HARRIERS Proposal For Composite Teams Deferred

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 17

HARRIERS Proposal For Composite Teams Deferred

A suggestion that clubs from South Canterbury enter a combined team in events in Christchurch was held over for further consideration, when the Canterbury Cross-Country Running Management Committee met last evening. It was decided to ask the South Canterbury clubs for detailed information on their membership. The position would need careful watching, said Mr W A. Kennedy. It had been tried before and had caused disharmony. If a club could not manage to get the minimum of four runners needed to form a team then it should not be in existence. If a club like Greymouth could get a team, then there seemed no reason why clubs in a sub-centre such as South Canterbury could not. If the South Canterbury clubs could not field individual teams, said Mr Kennedy, they were spreading their strength too much and amalgamation should be considered. If the clubs sent up a composite team, said Mr G. Farmer. it would be virtually a South Canterbury representative team. The aim was merely to give sufficient incentive for South Canterbury runners to appear in interclub events before the selectors, said Mr J. Broadbelt. If necessary the composite team could compete without gaining the trophy should it win, said the chairman (Mr D. Clibborn). Clubs Reprimanded Seven clubs, which have still not registered their runners with two races decided, will be written strongly

worded letters, They will be advised that unless payment is made forthwith they will not be permitted to start in the next meeting, the Christchurch club’s Kennett Cup races. The clubs concerned are: Anglican, Marist, Presbyterian. Olympic, Technical, and University, As well, the Technical dub has not paid its affiliation fee. Goodwill Visits

Visits by members of the executive to various clubs had been well received, said Mr Clibborn. The move should help to bring the clubs and the committee together. He had emphasised the need for greater training to help to raise the standard of running in Canterbury. The visits would enable the committee to appreciate the problems of the clubs, without whose co-operation the committee would get nowhere. There had been an enthusiastic response to the official opening day for the South Canterbury sub-centre at Timaru. said Mr Clibborn. who expressed concern about the efficiency of the administration, however. Correspondence from the committee to the sub-centre last season had not reached the South Canterbury clubs. So far this season the sub-centre had not appointed a secretary. To provide further incentive to the South Canterbury runners he had given an undertaking that the selectors would visit some of the sub-centre's races. On Saturday four of the committee would visit Greymouth for the official opening there. Race Arrangements The arrangements submitted by the Christchurch club for the Kennett Cup Steeplechase events at Riccarton Racecourse on May 27 were approved. Teams for the men’s events will be of six, with four to count. Runners not in correct uniform will not be allowed to start. The starting times for the various races will be.—Senior, 1.30 p.m.; colts (under 16), 2 p.m.; juniors, 2.20 p.m.; senior women. 2.50 pjn ; junior women. 3.10 p.m. If there are insufficient entries for either of the women’s races they will be combined a* one event at 2.50 p.m. Five relays will be conducted by the committee at Rawhiti Domain on June 24. The two senior events will be for six-man teams, with each competitor running one mile. The junior four-man teams will also run sections of one mile. The colts' and women's events will be for four-man teams, with each stage being a half-mile. A clearance for J. Williams, a former New Zealand junior champion, will be sent to the Wellington centre, as soon as confirmation of his status is received from his former club, Christchurch.