HARRIER ROAD RACE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1933, Page 14

HARRIER ROAD RACE

BIG WIN FOR STEVENS

BENNETT MEMORIAL SHIELD

STRONG SCOTTISH TEAMS

Further proof of his superiority among Wellington harriers was shown by A. L. Stevens (Scottish Club) on Saturday afternoon, when, by about 180 yards, he won the six to seven miles road race for the Bennett Memorial Shield, a trophy presented for teams' competition by Mr. W. IT. Bennett, of Wellington, in memory of bis son/ W. B. Bennett, who was killed

in France during (he war. Second man in was the veteran A.' .Barclay (Brooklyn Club), and M. Cookc (Wellington Ciub) n-as next. In the B grade section for the Craig Cup, this contest being held in conjunction with the Bennett Memorial Race, J. Kiddington (Scottish Club) won the principal honours.' He dead-heated with G. Parkhouse, a clubmate and a member of the A team, for eighth place, but he was the first B grade runner to finish. In both contests excellent team work was shown by members of the Scottish Club. The club easily won both the Bennett Memorial Shield and the Craig Cup. Brooklyn, winners last year, were second in the A grade contest, with Olympic i third; and in the B grade section Wellington were Becond, and the Scottish No. 2 team third. After the run, Mr. Bennett, the donor of the shield, presented the two trophies, and warmly congratulated the Scottish representatives. The shield and the cup were received on behalf of the Scottish Club by Mr. W. Ballantyne. The runners started and finished opposite the Star Boatiug Club's shed in Wnkefield Street. From Wakefield'Street, the course led to Clyde Quay, Oriental Bay, Evans Bay, Kilbirnie, over Wellington Iload to Constable Street, down ( Adelaide Road and Kent Terrace to Wakefield ~ Street. , There were 54 com- i petitovs. and they were started by' Mr. i T. W. Leslie. ! [ ALONG THE ROUTE. P. Wilson (Olympic), first home in the A grade section last year in the record time for the course of SSmin, sprinted hard at the start, and going round Oriental Bay he was leading O. B. Roberts (Brooklyn), M. Morris (Wellington), and Stevens. At Point Jerningham the order was Roberts, Stevens, G. -Woodley •(Scottish), M. Cooke (Wellington), D. Pedersen (Brooklyn), and Wilson. Just past Point Jerningham Woodley and Stevens took the lead. At the Patent Slip Stevens was leading Cook' by'five yards. About forty yards behind Cooke came Roberts, and following Roberts were A. Barclay, (Brooklyn), AVoodley, Pedersen, G. Buchanan (Scottish), and H. McLeod (Scottish). By the time he had reached the top of Constable Street Stevens was fifty yards in front of Cooke, who was a similar distance ahead of Barclay. About 100 yards behind Barclay was Roberts, and the next in order were Woodley, Buchanan, Parkhouse, McLeod, Pedersen, and C. Campbell' (Olympic). A strong northerly wind round to Point Jerningham was a handicap to the runners. The going was better on the journey to Kilbirnie. Then the runners had a steep pull-up Wellington Road, but the downhill going in Constable Street gave them a welcome breather, and good pace was clapped on. Barclay overtook Cooke on the run to the Basin Reserve. At the top of Kent Terrace Stevens, with his short stride and surprisingly ungainly leg action, was still moving along nicely, and the race was his. He was 150 yards in front of Barclay,.who was leading Cooke nt this stage by thirty yards. About 100 ?'ards behind Cooke was Roberts, and following him were Woodley, Buchanan, and McLeod. j Stevens, Barclay, and Cooke held their respective'places over the final stage, although Stevens increased, his lead from Barclay, and Barclay widened the gap between him and Cooke. The crowd at the finishing point gave the runners a splendid reception. Stevens came in about 180 yards ahead of Barclay, who beat Cooke by about fifty yards. Woodley and Roberts had a keen tussle for fourth place, Woodley, however, pie-' vailing., Buchanan was next to finish, about ten yards behind Roberts. = Details are ' as follows: — A GRADE. , Individual Placings. A. L. Stevens (Scottish), 3omin 33sec-'i A. Barclay (Brooklyn), 35min 55sec ..' 2 M. Cooke (Wellington), 3Cmin llsec ..3 G. Woodley (Scottish), 36min 23sec, 4; O. B. Roberts (Brooklyn), 36miu 26see, 5; G. Buchanan (Scottish), 6; H. McLeod (Scottish), 7; G. Parkhouse (Scottish), 8; E. Lovatt (Olympic), 9; M.-Morris (Wellington), 10; P. Wilson (Olympic), 11; C. Campbell (Olympic), .12; R,, Garnham (Olympic), 13; D. Pedersen (Brooklyn), 14.- . . . .'. . ' Teams' Contest. Scottish (Stevens 1, Woodley i, Buchanan 6, McLeod 7), 18 points' 3 Brooklyn, 37 points 2 Olympic, 45 points 3 Wellington, 47 points 4 B Grade teams' Contest. Scottish No. 1 (J. Riddington, M. 'Violich, V. Scoble, R. Violich), 11 points 1 Wellington, 30 points 2 Scottish No. 2, 48 points ■....' 3 Brooklyn and Olympic, 79 points, equal 4