Harriers.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 82, 23 April 1937, Page 8

Harriers.

"Fence.")

A GOOD START Excellent Prospects For Coming Season L0SS OF C. WRIGHT

(By

The last two Saturdays have seen this popular winter sport well started for what should be, judging by the enthusiasm shown, the best season in the short harrier history of Hawke's Bay. Favoured with fine weather for its openingj run on April.lO, the Hastings Harrier Club had a record attendance. The most pleasing thing , noticed was the numbers of new and young lnembers turning out. This augurs well for the future of the club, as it is to these the club looks for its future champions. It is up to the more experienced members to giv'e these new and younger runners all the help and encouragement they can. In the past this club bas lost quite a few promisingj runners through lack of a little consideration. A Popular Win. Being the first run of tlie season, it was an easy and short one of about 3} miles, with a short run-in over a distance of 300 yards. Beating George Ready by a very narrow inargin Les. Spurdle scored a popular win. Les. is a very keen club man, though not often among the winnersj this success was well deserved. Each year see s the club losing one or more members through transfers, this season proving no exception to the rule with the departure of .Colbourne Wright, club captain. Just how big a loss the club has suffered will only become apparent through tbe coming season. No one will ever have the faintest idea of how much work, time and thought he has so uns'elfisSly given to the dub, and in furthering the sport in Hawke's Bay. A brief review of his record in the club will give sonm idea of his worthA Wonderful Reoord. Joining thei dub in 1932 he won the club championship in 1933, 34 and 36, and was runner-up in 1936. Secured fastest time in the Napier-Hastings road-race in 1933, 34, 35 and 36. Represented H-B.-P.B. at the national cross-country championships at Wellington^ 1935. Besides acbieving so much on the field he jheld the position of treasurer in 1933, vice-captain in 1934, field captain in 1935 and clubcaptain in 1936-37. A truly wonderful record. There can be no doubt that in the future, whenever the early history of - the Hastings Harrier Club is discussed, the name of Colbourne Wright will be meutioned. New Club Captain. On the shoulders of Alec. Robertson has fallen the responsibilities of clubcaptain. Congratulations, Alec., and under your leadership may the club go on to still greater success. In the matter of weather the Napier Club was not as fortunate as the Hastings Club, for their opening last Saturday, but nevertheless there was a large attendance. Some complaints were heard about the trail being too: long, but the fault was the fast pace set over tbe first mile by one or two who, needless to say, found the going very hard at the finish. A firm hand is needed to .check this. The same fault | is also noticeabl© at the Hastings Umb's opening run. Until fche season gets under way in earnest these notes will appear only once a fortnight.