HARRIERS

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 19

HARRIERS

ST. PAUL’S CLUB.

This morning the St. Paul’s Harrier Club’s first Edmond Cup team leaves by train for Wingatui. The party consists of A. Hind, R. L. Woods, B. A. McAlister, A. Stevens, H. Dunlop, T. E. Dorman, R. L. Clarke, J. D. Walker, N. J. Dorman, and R. G. Petrie, accompanied by W. E. Maclndoe as manager. This is the first occasion on which any Southland club has been represented in the event; consequently great things are not expected of the present team. Two of the original team were unable to make the trip, M. von Tunzelman and’ J. Henry, and both emergencies have been included.. The very bad weather locally has interrupted ing considerably, but on the whole the team is fairly fit. Last week’s run from Waikiwi was quite enjoyable in spite of the steady rain and cold wind. The team was almost complete and held a non-stop run over some good but very heavy country. The pack was somewhat smaller than usual on account of the weather.

Next week members pay their annual visit to Mr and Mrs Clark at Tussock Creek, but there is no race to be held there this year. The usual pack run is more enjoyable in the district. After to-day members must begm to think of the approaching cross-coun-try events. Those who have held places in the Edmond Cup team will be able to take things easy for a short time before they get down to business again. The seniors will have to run over six and a quarter miles as last year, but the juniors will only run three. The new members should remember that running across the country is not quite like running round the racecourse; a good deal of practice seems to be required in the negotiation of fences by all our men. Another thing we have leamt by experience is that it is not advisable for the juniors to race over more than their championship distance; it seems to take the edge off their speed over about the second mile. There are several men both senior and junior who have not yet raced, but are quite capable of winning a place; they should begin to think seriously about training if they hope to gain team honours.

INVERCARGILL CLUB. Despite the wretched weather of last Saturday, there was a muster of 20 runners for the weekly outing. The pack ran from the residence of Mr and Mrs W. Torrance, St. Andrew street, who entertained the members after the run. No trail was laid, the club captain taking the initiative in picking a trail as the run progressed. Splitting up early in the afternoon, the fast pack kept moving over a course of about six miles through very mixed going. It was a good endurance test and coming home against the wind tried the stamina of the runners. The slow pack covered practically the same country, their course being slightly shorter. The new men of the pack were again showing up well and the rapidity with which they have settled down to hard running is remarkable. With the club cross-country championship taking place at Ryal Bush next week-end, the racing season is rapidly approaching. There are likely to be some surprises in this event and the writer would be unwilling to make any prophecies regarding the placings. Runners should remember that a team is being sent to Otago on July 6 to compete in the Otago cross-country championship and the results of the club race will have much to do with the choosing of this team. This trip is a great experience to young runners and does much to improve the standard, of running. It is only when competing against teams like these taking part in this event that a man realizes just what a hard cross-country race is like. In training for this event it should be remembered that the field starts off like an express train and the first quarter of a mile is covered almost at a 440 pace. It will, therefore, be readily understood that it is worse than useless to train along the “steady-jog” lines. Owing to the Indian hockey fixture to-day, the run will be held in town and not from Waianiwa as scheduled. A short run will be held from the Tepid Baths commencing at 1.45 sharp.