WELLINGTON HARRIERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 616, 20 September 1909, Page 5

WELLINGTON HARRIERS.

: FIVE MILE CHAMPIONSHIP; . I The Wellington Harriers' club championship was run at Miramar on Saturday over a'dis- : tance of five miles, ami W. B. Benriott was the successful competitor. In 1906 he met with equal success. Tho event, in conjunction with wnich a sealed hnndicap for. the president's trophies was run, drew a field of seventeen, fourteen of whom completed the distance. At the'end of the'first lap (two and a half miles) Wilton had a slight lead, while .Bennett, Press, and Kowberry were all running abreast. Next came Curry some forty yards away. ;Wil-. ton was.still leading• at the top of the hill, where ho . was,: overtaken by Bennett, Press, and Howberry in, that order. ..The champion finished 18 seconds ahead of tho second man, W. Press, C. Eowberry being ■22 seconds further back. F. Wilton and B. Curry finished fourth and fifth respectively. Bennett's time was 33min. 3Gsec. ■ ■/■''..

For the. handicap, Mr. W. H. Pollock declared, the following allowances:—F. Wilton and W. Press, scratch; Bennett and Gurry, 3sec^;; Rowberry, 13sec.; Hodson, l^sec.; Bust, lmiii. 30sec.; Lambcrg and Lamb, : 2min.; A. P. White, 2riiin. lOsec; P. Wilton, 2min. 40sec; Salek,.2min. 55sec.; W. White, 3min.2osec.'; and W. Power, 4min. 30sec. After adjusting the s handicaps it,was found that the tropliies had been wdn by-Bennett nrtd' Press. As it is tlio rule in the 'club that the winner' of the championship ■ cannot also take the handicap' trophy, v the first prize, therefore,. goes to ■'W. Press,, and the second to' A. White. .- '

W. B. Bennett receives ■ a gold medal, aiid holds 'the championship shield for one,year. The' previous' champions were:—F. Ross, 190304; M.Mulcahy, IMS; W. B. Bennett, 1906; F.: Wilton, ,1907; and Wi H. -Press, 1908. ' Mr. W. E. Bennett (president~of the club) acted as judge, Mr. J. H. Pollock as timekeeper,:. and Mr. W. H. Pollock as starter. -Saturday's race conoluded the season's programme, but it has been decided to continue informally: until the teams' road race on October. 9, A foot- ' ball match has been suggested for next Saturday, and the matter will be decided.at the mid-weekly run from the boat harbour'on Wednesday evening. On October 2 an informal run will be held from Te Aro Baths.