Harriers INTER-CLUB RACE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 15

Harriers INTER-CLUB RACE

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Hastings Prove Too Good for Napier /TAYLOR IN FORM

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By its victory over the Napier • cliib the Hastings Hatrier Club &ppears to be in a position to give a : good account of itself in the remaining inter-club clashes laier in the season. With mostly new members, the Napier club put up a fine showing, and for the return fixture on their own course will redtice the dargin between the two teams, considerably, or even prove more than a match for Hastings. . f Watched by a lai'ger nlifflber of speC* tators than usual) the race itself proved most interesting, with the result in doubt until the final count. Setting off at a sloWer pace than CustOmary, the field was well bunched over the first mile. At this. stage Napier appeared to hold the advantage in niimbers, but the Blacks commenced to move up to consolidate their positionfor the top places. Slowly drawing away from the field, H» Ei Taylor and G. Heady went on to fill first and second positions respect-. ively. It is to be hoped that someone will come to light to extend Taylor. A. Hughes (N.), third man home, Tan a good race to leave Hunt and Andersen ovor the last half-mile Whefe the tWo latter faded badly. Close up in fifth place, A. Taylor will be still nearer the front before long. He should endeavour in future to get up with the others early, then it would be quite an easily matter to keop With them. P» Barrer proved himself a valuable acquisition for these team racos. Individual Form. Taylor, the winner, finished very Strongly. His first lap was covered in 19 mins. 45 secs., and the second lap in the very good time of 17 mins. 48 secs. — 2 secs. better than his effort in the Angus Cup the previous week. In Taylor the club possesses a runner of outstanding merit, and one whOse future is going to be watched with considerable interest. 5 Hunt appears to fill regularly third or fourth position in his races and is a very reliable and determined runner. The form of K. Dyer was again impressive. For a first-year man this colt j is. doing remarkably well. The club ofiicials would be well advised to keep this boy from overdoing it this season. Club Captain Robertson ran through in fairly good time considering that lt was only his second outing of the season. His sprint home just ahead of Brock was a good effort. Reports indicate that Hickman did his share in rounding up a few stragglers and encouraged some team work among the runners further back. It indicates a good spirit when runners sacrifice individual chances for succosSful team worx. It is not possible to mention all individually in these notes, but it was Cvident that in this race each member gave of his best for his club. If this spirit continues through the season it nannot help but be most successful. Invitational Run, On Saturday, May 22, the club was the guest of Mr and Mrs J. Stickland, Sylvan ' ro&d. When the progress and advancement Of the local club is spoken of, little thought or credit is given to the valuable assistance so generously given by the elub's various hosts and hostesses at different times. A small way in which club members could show their appreciation would be to make a point of arriving in good timo for these invitational runs so that their hosts will not have too much of their Saturday evenings taken up. Pace Too Fast. To see a pack run such as this developing into more or less a race suggests the need of steps being taken to prevent this sort of thing recurring in the future. When necessary, in preparation for some event, it is alright for runners to indulge in some pace, but for a general rule it would be best to have a whistle with each pack in charge of a slower man with some experience of running. The top men are often heard bemoaning the fact of getting no support in team races fronl the middle men. If, as on this oceasion. tbey put tlie pace on and open up a break on tiie less fleet of foot, they do little to encourage or help the others. Besides, these top men sliould get all the fast work they need on race days. Making his first apearance R. Sniith made a favournble impre&sion with his running. Thursday Activities. That the Thursday boys mean business was shown by their sealed handicap l'aeG of 3 1-8 miles. For a first raco the times wero very creditable indeed. To T. ManlOy (21 mins. 46 secs.) went fastest time, closely followed by C. Taylor 21.55), both good times for novices. A. de Frere, tliird, with a little longer at the sport, will improve. A. Apperley Was unluclcy enough to have an attack of stitch. A few abdominal exercises should overcome this' irouble. 1 ( Should there be any youths at a i end on Thursday afternoon they 1 could not do anything better than joifi up with this pack. They would derive ' untold beuefit from pftrtaking in this hctvHhy sport.