MORRISON WINS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3295, 2 August 1943, Page 5

MORRISON WINS

WAIKATO CHAMPIONSHIP

KEEN JUNIOR CONTEST TROW WINS SENIOR RACE Last Saturday under perfect weathbr conditions the Paeroa Harrier Club conducted for the Waikato Sub-Centre, the Junior and Senior Cross-Country Championships. Considering the wartime conditions the entries received were very good. Before the championship started the secretary of the 'Paeroa club detailed the course to the competitors and then introduced His Worship the Mayor, Mr E. Edwards, to the assembly. Welcome By Mayor Mr Edwards, after welcoming the visiting harriers wished the competitors good running and expressed the hope that may the best man win. His Worship thanked the Waikato SubCentre for granting the running of the championship to Paeroa and then took the opportunity of publicly thanking Mr F. Sharp for his good work in connection with the Paeroa Harrier Club.

The junior competitors were then ready on the mark for the word go. At approximately 3.5 p.m. Mr Edwards started them off and away they went at a pace in the 1943 Waikato Junior Cross-Country Championship. It was only after about 100 yards that the line was broken and the first to show out was the Paeroa Club champion, T. Morrison. At the halfmile mark the runners began to string out, the lead being disputed between two Paeroa boys, T. Morrison and J. Fowler, followed about 20' yards further back by B. Thompson and A. Anderson, of the Hamilton Club. Then came R. Miller and M. Wallan, followed by G. Vuglar, R. Hughes (Hamilton), T. Sweeney, A. Currie, G. Vlahovich and B. Cranston (Hamilton).

Fowler and Morrison in Lead

With one mile of the course covered, J. Fowler and T. Morrison were well clear of Anderson with T. Sweeney close up. At this stage A. Currie who was running exceptionally well began a forward move followed by M. Wallan, G. Vuglar and R. Millar with Cranston and Vlahovich in the rear.

Half way round the course it was apparent that it was going to be a battle royal for the championship honours between J. Fowler and T. Morrison who were a,bout one minute ahead of the third runner, Anderson, of Hamilton.

There was little change in their positions as the competitors raced to the judge except that G. Vlahovich improved one placing. With half-a-mile to go the pace was a cracker and Morrison was making every endeavour to draw clear of J. Fowler. Fowler, putting all he had into it was running in most determined fashion and it was clear that he would make a bold bid for the title. No other competitor had any chance with Fowler and Morrison, the further they went the further they increased their lead. With all eyes turned towards the corner where the competitors were to run into the final 150' yards of the race, the crowd which' had assembled at the finish awaited anxiously to see the first competitor come into view. Just then a roar went up from the spectators as they noticed two contestants, wearing the popular red ofthe Paeroa Harrier Club, round the corner. Neck and Neck Neck and neck over the last 150 yards raced Fowler and Morrison. First one and then the other would be voiced by the crowd as the eventual winner. It was a great finish to a real gruelling race. Fifty yards from the tape Fowler was making a gallant effor to catch the judge’s eye first. On to the judge they raced and over the line they flew with Morrison the winned by the barest of margins. Only two-fifths of a second separated them at the finish and they, were given a good round of applause by the crowd. After a lapse of two minutes 12 seconds the third competitor A. Anderson erf Hamilton crossed the finishing line. The teams race was won by the Paeroa team with a total of 18 points. The -team consisted, of J. Fodder, (taptaih), T. Morrison, M. Wallan, G. Vuglar, R. Millar and G. Vlahovich. A sealed handicap run in conjunction with the race resulted in a popular win for A. Currie with T. Sweeney second and J- Fowler third. K. Trow Wilts Easily The seniors were. started five minutes after the juniors. Owing to un- j I forseen circumstances tide Waikato m r »

champion distance runner W. J- Potter was unable to make the trip and therefore detracted some of the interest from the race.

The first to show out were R. French and K. Trow. With ©ne mile covered R. French had a slight lead from K. Trow with Webb and Vuglar next. Following in close order was A. Dunlop, C. Christensen and R- Cranston with Thompson, Sharp, Kipple and Sundrich in a bunch.

With three miles to go Trow had established a handy lead and was running exceptionally well. R. French, who was suffering from influenza was beginning to tire. On to the judge raced Trow to win with something in reserve, by over a minute from A. Dunlop, followed by S. Webb, M. Vuglar and C. Christensen in that order. The sealed handicap resulted in a win for F. Sharp. M. Vuglar was second and A. Dunlop third. After the Race After the race the competitors and officials were entertained to afternoon tea by the ladies which was greatly appreciated. At the afternoon tea the president-of the club, Mr R. Howard, after congratulating the winners thanked the members of the two Hamilton clubs for coming over and helping to make the -championship a success. Mr C. Thompson replied on behalf of the Waikato Sub-Centre and stated that everything had been conducted in excellent style and thanked the Paeroa Harrier Club for the hospitality extended to the Hamilton visitors. Results: — Junior championship.—T. Morrison (Paeroa), 22.55, 1; J. Fpwler ('Paeroa), 22.55 2-5, 2; A. Anderson (Hamilton), 25.7 2-5, 3; R. Hughes (Hamilton), 25.73-5, 4. Junior sealed handicap.— A- Currie (Paeroa), 18.51, 1; T. Sweeney (Paeroa), 20.59, 2; J. Fowler (Paeroa), 21.45 2-ss, 3. Junior teams race. —-Paeroa, 18 points, 1. Senior championship. —K. Trow (Hamilton), 32.114-5, 1; A. Duntep (Hamilton), 33.121-5, 2; S. Webb (Hamilton), 3; M. Vuglar (Paeroa), 33.47, 4. Senior sealed handicap.—F. Sharp (Paeroa), 26.17, 1; M. Vuglar (Paeroa), 28.17, 2; A. Dualop (Hamilton!, 28.171 A X Senior teams mee^—ffltamftton.Har- ? rier Club, 11 1} C.T’.M.'Har- ’ tier Cteb, 20 poiate, 5L