HARRIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 4

HARRIERS.

Notes on the Various Clubs’ Activities. ANNUAL, CHURCH PARADE. The annual combined harriers clubs’ church parade will be held at the evening service at St James’s Anglican Church, corner Mandeville and Riccarton Roads, on Sunday, July 3, at 6.30. The preacher will be the Rev R. de Lambert, and all harriers and their friends are invited to attend, Anglican Club. Perhaps the most important event in the history of the Anglican Club was held last Saturday, when twenty-four members and supporters of the club journeyed to Ashburton to take part in a race with the Timaru Anglican Harriers. Thirty-two members from the two clubs participated in a run over a course of about four and a half miles, starting from St Stephen's Schoolroom. E. J. M’Eachen, at one time a wellknown Ashburton track runner, scored a fitting win on his return to his home town, just beating H. O. Savage in a close finish. S. H. Barnett and R. V. Milne ran well to fill third and fourth places. After the run the combined clubs were the guests of Mr and Mrs M’Eachen at their home in Cameron Street, to whom the thanks of the club were expressed for their hospitality, also to the supporters who, by providing transport facilities, made the outing possible. The opening run for the second half of the season will be held to-morrow from the residence of Mrs W. Davison, Main South Road, Sockburn. » » Presbyterian Club. Owing to a misunderstanding in the trail-laying last Saturday, the Presbyterian harriers first met the Methodist Club and later the Varsity Club, the trails crossing twice. The slow pack was minus its regular pacemaker, T. Anderson, and the pack leader, M. Robinson, and consequently did not keep together so well, except towards the end of the run. There was an attendance of thirty-eight, which contrasted favourably with the third run of the club which was held five years ago from St Ninian’s, when the attendance was twelve. Another link that the club has with St Ninian’s Church is the fact that Its first club captain. Keith Watson, now at Knox-College, Dunedin, was connected with St Ninian’s. The results up to last Saturday for the Run-in Cup are: P Kane, J. Kent and W. F. Leitz each 8 points; G. Mitchell, J. W. Mosley and D. Apperley each 7 points; W. Brettell and R. Clark each 6 points. The annual photograph will be taken before the run to-morrow, which will commence from the Presbyterian Boys’ Home, Bligh's Road, oil Wairarapa Road. Mr Victor French will be the host and the trail will be laid by C. Harris and S. Muff. The committee has definitely decided to hold a sealed handicap in connection with the championship teams’ race, and the four pack leaders have been appointed a subcommittee to ‘ draw up the handicaps. Several members have suggested that the club continue on during the summer season as an athletic club, after the harrier season. A meeting will be convened at an early date, when those interested will be able to discuss the suggestion.

ti 54 Vt Varsity Clnb. Owing to the large attendance, the Varsity harriers split into four packs last Saturday, when members were the guests of Mr and Mrs L. J. Darwin, Fendalton. The racing pack set a fast pace and was led home by A. P. Thomson, with J. B. Wilson, running strongly, not far behind. Thomson, who is fast improving, should do well in competitive racing later in the season. He is only In his first year at. Canterbury College, so the club should find him a handy man for several years yet. To-morrow the club is running from St Martins, when opportunity will be taken of making full use of the hills. In regard to the annual race with Otago University, it has been decided to hold this event on Friday, August 5, at Cashmere. Otago, the holders of the Challenge Cup, are sending a strong team, which will include W. A. Stewart, who filled fourth place in the Edmund Cup race a few weeks ago. j.* j.j $£ Christchurch Club, Last Saturday afternoon the Christchurch Club held an enjoyable run from the residence of Mr and Mrs R. J. Watson, Selwyn Street. Spreydon. About seven miles of good harrier country were traversed, and this kind of run should do much to improve the standard of running in the club generally. Judging by the performance of other clubs’ teams in the Kennett Cup race, the Christchurch Club will be set a hard task to retain his laurels in the Canterbury championships. This year the New Zealand cross-country championships will be held at Christchurch, and it is hard to say what the result will be. Savidan, Last year’s winner, will not defend his title, owing to his being in the New Zealand team at the Olympic Games. Cooper (Auckland) will prove a hard man to beat, and it is understood that he is training hard. The course will not be the same as in former years, owing to the fact that the date of the race will not suit some of the land-owners around Cashmere, and a. slight alteration has been made just after leaving the water jump. The club will hold its run to-morrow from the Ozone Cafe, North Brighton. s; Saptlst Cub. The Baptist Harriers experienced the hardest and most severe run of the season last week. It was the first opportunity for any hill work this season, and the trail-layers. Rev E. Simpson and S. T. Barnett, certainly made up for the lack of it in the earlier part of the syllabus. The slow pack kept well together under S. White, but were all so tired at the finish that it was decided not to hold a run-in. G. Milne and W. Nicholls ran exceptionally well in the intermediate pack. Unfortunately, the fast pack was hampered in the early part of the run, but made a good recovery. L. Clarkson and C. Herd ran well throughout. The racing pack kept a steady pace and caught the intermedimen about a mile from home, G. Harrison and C. F. Jones being in good form. Training classes have commenced in preparation for the coming championships, and it is anticipated that the club will make a much better showing in these events than last year. To-morrow’s run will be held at the invitation of Mr and Mrs K. G. Archer, 289, Eastern Terrace, Beckenham. •a :•{ Methodist Club. The Methodist Club’s run was held from the residence of Dr and Mrs Simpson, Puriri Street, Riccarton. Owing to a misunderstanding no scent had been obtained, and no trail could be laid. Soon after the start, however, the runners met the hares of the Presbyterian Club, who were running from the same street, and thereafter they followed this trail. A. H. S. Barker was with the fast pack for the first time, and showed himself capable of faster work than he has so far been doing; in the run-in he finished third. With some serious training Barker should stand a chance of gaining a place in the club’s A team. Barker and W. E. Crawford both have a handy sprint, and are learning to use

this to advantage. R. v. Peryman Is also running well. After the run members were entertained at afternoon tea, Mrs Simpson being assisted by Misses Sowden and Dorothy Simpson. It is unlikely that C. S. Ell or L. Smith will be available for the TemukaTimaru race, but it is almost certain that the club will send a team to compete. To-morrow’s run will be held from St James s Church, Cashmere. The tram leaves the Square at 1.37 p.m. The club will be the guests of the Young Women’s Bible Class. No trail will be laid.