SECOND RACE OF SEASON

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 10

SECOND RACE OF SEASON

NEW PLYMOUTH HARRIER CLUB.

.THOMPSON'S FINE PERFORMANCE.

The second race of. the .New Plymouth Harrier Club’s season was held on Saturday afternoon over a four and a-half miles course, starting and finkhing on the racecourse. The course began in front of the judge’s box and covered one lap of the racecourse before covering one lap of the championship course. . The overnight rain made the going very i heavy and this probably made the times a little slower than would have been the case on a drier course. The club’s attendances this year have been excellent and Saturday proved no exception, 27- runners facing the The limit men started out at a fast pace and kept it up until the finish of the race. The field was well strung out as far as the Scout reserve, where it began to bunch more. H. Hopkins took the lead here and kept it as far as the High School cricket ground, where A. J. Thompson overtook him. The two were well ahead of the rest but Thompson finished well clear of* Hopkins, who again was well clear of R. Smith. S. Richards was fourth, and C. C. Robertson was fifth.

Fastest time was again taken by H. S. Kingston, with A. J. Thompson second and R. Smith third. The honours of the race went to A. Thompson, who completely reversed the form he • displayed in the last race to win comfortably. Thompson has evidently settled to serious 'training and now that he has started he should be always among the first home, a.s there k no doubt that when fit he js a runner of class. The second man home, H. Hopkins, is a first season runner and he he begun well and he should meet with a good season. R. Smith seems to have struck form early this season, and he seems a certainty for the club’s A team. S. Richards and C. C. Robertson both performed well and Robertson, one of the club’s oldest members, is coming back to form. H. Kingston, the scratch man, ran a very fine race as the middle-markers made the going very hard for those who followed, for they went at it from the start.

The individual placings were:— A. J. Thompson (lm. 455.), 23m. 435. 1 H. Hopkins (3m. 205.), 25m- 375. .. 2 R. Smith (lm. 405.), 24m. 18s 3 L, Richards (2m. 205.), 25m. 7s 4 C. C. Robertson (2m. 455.), 25m. 395. 5 R. Coombes (3m. 255.), 26m. 21s. .. 6 T. Gray (2m. 455), 25m. 505.; C, Rosser (4m.), 27m. 145.; H. Cooper (4m. 205.), 27m. 365.; H. S. Kingston (scr), 23m. 205.; A. W. Lander (2m. 255), 25m. 555.; J. S. Pike (lm. 15s), 24m. 515.; G. R. Stewart (4m. 155.), 28m; R, J. Stewart (lm. 305.), 25m. 405.; C. W. Broad (10s.), 24m. 265;- L. J. Thompson (3m.), 27m. 195.; R, Sewer' (4m. 155.), 28m. 405.; F. M. White (5m.), 30m. 175.; M. B. Radford (455.), 26m. 495.; R; Dingle (2m. 455.), 29m.; R. Richards (4m. 255.), 30m. 405.; A. Johnston (2m.), 28m. 205.; J. E. Warner (5m.), 31m. 205.; T. Sheppard (4m.), 30m. 505.; H. South (4m.), 32m--155.; R. Hoby (2m.), 32m.; The six fastest times were: H. S. Kingston, 23m. 205.; A. J. Thompson, 23m. 425.; R. Smith, 24m. 18s.; C. W. Broad, 24m. 265; J. S. Pike, 24m. 515.; S. Richards, 25m. 7s. The officiak controlling the race were: Judges, Messrs A. S. Hunter and A. C. Sadler; timekeepers,. Messrs H. Hodgson and J. Haymer; handicapper, Mr. A. S. Hunter. In the evening a tea was held and the prizes for the race, together with prizes for a sealed handicap race, were

svwavaMaißßMiaMaHaaanKniaiMa presented by Mr. A. F. Warner. For the sealed handicap race the prizes presented were: J. S. Pike 1, C, W. Broad 2. Consolation, L. Richards. For the four and a-half miles race the prizes were;A. J. Thompson 1, H. Hopkins 2, R. Smith 3. Afterwards singing was held and R. Hofoy and H. South gave items. The choir performed well Under the baton of Mr. A. Hunter. The pianists were V. Ackroyd and R. Dingle. The run next Saturday will be from East End beach and the following week the annual Hurworth run will be held.