The Harrier Sport

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 9

The Harrier Sport

LATE CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —It appears to me that your latest correspondent, “Also Interested,” is writing about a subject he does not thoroughly understand. Ido not know any occasion when the Christchurch Club adopted a non-sport-ing attitude towards its sister clubs. The club was not responsible for the newspaper report which classed some of the clubs as “mediocre.” Further, members of the club have been instrumental in the formation of practically every new club in Christchurch during recent years. Our members used to make trips to Kaiapoi, when that club was struggling along, in an endeavour to help it. The Presbyterian Club, the Bc.otist Club and the Varsity Club were all founded by members of the Christchurch Club, which has suffered many severe losses through the formation of new clubs. Christchurch has never complained about this, but has always done its best to see the new club put on a firm footing. The Canterbury Centre also was not responsible for the newspaper report which caused this controversy. There are now three inter-club teams’ races in Christchurch, and the Temuka to Timaru road race each year, and if the centre were to introduce more interclub races it would be doing more harm than good to the sport. The runners get all the open racing they need at the prefent time. Regarding entrance fees, “Also Interested ” may know instances where the centre has found it necessary to insist on entry fees for track events being paid with nomination, but I defy him to name one single competitor whose entry has been refused for an open harrier event in Christchurch for this reason. Entries for the crosscountry championship closed on the Monday before the race at noon, but I took entries on the telephone at 10.30 on the Friday morning—the day before the race. In reference to the starting point at the Canterbury championship, the criticism about the few pools of water along the road is pure rubbish. Whoever heard of a harrier complaining about a little water or a little mud? Had your correspondents suggested that the road was hardly wide enough for the start of this important race, I would have been prepared to agree with them. The Canterbury course is as good a test as any course in New Zealand, and I have heard this opinion expressed on many occasions by visiting competitors, who do not complain about the mud.

The prizes were presented on the course on Saturday because a dinner or any other function costs money, and the harrier officials were endeavouring to cut down the “innumerable charges” mentioned by “Also Interested.” Further, there was very little time in which to arrange any function at all when one realises that the outside entries did not reach me finally until the day before the race. They had not come to hand cn Wednesday of last week; therefore I telegraphed Tifnaru asking when I could expect them. Timaru telephoned my house on Thursday morning and again on Friday morning with the amended and final entries. I had previously received notice that billeting would probably be required for about eight, and had written to each of the local clubs asking them to assist in this matter. Christchurch took four, but no other club even answered my letter. On Friday I was asked to find accommodation for twelve. I then had about six hours in which to find billeting for eight men. Fortunately the Baptist Club officials worked well, and the accommodation was arranged, but there was no possibility of organising any dinner or other function. Further, when in previous seasons such functions have been held, they have been very poorly attended, and 90 per cent of the local harriers present were members of the Christchurch Club. I may add that several members of the Timaru team told me before they left Christchurch that this year’s trip was one of the most enjoyable they had taken part in.—l am, etc., G. L. AUSTIN. August 19.