEW ZEALAND CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 54

NEW ZEALAND CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

HANDSOME WIN FOR OTACO. Tin' New Zea'and (Voss-country Clinmpiondnp was decided over a fivo and a-lialf milo course? at \\ ingatn; on Saturday afternooit, tin; result being a handsome win for the Otago team, tiio five members of which filled the first live places. A threat deal of interest was taken in tin; event, and, despite the raw, cold afternoon, there was a Rood muster of enthusiasts, ineluditiß a fair number of ladies, to witness the contest. 'Pile rain which had fallen in the early morning made the going a trifle heavy, though the ground was in fair order. The three competing provinces were Wellington, Otago, and Southland, and by most people the issue was regarded, us certain, Otago, of course, being tin; favourites. The Southland Association is desi rving of praise for its sportsmanlike attitude in sending a team under difficulties. The men only arrived on Saturday morning, and one or two at least were apparently short of condit ion. Mr E. A. Rose vear, president of the Otago Centre, acted as referee, and was supported by a strong band of officia’s. Mr If. C. Murray acted as start it, Messrs R. (r. Anderson, C. R. Andrews, and A. C. .Smith

as judges; Messrs L. Sanderson, M. T. Souuess, and T. P. Williamson as timekeepers ; and Messrs G. G. Xotman and K. Ait ken as Hold judges. Ihc course, which was well defined, •started on the racecourse, and followed the steeplechase course for little more than half a mile, when it diverged into the open country through Air (low's paddocks, along the Factory road, over the Otago Central railway lino, on past Janc-field Kstato, and then circled round back over the railway iino again, and on to the course, the first half ot the journey finishing in front of the stand. The second half was a repetition of the fiivt, tile race finishing in front of the judge’s box. Included in the obstacles to bo encountered wore sod walls, post and rails, ditches, and ordinary wire fences. Three centres were represented—Wellington. Otago, and Southland.-—whilst G. Crimp (Otago) competed for the individual championship and sealed handicap. The teams were; Wellington.—.l. F. Byrne. 11; Ballantyno, C. Hutton. C. Murray, and F. Hudson. Otago. .1. Beatson, Cl. A. Al’Knight, D. R. Jack, C Frye, and 1). R. Thompson. Southland.—J. O'Brien, W. Buchanan, V\ , B. Sheehan, D. Frew, and J. Welch. The race was timed to start at 3.20 p.m.. but it was quite a quarter of an hour later before the runners, redolent with training oil. lean-legged, and shivering in the cold, lined up for the benefit of the photographers. At 5 minutes to 4 they were at the starting point, and the starter (Air 11. C. Murray) sent them away well together. Southland had the inside running, with Otago next, and Wellington on the outside. At riio first sod wall Crimp, running for the individual championship, had the lead, the Otago and Wellington men being hunched together, and .Southland, who had got tiio worst of the start, bringing up the rear. Crossing the ditch a Southland man went down, and immediately after the five Wellington men wore seen to bo in the lead, with Beat-son (Otago) close up, and the rest of the field bunched nearby. The pace, which had been a very solid one, was a little easier now, but Wellington still maintained the lead, the manner in which their men took the fences giving them a b g advantage. At the second sod wall Wellington still led, with Beatson and Jack lying in close proximity. The rest of the Otago men were tailed out, and Southland were almost hopehvs'y in the rear. V> ith three-quarters of a mile gone Beatson went to the front, closely followed by Byrne (Wellington) and the othe r ()tago men. Tliis order was maintained going through Air Cow’s paddocks and along the Factory road.' Crossing the rai way line, it was seen that Beatson still retained tho had, being followed by Byrne, Al’Knight, Jack, Thompson, and Frye, in that order. Four of tho Southland team had dropped out. Passing the post with half the journey gone the placing was tin* same, Frye being folletted by Crimn. then the four Wellington men--Murray, Ballantyno, Hutton, and Hodson, —and O’Brien, Southland’s solo remaining representative. Beatson’s time for the half-distnnco had been 14min 30sec. lie was running with a nice easy stride, and seemed absolutely untroubled. The other Otago men til! looked fresh, but tho Wellington men, with tho exception of Byrne, were showing signs of weariness. Their pace at tho Mart had evidently taken a lot out of them. O’Brien was visibly distressed, and pulled out before reaching the sod wail for the second time. Hutton (Wellington), who was suffering from dry pleurisy, also withdrew at this stage. All the fences were negotiated safely, and entering Air Cow's paddocks again it was soon that Beatsou and Jack had the lead, with Al'Knight, Thompson, Byrne, Frye, Crimp, Ballantyno, and Alurray following in that order. Crossing the railway lino, after turning for home, Beatson was seen to have put five or six yards between himself and .lack, with Al'Knight lying third 40 yards away. Then followed Thom peon. Frye, and Byrne. Beatson, the Otago crack, was first to enter tho straight, and. running with the greatest rase, breasted the tape amidst cheers. Jack finished second, 50 yards away, with Al’Knight about the same distance away third, Thompson fourth, Frye fifi.li. and Byrne (Wellington) sixth. Byrne, who was separated from the rest of his men by a fair distance, received quite an ovation. Xo Southlanders finished. Crimp finished

