CITY HARRIERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 12

CITY HARRIERS.

THE ENTENTE WITH EUGBY. A Screw Loose Somewhere. "Mercury" has to thank his harrier correspondent for the following budget:— To-day. at tho Athletic Park, tlio harrier clubs w'ill bo afforded another opportunity of bringing themselves and their sport, under the notieo of the public. As on the previous occasion this season, a race has been put on for them by tho Rugby Union 111 tho interval 01 tho matches, tho distance chosen being , a two-mile handicap. There has, unfortunately, been an clement of uncertainty about the fixturo that may spoil tho entry to some extent. Eor some reason, tho Rugby officials have been ujiablo to say definitely, practically up to the eleventh, hour, whether it would bs convenient for them to "stago" the race to-day. Consequently the two Saturday clubs have been forced to make alternate arrangements in ' case the event at the Park did not materialise, and generally tho working up . of the affair has suffered. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, however, the harrier officials are hoping that runners will muster strongly, and to givo the oveut every support in their power. / The N.Z.C.C.C. and Finance, On August 9 tho N.Z, cross-country chainpionsliip will bo contested at Wingatui, Dunedin, under the control of tho Otago Centre, and, naturally, tho Wellington Centro desires to make a good representation in tho big race. To ensure this end,, tho executivo has appealed to tho local barrier clubs for financial assistance. These bodies have already materially helped in this direction, mostly with , tho assistance of tho Kugby Union races at the Athletic Park; and they are quite prepared to hand out further assistance, provided that the district harrier clubs co-opcrato in tho effort, The feeling in the city is that the centro should make tho appeal general, and not 0110 restricted to the city club's, none of ' which boast a strong financial position. Wellington Club. Last Saturday several members of tho Wellington Club held a test race over a five-mile course. Tho weather conditions were not conducive to fast work, but, nevertheless, the fcifort was certainly beneficial. W. Drummond, a visitor present at the club's invitation, finished the distance first, closely followed by W. Donaldson. It is pleasing to note that Donaldson is running very consistently of lato. Ho certainly shows considerable improvement in pace. Tho next to finish were: W. Press third, W. Bennett fourth, R. Eaglo fifth, S. M'Dowall sixth, M. Harrison and T. J. Kerr ran in almost dead heat for seventh. Press displaced Bennett in the last 300 yds. through tho | latter taking a spell. Brooklyn Club, according to report, had a strenuous afternoon last Saturday, their course included a considerable amoynt of road work, which may have a bad effect t on some competitors, but quite apart from this fact, it certainly makes the pace faster, and no doubt gave the experienced men in the scratch team some extra advantage over and above any question of handicapping. Central Club.—Of this club it is reported that training operations still continue enthusiastically, 110 effort is being spared to mako tlie team as fit as possible for tho Mastodon trip. 1 Next Wednesday a 2J miles race will bo held at Miramar. Considerable interest in this event is being displayed, and the officials expect to see all previous records broken. Last Wednesday, at Lyall Bay, C. Duck again made himself prominent in tho run-in—his nearest opponent being Rutledge, who is reported to bo showing:'con-, siderable improvement.