HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 4

HARRIERS

MONDAY’S BIG EVENT MARTON-TO-WANGANUI RACE CAN WANGANUI RETAIN CUP? The chief event of the Wanganui Harrier Club season is to be held on Monday when teams from various centres will participate in the annual Marton-to-Wanganui relay race, a distance of 23 miles. The course is covered by teams of live, starting from the Marton Post Office at noon and finishing with a mile- on Cook's Gardens, approximately two and aquarlcr hours later. For the last two years the event has been won by the Wanganui Club, and last year the record was broken by a fair margin. The team for Monday is composed for the most part of runners who have not competed in the A grade event before, and therefore should be made all the more interesting. Bills, West Coast three mile champion, is among the additions and should be of good value to his side. The Johnson brothers, Ken and Gordon, have paved the way for previous victories, and C. Cox is a junior runner of ability. Penbcrthy has shown good form this season and if he is on form on Monday should assist materially. The chief opposition is to come from Marton and Scottish (Wellington) clubs. The latter, With the addition of A. Bourgeois, late of the Wanganui Club, will be a powerful combination and one that has every chance of annexing the trophy. It would be encouraging to the Marton Club if they won the race. In the years they have competed they have not yet had success although they have been well to the fore each time. Their team this year appears to be stronger than that of any other year. The B grade race is contested keenly, and was last year won by the Scottish Club. A shield for this event was last year donated by Mrs. Armstrong, a supporter of the Wanganui Club, and has served to stimulate interest. The Wanganui B team (1) has been training assiduously in anticipation of the event and appears to have a good chance.

In past years the rough surface of the roads in sections has caused competitors a good deal of trouble. The surface is now tar-sealed for the entire distance and it is quite reasonable to suppose that the record will be broken. It is interesting to look back and compare times of previous winners. Since the institution of the race, six years ago, the winners have been:— 1932.—Wanganui (2 hours 24min. 18sec). 1932. —Wanganui (2hrs. 14min. 18 sec.). 1933. —New Plymouth (2hrs. 19min. Isec.). 1934. —Scottish (2hrs. 14min. 17sec). 1935. —Wanganui (2hrs. 17min. 18 sec.).

1936.—Wanganui (2hrs. 13min. 28 sec.).