NEW ZEALAND BEATEN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND BEATEN

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIANS. SAVIDAN VERY DISAPPOINTING. PULLAR FILLS SECOND PLACE. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 6.30 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 18. Australia beat New Zealand in the cross-country test by 14 points to 22 at the Parramatta course yesterday. New Zealand filled second, fifth, seventh and eighth places with Pullar, Cooper, Savidan. and Riddington respectively, while Australia gained first, third, fourth and sixth with Sheaves, Patterson (New South Wales), Cooper and Weightman (Victoria). It was necessary for New Zealand to count against the first four Australians finishing. Savidan was disappointing. Sheaves won the individual title in record time which was officially corrected to read 32m 20s. He made the pace practically throughout. At the end of a mile covered in 5.30 the field was bunched, with Savidan at Sheaves’ shoulder. At the end of three miles Sheaves, Savidan and Colman (1931 winner) were together, the time being 15.10. After that Sheaves forged ahead, leading Pullar by 34 seconds when five miles had been covered in 25.41. Savidan finished seventh and showed distress.

The test was run concurrently with the Australian teams’ individual titles, which New South Wales won with 19 points, Victoria being second with 22, Queensland third with 41 and Tasmania fourth with 54.

The course was virtually a 10,000 metres track and on a road run. There was scarcely any hill, no heavy soil and no obstacle. The day was sunny and more sultry than any since the New Zealanders arrived, the weather approximating that of midsummer. Pullar was always within striking distance of all excep‘ Sheaves, and recovering the leeway finished brilliantly, outsprinting Patterson by five yards to gain second place. The New Zealand manager, Mr. White, said: “Sheaves ran us off our legs. There are no excuses. Sheaves is a champion in any company. We have no regrets after participating in. the race. We are pleased at our reception, and the knowledge that we are cementing goodwill at athletics as well as between the public of the two countries. The conditions made for fast times and were altogether unlike those of New Zealand crosscountry courses.” The official placing and times are:— Sheaves (New South Wales), 32.20, .. 1 Pullar (New Zealand), 32.46 2

Patterson (New South Wales), 32.49.. 3 Colman (Victoria), 32.55 . 4 Cooper (New Zealand), 32.58 5 All were under Hillhouse’s record of 33m 22s in 1929.