seventh. Apart from Otago’s win. the outstanding feature of the race was undoubtedly the fine performance put up by Beatson, who stamped himself as a runner of pace, stamina, and ripe judgment. It is matter for regret that Hill, the Auckland champion was not competing. Wellington put up a plucky fight, but after the first round had little chance of winning. Following are the detailed results: — 'J' E A MS’ CH AMPION HU 11P (X.ago (J. Beatson 1, D. R. Jack 2, G, A. MTvnight 3, D. R. Thompson 4), 10 points f Wellington (J. F. Byrne 6, R. Ballantyno 8. C. Murray 9. F. llodeon 10), 33 points 2

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP. J. Beatson (Otago:, 29min ssec 1 1). R. .lack (Otago), 29min 11 l-ssoc ... 2 G. A. M"Knight (Otago), 29min 23sce ... 3 1). K. Thompson (Otago), 29min 28sec... 4 C Frye (Otago), 29min 35s re 5 ,). ]<’. Bvrne (Wellington), 29min 45sce ... 6 G. Crimp (Otago., 30min 'ssec 7 R Ballautyne (Wellington). 20min 45sco o 0. Murray (Wellington). 31min 12sec... 9 !■'. Hod.on (Wellington). 31min 30sec ... 10 These* were the oulv men to Finish. SEALED HANDICAP. 1). It. Thompson (Otago), 45sic 1 .) )■' Uyrne (Wellington , Imiu 2 I'. Erve (Otago), 4Csee 3 I). K." Jack (Otago), 15sec 4 G. A. MTvnight (Otago), 25sec 5 HISTORY OF THE RAGE. Saturday’s race marks the sixth contest fur tlie dominion's greatest cross country lace, and particular interest attaches to it, owing to the fact: that it was the first occasion upon which the race has been contested in Otago. 'Flie 1903 race—which was run in Christchurch created a large amount of interest, especially in Otago and Canterbury. After a keen contest Canterbury was returned the winner, w.th a score of 2.5 points against Otago’s 35. The Individual Champion-hip wash*, on by P. Mall Inns, with H. C. Murray (•Otago) second, and W. E. Simpson third. ’! lie Championship showed a loss of £2O to (he New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. and owing to this loss the race was dropped. In 1909 (after the headquarters of the N’.Z.A.A.A. had been removed from Christchurch to Wellington) the race was resuscitated, the second contest being held at Timara. Wellington, Canterbury and Otago

were represented. Otago were easy winners with a score of 18 points, Wellington

and Canterbury dead-hcadpg for second place with 55 points. The Individual Championship was won by \V. F. Simpson (Canterbury). with J. Beatson (Otago: second, and L. R. West (Otago: third. The third race (1910) was contested at Invercargill, Wellington, Otago, and Southland competing. Otago won with the line score of 12 points, with Southland (35 points) second, and Wellington (53 points) third. The Individual Championship was won by G. M‘Knight, with J. Beatson second, and C. Rowberry (Wellington! third. The fourth contest, that of 1911. was decided at Auckland. Auckland, Wellington, and Otago competed. Otago retained tlie championship wills a score of 15 points, Auckland being second with 30, and Wellington third with 38 point.?. The individual champion was G. X. Hill (Auckland), with •T Beatson (Otago) second, and G. (!. Notman (Otago) third. The 1912 Championship was decided at Wellington. Throe centres were represented—Auckland. Wellington, and Otago. The Teams’ Championship was again won by Otago. Otago’s record score and the minimum was 10 points, made u» as follows: —J. Beatson 1. G. A. MTvmeiit 2. O. R • -Tack 3, M. Mickolson 4. Beatson won the Individual Championship