ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

IBi "Mebcubt."4

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. , Fron our barrier correspondent comes 1 the follovving notes on to-day's chaair pionship race at Miramar:— j After much discussion there is every t possibility of the provincial cross-coun- • try championship being settled to-day ; at Miramar. It was anticipated that ; the postponement from last Saturday i would have enabled the country clubs ; to bring themselves into lino with the [ local men and send down a representai tivo team, but during this week de- • finite word has been received from our ) entliusiastio harrier friend, Mr Jack > Bradbury, of Masterton, that no team i will be sent to represent, the Wairat rapa, and- furthermore he is almost cer- ■ tain that thero will not even be an ini dividual representative (from Mastor- ' ton. Ihis -is undoubtedly bad news, as ■ the local harriere were looking forward ■ to the opportunity of returning tho hospitality which was so marked a feature • or last year's success. ' ~ nere was u ° definite word during the earlier part of the week from either J) eildmg or.Palmerston, which seems to indicate that they also are in, the'same J boat as the Mastertou harrie'rs. Given favourable weather the contest should prove both exciting and interesting. The Olympic Club now adl nuts tlj.at the teams' event is not going to be the walk-over that its supporters anticipated, and is determined in its attempt to oarry off the Whyte and J Mackay Shield. , The Wellington and Brooklyn Clubs . nave also been putting in hard pre^ paration, and although the former does not anticipate annexing the individual championship the manner in which the , team has improved puts the old club I in a position to be considered with some seriousness, which was not the case at ' the earlier stages of the training operations. I The present holders of tie shield, Brooklyn Club representatives, con-' r sider themselves good enough to malnl tain their hold on the coveted piece of plate, and moreover there is one among i k ?' R Cu" 1111 " who is considered . by Brooklyn supporters as being nearly , even if not quite good enough to wrest tho individual titJe from the holder, ! the redoubtable F. J. ("Darkie") I 1 Byrne. ' ; I ■The course chosen is an ideal one for a one Jap race, and is one which i is. very familiar to most local harriers. ■ ;W. Bennett, who is responsible for the s course,, made arrangements for the chief > trail layer to go over the course last ■ Saturday so that any irregularities may be corrected. The result was extremely : ■ satisfactory, and no difficulty should ' be experienced in this department. ■ .Tho starting point.of the race will > be the Miramax tram terminus, and ' tho gun should go off no later than ' 3.15 p.m., as special cars have been l - arranged to take harriers and their J supporters to the ■ scene of activities. ' Tho cars will leave Coiirtenay Place at j 2.15 p.m., and will also be available at ' a reasonable hour for the return jour- > ney. • ' } I At present there are seven definite' : teams nominated, representing clubs as 1 follow .-—Wellington, two teams,' A and r B; Brooklyn, two teams, A and B: ' Olympic, three teams, A, B and C. Of 1 tho B-grade teams it is generally ad-. > niitted that Olympic has the stronger ' team, but as unfortunately, no great ■deal of attention has been paid to this ' side of tho race and the fact that B--1 grade runners have not done much aeri- • ous training, the chances are very open. ' Whether the committee • will permit 1 alterations in the teams between nomi- • nation and: date of : the race is doubt- '. ful, and although attention is drawn to. 1 the fact that this 'privilege. was con^" ■ ceded last year, in fairness to the com-' niitteo it must be stated that such a > practice causes considerable extra work, 1 arid is notjn the best interests of the public, who aTO generally supplied with ' printed matter giving tho personnel of 1 the teams, also individual nunibers.