HARRIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 4

HARRIERS.

SERIOUS RACING NOW STARTING.

NEWS AND NOTES. The harrier season has now settled down to earnest business. Last Saturday the Kaiapoi Club held a successful teams’ race, while the Christchurch and Baptist Clubs will hold similar events to-morrow. The runners should now be in solid training in order to be ready for the Canterbury crosscountry championship, which will be held on August 10 or 17. The probable date of the New Zealand championship is August 31. Kaiapoi Club. The individual result of the Kaiapoi Club’s teams race last Saturday was as follows:

The winning team was Hunter, Toner, Livingstone and Lilley. Christchurch Club. The Christchurch Club held its run on Saturday from the residence of I\lr and Mrs C. L. Martin, 23, Valley Road, Cashmere. The trail-layers, J. K. Martin and R. R. Chester, set a course of about six miles, principally on the hills. There was an attendance of forty. The slow pack held a run-in over the last half-mile, C. J. Mahan being first, with E. Knight second and H. Howarth third. The intermediate pack’s run-in was held over the same distance, the result being: E. H. Shirley* 1, R. J. Hyde 2, A. J. Wagner 3. The fast pack's run was spoilt by accidents to two of the runners, J. M’Kee and J. D. Pascoe, who both hurt their ankles through the roughness of the hills. The pack split towards the end of the run, R. M. Barrer and E. C. Jackson showing better form than the others. Mr and Mrs Martin entertained the runners at afternoon tea. Mr C. G. Mahan (captain) returned thanks on behalf of the club.

To-morrow the club will hold its teams’ race. Last season’s race was a great success, and to-morrow’s event promises to be even more successful. J. G. Barnes should be the first man home, but the teams are so even that it is almost impossible to pick the winning team. Further entries will be taken at the post, and the following teams have been provisionally selected:— Barnes (captain), Hobbs, Hyde, Sayers and Reid. Austin (captain), Charters, W. Olliver and Knight. Pascoe (rcaptain), Meredith, Cookson and Easterfield. R. M. Barrer (captain), Chester, R. S-. Oliver and Adkins. Jackson (captain), Martin, Parrott and Carter.. B. A. Barrer (captain), Shirley, Paulton and Harker. C. Clapshaw (captain), Candy, Smith and Parr. Malian (captain), Dromgoole, Farthing and Head. J. M’Kee, the Canterbury crosscountry champion of 1927, injured an ankle last week, and will be confined to his home for a fortnight. M’Kee had been in training *.nd was showing a return to his best form. He will not train again this season, but probably will take on the field games next track season. F. A. Clapshaw, who won the Christchurch Club’s novice race this season, has been transferred to Wellington, and to-morrow will be his last run with the local club. He will run with the Brooklyn Club in Wellington. Combined Run. Twenty members of the Baptist and twenty-six members of the Presbyterian Clubs held a combined run from the Opawa Baptist Church, the Presbyterians afterwards being entertained at afternoon tea by the Baptist Club. The course was over a six-mile trail, laid by C. F. Jones and W. Matthews (Baptist Club), crossing the Heathcote River twice, and over the sanatorium spur and up again over the Glenmore quarries spur. Plenty of stiff hill work was provided, some parts being exceptionally steep. Of the slow pack, C Broughton (Baptist) and M. F. Foate were first in, while J. Sargent (Presbyterian) and R. W. Hyde (Baptist) were the best of the intermediate pack. The run-in ' of the fast pack resulted: A. Park (Baptist) 1, M. Robinson (Presbyterian) 2, J. Walton and B. 11 Wood (both Baptist), equal, 3.

To-morrow the club will be the guests of Mr and Mrs T. E. Dench, 5, Chancellor Street, St Albans, when a good attendance is expected. The run will take the form of a teams’ race, four teams competing. S. T. Barnett and Smith will be in charge of the paper and competitors should have no difficulty in following the trail. The following will constitute the teams:— Wood's Team —B. 11. Wood, R. W. Ilyde, L. C. Fulford, A. Miles, M. D. Watts and I. Mitchell. Odell’s Team —R. S. Odell, J. Scrimshaw, W. Eagle, M. F. Foate, E. R. Simpson and C. B. Robson. Park’s Team—A. Park, J. Grant, J. Walker, C. Broughton and R. 11. Scott. Jones’s Team —C. F. Jones. J. Walton, R. Nielson, W. Haymes, W. Matthews and W. Nicholls.^ Presbyterian Club. To-morrow the run will be from the Sumner Presbyterian Church at the corner of Berry and Hardwicke Streets. Runners should catch the No. 3 tram from the Square at 1.45 p.m. The re-design of the club’s badge has been under discussion for some time past, and after the next run a vote will be taken to decide the final design. The lantern lecture on “Tongariro National Park” was'well attended, and the audience was treated to a very clear and lucid description of the thermal and scenic wonders of the region.

