MASTERTON VISIT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 164, 29 July 1937, Page 13

MASTERTON VISIT

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Hastings Club Retains Keati Tropl1* LAST WEEK'S EVENT

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A team of ten se^feiented th« Hastings Harrier dlSIb toi the »nnual contest for the Keat's Trophy over the Masterton Harriar Club's course. The race marked th* f om% race for the tropby and by its win on this occasion the Hastings club has brought its taUy of wins level with Masterton — -that is two each— -which will give added \ interest to next year's eyent. Conditions could hardly have beea worse for the race. Underfoot the ground was very heavy, a large amount of water being on the course, and im some places it was of quite an appreciable depth; also a bitingly cold wdnd was blowing an.d cold, rain fell throughbut th© race. Thoee wearing spike* had a distinct advantage over thost wOaring tennis shoes. . The Masterton course must new bo Well known to members of the Hastings club, It was over this same course that the club ran in 1932 when it flrst entered open competition. It starts on the beautiful Masterton Oval and follows out on to the road for about threequarters of a mile before entdring tho saleyards. Through these to .the road again and then enterihg the country proper. The going here is diflieult and it gradually eases at ihe Course eomes out on to the open country. A road is then crossed and another paddoek and then a further long stretch of road to tenter the Oval again at ttye back. Thiis it done twice , with the addition of a lap of the Oval itself at the. finisn. Of the present team two W.ere in the original 1932 team. The race resolved itself into three stages. The flrst was the tussle between Taylor (H) and Gregory (M) for individual honours. The next Was the teaming of the reSt df the Hastings team, and thirdly the efforts of the Masterton men fd break up this plan, Taylor and Gregdry had it great race and it was anybody'% race until thc tape was reaehed. These two were far superior on the day to anyone else end fought Out a great flnish, similar to. the one provided by C. Talbot and % Taylor in 1986 in Hastings. Gregory is having his flrst SMSon across country and he looks very promising. Recently running against C. Weller/ the national title-holder, he kept" right on ^Weller's tail for tho whole journey and "Wieller was just able to get home with "two seconds to spare. In xairness to Weller, however, it should be pointed out that he is not having the same competition in tbe Palmerston . NortH Club as he had in "Wanganui. N. Dyer Tan very Well over a itrange course and tbis experience should stand him in good Stead. Thie also applies to A. Taylor who teamed welL Ray Shaw rau one of his best races for Masterton on tHs occasion aud ran up into sixth position. A. Robertsbn rau steadily, while P. Barrer and C. Wright completed the Hastings team, the latter showing lack of xacing condition. The Masterton hospitality is very well known, and the visitors were treated royally during their stay in the Wairarapa. Good Pack Runs. Covering familiar ground at the run from Windsor Park last Saturday some good light' training was indulged in, with a short run-in to findsh. At these pack runs it is most gratifying the regular manner in which members of the junior pack turn out. For the •benefit of the club in futurd it is to be hoped their interest can be held, Thursday Activitieg. Covering eolid ^going over the Havelock Hills the standard in the Thursday division is showing steady impfoVement. If possible, it would be a sound idea to arrange for a race between Some of the middle men from the Saturday pack and the Thursday pack, as the latter would benefit greatly from the competition thus afforded. While home on annual holiday, C. Wright was out at every opportunity to take part in the runs. There is fctill the final race for the Angus Cup, which is usually held over a road course. On two previous occasion® it has happened that some runners have followed the wrong road or missed the paper, so profiting by past experiences, offLcials should see that the course this year is well defined. Big Road Race, Though still two months away, those intendiiig to taekle the endurance test provided by the road raee would be well advised to commence prfeparing for it with- pienty of woiidng and jOgg'ag to iit the legs for it, as the flrst essential is to have them in good order. Also see to having good shoes. If not already possessed of a welbbroken-ia pair runners should secure them new and have them ready in time.