HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 4

HARRIERS

WANGANUI CLUB JUNIORS AGAINST SENIORS (.AST RACE BE FORL BLN SON TROPHY W hat is the condition of a club when , inc junior members challenge the senioi members tu a race? Obviously the answer is that the club is in a very sound condition. And so it is with the Wanganui Harrier Club. To-day from the resilience ot Mr E. Pleasants. I’uriri Street, the junior members oi the club will race the senior members over a 54-mile course. Young C. Weller, one of the star runners of the Wan ganui harriers, will lead the junioi members against the seniors, who will be captained by G. Moore, captain of the club and experienced runner to boot. As many runners as possible will count when the issue is decided, so that every man will hate to run “as hard as he can lick” to help to decide the issue. (Note.-- Before the race it will pro bably bo whispered by the trainer ot j some other official that all shoos be carefully examined! i More than usual interest will be attached to the run. not only on account of the novelty of the race, but also on account of its being the last run before tho race for the. Benson Trophy. Fast times will probably bo the order of the day, while the field will start off together. as was the case last week and a. sealed handicap will be declared aftei the race. Last week the handicapper did his work excellently, and it is confidently anticipated that he will do the same this week. .Leaving Puriri Street the trail leads back to Abbott Street and to Heads Road, from which point the runners will be sent over the Balgownie Swamp. Mosston Road will be crossed and recrossed before the Tawhero School is reached and then the trail leads to the GonviHo Domain, to the Junction, and then back to the starting point in Puriri Street where the race will finish. Runs have been held regnlarly during the week and members have been training assiduously. This is pleasing for it shows that the harriers have a proper regard for the Masterton men, who are going to provide very spirited competition. Some 25 to 30 runners ire expected to make the trip to Wanganui from Masterton and among them are some very fast men, though the star man of their team for last year, Hack, will not be making the trip. The Wanganui men must, remember that the way in which the trophy will be won. both at Masterton and in Wanganui, will be as a result of team work.

Every man must bunch with his own club as far as possible, for although winning the race individually may be a leather in the cap of the leading man yet it is far more sporting to give up the hope of coming in first and helping Xo keep the back markers together, and urging them on so that they may run a perfect team. To-day’s race will be won on the strength of the ability of the runners to keep in packs and should provide a good example. One of the chief reasons for the success of the Wanganui Harrier Club ♦o date is the fnct that they have had an excellent executive to care for theii Interests, and one of those who is a leading light in this respect, is tho patron, Mr W. L. Young. It was ex ceptionally pleasing for the club tv have him with them for the test- last week, and it is hoped that he will be present again this afternoon. The interest and the energy that he has taken in the welfare of the harriers has done much to place them in tho position in which they find themselves to-day. Mr Young may be assured that the interest that he takes in the club is fully appreciated and it is hoped that he will bo able to see his way clear to continue his good work. The work done by Mr C. R. White is t<»o well known by tho harriers for much comment to be required. Ho is to be seen at nearly every meeting of the dub. while he is at the head of affairs when the committee meets. Although the majority of harriers may not be aware of the fact, he attended the run last week in spite of the fact that a member of his family was dangerously ill. It is with relief that the news has been received that the danger has now passed, and it is hoped that Mr White will be able to attend the run to-day in a calmer state of mind than he was, only too naturally, last week. With regard to the arrangements with Mastertou for the forthcoming run the secretary, R. Edwards, has been working busily for weeks in order that everything may be run off without, a hitch. As a secretary for the club it would be hard to find his equal, and as a runner it would be hard to find one who is more determined and who gains so much enjoyment from his sport. A novel event for harriers in Auckland recently was a race between a harrier club and a cycling club. What the harriers lost on the roads they made up un the rough country and the fences, so that tho issue was in doubt until practically every man had passed ihe post. 'The suggestion might. be made to the local club should they wish for a break from the ordinary rout inc of harrier running.