HARRIERS' CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 301, 14 September 1908, Page 9

HARRIERS' CHAMPIONSHIP.

- . V — : won By w. press. On Saturday afternoon at Miramar the event of the Wellington Harriers' season was decided, in tho shape of their annual crosscountry championship. This raco had been eagerly looked forward to for weeks past, the general opinion being that it would be won, again by one or other of thoso who had held' tho shield during tho last three years. But to tho surprise ol : everybody, the winner turned up in W. Press, who has made a name for himself as a consistent plodder, but ■ who lacked brilliancy at tho business end of a hard race, Press ran a very punishing race oil Saturday, and, live hundred yards from home, had thoso closest to him almost reduced to a standstill, when,- although running against a strong'breeze, lie maintained his .steady pace' right up to tho tapo„ finishing nearly' a hundred , yards ahead of Mulcaliy, who W'as followed homo by Bennett, Rowberry, C. Johnson, and H. J. Pollock at short intervals. Tile win was as popular as it was unexpected, and the champion received an ova'tioii" from, his club mates after the finish. Thodistance was covered by tho winner in the- good time of 31min. 25sec. The trail was laid by Messrs. Watt and Williams over a distance of 2J miles, and this had to bo covered twice by tho competitors in order to. make up the standard distanco for the event of five miles. From the tea rooms beyond Wonderland, tho trail followed the spur to the west till the- hill-top overlooking Shelly Bay , was reached, and then a descent was ma'do down a long spur in tho direction of the cutting, and a return was made along tho . flat. At the end of tho first lap F. Wilton was in tho lead, with Mulcaliy a yard or two behind, having covered, tho distanco in fifteen, minutes exactly, l'ress was lying third at this stage, but in climbing the hill for the second tinio he assumed tho lead, and made the pace so warm that those who attempted to hang to liim were run out, and unable to respond to his determined run over tho filial : distance. F. Wilton dropped behind a.nd finished eighth, , a bad fall in going down hill being responsible for putting him out of- the limit. _ ■ Tllo sealed handicap trophies were gained • 1 by G. Rowherry and P. A. Wilton,_ with H.\ J. Pollock in third place. Press finished second: in tho handicap, but waived his claim to tliri place on account, of having won the 'championship. The handicaps' wero declared by Mr. W. H. Pollock, .who also acted as judge, and had the following official's .assisting himßesult stewards, Messrs. W. D. Robinson and R. O'Flalierty; timekeepers, Messrs. A. Muir and S. J. Smith; courso stewards, Messrs. J. M'Nio and E. A. Westwond: and marksman. Mr:'"Alan Johnson. The eltib run from Kilbirnie next Saturday will bo abandoned ■in favour of a run from tho residence of Mr. W.: H'; Bennett, in Woolcombo Street.