HARRIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19107, 27 June 1930, Page 13

HARRIERS.

KENNETT CUP RACE. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Christchurch Harrier Club’s first annual contest for the Kennett and Olliver Cups, held last Saturday afternoon at the Riccarton Racecourse, was a wonderful success and reflects' considerable credit on all the club’s I officials, who had worked well to en- J sure the success that resulted. The J field of over eighty runners going over 1 the Grand National course made a truly glorious sight, and the whole spectacle was first-class. j The fact that there were nine Canterbury men in the first twenty has caused considerable pleasure among the local enthusiasts, who had not expected more than half that number. The field contained some of New Zealand’s best cross-country runners, and the local men did really well. In New Zealand championships in the last few years they have been hopelessly outclassed, but it is now apparent that the standard of performance is on the up grade, and better results can be expected in the national title event at Wellington in August. J. J. Morris, the winner, is one of the Dominion s best long-distance runners. He ran his usual solid and well-judged race, and at the end he ran out a most comfortable winner. He was never far from the leaders and always appeared to have something in hand. In the New Zealand championship last season he ran a splendid second to J. W. Savidan after being a long way back with half the distance covered. He is the present holder of the Otago crosscountry championship. Morris is improving each year, and with Savidan away at the Empire Games, he will be a dangerous man in the New Zealand championships this season. :: :: :: R. M. Barrer, champion of the Christchurch Club, pleasantly surprised the local followers of the sport by his splendid showing in finishing second. Like Morris, he was always near the front and he finished on really well at the end of a gruelling race. He is an improving runner, and he will run a better race next year. He ran a fair race in the New Zealand championship at Dunedin last season, but his forward showing last week suggests that he will do better this year. With J. G. Barnes out of the way, he will probably be favourite for this year’s Canterburv championship. A. L. Stevens, the Scottish captain, who was third, ran a good race. He jeopardised his own chances by his splendid work as captain. He was seen on several occasions helping his mates along. The wind along the back was too strong for him, and he dropped back when he met the full force of it. ♦« J. W. Tapp was Caversham's second man. He went a good race, as he usually does. He won the New Zealand cross-country championship in 1924 and was second to K. A. Rose in the Australasian championship in the following year. His experience stood him in good stead on Saturday, and he gained a lot of ground at the fences. Truly the old dog for the hard road, ss w There is little to be said regarding the team’s race. Caversham were in a winning position at any part of the race, and their win was clear cut and well deserved. The Scottish Club wOUld have been unlucky to have been beaten by the Christchurch Club, as they went a sound race. The Christchurch Club, however, did really well to be only four points behind such a good team. Had J. G. Barnes been in the team it is probably that the home club would have been second.