The thanks of the club are due to the Rev W. Bower Black, who gave the lecture, and to Mr W. A. Kennedy, who provided the slides. The members are now looking forward to June 29, when the first race of the season, the Comber Cup Open Handicap, will be held. This event should be very interesting and well contested as this year there has been an influx of new blood and the performances of some of the best men have been very even. 25 25 25 Temuka-Timaru Road Race. The committee of the Timaru Club has decided that the annual road race this year will be held as a sealed handicap in conjunction with a teams’ race, instead of the usual handicap event. Each team is to consist of six members, with five to count. Mr W. C. Cameron has donated a banner for competition in the teams’ event. The following committees have been appointed to deal with the various phases of the road race:—General controlling committee, Messrs E. Firken, W. C. Cameron, E. H etherington, E. M’Rae, J. Norrie, and J. Freeman; entertainment committee, Messrs __ E. Firken, C. Slade, J. Glass and J. Kennedy; billeting committee, Messrs J Freeman, E. Iletherington and W. C. Cameron. Lace Your Shoes Properly. Last week several members of the Christchurch Club’s fast pack had to stop to lace up their shoes. This is a common failing in Canterbury and should be remedied. Men wearing rubber shoes should not tie the lace round the instep, as it is certain to wear out when running on the road. All team captains in races should examine the shoes of all their men before the start.

Damage to Property. Recently members of one harrier club left a gate open and did other damage on a farm at Cashmere. The owner of the property was naturally’ verv annoyed, and it is the duty, not only of the clubs, but of every individual harrier, to treat the property of those who are generous enough to allow them its use with the same respect as they would treat their own property. This is a point which the executives of the clubs should stress in season and out of season until all their members have learnt the lesson thoroughly. Timaru Club.

Last Saturday thirty-two members of the Timaru Club journeyed to Totara Valley, where they were the guests of Mr and Mrs R. Seaton. Three packs followed an ideal seven-mile trail laid by J. O’Leary and A. Foden. The course, which was an ideal cross-coun-try one, included numerous strenuous hills, ploughed paddocks, water-jumps and goose fences. The first man to finish was C. Berry*, of the slow pack, closely followed by J. Eaton. Of the fast pack. The next to arrive was L. Prouan, of the intermediate pack, with R. Broadhead a few yards further back. J. Eaton is showing a great improvement on his last year’s form, and is gradually developing into a determined cross-country* runner. A. Harper and R. J3roadhead are also running well at present. To-morrow’s run—Guests of Mr W. E. Eaton, Bay Pavilion. EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE. J. J. MORRIS’S BRILLIANT WIN. Recognised as one of New Zealand’s harrier classics, the Edmond Cup three-mile steeplechase, promoted by the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, has produoed some splendid contests, but there have b'een few, if any, races to surpass in interest that held at Wingatui last Saturday afternoon, when no fewer than 160 runners, representing seventeen teams from fifteen different clubs, faced the starter (Mr P. Romeril). The race was contested by a field from some of the best-known crosscountry* men in New Zealand, including J. W. Tapp, E. L. Brown, and C. W. Fry*e—all of whom have held the New Zealand title—J. G. Barnes and W. H. B. Hobbs (previous winners of the race), J. J. Morris (a New Zealand representative miler), L. C. M Lachlan (the New Zealand half-mile champion), several others who have represented Otago across country, and many promising young runners. Christchurch was entered as a team, but the only* northern representative to start was Barnes.

Conditions overhead were all that could be desired, but the track was very heavy*, the going being hard all the way. Under the circumstances, a very fast clip was maintained throughout the race, with the issue in doubt almost to the finish. J. J. Morris, the brilliant y*oung Caversham runner, was in fine form, however, and after being prominent all the way left Barnes when the latter challenged up the straight, winning in the fastest time for the day of 17min 16 3-ssee. E. J. Johnston (Pacific), holder of the Otago three-mile championship, was third, and J. W. Tapp, of Caversham, was fourth.

The teams’ race resulted in an easy win for Caversham No. 1 team, holders of the cup. Civil Service being run-ners-up—a position it occupied last year—with Pacific in third place. The sealed handicap was won by Mornington, St Kilda being runnersup.

