EDMOND GUP SURPRISES

Evening Star, Issue 21749, 18 June 1934, Page 5

EDMOND GUP SURPRISES

WON BY W. A. C. PULLAR TEAMS RAGE TO ANGLICAN The annual Edmond Cup harrier steeplechase at Wingatni provided more than the usual number of surprises both as regards the teams’ race and the individual championship, and, decided under ideal weather conditions, attracted a record field of 184 runners, of whom 164 completed the course, which was on the heavy side after the recent rains.

With the positions changing fairly frequently, the race for individual honours was the most interesting and exciting for years, and W. A. C. Pullar, (he young Anglican athlete, who bolds the New Zealand 440 yards hurdles championship, caused a big upset by taking first \ lace after running a great race. Pullar, who was second in the Otago cross-country chain-

pionship last year, had begun training comparatively recently, but ho was always with the leaders today, running strongly ami showing admirable judgment throughout. Under the conditions, his time (17min 28sec) represented a fine effort.

An oven bigger surprise was effected by T. G. Pearson, one of the Palmerston team which carried the colours of the North Otago Club. Pearson was always in the first six or so, but inproved his position ns the race progressed. He was in the van for a good part of the second lap, lr.:t could not stave Pullar off at the finish.

Last year’s winner, J. G. Barnes, ran well for third place, but the Civil Service man did not show his customary dash in the heavy going, especially over the last half-mile. A promising young runner in T. Allen filled fourth place, and for quite a while appeared likely to contest the issue at the finish. E. C. Brown (Civil Service) ran his usual sound race for fifth place, finishing ahead of L. C. M'Lachlan, who dropped back considerably the second time round.

Civil Service was .looked upon as almost certain to win the teams’ race, hut here again there was another surprise, Anglican No, 1 finishing five men in the first ten and carrying off the_ Edmond Cup with a total of 50 points, Civil Service ■ No. 1 being runners-up with 63 points. Caversham filled third place with 168 points.

The sealed handicap was won by the North Otago Club, whose team was comprised of Palmerston runners, the champion Anglican No. 1 team being second, and Civil Service No. 1 third. The arrangements for the race, conducted by the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, were all that could be desired, the superintendents being Messrs R. Thompson and B. H. Rosevear, and the secretary (All 1 W. N. Connell). The timekeeper' was Mr .1. Hoy. and the judges Messrs C. W. Clarke. B. H. Rosevear, P, IV. Breen, R. A. Malone. G. Jackson, C. K. Heaton, A. T M'lmloe, and J. W. Holley.

THE COURSE. The runners started from below the old outside grand stand well down the straight. Proceeding over the sod wall they followed the steeplechase course (but rounded the .second wall) till the baek straight was reached, whore they came through the fence on to the course proper, thus missing the brush fences, till the end of the back stretch was reached. They then took the post and rails, following by crossing the water jump, and coming on the course proper at the entrance to the straight. This course was covered twice, the race finishing just halfway up the straight. The race was for teams of ten, six of whom counted for points. THE RACE DESCRIBED A large crowd of spectators had gathered when the starter (Mr R. Thompson) sent the big field away to a good start, and approaching the first sod wall the runners were well bunched. T. Allen (Anglican) jumped into the lead

from the start, and was first over the first sod wall, being closely followed by L. C. M’Lachlan (Civil Service), E. A. Taylor (Anglican), W. A. C. Pullar (Anglican), ,1. G. Barnes (Civil Service) W. Walker (Anglican), and T. G. Pearson (North Otago). Barnes and M’Lachlan displaced Allen crossing the post and rails, Pullnr being close up in fourth place, with Taylor and Pearson nest.

Entering the back straight, however, Allen and Pullar again took command, and at the water jump Allen led from Pullar, both men going well, and then came M’Lachlan, Barnes, and Pearson. The field was well strung out by this time, and entering the straight for the completion of the first round Pullar was out in front, with Barnes and Allen in close attendance. Allen ran up into first position passing the judge’s box, Pullar, Pearson, and Barnes being to-getber in a bunch. M’Lachlan was ten yards back, ahead of Walker, E. C. Brown (Civil Service), Taylor, A. R. Geddes (Civil Service), and 1. Curtis (Anglican) following in that order. The Palmerston runner, Pearson, now came prominently into the picture, and Look tbe lead going across the first sod wall the second time round, Barnes being fifteen yards back, just ahead of Pullar and Allen. M’Lachlan was some distance back in fifth place, with E. C. Brown (who had improved his position) leading Walker and Taylor. Pearson was running very strongly, and increased his lead to twenty yards entering the back straight for the second time, Pullar, Barnes, and Allen following in that order. By the time the bottom of the hack straight was reached Pullar had closed up on Pearson, but Barnes was making harder work than usual of the heavy going. Pullar was out in front at the water jump, closely attended by Pearson, and then came Barnes, Allen, Brown, M’Lachlan, Geddes, and Walker. Pullar maintained his advantage, and led on to the straight, finishing full of running to win by fifteen yards from Pearson, Barnes being third thirty yards back. Allen was another ten yards away fourth, and at close intervals there came *E. C. Brown. M’Lachlan, Geddes, Taylor, Curtis, and Walker in tenth place. Some distance back J. H. M’Laren (Pacific) finished eleventh, followed by W. A. Stewart (University). The course was completed by 163 runners, the winner’s time being 17inin 2Bsec.

INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS. W. A. C. Pullar (Anglican No. 1) ... 1 T. G. Pearson (North Otago) ... 2 J. G. Barnes (Civil Service No. I) 3 T. Allen (Anglican No. 1) 4 E. C. Brown (Civil Service No. 1) 5 L. C. M'Lachlan (Civil Service No. 1) 6 A. R. Geddgs (Civil Service No. 1) 7 E. A. Taylor (Anglican No. 1) ... 8 L Curtis (Anglican No. 1) ... ... 9

W. Whlker (Anglican No. 1) ... ... 10 The winner’s time was 17min 28sec.

TEAMS’ RACE. Anglican No. 1 (W. A. C. Pullar 1, T, Allen 4, E. A. Taylor 8, 1. Curtis 9, W. Walker 10, L. Logan . 18), 50 points 1 Civil Service No. 1 (J. G. Barnes -3, E. C. Brown 5, L. C. M'Lachlan 0, A. R. Geddes 7. L. M'Keich 20, W. M'Kinnou 22), 68 points ... 2 Caversham No. 1 (L. K. Donovan 13, G. R. Colston 19. H. Whitaker 23, C. W. Frye 34, L. F. Gerrie 36, S. Bartlett 43), 168 points ... 3 Leith, 277 points 4 University, 281 points ... 5 North Otago, 347 points 6 St. Kilda 360 points 7, Pacific 371 points 8, Northern 396 points 9, Morningtou 401 points 10, St, Patrick’? 419 points 11, Civil Service No. 2 424 points 12, Caversham No. 2 464 points 13. Cargill Road 495 points 14, Roslyn 551 (mints 15, Hanover Baptist 598 points 16, Dunedin 701 points 17, Tokomay-iro 769 points 18, Anglican No. 2 944 points 19. The Anglican No. 2 team (comprised of juniors) merely jogged over the course. SEALED HANDICAP. North Otago (T. G. Pearson 2, .1. Whitfield 31, G. L. Day 46, A. Forrest 66, D. Martin 79. and W. Corrigan 123), 347—300—47 ... 1 Anglican No. 1, 50—scr—50 ... 2 Civil Service No. 1, 63—scr —63 ... 3 THE PLACED MEN. The winner'of to-day’s race, W. A. C. Pullar, is one of the most versatile all-round athletes in the dominion at the present time, and being little more than twenty years of age has a bright future in athletics ahead of him. He won the New Zealand 440yds hurdles championship at Wellington last February in the record time of 56 2-ssec, and on the track locally has shown considerable promise as a sprinter. He was the Otago junior cross-country champion two years ago, and last winter finished second in the Otago cross-country championship. He was selected in the Otago team, but was unable to travel. Last Saturday he ran second to T. Allen in the Anglican Chib’s three-mile_ championship, but was more forward in form to-day. T. G. Pearson, who ran as a represenative of the North Otago Club and finished second, hails from Palmerston, and has previously shown good form in distance events both on the track and across country, but to-day’s effort was easily his best to date. J, G. Barnes, who finished third in to-day race, has had a most successful career across country, on the road, and on the track. He has won races from 100yds to 14 miles, and in the 1932-33 season won the mile championship of New Zealand in 4min .24 2-ssec. He has also been placed in the New Zealand three-mile championship, and won the New Zealand cross-country championship in 1932. He has won the Otago mile and three-mile championships on several occasions, and also the Otago cross-country championship several times. His versatility has been shown by the fact that he has done better than two minutes for the halfmile.

PREVIOUS WINNERS Below are given the names of previous winners of the teams’ race and individual championship respectively, the times of the individual winners also being given:— ,1907 (at For bury Park). —Caversham; F. J. Frew (Caversham), 16min 30seo. 1908 (at Forbury Park). —Dunedin; F. J. Frew (Caversham). 1909 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; G. A. M'Knight (Caversham), lomin ssec. 1912 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; J. Beatson (Caversham), 16min 28sec. 1913 fat Tahuna Park). —Caversham; D. J. Jack (Caversham), 16min 6 4-5 sec. 1914 (at Wingatui).—Dunedin; M. Mickelsen (Dunedin), 17min Ssec. 1915 (at Wingatui).—Caversham: W. F. Oxley (Y.M.C.A.), 17min 28 2-ssec. 1920 (at Forbury Park). —Pacific; R. Bel) (Brooklyn, Wellington). 16min 39scc. 1921 (at Wingatui).—Olympic (Wellington) ; T. Wilson (Olympic, • Wrellington), ISmin llsec. 1922 (at Forbury Park). —Caver-

sham; D. C. Lister (Civil Service), IGmiu 33sec. 1923 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; W. H. B. Hobbs (Pacific), 17nuu 41sec. 1924 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; <E. L. Brown (Civil Service).- 17min. 1925 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 16min 47sec. .1926 (at Wingatui).—Caversham ; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 17min 13sec. 1927 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service). 17min lOsec. 1.923 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17miu 17sec. 1929 (at_ Wingatui)).—Caversham; J. J. Morris (Caversham), 17miu 16 3-osec. 1930 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J, E. Lovelock (university), 17min. 1931 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17min 12sec. 1932 (at Wingatui).—Civil Service ; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17min 34sec. 1933 (at Wingatui).—Civil Service; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), 17min llseo.