HARRIER RACING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 197, 6 September 1937, Page 3

HARRIER RACING

Heretaunga Baton Won By Hastings The annual inter-club , road relay race for the Heretaunga baton between the Hastings and Napier harripr clubs', was held over the main Hastings-Napier highway from Post Office to Post Office on Saturday. There was only a poor attendance of runners, and this, combined -with the unfavourable weather conclitions, did nat malce the relay .as intgresting as it should have been. There were four tnen to each team, and Napier fielded three teams and Hastings only two, but by winning the A grade ovent Hastings were successful in retaining the Heretaunga baton. "A" Teams Race Described Setting off amid heavy rain and at a t'air pace Hunt (H) and McGtegor (N) were the first men for each club. They remained together until the Karamu bridge was reached, but from here Hunt gradually began to pull away until at the change-over he had a lead of about 30 yards. Anderson (H) and Reid (N) were the next men, and Anderson, at tho eud of his lap, had iucreased the lead to about 400 yards. Kobertson (H) took the baton from Anderson, but Hatch (N), who was his opponent', gradually overli'auJed some of the lead, and at tlie Maraenui cliange-over there was about 150 yards between them. The most thrilling part of the race was now seen as Dyer (H) and Hughes (N) set off. Hughes was gradually gaining on Dyer until at about a half-mile from the Napier Post Office there was only about fifty yards between them. Dyer, ko w over. now "opened up" and was increasing his lead at every stcp, eventually finishing 100 yards ahoad of Hughes. In the B team cvcnt Napier defeated Hastings by about 200 yards. Detailed results are: — A GRADE Hastings. — A. Robertgon (captain), A. Hunt, B. Anderson, I. Dyer. Time, 1 hotu- 9 mins.. 9 sees., 1. Napier. — L. Hatch (captain), R. Mc-

Gregor, B. Reid, A. G. Hughes. Time, 1 kour 9 mins. 24 sees., 2. B GRADE Napier. — F. Brock (captain), W. Bniith,o T. Roading, R. Johnson. Time, 1 hour 14 mins. 45 sees., 1. Hastings.— A. Taylor (captain), R. Smith, E. Heaton, I(. Clark. Time, 1 hour, 15 mins., 38- sees., 2. C GRADE Napier. — L. Green (captain), R. Leekie, Iv. Strachan, L. Green. Time, 1 hour 18 mins., 18{? sees. Actual placmgs in the handicap section were: — Napier B team 1, Napier C team 2, Hastings B leam 3, Hastings A team 4, Napier A team 6.