HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 4

HARRIERS

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Next Saturday’s fixture is an important one in the schedule to be carried out by the Wanganui Harrier Club. Members will meet the Masterton Club at Masterton in the second “leg” for the Benson (late annual contest. The first race for this trophy during the present season was held over the Bramwell Course at Wanganui towards the latter end of .lune. The Wanganui Club gained a material lead extending to close on 100 points. Still, it is possible for the Masterton Club to achieve such a victory over Wanganui over its own course that the margin will be wiped out. This possibility makes Saturday’s race a most, interesting one in prospect. Though the team which will go down to represent the Wanganui Club will not be the best, that it is possible to put from here, it will be a strong team. The leading Wanganui runner, C. Weller, Wanganui Club and West Coast champion, was the winner of the interclub rally al Danncvirke earlier in the season and was also lirst man home in the Bramwell teams race. If Weller makes the trip on Saturday interest w’ill doubtless be focussed on his effort. K. Johnston, runner-up to Weller, in the Wanganui Club championships, and West Coast championships, was third in the Bramwell teams race, and also in inter-club rally at Danncvirke. A. Bourgeois was third in Wanganui Club championships and runner-up to Weller in the Bramwell teams race. He was seventh at the inter-club rally at Danncvirke. G. Johnston, fourth in the club championships, was a member of the Wanganui a team at the West Coast championships. A. Bevege, junior club champion, and A. i’enberthy, junior runner-up, are both good, steady runners, as their performances on Saturday rank them. E. Gowan, A. Garfath and G. Hallam, three consistent performers, will proside a good backbone to the team. F. Kiddie will probably be making the trip, and if he does he will strengthen the local loam. The results from the .10,000 metres race in Australia, in which race the New Zealand representatives participated, prove that the course was of a fairly flat nature by the times returned. Also that the majority of the New Zealand courses are far too hazardous and have too much real crosscountry work. The majority of harrier clubs in New Zealand evidently take the true meaning, “cross-country” running, but in Australia and England level courses and less hill work are the order of the day. It is now evident that our own country will have to resort to “faster” courses. The Wangaehu-Wanganui road race of 8 1-3 miles will be held under the auspices of the Wanganui Harrier Club. The committee of this club has decided to make this race open to members of the Marton and Y.M.C.A. (Wanganui) Harrier Clubs. Patrons desiring to follow this race will be assured of excellent racing and close finishes. The race is to be held on Saturday, September 7, from the top of the Wangaehu Hill at 2.30 p-m., and the sime evening a dance will be held in conjunction with the Road Cycling Club. Y.M.C.A. Club. A fair muster of Y.AI.C.A. members turned out for last Saturday’s run from the Aramoho Boating Club shed. The race was disorganised through one of the land-owners over which a part of the course ran, refusing to Jet some of the runners cross his paddocks. In fairness to all it was decided to re-run the race for Mr. Sievewright’s trophy later on in the season. Among those who have been showing an improvement in their running are D. Wady and S. Butcher. D. Wady probably ran his best race this season last Saturday by annexing second fastest time. He should give a good account of himself at Marton on Saturday. S. Butcher also ran exceptionally well in following his mate in lo take third position. Arrangements for the Y.M.C.A. Club’s trip to Marton on Saturday have been completed and members will be allotted seating accommodation at the Post Office corner at 1.15 p.m. Members should not that all cars will be leaving at 1.30 p.m. sharp so as to be able to arrive in plenty of time for the race. As Russian athletes have now reached European international standard, several countries are considering the possibility of arranging matches with the Soviet. The progress made by the Russians dining the past few years is remarkable. The national records include tho following: —lOO metres, 10 7-10 s, 200 metres, 22s (both bv Kornieko); 400 metres, 48 3-5 s (b\ Gulko); SOO metres, Im 56 4 ss, and 1500 metres, lin 2s (both bv Den'.ssolT); 5000 metres. I Im 561’, arfl metres, 31m 15s (both by Znamensky). Figures for field events are Oqualiv good. It is believed that during the coming season every Russian national athletic rcvoid will be broken. With the harrier racing season nearing its end, it is to be hoped that the harriers will turn their attention to the first track and field meeting of the coming season. The distance men arc always well catered, hut it. does not always happen that the field* are as large as they should bo. There are manv harriers who wouhl do well on tho track if they elected to take up competition seriously, and it behoves all of the clubs, with the New Zealand championships being hold at Dunedin this season, to make every eff 'rt to be st rough represented in compel i‘io» during the summer.