CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1516, 12 August 1912, Page 7

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.

OTAGO MEN FIRST. Tho New Zealand five-hiilos cross country championship, which is "the event/' as far as the winter, amatour atblotics is concerned, was run at AUramar on Saturday. Before tho event can bo held at least three centres must bo represented. The teains are limited to five members as a maximum, and, of these, four count for points. Tho Olago team won again this year, and havo thus been the holders of the championship ever since it was reinstated by the New Zealand Council four years.ago. Prior to the race both J Wellington and Auckland had hopes of,] securing the envied position. The individual competition was won by J. Bcatson, last year's winner (G. N. Hill, of Auckland) being' absent at tho Olympic Gaihca. The course' started from the old golfhouse, proceeding under, tho ridge to tho main road past tho gasometer to the sand dunes atLyall Bay and back again to the golf house, whence it started. It was estimated that it was rather over five miles, and, taking into consideration a certain amount of sand, the comparatively slow time put up can bo accounted for. The course was by no means an easy one, and a number of fences and ditches made it an excellent test. The Otago tcapi kept well together from the start, and getting the lead past tho gasometer, held their position to the end. Auckland came next, and, when crossing the main road, the Wellington provincial champion was fifteenth. Otago won fairly easily a.t tho finish, and obtained the four first places. The follow-, ing was the order of merit:— Beatson, llmin. 30scc 1 M'Knigbt, ilmin. '13sec i Jack, ilmin. 51soc. 3 Mickleson, dlmin. 51 Msec 4 Ornstein (Auckland), 42min. 31 l-ssec 5

The rest of the field finished in the. following order:—H. Fraser, Auckland; Cf. Notman.Otago; Black, Auckland; G. F* Smith, Auckland; J. F. Byrne, Wellington; C. Murray, Wellington; W. Press, Wellington; A. Cook, Brooklyn; J. Bradbury, Wellington; E. M. Fkmagan, Masterton; F. J. Burrcl, Wellington; W. Drummond, Masterton; L. Cook, WellingBoatson was awarded tho gold medal in individual competition, and Mickleson (lfeee.) the sealed handicap, with M'Kuight (sscc.) second, and Jack (lOsec.) third.