HARRIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 50

HARRIERS.

OTAGO FIVE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. The sixteenth annual Otago Five-mile Cross-country Championship, which w-as run at Wingatui in ideal weather on Saturday afternoon, was won by E. L. Brown (Civil Service Club) in 28inin 46sec, and the Caversham Club won the team’s championship, thus retaining the banner for a further year. The St, Kilda Club won the sealed handicap. Brown is a young runner who distinguished himself by winning the Edmond Cup Three-mile Steeplechase at Wingatui on June 14 last, and he shows every possibility of becoming a New Zealand champion if he retains his present form. The race, which was run under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, attracted a field of 46 men, who represented eight clubs. In the absence of the president of the centre (Mr E. L. Macassey), Mr A. Melville acted as referee. Following the pistol shot the field got well aw'ay, and it was not till the sod wall had been reached that it began to straggle out. On taking the wall the leaders were Hobbs (Pacific), J. W. Tapp (Caversham), Brown (Civil Service), White (St. Patrick’s), and Forbes (Anglican). On approaching the post-and-rails the order was Tapp, Brown, Hobbs, Forbes, White, Cox, (University), and Bibby (Anglican), with the lemainder of the field following fairly close up. On reaching the brow of the hill Tapp, Brown, and Hobbs still maintained their lead, and, on entering the course again, Tapp was still leading Brown, the next men being Hobbs, Bibby (who had overtaken Cox and White), Forbes, Frye (Caversham), Williden (Pacific), and Drumm (University). On reaching Janefield road Tapp appeared to be about 20 yards ahead of Brown, with Hobbs closely attending the second man. The race then developed into a gruelling contest between the first two runners. On entering the course Tapp had increased his lead from Brown by about 10 yards, with Hobbs, Cox, White, Forbes, Williden, Drumm, and Cameron some distance behind. On passing the stand the first time the order was: Tapp, Brown, Hobbs, Cox, Bibby, White, Frye, Drumm, Williden 'Cameron, and Ormrod (Anglican. Forbes had practically come to a standstill as h 9 was passing the stand, but he did not retire from the race. On reaching the post-and-rails the second time the order was the same, but Bibby had overhauled Cox, on taking the slope up the hill. Going through Mr Hazlett’s property Tapp was still making the running, but Brown was moving easily some yards behind. On crossing Mr (Sow’s paddocks Tapp increased his lead by about 10 yards, and Brown, Hobbs, Cox, C. W. Frye, Forbes, and Ormrod follewed. Entering the course again when about half a mile from home Brown gradually- overhauled Tapp. Both men were running- splendidly, and moved as though they were quite fresh and had not left behind a solid four miles and a half. The pace was remarkably fast for the conclusion of a five-mile race, and it remained to be seen which of the two could keep it up. Tapp gradually tired, and Brown breasted the tape a winner by about 50 yards, while Bibby, who had overhauled Hobbs in the final stages of the race, was about 120 yards behind. Hobbs, Cox, and Frye were not much behind Bibby, but the remainder of the field was well scattered. Time, 28min 46seo. The following were the individual results: INDIVIDUAL RESULT. E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 28min 46sec 1 J. W. Tapp (Caversham), 28min 56sec 2 J. B. Bibby (Anglican), 29min 32seo ... 3 W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific). 29min 45sec 4 B. J. Cox (University), 29min 57seo ... 5 O. W. Frye (Caversham), 29min 59sec ... 0 H. Ormrorri (Anglican), 31rnin 16sec ... 7 J. -G. Forbes (Anglican), 31min 18seo ... 8 The teams’ result was: Caversham (Tapp 2, Frye 6, Hetherington 11, Emmerson 12, Frye 15), 46 points, 1. Anglican (Bibby 3, Ormrod 74, Forbes 74, Ashby 16, Burton 17), 51 points, 2. Pacific (Hobbs 4, Williden 10, Hill 20 M’Lean 23, Mouat 29), 86 points; 3. Civil Service, 107 points; 4. St. Patrick’s, 110 points; 5. St. Kilda, 159 points; 6. University and Cargill Road Clubs did not finish full teams. The teams’ sealed handicap resulted : St. Kilda, 159 points (handicap 130 points), 29 points; L

