I HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 205, 31 August 1932, Page 4

I HARRIERS

V... ■ ■ (By

JOG-TROT."

The We-t Coast Centre and the Wanganui Hairier Club have every reason to be proud of the achievement of their representatives who competed at Christchurch on Saturday. Fur the second time in succession the West Coasters took third place. Last year they ran third with 584 points. This year they ocupied the same position with 59 points. The team was probably the youngest in the competition. | The outstanding performances, as far ■as this centre was concerned, were I those of Weller and K. Johnston, who tied for sixth place. Weller ran particularly well in view of his indisposition prior to leaving AVanganui and also in view of a seriously injured foot which must have troubled him severely during the race. His was a plucky exhibition. K. Johnston, as has been mentioned, showed splendid capabilities as a captain. In the opinion of : i Mr. C. R. White, president of the Wanganui Club, who accompanied the team 'as manager. Johnston perhaps could have improved his position to third place had he not remained with his team mates in the early stages and helped Weller al-ong over the latter portion. At all events he gave one of the best exhibitions of his career and he is to be congratulated on his running and captaincy. Although they were not so well up in the field D. Smith and G. Johnston ran really well and stuck together. Until the water jump Smith was running at his best. Evidently the gold shock tightened his muscles, for he was not the same man afterwards. G. 1 Johnston, who ran at Auckland last year, improved his position and his past experience was of value to him. Together with Smith he ran well and the pair were not far behind some of the outstanding harriers. * Northover and Brown were not outstanding. It was Northover’s first big race and he had much to learn. Brown, according to reports, does not appear to have the stamina nor the physique to fit him for such an arduous race. 1 He did not appear to be in the best of form and has been seen to better advantage. He dropped back as he did in the race last year. It was remarked by one of the competent judges of harrierism during the race that any runner who could fill one of the first twelve positions was a 11 champion.” It is interesting to note the observations of Mr. White in connection with the race. As a result of what he saw and heard he is convinced that nothing but the strictest attention n> training can fit an individual or a ream to be in the first rank. In this respect he refers to the reply of Barnes, the winner. When responding to the toast in his honour Barnes remarked that he had been training for two months on end. that he had been rubbed down for an hour and a-half three nights a week by his trainer and that he had taken every possible care of his health during that time. As a result he achieved his purpose of winning the. Dominion’s premier harrier race on his sixth attempt. Sheer perseverance. Cooper, of Auckland, hud also paid similar attention to his training with the result that the two men set and maintained a terrific pace throughout. One of the interesting decisions of the harriers’ conference held after the race, was the passing of the remit to stage a marathon race every year, perhaps during September and November. As the distance is 26 miles 385 yards onlv men nf stamina will be able to compete and to that end discussion centred around the advisability of not allowing competitors under the age of 25 and insisting that they be medically examined prior to the race. Another remit was passed to the effect that a member of the N.Z. Athletic Council I should attend rhe harriers’ conference. | This was considered to be a step in the right direction. * * * Mr. White speaks in high praise of I the manner in'which the preparations were made for the race and m which the team was looked after at Christchurch. He savs that nothing was left undone but that a kindly consideration for the team was met everywhere. It is gratifying to learn that the i next New Zealand Cross-Country Cham ■ pionship has been allotted to the est ' Coast (North Island). It is now some five years ago since the race was held in this centre and on that occasion it took place at Wanganui over the Bramwell course, when Savidan ran home first. Should the race be held in Wanganui again there is everv reason to believe that it will be well conducted. At anv rate the fact that the event is tn be decided in this centre will create much competition for a place in the team and in this respect the experience gained last Saturday and the observations made should be of benefit. Those members of the AA anganui i Harrier Club who competed at Marton lon Saturdav spent an enjoyable afternoon. The'run was interesting and the two Wanganui teams had no difficulty in beating their opponents home. The Martonians showed good form, however, ami for their first season have improved greatly. They made their visitors at home with the result that many pleasant memories were brought away. A. McKay ran well for M anganui. Clark was one of the men who was rather out of form. Aex Saturday’s run will be held from the residence of the captain, .Mr. E. Carde, in Terrace Road, in view of the long list of club runs to be held during the next month it is expected that there will be a large number of runners present to tune up for the coming events. Next Monday night a committee meeting is to be held when dates for the Bramwell Memorial race, the club championships and the Wan-gaehu-Wanganui road race will be ari ran S e d-