HAMILTON HARRIERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 8

HAMILTON HARRIERS.

SATURDAY’S RUN. The weekly run of the Hamilton Harrier Club was held at Te Rapa racecourse, and in spite of the rain threatening there w'as a good attendance, one enthusiast riding over forty miles to participate. Runs are' held whether it is wet or fine. The paper trial was laid by Messrs Henry and Sweney who made good use of the quarter of an hour’s start. The pack set out and following the five mile championship course to the railway line over the steeplechase jumps found the trail followed the railway line north for some distance and then branched across a cow paddock when the antics of the cows caused slight consternation. A paddock littered with old tree stumps made the pace slow for a while, but better going followed till there was a momentary check in a turnip paddock till the trail was located again. A wide drain tested out the pack and then the trail turned back towards the starting point, and with alternating road and paddock work the runners settled down to a steady pace back to the r point where the hares were waiting for the run in, slightly over half-a-mile on the racecourse.

So far this season in the runs home all members have started from the same mark but a system of handicapping was commenced for Saturday’s run-in whereby the secretary started the runners from a stop-watch. This system will be adhered to for the remainder of the season for the points given in connection with the Watson Cup. In spite of the handicapping the two back markers proved too good and L. Hodgson won, with H. Henry following closely second, F. W. Johnston was third-

The season promises to be a good one and the club should derive benefit from those new members who have run in older established clubs. .