WITH THE HARRIERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2212, 27 July 1914, Page 8

WITH THE HARRIERS.

♦ PROVINCIAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP • WON BY F. J. BYRNE. Tho third Provincial Cross Country Championship, held under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A.. was run at Miramar on Saturday afternoon. Eight teams were nominated, representing clubs as follows:—Wellington Club, two teams, A and B; Brooklyn Club, two teams. A and B; Central Club, Olympic Club, three teams, A. B, and C. At tho last moment' Central wore unable to find tho necessary team, which, left seven teams competing, representing a field of thirty-sevon starters, twenty-seven of whom finished the distance.. Among tho starters was C. C. Francis, who entered for the individual championship, representing tho Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club. Preliminary arrangements as regards the course wero under the control of Mr. W. B. Bennett, who.took the precaution of initiating the head trail, 'layer, a week previous, in this department. A squad of about eight men in charge of Mr. B. Hateley laid the-trail, but owing to the high wind their trail was somewhat disturbed, the result being that there were slight_deviation<i, which caused some little inconvenienco to the leaders, but according to the time recorded did not shorten the stipulated distance—five miles. Officials for the day were: AV. H. Bennett, starter; A, A. Marryatt and M., Ballantyne, judges; timekeepers, W. H. Pollock, F,. Wilton, and W. F. Ward; time scorers, A. C Kitte and W. H. Bennett. The Start. ! About 3.30 thirty-seven competitors faced the starter, and 'were speedily dispatched. F. Bry'rio and C. Murray (Olympic) led a packed field over the first half-mile, with W. Donaldson and F. Rowberry' (Wellington) in good positions. Although the-.start was with a fair wind, the runners soon found themselves butting into a strong biting southerly, with the- result that ,the weaker runners soon commenced to string out. A pack of about twenty kept fairly: close together over the first mile, but quickly began to dwindle. After crossing the tram-line in the- vicinity of the boundary, and enteringtho sand dunes, the leading pack comprised F. J: Byrne, C. Murray,' S. Hall, N. Cuinmings,.R Hodson,: W. : Donaldson, R, Ballantyne, F-. J. Burrell, and C. C. Francis, who kept very well together until entering in the last mile, when Byrne increased the pace, and .established a substantial break, his next nearest .opponent being:lt. Ballantyne. C. C. Francis'(Palmerston)' ran an ex-tremely-well-judged, race, and had ho been more familiar with tho course be -would. undoubtedly have finished in a better position:; The'last mile he cut out in very .fine stylo, and displaced quite a number, eventually finishing third... , \: The order of. finish; and the. respective times are as follow':—Fi J. Byrne (Olympic), 1, time 31min. 36sec.; R. J. Ballantyne (Brooklyn), 2, 31min. 59sec.; C, C. Francis (Palmorßton),'3, 32mm. 9sec.; F; Hodsoii (Olympic), 4, 32min. 14scc.;S. Hall',(Brooklyn). 5, 32min. 15sec.'; C. Murray (Olympic), 6. 32min. 18scc.; N. Cummiugs (Brooklyn), 7, 32min. 24sec. F. J. Byrne is again returned the provincial champion, and also had the luck; to win with his team (Olympic) the Whyto and Mackay- Shield, tho winning tcain being F. 'J. Byrne, F. Hodson,' C,» Murray, and F. Burrell. Teams Race, . As was expected, the teams' race was an exciting struggle. from start to finish,, the. points scored, by the three senior teams being: Olympic 18, 'Brooklyn 19, Wellington 43.,, Olympic Club's success was without doubt due to the splendid generalship displayed by the captain' (Byrne), who on two distinct occasions during the raco packed; his team into handy positions. Although .beaten rather badly, the Wellington team are not dispirited, and realise that even under more favourable conditions there was a,doubt as to whether they, as a team, would.be able to foot it fast enough with .tho younger, runners, tho first man of his team to finish was F. Rowberry,, who ran into ninth place!'. with W: Donaldson' (seer ond) finishing ,elevehth. ; ...r The Chosen Few. . From this, race is selected the. Wellington centre's'representative."team to compote in the ; New; Zealand crosscountry championship, which will bo held at Chrißtctiurch next month. Selected men aro ,as follow:—P., J. B.vrne (Olympic), ;R; J. Ballantyne (Brooklyn), U. 0. Frances (Palmerston),. F. Hodson ,(Olympic),;T..Hay (Brook-, lyn), C. Murray' (Olympic), and N'. Cummings (Brooklyn). ," : :' y; Members of tho',_Wellington Club are reminded of the.; invitation -run from. Mr. T. Rowberry's .residence, Kardr'ii next Saturday. •• Members should' take tho Karori car tb'.the'viaduct.