HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 139, 15 June 1932, Page 4

HARRIERS

-(By

JOC-TROT. ")

Rank and file of the Wanganui Hairier Club ran an exceptionally good race last Saturday afternoon and excelled any previous times returned tl season. Every man started on his true handicap in a teams’ ra«v The result was that there was competitive running and team work throughout the G.f miles. Fifty men started and fifty men finished. Handicapping was good nd there were several very close finishes, on one occasion no fewer than 15 men finishing in a bunch. In spite of heavy conditions underfoot the course was covered in very rapid time. Ah a result officials of the club are feeling better pleased with tho performances of the members and it is considered that if training and attention to the exigencies demanded by the sport are attended to, then a good showing against Masterton should result. What was probably tho finest race 10 has run for years was made bj H. Newton, who returned the fastest time of 38min. Usee, off scratch. Newton showed a flash of the form which made him one of the most prominent of runners of a few seasons ago, and, judg ing by the consistent performances that he has established this year, it can be expected that he will run equally well in the races ahead. It was typical of his sporting spirit that, when he knew he had returned the fastest time, he should give the credit to G. Johnston, who, he stated, had paced him so well over tho hilly country. Newton, being a hard man over the flat, drew away fro- the younger . .nner once the hills were left behind.

Probably the best race of his life was made by A. McKay, who gained second fastest time. Although McKay is known as a consistently good runner with plenty of strength it was somewhat of a surprise that he should cut out the distance in such a short time as he did. McKay’s performance is eloquent of what can be done by steady plodding and keen regard to training. He is to be congratulated and urged to repeat the performance in a fortnight’s time.

G. Johnston ran well for third fastest time and was equally consistent. His brother, K. Johnston, sacrificed his place to aid J. Northover along a painful trail. Northover had the misfortune to injure an ankle and was consequently handicapped. It says much for Johnston that he hung back to help his team-mate along.

Equally consistent was A. Bourgeois. Although he was left behind by the leaders he did not let up at all but kept plugging away to the finish with resolute courage which could well bo emulated by others.

To the younger members of the club and to the back markers a word of prajse is also due for their gameness. J. Berryman, who was proverbial last year, ran well and was not in that last place by a long way. C. Walker, another lad, did very well.

Next Saturday another race will be held over the Bramwell Course, this time under sealed handicap conditions. Although this may not be as palatable to some members as the pack handicap system there are points which must be borne in ini nd. Chiefly, it must bn remembered that the sealed handicap conditions are racing conditions. When meeting Masterton the harriers will be running under virtual sealed handicap conditions and not the pack handicap system. In the faco of any objection this must be remembered. The officials are taking a wise course in this respect, for every single man will be given an opportunity to try himself out just as if he were competing in the big race.

If fast times can be returned by fhe pack system it would indeed be a poor excuse if members were to put forward the plea that they could not return fast times under any other method of running. Could they, with any confidence, say that they could not return fast times against opponents because they were not running under a pack system? At all events there is nothing to prevent harriers forming themselves into the packs in which they ran last week and pacing out the distance in the same way. It is up to every member to see whether he can improve upon last Saturday’s time, and for that reason actual times are here published in full. Next Saturday’s times will also be published in full next Wednesday so that every man can compare his two performances.

Following are the runners with their actual times, handicaps and the positions in which they finished and handicap position allotted respectively:—

H. Newton (38min. 15sec., scr., 32nd) 1 A. McKay (38.22; 3min.; 7th) 2 G. Johnston (38.31; scr.; 34) 3 A. Bourgeois (38.45; scr.; 37) 4 H. Arnold (39.10; 4; 4) 5 C. Weller (38.10; 4; 4) 5 A. Collings (39.32; 3; 10) 7 G. Richards (39.36; 3 ; 13) 8 K. Johnston (39.50; scr.; 44) _ 9 F. Kiddle (39.52; 3; .19) 10 E. Gowan (40.35; 4; 11) 11 J. Northover (40.36; scr.; 45) 12 K. Law (40.51; 4; 17) 13 E. Carde (41.10; 3; 30) 14 L. Bilderbeck (42.2; 4; 26) 15 W. Hasler (42.5; 4; 28) 16 E. Vincent (42.12; 7; 6) 17 F. Chainey (42.30* 7; 8) 18 R. Edwards (42.30; 5; 23) 18 G. Hasler (42.35; 5: 24) 20 E. Hurst (42.40; 5; 25) 21 C. Craig (43.8; 4; 10) 22 H. Clark (43.5; 4; 41) 23 J. Paw son (43.10; 5; 30) 24 F. Clooney (43.35; 7; 11) _ 25 J. Alp (43.38; 7; 14) 26 Cresswcll (43.39; 7; 15) 27 H. Hopper (43.50; 5; 38) 28 L. Hanton (44.10- 5; 42) 29 E. Foster (45.3; 7; 27) 30 Cowper (45.39; 9; 15) 31 D. Loveridge (45.52; 9; 19) 32 A. Tingey (46.25; 9; 22) 33 O. Oliver (47.32; 9; 35) 34 R. Shaw (47.40; 9; 36) _ 35 Guy (47.55; 9; 39) 36 Dickie (47.55; 13; 1) 36 J. Horsley (48; 13; 2) 38 S. Dustin (48.5; 13 ; 3) 39 P. Hickman (49.32;’ 13; 9) 40 J. Berryman (49.51; 13; 17) 41 I. McKinnon (50.15; —; 21) 42 E. Tingey (50.30; 9; 46) 43 A. Mepham (51.5; 13; 28) ) 44 E. Walker (51.30; 13; 33) 45 F. Hewgill (52.35; 13; 43) 4(1