CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18764, 22 July 1935, Page 4

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING

SAVIDAN RETAINS TITLE AUCKLAND TEAM’S WIN (Per Pre3S Association.) WELLINGTON, lasi night. The New Zealand cross-country championship was held at Lyall Bay in bleak conditions on Saturday afternoon. Results were:— Teams championship: Auckland (Savidan 1, Cooper 2, Briggs 11.'McKenzie 14), 1 28 ’ points, ’1; Otago >(Pullar ■>. Geddes 6, Stewart 8, Games 16), 23 points, ‘2; Wellington (Stevens 4J, Riddington 44, Bagnall 1.3, Roberts 17), .3!) points, '3; r Canterbury. (Watson 7, Park 12, ‘Fox IS, Rogers 2d), 02 points, 4- West Coast of North Island (Johnston 9, Weller 10, Smith 20, Bills 20), (55 points, ,5; Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (Lord 19, Ready 24, Wright 27, Donford 33), 103 points, 0.

Individual championship: J. W. Savidan (Auckland), 35,43, 1; N. Cooper (Auckland). 36.5, 2; W. Pullar (Otago),: 36.21,' 3; A. Stevens. (Wellington), 30.27, and .T. Riddington (Wellington), 30.27, tie, 4; A. Geddes (Otago), 36.38, 6; G. Watson (Canterbury), 36.41, 7; W. Stewart (Otago), 36.44 8; W. Birtwistle (Auckland), 36 47* 9; W. Johnston (West Coast of North Island), 36,55,. 10; W Weller (West Coast of North Island), 30.50, 11; W. Briggs (Auckland), 37.3, 12. The

triumph for J. W. Savidan (Auckland), who won the title for the sixth time when he ran home the winner by some 120yds, from his team-mate, N. Cooper, wlio comfortably defeated W. Pullar (Otago).

HOLDERS DEFEATED Contrary to expectations, Auckland defeated the holders (Otago) in the 1 earns championship, in which Wellington, finishing third, made a very bold showing. Savidan ran to the front shortly after the start, followed by Pullar, Weller, Watson, Park and Cooper. For the first mile there was no change in the order of the leading men, although Savidan was slowly but surety [Hilling away from the field. Leaving'the Hat'anil getting on to the hills for the first time, the Auckland athlete continued to make every post a 'winning one, although he lost a considerable amount, of ground, .as did quite a big bunch who followed him by running off the course and climbing rather more of the hill than was necessary.

The mistake, however, made no' real difference to the result, either at this stage or ultimately, since the Held eventually, merged at this stage. The Auckland team was well up, having four men in the first dozen, while Otago and Wellington, too, were showing very encouraging signs of good team work. When he entered the road a mile from home, Savidan was a good 250yds. ahead of Pullar. Half a mile from home Cooper went away from Pullar, the three finishing in that r[Qr.der,_; ..

TEAM TO TOUR ■ AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (Per Kress Association.) WELLINGTON, last, night. The following cross-country team has been picked by the joint selectors (p,. R. McKcrron and A. Croker) to represent. New 1 Zealand at the Australian cluunpiousliips- at Sydney on August 17: ,1. \Y. Savidan (Auckland), N. F. Cooper (Auckland), W. A. I’allar (Otago), A. L. Stevens (Wellington), .1. Riddington (Wellington), A. It. Geddes (Otago). (!. H. Watson (Canterbury), and W. A. Stewart. (Otago) were selected to replace any of the .above unable to go. On Saturday night, Savidan, who-had announced on Friday that ho would not be able to make the trip, said that lie was still very much in doubt. Unless financial arrangements could be made, there was little prospect of his going.

’VARSITY ATHLETICS AMERICA BEATS ENGLAND (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, July 8. At While City, Harvard and Yale boat, Oxford and Cambridge in the inter-’varsity athletic contests. Both secured six firsts, but the Americans gained 4$ seconds.

WORLD’S WALKING RECORD LONDON, July 21. A. A, Cooper established a. world’s walking record, covering 3000 metres 'in 12min. 3S J-ssoc,