ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 49

ATHLETICS

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

OTAGO WINS TEAMS’ RACE.

AUCKLAND, August 29. The Dominion Cross-country Championship was held to-day in fine weather, and was won by J. W. Savidan (Auckland) from N. F. Cooper (Auckland). H. Johnson (Otago) was third. Otago won the Teams’ Race, finishing third, fourth, sixth, and seventh, and securing 20 points. Auckland was second with 25 points, and Wanganui third with 58 points. The fast pace set at the start saw Barber (Auckland) leading from Silver, Morris, and Weller over the hill. Savidan and Cooper took charge, and led from Ellerslie in the run round to Lake St. John. After three miles had been covered Savidan gradually drew away, with Cooper second and Johnson third. This order was maintained to the finish. Savidan winning brilliantly by 120 yards, with Johnson a similar distance away third. The Otago men teamed remarkably well, but Wellington were disappointing. Prosser, of Wellington, ran well in the early stages, but dropped back, and finished fifteenth. Barrer, of Canterbury, came up well to finish sixth.

This is Savidan's fourth victory in this event. Auckland, in gaining second place in the teams’ event, made their best showing for many years. There were 35 competitors, representing Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Wanganui Taranaki, and Auckland, and the distance was six and a-quarter miles. The time, 35min 54sec, was remarkably fast, and compares favourably with similar events abroad.

With the exception of Savidan none of .the favoured division finished very close up, the pace set by the leaders causing many runners to slow up. Cooper, Nicholson, and Barker (all of Auckland), in their third attempt gave greatly-improved displays. AMERICAN ATHLETES, REQUEST FOR NEW SUITS DECLINED. WELLINGTON, August 25. While in New Zealand the three American athletes-—Rothert, Simpson, and Kiser —requested of the New Zealand Council of the: Amateur Athletic Association that they should be provided with a suit of clothes each as clothing expenses- This was declined on the ground that an affirmative reply might undanger the amateur status of the visitors, but as the question had not been raised previously the A.A.A. decided to obtain a ruling from: the international federation, and its reply to hand upholds the action taken by tlie A.A.A. The question of the reinstating of A. D. Kane, of Canterbury, who had been selected as a member of the Canterbury team for the cross-country championships at Auckland, and who had competed as a dirt track motor cyclist, was considered, and st unanimous decision was reached that his reinstatement be made as from April 4 of this year.