HARRIERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20761, 23 June 1937, Page 8

HARRIERS

TAKAHE - AKAROA RACE THE TIMARU TEAMS The Takahe —Akaroa Road Relay Race, which will be held on Saturday, has attracted 192 competitors. The Timaru teams are as follows: A Grade: I—G. McKirdy, 2—l. Gillon, 3—T. Shivas, 4—E. Darby, 5 —C. Langrish, 6—R. E. Taylor, 7—E. Wilson, B—L. Williams. Five of the above team competed in this event last year. G. McKirdy, who takes the first lap, finished second in his stage last year. He Is a strong runner, and with his knowledge of the course, he should improve on last year’s effort. He has been South Canterbury Champion for the last two seasons. I. Gillon takes over the baton at the second lap. He established a good lead for his team last year, is a consistent runner, and can always be relied on in team racing.

T. Shivas takes over the baton at this change. Last year he ran the last lap. After starting 400 yards behind L. E. Fox, of Christchurch, he overhauled him, and ran a magnificent race to carry his team to victory. He should be of valuable assistance at this early stage of the race. E. Darby, also a member of last year’s team, takes the baton at this stage. Last year he finished in third place. He is a promising runner, and performed very well as a junior, and with proper attention to training should do well this season.

C. Langrish, a new memoer of the team, takes up the running at this stage. He is a young runner, and shows promise of turning out one of our best cross-country runners in Timaru. Rex Taylor, another new member of the team, was unable to compete last year. He has been a consistent performer in local competitions, and last year he was in the Canterbury team that competed in the New Zealand Championships. His presence in the team considerably strengthens it, and will give the other members more confidence. Eric Wilson takes over the baton at this change. He ran this lap last year, finishing in second place and gaining fastest time for the lap. He hopes to better his own time on Saturday.

Lloyd Williams, who will run the final lap, was not available last year. He is the strongest runner Timaru has in the cross-country sport. His running in the Walmate-Tlmaru relay race was excellent, and he can be relied on to run a good race this event. His team mates have the fullest confidence in his racing ability to give him the very best team work in Saturday’s event. B Grade I—H. Ward, 2—A. H. Williams, 3—F. Walker, 4—J. Wallace, 5—R. Smith, 6—J. Donaldson, 7—J. Strachan, B—J. Winnington. H. Ward will run the first lap. He is an experienced runner, and at present is showing excellent form and will give his team a splendid start. A. H. Williams, who takes over the baton at this change, is a new runner this season, and on his splendid showing in the Wainiate race he justifies his place in the team. F. Walker, a promising junior, takes over the baton for this lap. He is capable of running an excellent race, and should be able to hold any advantage gained. J. Wallace, a good road runner, takes the baton for this lap, and can be relied on to carry on good team work.

R. Smith, a young runner who has not competed in open events, takes over the baton for this lap, and he can be relied on to run a good race. J. Donaldson, a junior runner, will run the Hill Top lap. He has shown promise as a junior, and on his past performances he has earned his place In the team. J. Strachan, who takes over the baton at this change, is a young runner, and was last year a junior. He is running well at present, and the lap he is to run should suit him. J. Winnington is the runner to finish for the B Grade team. He ran some excellent runs as a junior in the 1935 season. Last year he had a spell, not taking an active part in the sports. He has shown promise this season of becoming one of the best performers amongst the younger runners, and he will not let his team down without making a real effort to finish in a place for them. The race will be run under the control of the Cross-Country Committee of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre, and under the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, subject to certain provisions. WINNING TEAM 1935. Christchurch—L. E. Fox, R. F. Rogers, D. H. Pannell, L. J. Sparkes, T. Bartlett, H. Novis, T. Wilhelm and G. H. Watson (captain). Winning Team 1935 Timaru—G. McKirdy, I. Gillon, J. Darby, E. Darby, A. Aitkenhead, C. W. Holmes, E. Wilson T. Shivas. Fastest Times, 1936 Takahe to Allandale D. Brown (Baptist) 33mln 15sec. Allandale to Gebbies’ Valley—R. F. Rogers (Christchurch), 34mln 58sec. Gebbies’ Valley to Kaltuna—D. H. Parnell (Christchurch), 33mln. Kaituna to Lake Forsyth—C. S. Ell (Methodist), 38min 45sec. Lake Forsyth to Little River—T. Bartlett (Christchurch), 41min 25sec. Little River to Hill Top—C. Gordon (Presbyterian), 31mln 24sec. Hill Top to Duvauchelle —E. Wilson (Timaru), 29mln 19sec. Duvauchelle to Akaroa—A. H. Wayman (Methodist), 40min 45sec. Stages of Race Takahe—Allandale: 5.4 miles. Allandale—Gebbies’ Valley: 6.1 miles. Gebbies’ Valley—Kaituna: 6.6 miles. Kaituna—Lake Forsyth: 6.8 miles. Lake Forsyth—Little River: 7.3 miles. Little River—Hill Top: 4.5 miles. Hill Top—Duvauchelle: 5.9 miles. Duvauchelle—Akaroa: 6.6 miles. Total distance—49.2 miles.