ATHLETICS..

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS..

(By MERCunr.)

HOW THE SHIELD CAME BACK. The Brooklyn Coup Last Saturday, was a great day for the Wellington Harriers. The invasion of the 'Wairarapa in quest of the Why to and M'Lay Shield, tho symbol of tho crosscountry championship of the province, was a far greater success than was anticipated. Tho championship and tho trophy were won by tho Brooklyn Club representatives, who filled all the scoring places at the winning end. The victorious quartet wetre i'\ J. ("Darkie") Byrne, K. J. Bnnnatyne, G. Hutton, and C. -Murray, their score being 10 points (the "possible"). The Central Club filled the soeond place with a score of 42 points, while JlastcTton got third with a total of It points.

The "first, six men home were local harriers, F. Hodgson, of the Central Club, following the victorious Brooklynites, with veteran W. Press, .of the Wellington Harriers, filling tho sixth place. The seventh man home, nnd the first of the country contingents,-was old-timer "Jack" Bradbury, of Masterton, last year's winner, and holder of the individual championship. A Well-managed Tussle. "Mercury's" harrier correspondent sends the following account of tho manner in which the shield came home:— This was the second annual competition, and, somewhat unfortunately, the result showed that tho country clubs havo not advanced so much as was expected. The fear has been expressed that l the easy victory of tho Brooklyn A team may have the affect of discouraging them. Let us hope not. The non-snccess of tho country clubs was d-ue not so much to lack of good performers, as to lack of thorough preparation. This applies particularly to the Masterton men, who formed a team that, had it undergone as thorough a preparation as Brooklyn, would havo undoubtedly made themselves felt.

The Wollington men speak highly of tho way in which tho contest was managed, and of the untiring energy of the executive, and especially tho honorary secretary, Mr. _ Stanley_ Kingston. In these matters city harriers have much to learn from their Masterton brethren, particularly so in regard to laying out a course.

Tho "going" chosen was ideal—flat and grass 'all tne way, plenty of fences, ditches, 'and liummocky ground, that proved almost as tricky as "plough." It was admirably marked out, so that the.ro was no losing tho trail, and, moreover, the course was tho distance stipulated, and not made anything from four to seven

miles, mid called five miles by courtcsy. Best of all, it was true "cross-cou/ntry," and did not include a mile or more, of macadamised road, as has' been the ease before to-day.

Tho Race Described. Now to tho race. The Masterton Club started two teams, Feilding one, Brooklyn four, Central one, and tho Wellington Club two. At 3.25 p.m. tho starter (Mr. S. L. Dickson) sent away the big field of sixty-four. Contrary to expectation, the paco was slow at the start, each team waitiDs for some other combination to break away. For the first mile the field was well bunched, with the younger runners in tho lead.- Then the paco livened up, the good men moved forward, and the stringing out proccss began. Veteran "Jack" BraUbury, 01 whom much was expected, did not striKe his oldtime form, and was displaced by several of the town men as the race progressed. Press, of tho Wellington Club, was prominent until a mile trom home, at which stage he was lying a good third.

Brooklyn's Field-Marshal. The Brooklyn tactics were good throughout. To Byrne, captain of the A team, must be given all credit for a splendid pioco of leadership. During tho team's training operations ho carefully studied his men, and his judgment of their capabilities was displayed throughout tho race. Ho shepherded their energies, and, at one stage, even let other competitors head them, rather than let them bo separated. He worked on, tho priuciplo that success m tho team9,couipetitioii lay in keeping his men together, with the strong helping tho weak, and, in the last quarter, the wisdom of this was very apparent. With some of his followers weakening, he temporarily slowed .up, and nursed them awhile. Then, entering tho old show grounds in a bunch, ho sent them over tho last 200 yards "at top," setting the pace himself. This ruse saved them a place. Hodgson, of Central, had been fast gaining ground, but he could not live in the final combined flutter of the Brooklyn quartet, and finished fifth.

A Word to the Wise, The race was aot fast (Slmin. 20sec.), and there is little doubt that the Otago team that visited Wellington last season could hare reduced the clocking. Byrne, it is true, was not "right out," but Hutton and. Murray were well used-up, and a3 those men are included ill the Wellington Centre's team for the New Zealand Cross-Country Championship at Dunediu on the 3th, it behoves them to work up their pace a bit.

Harrierdom's Big Event. Apropos of the N.Z.C.C.C., the Centre's team has now been selected. It consists of the winning quartette of last Saturday, plus P. Hodgson, who also will act as manager. There is still some degree of uncertainty about tho big event, owing to the rule which states that three of tho five centres must bo represented before thero can bo a competition. So far, thero are only two certainties —Otago and Wellington—but hopes aro entertained that Southland will get a team away from the Otautau Club, and the good offices of our old friend Mr. Jas. Gow, president of the Southland Centre have been enlisted to secure this end. Boys of the Old Brigade, Tho Southland correspondent of the "Canterbury Times" writes: "Speaking to Gerald Koddell during the week, 1 was unable to get a definite answer as to whether tho champion hurdler would again bo seen on tho track in tho event of the American team coming to New Zealand. Keddell has not lost his old enthusiasm, but said it was impossible to get in anything liko proper form with the meagre training facilities available at Otautau. He wag also greatly inconvenienced in that thero were no hurdlers in the district with sufficient speed to give hiin the necessary pacing. Judging by Keddell's enthusiasm nothing is more certain than that lie will be seen in action should tho American visit materialise.

; It is reported, too, in Christchurch, thn{ sprinter Ronald Opio intends trying himself out quietly during the spring, with '.a view to getting into activo training again. • ... In AVellington also there is a whisper of a possible "coino. back" attempt on the part of an old champion, W. Woodgcr, who would liko to measure paces with the Americans should their visit eventuate. Ij This. Thus? Per contra it is said that Lon M'Kay, the "old reliable," ■ has definitely decidcd to retire from «otive participation in athletics. If this is true tho Dominion is losing tho services of tho best allround amatolir it has known, but, as this is "Mac's" first absolutely definite retirement, there is still hope. Every champion, in whatever sport, retires definitely at least three times, Harry Kerr's Big Step. While on the subject of retiring champions, reference must be made to perhaps .tho most retiring of them all—in point of disposition—our'old friend Harry Kerr, tho Australasian and New Zealand champion wnlkor. lie is entering—in fact he is starting—in a big event at Christchurch on August U—l ho matrimonial nice. "Mercury" takes this opportunity ot expressing the good wishes of Kerr's many friends throughout tho Dominion for his futiuo happiness and prosperity.