The conduct of the race left little to be desired, thanks to the efforts of Messrs B. 11. Rosevear and R. Thompson (superintendents) and an energetic band of officials, comprising Messrs E. L. Macassey (referee), A. Melville (timekeeper), J. Smith (secretary*), and R. A. Malone, R. Swinney, J. Beatson, P. W. Bennett, and B. H. Rosevear (judges). Mr J. E. Fitzgerald handicapped the sealed handicap. When the runners assembled at the start just below the stand • shortly after three o’clock, there were over 1000 spectators, who witnessed a perfect despatch, the field getting away at a fast bat. J. G. Barnes (Christchurch) easily showed out, and at the first sod wall he went over just ahead of J. H. M’Laren (Pacific), E. J. Johnston (Pacific), and J. J. Morris (.Caversham). These men were practically* in a bunch, with J. W. Tapp (Caversham) three places further back. The first, post and rails saw an alteration in the position. Morris, who was running very* freely*, going over ahead of Barnes and Johnston. L. C. M’Lachlan (Civil Service) came next, ahead of Tapp and R. Graham (Civil Service). Morris, Barnes, and Johnston were almost in line at the second sod wall, the field being well strung out. Tapp improved his position along the back stretch, but at the water jump Morris was still out in front, Johnston being three or four y*ards in the rear, closely* attended by Barnes. Tapp, M’Laren.

and J. Don (University). Passing the stand at the end of the first lap Morris was out in front, running very easily and striding well, Johnston was only five yards back just ahead of Tapp and Barnes. Then came M’Laren, Don and Price, and at the head of another bunch some distanace back were Logan and Hobbs, the veteran C. W. Frye being a little further back.

The second time round the first four or five leaders maintained their positions at the first sod wall, Morris and Johnston still being in the van at the post and rails. This pair were going

away* from the field at the second sod wall, though Barnes and Tapp were still maintaining a solid pace just ahead of M’Laren and Don. The order was unchanged along the back, though Barnes drew up on the leaders. Morris further improved his position at the water jump, and entering the final jump he led by a couple of yards from Barnes, who had displaced Johnston in second berth. The Christchurch man challenged, but Morris drew away in a great spurt, and won brilliantly by* fifty yards from Barnes, Johnston being ten yards further back third. Then came the consistent Johnny Tapp, just ahead of W. A. Stewart (Anglican), who finished very strongly ahead of Don, M'Laren and Logan. Hobbs, Price, Fish, M’Connell. Wood, D. F. Brown and Clark finished in that order, and in sixteenth position was the/fevergreen C. W. Frye. E. L. Brown (Civil Service) suffered knee trouble, and did not complete the first round. / One hundred and thirty-eight runners finished. Detailed Results. The individual championship resulted as follows: J. J. Morris (Caversham) 1 J. G. Barnes (Christchurch) 2 E. J. Johnston (Pacific) 3 J. W. Tapp (Caversham No. 1) .... 4 W. A. Stewart (Anglican) 5 j. Don (University*) 6 J. 11. M’Laren (Pacific) 7 L. W. Logan (University) 8 W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific) 9 A. L. Price (Anglican) 10 E. Fish (Pacific) 11 T. M. M'Connell (Caversham No. 1) 12 L. A. Wood (Caversham No. 1) .... 13 D. F. Brown (Caversham) 14 C. F. Clark (Caversham) 15 The teams’ race resulted:— Caversham No. 1 (J. J. Morris 1. J. W. Tapp 4, W. 11. B. Hobbs 9, T. M. M’Connell 12, L. A. Woods 13. D. F. Brown 14), 53 points . . 1 Civil Service No. 1 (E. Q. lirotvn 19, R. M. Stevens 20, R. Graham 23, G. M’Knight 27, C.. S. Thompson 28), 153 points 2 Pacific (E. J. Johnston 3, J. H. M’Laren 7, E. Fish 11, F. Mouat 30, T. Chettleburgh 40, C. J. Henry 67), 158 -3 Dunedin and Christchurch did not start or finish full teams. The result of the sealed handicap was: — Mornington (279 points, handicap 345, net aggregate 66) 1 St Kilda (357, 375. 18) 2 Pacific (158, 155, 3) 3 At the conclusion of the race Mr E. L. Macassey (president of the Otago Amateur Centre) presented the prizes to the winners, for whom cheers were given by the large crowd assembled.

1 D. 2 L. 3 A. 4 E. 5 C. 6 R. 7 L. 8 P. 9 M. 10 C. Kane G. Harper ... Toner H tin ter Gordon Graham Hill Vaughan .... Anderson ... Kerens Grav min. ... 34 sec. 0 0 30 30 0 15 30 0 0 15 12 M. Lilley ... 36 15 14 P. 15 P. Phillips 0 16 C. 17 W. Cross ... 38 15 18 R. Dunn ... 45 0