Caversham, 46 points (handicap 10 points), 36 points; 2. St. Patrick’s, 110 points (handicap 65 points), 45 points; 3. The following shows the clubs which have won the championship banner, the names of the individual winners being supplied in parentheses:—l9os, Dunedin—(B. Sharp), 1906 (O. H. Croker), 1907 (H. G. Burk), 1908 (G. M’Knight, 1909 (J. Beatson; 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913 Caversham— (J. Beatson), 1914 (M. Mickelson), 1923 (J. W. Tapp), 1924 (E. L. Brown), 1919, Pacific (D. C. Lister), 1920 (C. W. Frye); 1921, Anglican—(C. W. Frye), 1922 (D. C. Lister). OTAGO TEAM. The following team has been selected to represent Otago at the New Zealand Crosscountry Championship, to be held at Wellington on Saturday, August 16: —E. L. Brown (Civil Service), J. W. Tapp (Caversham), J. B. Bibby (Anglican), W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific), B. J. Cox (University); emergency, C. W. Frye. THE ANNUAL REUNION. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the first harrier club—the Dunedin Club —in this city was celebrated by a reunion in Kroon’s Hall in the evening, when there was a large gathering of members of all the local clubs. Mr E. L. Macassey (president of the Otago Centre, N.Z.A.A.A.) occupied the chair. The programme was an extensive one, but nevertheless everything was carried through promptly. After the loyal toast the toast of the Otago Centre, N.Z.A.A.A., was proposed by Mr W. L. Hooper, who traced the history of the harrier movement from the time of its foundation, and who referred also to the valuable work of the Otago Centre.

Mr Macassey, in reply, said that the Otago Centre was first formed in 1901, when there were only three clubs. Since then it had made great progress, and its present success was largely attributable to the secretary (Mr R. Swinney), who had proved of very considerable assistance. In conclusion, he mentioned that it was hoped to have sports meetings on the Exhibition grounds in 1925-26. The centre was going ahead steadily, and part of its progressive work was the encouraging of harrierism in schools. Mr A. T MTndoe, in proposing the toast of “The Dunedin Club,’’ said that the present generation was indebted to the old club for a very great deal. The sport had been formed by enthusiastic men who had established high ideals, and in those days there was a strict observance of the rules. The Dunedin-Port Chalmers Road Race was inaugurated by the Dunedin Club, who also controlled the race at one time! though now it was in the hands of the centre Later on, the Edmond Cup Race was also inaugurated by the Dunedin Club. Unfortunately, the-club had not been running for the past few years, as it could not muster enough active members, and he suggested that it would be a graceful act on the part of the younger clubs to lend some of their men for a season, and thus allow the old club to regain its footing. In reply, the Rev. G. E. Moreton expressed his pleasure at being present to honour the men who had made it possible for the movement to gain a foothold in Dunedin. The first meeting he remembered was attended by a number of keen enthusiasts, and the first run led them l *P to their knees in “slush.” Still, they j thought they were having a jolly good time, | and the good old Scotch hospitality of those days made them realise that they had engaged in a fine, healthy sport. He had noticed, too, that there was a marked absence of bad language among harriers, and the splendid type of the present-day young man assured him that the sport was in safe hands. After complimenting Mr Bi-own on his , performance that day, the speaker paid a tribute to'the work done for the centre by Mr Macassey, and echoed the hope that the old Dunedin Club would be resuscitated. lie concluded by pointing out that the team was going to Wellington w;th the full realisation that the honour of the province was at stake, and they were" going to bring the banner back. He knew they were. —(Cheers.). Mr R. Bennell proposed the toast of the Caledonian Society, which was represented by Messrs Tonkinson and Wilkinson. Mr Bennell said that all outdoor sports bodies were indebted to the society for its assistance, and it had always been a great supporter of sport. They had always been given a fair and generous hearing by the society, and had to thank it for a good deal. Mr Tonkinson, who replied, said that a general impression existed that the Caledonion Society was an old Highland Scotch body, archaic and out of date. People had said that they could even take their fill of whisky—(laughter)—and the question would be put, “How much?” “Oh, any given quantity,” they would reply. AH this, however, was entirely wrong when applied to the Caledonian Society, which had been created awav back in the sixties, the founders’ view being to establish a healthy mind in a healthy body. At first the society had supported professional sport, but now it was strongly in favour of amateurism and junior sport. As a sports body it was bound to let its ground to any other body that applied for it, and the League would have had it had not the Rugby Union a lease of it at the time. In conclusion, he mentioned that the society had lately spent £3OOO on the Caledonian Ground, and it was still much in need of improvement. The toast of the “Otago Team” was proposed by Mr C. Clarke, who said that the team was the host Otago had had for four years, and if ever they had a hope of “putting it across” Wellington they would do so this year. The team was a young one, he added, and he suggested Mat seasoned men should assist in training it. Mr G. Tapp replied on behalf of the team. Tile secretary of the Otago Centre (Mr R. Swinney) was also toasted, and reference was made to his valuable work for the .Sport. During the evening Mr Macassey announced that Mr W. L Hooper (the founder of the Port Chalmers-Dunedin Road Race) had offered the prize-money (£5 10s 6d) for the next race and had expressed the hope that the entry would be free. He hoped thus to see a larger entry and more starters. Later two contributions of half a guinea and one of 10s were received. The following coni-huted musical selections :—Solos —Messrs W. Duff, G. H. Luckhurst, and H. Clarke; violin solo, Mr C. Frye; instrumental duet, Messrs Morrison. Mr R. Bennell played the accompaniments, and the evening concluded with the National Anthem.