HARRIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 5

HARRIERS

MARTON TO WANGANUI ANNUAL RELAY RACE SCOTTISH CLUB WINS BOTH GRADES The Scottish Harrier Club (Wellington) was successful in winning in both grades in the annual Marton-to-Wanganui relay race held yesterday. The record, held by the Wanganui Club, was broken by a wide margin by Scottish, and the Marton Club also returned a time faster than the previous record. In the B grade it appeard at one stage that the Wanganui Club would win, but the fine performance of F. Silver, of Scottish Club, was responsible for the success of the Wellington team. The weather at the commencement of the race was not all that could be desired, a cold wind and driving rain making conditions unpleasant for the runners. The fact that the wind was a southerly was responsible in a good measure for the record being broken by such a margin. The field went out at a good clip, and with several hundred yards gone K. Johnston (Wanganui) and L. Smith (Marton) assumed the lead. When clear of the town Johnston increased his pace and Smith dropped back. Stevens (Wellington) was 50 yards back when a mile out, and the leader was increasing the gap. Smitn commenced to drop and Stevens came through and passed him. At the end of the first lap Johnston was leading from Stevens by 10 yards, while Appleby (Scottish B) had come up to pass Smith. The Marton runner was then 250 yards behind the front man. It was in the next stage that a radical change took place. Penberthy (Wanganui), commenced to drop badly and was soon overhauled by Bruce (Scottish). Griffen (Marton) made up ground and soon was lying second. Penberthy was running with great effort and the Wellington man was increasing his lead every step. Garty (Scottish B) was not running as well as his previous team mate, and H. Hopper (Wanganui B) was catching him with a mile of this lap to go.

The third lap saw the Wellington runners increase the lead until they were leading by 440 yards from D. Smith, of Marton. G. Johnston (Wanganui) did not find the hills to his Eking and also lost ground. Bourgeois (Scottish) took over the fourth lap with approximately two minutes’ lead. When Riddington took the baton from him it was obvious that barring accidents, the Wellington team could do naught but win. On the last lap F. Hill (Marton) made a good effort but failed to reduce the margin by which the Scottish team led. In the B grade Hopper’s run had reduced the lead of the Scottish runners, and at the third change Wanganui assumed the lead. Willetts did his best and slightly increased the margin. The last lap saw Carr (Wanganui) in front and leading by 300 yards from Silver (Scottish). The Wellington runner set a steady pace, and from the outset began overhauling the other. Carr was very distressed when three miles of his lap had been covered and Silver soon passed him, to win the event by nearly a minute. Times were:— A Grade. Scottish.—A. Stevens 24.55, C. Bruce 23.0, R. Violich 24.45, A. Bourgeois 25.08, J. Riddington 32.12 (2hrs. lOmin. 20sec.) 1 Marton.—L. Smith 25.51, M. Griffen 23.40, D. Smith 23.47, W. Edge 25.35, F. Hill 32.57 (2hrs. 12min. 50sec.) 2 Wanganui.—K. Johnston 24.39, A. Penberthy 25.06, G. Johnston 25.19, C. Cox 25.52, G. Bills 35.31 (2hrs. 16min. 27sec.) 3 B Grade. Scottish.—B. Appleby 25.06, E. Garty 26.53, J. Calson 27.37, D. Kennedy 29.03, F. Silver 34.47 (2hrs. 19min. 17sec.) 1 The times of other teams were: Wanganui, 2hrs. 20min. 20sec 2 Marton, 2hrs. 26min. lsec 3 Scottish (Bl), 2hrs. 26min. 42sec. 4 Wanganui (B2), 2hrs. 29min 5 At the conclusion of the race, runners and supporters were the guests of the Wanganui Club at afternoon tea, where the W. L. Young and the Armstrong Shield were presented to the captain of the winning teams.