Amateur Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 14, Issue 29, 15 September 1906, Page 10

Amateur Notes.

(By “Cyclops.”).

SOUTHLAND CROSS - COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP AND TEAMS’ RACE AT GORE. A VERY INTERESTING RACE. C. L. SMITH, GORE, WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. R E. BUST AND W. J. LOPDELL CLOSE UPThe long- looked for crosscountry championship and teams’ race was held at Gore on Wednesday, September 12th, the weather being excellent, with everything favourable for a fast race. The Invercargill contingent arrived at Gore at 3 p.m., and were met at the station by a large crown of enthusiasts. Messrs Bust and Montgomery, the selectors of the course, had all the arrangements in connection with the race well in hand, and had stewards with flags stationed at various points of the course, instead of the usual paper trail. The following were the officials :—Starter, Mr J. J. Bell ; Judges, Messrs Montgomery, Bust, Paape and S illie ; timekeepers, Messrs A. J. Gibbs, W. Baker, and J. J. Bell. A large crowd of spectators assembled at the Post Office, where the start was made, and the large field looked very imposing in their colours as they were lined up by Mr J. J. Bell, the starter. The Gore, Invercargill, and Union Clubs were each represented by ten men, and the All Blacks by five. The course was down the main road, through Miss Mclntyre’s property to Broughton street, across the swamp to Mr Badman’s residence on the Charlton-Waimumu road, thence to the racecourse, once round, and on to the main road home.

After the start the field was not long in stringing out, Smith being in the lead with Bust, Trembath, Ross, and Brownlie in close attendance, Liopdell in the ruck. After a mile and a half had been traversed Lopdell had improved his position, and entering the racecourse was in the lead, with Smith, Bust, Trembath, and Brownlie still in the van. Half way round the course the latter two dropped back, and the three front men were cracking on the pace. On entering the road Bust dropped back slightly, and Lopdell was still in the lead, with Smith just behind. Five hundred yards from home the latter wont to the front, and gradually forging ahead, won by about fifteen yards from Bust, who put in a good sprint, and beat Lopdell for second place. Then came Trembath, Brownlie, and Buchanan, and the rest of the field at irregular intervals. The following is the result : CHAMPIONSHIP. C. L. Smith (Gore), Ist ; time —29 mins. 56 secs. R. E; Bust (Invercargill), 2nd ; time —29 mins 59 secs. W. J. Lopdell (All Blacks), 3rd ; time—3o mins. CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS’ RACE. GORE.—C. L. Smith 1, W. Trembath 4, G. Brownlie 5, W. Ross 7, H. Cameron 13, J. Winsloe 20 ; total, 50. UNION. —S. Cockroft 8, G. Driscoll 9, G. Fredric-10, J. Stewart 11, A. Driscoll 12, F. Galbraith 16 ; total, 66. INVERCARGILL.—R. E. Bust 2, H. Buchanan 6, J. Davies 14, S. Nash 15, A’. S. Peters 21, J. A. Lyon 23 ; total 81f The Gore Club are to be highly congratulated on their dual win, which was obtained after very meritorious performances. This is the first harrier championship, and the Gore Club will be the first to have their names placed on the banner that goes wiiti the win. C. L. Smith of the same club also receives the' gold medal for first man home. The arrangements in connection with the race were excellent, and the officials and stewards deserve special praise for the splendid way they carried out their duties.