HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 5

HARRIERS

WANGANUI CLUB FAST RUN ON SATURDAY. SENIORS WIN FROAt JUNIORS. Over some six miles of fairly level country the Wanganui Harrier Club ran a fist race on Satu ’.iy afternoon. Starting from’ the residence of Air E. Pleasants thirty-two runners lined up and were sent away to a good start by the president, Air C. R. White. Alaintaining a fast pace the Johnbrothers, Weller, A. Hoskins, Bourgeois, Newton and Clark ran the first mile and a-half in a bunch, showing excellent team work. All ran with a splendid stride md quickly drew away

from the remainder of the field of whicl Northover, Alinnell and Carde were leading. At this stage the race was full of interest and with the leaders so well bunched and with so little between them it promised to be one of the closest runs held this season. Unfortunately when passing through the Balgownie swamp K. Johnston and C. Weller took he wrong trail and lost themselves, while tho thick lupins also confused several of the other runners so that the field was divided. When out of the swamp, however, the two packs joined together again and all were bunched, as at the start, with some of the former leaders fairly well back. K. Johnston and Weller were not to be seen.

G. Johnston soon took the lead, with A. Bourgeois and B. E. B. Newton close on his heels, followed by B. Clark, Hoskins, A. McKay aud Northover, who were not very far behind them as they reached the Alosston Road. Some one and a half miles from home G. Johnston was about five yards ahead of Bourgeois who was a similar distance in front of Newton, and with Newton’s reputation on the flat country there was every possibility of his passing tho two men ahead and leading the field home. Running with splendid action. Gordon Johnston not only held the lead for tho next mile but he also ran down the last hundred yards to the finishing post ahead of Newton, who had put up a splendid effort to beat Bourgeois by the barest of margins. It was a great finish and the three passed the finishing post with a burst of speed, almost in line. B. Clark and A. Hoskins fought out fourth and fifth places and the former was just too good for Hoskins. E. Carde finished on his own to take sixth place after a steady run and A. McKay followed him a hundred yards away. Minnell, who seemed to take matters very easily on account of the two leading men dropping out, just managed to head off Northover, who ran very gamely. Al. Granville, a new man to harrier work, ran up to the finish with a good burst, putting up his best performance to date and a very creditable one at that.

The race went to the senior runners by 57 points to 83. It was very unfortunate that the juniors should have lost their captain, C. Weller, who would undoubtedly have helped them by taking a leading position. It is to be hoped that the juniors will challenge the seniors on another occasion and that none of the members of the teams will get lost. Following is the result of the teams race:— Seniors.— Newton 2, Clark 4, Hoskins 5, Carde 6, A. AlcKay 7, Granville 10, J. Irwin 11, L. Bilderbcck 12. Total points 57. Juniors. —G. Johnston 1, A. Bourgeois 3, S. Alinnell 8, J. Northover 9, J. Edo 13, D. AlcKay 13, Gowan 16, C. Weller .20. Total points 83. Following is the result of the race:—

Alin. Sec. A. Corry (lOmin.) (30) (8) 1 J. Irwin (6min.) . (30) (38) 2 D. AlcKay (6|min) (31) (4) 3 N. Ede (6Jmin) . (31) ( 4) 3 Stephenson (lOmin) (31) ( 4) 3 Piercy (Gjmin) .. (31) (17; 6 B. Edwards (7min) (31) (23) 7 After the harriers had enjoyed a good rub down Airs Pleasants provided them with afternoon tea which was done full justice to by the hungry harriers and was very much appreciated. On behalf of his club mates E. Carde thanked their host and hostess and other kind helpers who had helped to make the afternoon the success it was.

Min. Sec. C. Johnston . . .. (35) (13) 1 H. Newton .. . . (35) (14) A. Bourgeois .. .. (35) (15) 3 B. Clark (35) (33) 4 A. Hoskins .. . . (35) (34) 5 E. Cardo (35) (50) 6 A. McKay .. . . (36) ( 1) 8. Minnell (36) (21) 8 J. Northover .. . . (36) (22) 9 M. Granville .. . . (36) (28) 10 J. Irvin (36) (38) 11 L. Bilderbeck . . (36) (41) 12 H. Edo (37) (14) 13 1>. McKay (37) (14) 14 E. Piercey .. .. (37) (27) 15 Gowan (37) (41) 16 K. Law (37) (52) 17 R. Edwards .. .. (38) (23) 18 H. Arnold (38) (50) 19 K. Johnston .. ,. (39) (13) 20 C. Weller (39) (13) 20 K. Bilderbeck . .. (39) (34) J J A. Corry (40) ( «) 23 R. Shaw (40) ( 8) 24 Stephenson . . .. (41) ( 4) 25 The sealed handicap result was as follows:—-