Harriers. FINAL FIXTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 14

Harriers. FINAL FIXTURE

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✓ End-of-the-Season Event at Napier N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Tjrpical of most end-of-the season fixtures, • last Saturday's inter-club race field over the Napier Club's new course, at tfie Kennedy • road extensipn motor camp, saw several notabie absentees from both; clubs. With the exception of the competition among the first few for first place, the remaander appeared to treat the run more 'iu the nature of a strenuous pack ' runi In their new two-lap ' course, Napier have a very good cross-country run. The ground surf ace ia not too level, and with the draihs to be jumped it pjoves a test of stamina as well as speed. Having done most of this season's racin'g over the local course, for the. Hastings boys to run over en-tirely-new ground should pr^ve most benei'icial.' The Itace Itself. Bunchod « f or - the first .half-mile the field gradualiy strung out with Reid (N.), l.- Dyer (H-), Robertson (H.) .and Hatch (N.) in the van, closely followed by Anderson, A. Taylor and H. Marshall, all of Hastings. The . end of the first lap, covered in 19 minutes,. saw Hatch (N.), Robertson and -Dyer (fl.) a hundred yards clear of tho next bunch, consisting of A. Taylor, Reid (N.), Andersen and Mar--shall. In the second lap there wero few 'changes till near home. I. Dyer displaced Hatch, who had been doing the pace-making. In winning first place I. Dyer ran a very creditable raee, and next year will see this run'ner playing a, prominent part -in harrier-racing in this distriet. Second's behind the winner, •Hatch, the Napier club captain, ran one of his best races for the season. . Taking ' third ; place, A. Robertson ' is showing-improved form with every run, so "it would be interesting to have known how -wiell he would be going now had he had the benefit of a full season. A." Taylor was a little more like his old self. It was a pity his season 'a running should be spoiit by an attack of influenza. Surprising was the performance of H. , Marshall, who finished fifth. B. Reid, sixth : and second Napier manhome, produced a great sprint over tho last few . yards * to leave Andersen standing. Occupying 10th position, P. Barrer (Hastings) is to be complixnented on the manner in which he has turned out every time when most needed. Only his second outing in an open raee, T. Manley (Hastings) shows distinct promise and more will be heard of him in future. Compieting the Hastings team, C. Coles has been making disappointing times. By winning. the eighth of these straight out inter-club races between the two elubs over a period of three seasons, Hastings have won tho last five after losing the first three. = Ono of - the less fleet-of-foot adopted, the novel idea of stopping half -way * round the first lap, thereby having a goo.d . look at most of . the second lap. No doubt he was envied by more than one^ seeond-lapper, , just sitting thero taking his ease. Jottings from Timaru. No thing new ur unexpected happeued at Timaru, and that G. VVeller retained his Ne.w Zealand title will be welcomed by most harriers here, among whom the genial Charlie is well known. Repeating his last year 's second at Auckland, -A- .R. Geddes (Otago) may yet wiu the title as he is only 24 years of age. "More so when one considers Weller's suceess is his seventh appearance in this big event. Third and fourth, L. Logan (Otago) and D. • Adamson are new names, as are W. Edge ninth .(W.G.N.L)' and J. Neill 12th (Auckland) in the first 12. , G. Prosser (Wellington) fifth, ran up to expectation, whereas J. Riddington (W.) could only get 16th place, the same as at Auckland last year. It ■ has been said that he never travels well, which, judging by his fourth equal with Stevens at Wellington in 1935, seerns to be so. With. the help of running at home Otago were able to win the teams race 1 from Auckland, holders for the two 1 provious years. On looking through this field one is struck by the many familiar names that have appeared in this event so often. At the 1935 meeting held at Wellington, ' J. G. Barnes (Otago) ran sixteenth and then announced Jiis retiremeut ,oniy - to be 12th at Auckland the following year and now 10th this year.. That this eentre was not rcpresentod was unfortunate, but without even an individunl up to the st-andard it was unavoidnble, apart from the financial aspect. Tt is to be hoped that thc xnooted Harrier Trust Committee becomes an accomplished fact, then the finance difficulty at least might be overcome. As for . competitors of tho necessary calibre. "Fence" has seen those who, given the coaching and enencouragement, will make the grahe.